I'm having a rough time in Dallas today

[Tobin S.]

So far today, I've been called the n-word on the CB (I guess the guy thought I was black), someone has flipped the bird at me, and a car passed me on the right shoulder. I've done nothing wrong or illegal. Apparently, people don't like the speed I drive around here, which is the speed limit.

Sorry folks. I've been pulled over for doing 5 over one time and 6 over another. I don't feel like another cop making an example out of me to slow y'all down.

[WolverineDG]

1. Don't take it personally

they'd do that to anyone. You should see the driving in the place I live (several hours south of Dallas on 35). I've been honked at & flipped off for not running red lights when there's no cross-traffic! :scared:

dg

[kentauros]

2. According to a study quoted by the Houston Press,

Dallas is the worst for traffic out of 90 cities. Houston is 88th.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/12/houston_commutes_study.php
(It's short, only half a page.)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Tobin...

How yucky!

I hope you will soon be far away from all that unpleasantness.

Hang in there, OK?

:hug:

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. I found it MUCH more satisfying, instead of flipping THEM off in return...

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...to do a little "too-da-loo" finger wave at them while smiling -- and if they had
gotten me feeling REALLY froggy... I would give 'em a big ol' airkiss.
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Drives 'em batshit crazy, it do.
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Sometimes, for my OWN enjoyment, I'd do the flight-attendant-at-the-arrival-gate
farewell to 'em... "Bye. Buh-bye. Bye now. Buh-bye."
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It'll pass. And it'll happen again and again. You know this. You may be just a li'l
cranky yourself, eh?
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Just remember. Send them ol' "cranky blues" a-packin'. Buh-bye.
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The expression on this face is incredible.
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[kentauros]

5. One question I have because I only drive in Texas,

and mostly just in Houston, so I don't see driving behavior in the rest of the country and that is: Do people speed up on you when you signal to move over a lane?

I've noticed this in Houston within the past decade and never really understood the reasoning behind it other than big egos ("You're not getting in front of me!!!") Do people do this everywhere?

I really hate that lack of courtesy and often wish I had the spiky car from "The Cars That Ate Paris". Then I would just move over anyway, and they wouldn't dare try to stop me :P

[hamsterjill]

11. They do it in San Antonio!!!

They do that in San Antonio on a regular basis.

They also move over ahead of their turn when on an entrance ramp. Then try to run you over when you try to enter. Those solid white lines mean nothing to them. I get sick of that. And it's almost invariably someone in a bubba truck!

[kentauros]

17. And San Antornio has some crazy intersections, too!

I haven't been there in 30 years, though. Things have probably changed a bit. A bumpersticker idea I once had was "Caution: Courteous Driver" but I haven't made one because I'm not always the most courteous, either, like moving forward until I'm on the bumper ahead of me just to let the impatient one get into the left-turn lane only to then watch them run the red just to "make the turn" ;)

[Tobin S.]

14. Yes, they do that everywhere

Mostly in the major urban areas, but them country folks do it too sometimes.

[kentauros]

16. I was wondering about that.

I just wonder what started it because I don't remember that behavior in the first three-quarters of my driving experience...

I know from talking with my parents that in the country around them (Dripping Springs, Texas) that many of the residents aren't country folk; they're most all from Austin, moving further and further out, like they do here in Houston. So, they're bringing their bad driving habits with them.

[WolverineDG]

19. yes, I've seen that

not just in Houston, but locally, in San Antonio, etc.

Conversely, you have the assholes in the oncoming lanes who slow down the second they see you want to turn left....fast enough that you can't turn without having an accident, but slow enough that they can make the green light without enough time left for you to turn before it turns red. :grr:

dg

[kentauros]

22. I don't think I've noticed that "technique".

Usually, I'm just trying to make sure I can make the left-turn at the light at all without either getting hit by an oncoming straggler coming out of a nearby driveway or rear-ending the yahoo that wants to make a left turn into a strip-center ten feet from the intersection! (They've just turned left in front of me, only to stop dead in the road because the cross-traffic is stopped for their red and they can't cross through. Idiots all!)

And don't get me started about the overly-cautious! :P

[Forkboy]

6. That's a good day on Mass. highways.

:)

[Kali]

7. Hey Tobin!

driveshaft carrier bearing for me!

fucking dodge!

hope your day gets better, I think I'm going to start drinking:rofl: :cry:

[rrneck]

8. I always heard speeding tickets for trucks were godawful outrageous. nt

[Tobin S.]

15. I don't know if they are more than car speeding tickets

But the ramifications of getting speeding tickets when you are a trucker are much more severe. Many companies won't hire you if you have more than 3 speeding tickets in a three year period. If you are convicted of two 15 over tickets in a truck in a three year period you'll lose your license for 60 days, probably lose your job, and nobody will hire you.

[amerikat]

9. At least your not........

Broke Down South of Dallas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRlcWvVYItA&feature=related

[av8rdave]

10. When someone flips me off (happens a lot in Dallas), here's what I do

I wait a few minutes. Those morans generally have pretty short memories. Then I pull alongside them in the adjacent lane, and when they look over at me, I point frantically at one of their wheels, and mouth the words, "there's something wrong!" I get pretty emphatic about it. Eventually, if I don't see them pull off, I shrug my shoulders as if to say, "well, I tried" and drive off.

Normally, even an inspection from a good mechanic won't put their small mind at ease.

[elleng]

12. Sorry, dear Tobin, but there's a lot of 'crap' in the air. Don't take it personally.

[Rambis]

13. Sorry Dude- I got spit on in Omaha once

Once

[struggle4progress]

18. A lot of Texans think the posted limit is the minimum average speed.

So when driving the 570 miles from Dallas to El Paso, a posted limit of 70 would mean you should expect to do the drive in 8 hours or less. You're gonna stop for restrooms a couple of times, plus a lunch break, so that's 6 hours or less of actual driving time, which means you should plan on driving at least 95

[kentauros]

21. Thankfully the drive to Austin for me is on SH-290.

People try to do the same thing, except when the numerous State Troopers along that route find them ;)

It's a much nicer drive than the Interstates and fewer cars :)

[kimi]

20. I had the opportunity to drive with a Texan recently

I was visiting with him, and he lives in Arlington, we were in Ft Worth.

I live in the DC area myself, and thought that I'd seen crazy traffic. Well, it's nuthin compared to Dallas-area traffic!! I was amazed.

Take care, Tobin. Be safe.

[pitohui]

23. that;s texas all over

the cops always looking to hand out tickets to people from out of town yet the local drivers trying to hurry you

fuck 'em and go the speed limit and fuck 'em again

[mzteris]

24. you're in TEXAS -

what do you expect?

sorry, hon. How about a :hug: ?

[Haole Girl]

25. Can you imagine - just imagine - living here 21 years?!

:cry:

[Tobin S.]

26. I feel for you, Haole Girl

I'm sure there are a lot of good people in Texas, including you, but I ran across some of the bad ones today. I'm up in Sanger right now at the Walmart distribiution center...this day hasn't gotten any better. Aside from having to help keep one of the world's most evil companies afloat, these Walmart DCs suck from a trucking perspective. I had 8 skids on, not even a fourth of my trailer, and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm still here at midnight. I got here at 7pm.

Then I have to go down to Irving and pick up a load I booked earlier today. I told the guy the deal with Walmart and he acted like it was okay, but I wouldn't be surpised if I have to wait until tomorrow night to get loaded.