The world almost won today [also: why I don't put a lot of stock in having nice things]

[stoopid]

Have had a few close calls over the years, this might have been the closest at highway speeds. This was earlier today. Details are also in the video description. [tl;dr - everything is fine] For those of you still on the fence as to whether a dashcam is valuable... unless you drive like these idiots, in which case sucks for you people like me have one.

2021 03 17, I15 Southbound ramp to merge onto 215 Eastbound. My car suffered very minor damage (buffed out a scuff and a *tiny* dent), which I didn't even realize got bumped by the car that came into my lane even though it was clearly very close to being a bigger mess.

To understand what happens:

1) small white car is entering traffic from an onramp, its lane soon ending
2) the car next to me enters frame and blocks out the smaller white car who is going to need to merge [the white car's lane is ending]
3) car in the lane next to me swerves into my lane to avoid the small white car suddenly entering their lane

Conclusion:

1) the car next to me should have slowed to let the white car merge
2) the white car should have slowed knowing their lane was ending (clearly indicated by the road signage) and merged behind the car next to me
3) the car next to me, in striking my vehicle, would have been at fault for making an unsafe lane change

Luckily no one was hurt [pace of traffic in this video was likely 60MPH] and my 4,000 mile new vehicle did not suffer any damages worth claiming/noting. Vegas has a lot of bad drivers, and most of them suffer the Dunning Kruger effect. If someone knows they're a bad driver, they're more cautious and pay attention. Here, there's MANY bad drivers but instead of being vigilant they text, drink/smoke pot, eat their lunch, talk on their cell phones, put on makeup, flirt with other drivers, intentionally mess with others on the road [which is likely what the car next to me was doing to the white car], etc.

 

[CeramicGT001]

Always have to keep an eye on shitboxes like those, by far some of the worst drivers on the road.

It looked like you reacted quick enough, it’s a shame that your baby still had some scuffs.

 

[Devin]

Yikes!

 

[ShannonC]

Did the arsehole stop?

 

[DoctorStiches]

Funny enough. Of the many cars ive owned and drivin and even drove hard as hell this stinger is the only thing that has almost been hit by idiots on the road.
I can think of 3 instances just like your video that have nearly knocked me out and off the road.

My favorite was a tacoma with a small lift and trail 'gear' bolted to the bed. He was beside me speed matching in the center lane. I assume many drivers subconsciously go the same speed as the car next to them because they are robots. But anyway.

After no less than 5 miles of this tacoma right next to me in heavy traffic he begins to change into my lane with no warning on a right hand curve. I honk and move half way off the road and he notices as he puts 2 wheels in my lane and swerves hard back to his lane.

Then !!!!! I get flipped off and tailgated all the way to my exit.... i still believe he thought i was bullying him not letting him over or something.

Long story thanks for your time.

 

[stoopid]

Did the arsehole stop?

He slowed down, not sure if he thought he hit me (or maybe heard the contact even though I didn't), but I ended up passing them 5 seconds later and going about my day. I noticed the scuffing when I arrived at my destination.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

I will always have a dashcam in my car. I even take one with me when I have a rental, one of the cheap cigarette lighter ones but better to have had one and never needed it over wishing you had one and didn't.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Horrible... glad it didn't cause a massive accident... I think I should invest in a dashcam...

Glad everyone was okay... people like that should have their license suspended...

 

[MerlintheMad]

Dashcam advice, noted again.

Different advice: don't stay alongside anyone. In rush hour, turgid traffic, that can be problematic. But minimize the occurrences as much as possible. I maneuver to get ahead (usually) or give ground so that they can have as much of the road as they seem to insist on. Hah.

 

[stoopid]

Dashcam advice, noted again.

Different advice: don't stay alongside anyone. In rush hour, turgid traffic, that can be problematic. But minimize the occurrences as much as possible. I maneuver to get ahead (usually) or give ground so that they can have as much of the road as they seem to insist on. Hah.

They came up to my right, I was only maintaining my position (distance between me and the vehicle in front of me). I don't see how I needed to do anything different, other than not being born/staying home indefinitely.

