| Author |
Message |
    
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1674
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 3:17 pm: | 
|
shh, I think you are right. I've seen that on the highway.
Dave, all kidding aside approaching people like this always makes me nervous especially when I have my wife and son in the car. While killing my be a little over the top, the fact that people like him get away with things like that without caring is what appalls me. Nice, fancy new car and you throw your trash out the window.
A quick call to the Millburn PD confirmed what others have said. While I was thanked, I was told that it was highly unlikely that they would follow through because other than my testimony there is no corraborating evidence. |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 815
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 3:31 pm: |
|
This reminds me of one time, where I was driving on the GSPNorth, just south of the (ex)Raritan Tolls.
I were on the express lanes going around 75mi/h on the right lane, when two cars squeezed in right before me cutting me and others off, going at least 85 mi/h.
At the same time I saw a cop entering the local lanes. The speeders never saw him, he kept nicely next to/behind them for about 5 miles. I just so new what would happen, and sure enough right at the merge of express and local lanes he pulled them both over.
Sweet. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 1635
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 6:25 pm: |
|
"A quick call to the Millburn PD confirmed what others have said. While I was thanked, I was told that it was highly unlikely that they would follow through because other than my testimony there is no corraborating evidence."
Bet that Burger King bag is still there...  |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 410
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 8:21 pm: |
|
Note to shh -- 711 will get you to the TDD relay operator -- that's how I call my deaf mother -- I speak and the operator types to her on her TDD machine. Nice people, but they don't do anything about traffic violations.  |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 9:04 pm: |
|
Wait a second. The guy was speeding (70mph), weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights and stop signs and you still managed to stay with him from the Top to Linen's and Things? You caught him at the lights? Sorry, I'm not buying it. It sounds like he pissed you off and you were in hot pursuit. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1564
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 9:45 pm: |
|
Anyone viewing a motor vehicle violation has the right to sign a citizen's complaint. But then you have to "prosecute" the case.
|
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 577
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 11:37 pm: |
|
Joe R.
I think Sports explanation (that the jerk was being caught by the same lights as him) is entirely plausible. I've seen enough erratic drivers weaving at high speeds while I kept pace, driving at a sane rate in the left lane. I'll concede that on highways I'm typically over the posted speed limit, but travelling in the passing lane (while moving over for faster drivers) usually gets me where I need to be quicker than the lunatic who flies by me on my right. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5009
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 11:47 pm: |
|
If I pass you on the right on the highway, it's your fault for leaving that space open. You're supposed to keep right, except to pass. (I know, no one does it, so no one is expected to do that. But I would ticket people for not moving to the right, if I were a cop.) By driving in the middle lane and not using the right lane, you are effectively choosing to occupy two lanes, unless I pass you on the right. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 579
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 12:36 am: |
|
I agree in principle Tom, that's why I said I move over for faster drivers. But in reality the most agressive drivers (like the one Sports described) don't give you the opportunity to extend that courtesy. They love to weave, it makes them think they're in an action movie. Also it sounds like you're talking about a 3 lane highway. With 3 lanes I think it's unwise to travel in the right lane. Leave the right lane to those vehicles that are either exiting or entering the highway. The middle lane is for the medium speed drivers, the left lane is for the faster drivers. I typically drive in the left lane, because it's actually safer, but make a point of keeping abreast of what's behind me.
All that being said, since I grew up in suburban New Jersey, using a 3 lane highway is second nature. Whereas since you grew up in Manhattan, you probably have no idea what do on the open highway, and therefore should confine yourself to backroads or, better yet, mass transit.  |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5010
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 7:17 am: |
|
Well, we sure have drifted, haven't we? My fault.
For three lane highways, which are actually called six lane highways, I agree that weaving is the real problem. I pass people on the right without weaving, because, as we agree, fast weaving is rude and dangerous.
I suppose you're joking about me staying off the highways because of where I grew up. Most of my training as a driver was here in NJ. I've living and driving here since 1987.
I disagree about leaving the right lane open exclusively for exiters and enterers. That's a lot of "wasted" bandwidth, and everyone could move faster if we used it. But I do agree that the faster you are going, the "lefter" you should be. I agree that you should move right if someone comes up from behind, whatever lane you are in. So few people do that, especially if they are in the middle lane.
|
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1676
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 7:22 am: |
|
JoeR - he ran one stop sign, the one at the Top. That leaves seven other stop lights between there and Linen's and Things plus one stop sign. Don't believe me give it a try for yourself. Drive down the hill at top speed, chances are if you don't get caught by the light at the end of the hill the one by St. Barnabus will get you. Then of course there is the long light at JFK Parkway. Then the most annoying one is actually the one where you enter rte. 10. We had to wait two cycles on that one.
I