While I would consider my defensive driving skills fairly advanced (I could see this potential situation unfold when the white car was entering traffic and the other car suddenly moved up to my right), I lost track of the white car and assumed it had already ducked behind the car to my right. I think my awareness of the potential noted a few seconds before at least had me in a reactive place mentally, which allowed me to react quick enough. I don't think normally my reaction time is *that* good (46 years old with less than perfect vision).

 

[MerlintheMad]

Staying static is the greater danger, in my humble opinion. Making yourself noticeable is always a good thing, if done in a good way; that way you assure yourself that the potential cretin to your side actually does see you're there. Staying on the move through traffic gets you noticed, again in a good way; not gassing and braking like an a**hat ricer boy.

They came up to my right, I was only maintaining my position (distance between me and the vehicle in front of me). I don't see how I needed to do anything different, other than not being born/staying home indefinitely.

While I would consider my defensive driving skills fairly advanced (I could see this potential situation unfold when the white car was entering traffic and the other car suddenly moved up to my right), I lost track of the white car and assumed it had already ducked behind the car to my right. I think my awareness of the potential noted a few seconds before at least had me in a reactive place, which allowed me to react quick enough. I don't think normally my reaction time is *that* good (46 years old with less than perfect vision).

 

[stoopid]

Staying static is the greater danger, in my humble opinion. Making yourself noticeable is always a good thing, if done in a good way; that way you assure yourself that the potential cretin to your side actually does see you're there. Staying on the move through traffic gets you noticed, again in a good way; not gassing and braking like an a**hat ricer boy.

Um, I'll disagree. The guy to my right was following your strategy, and you can see clearly how that turned out for all involved.

Maintaining a predictable position in traffic is almost always the best bet, as people approach one another on the road we take mental notes and track where the vehicles around us are positioned, so any suddenly events can be reacted to with full knowledge of what the outcome of the reaction will be (or where there's room to move if there's a sudden need). Having vehicles suddenly appear out of nowhere and constantly change positions like you describe is the exact opposite of how people can notice/track one another on the road.

 

[DoctorStiches]

As my father said back n the day. Its always better to be infront of stupid and behind crazy.

 

[stoopid]

As my father said back n the day. Its always better to be infront of stupid and behind crazy.

Yup, I would agree with that which is why I've had fairly quick cars in recent years. Unfortunately in the city it's not always an option, and vying for pole position is a perpetual zero sum game as there's always a traffic light or moron going slow in the left lane. I pick my battles on the road, and in this situation I was on a known stretch where there's typically not much to be done other than wait my turn for the main highway merge that was coming up shortly [as demonstrated by my passive positioning in a line of cars in the left lane making our way to merge that will have most of us merging left]..

 

[stoopid]

BTW, I want to be clear that I appreciate the responses, whether I agree with any of them of not. I posted this to generate discussion and thought on how we drive, and/or help refine our observations while we're driving. Figure it could be a learning tool for a few members (like Merlinmad?? ).

 

[DoctorStiches]

Figure it could be a learning tool for a few members (like Merlinmad?? ).

Better reload after firing those shots lol

 

[CeramicGT001]

Staying static is the greater danger, in my humble opinion. Making yourself noticeable is always a good thing, if done in a good way; that way you assure yourself that the potential cretin to your side actually does see you're there. Staying on the move through traffic gets you noticed, again in a good way; not gassing and braking like an a**hat ricer boy.

I just take the route of having a car so loud that everyone around me is forced to recognize my presence whether they enjoy it or not

 

[stoopid]

Better reload after firing those shots lol

Merlinmad (hopefully) knows I respect them, it's all in good fun.

It's also possible my interpretation of what they posted wasn't quite how they meant it, which is fairly common on forums/social media.

 

[CeramicGT001]

Merlinmad (hopefully) knows I respect them, it's all in good fun.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

lmfao the drama and trolling! too funny!!

no but in all seriousness there are way too many low IQ and distracted drivers on the roads... people busy eating something, putting on makeup, taking selfies, or screaming at their kids in the back... or under the influence... lmfao... what a shame...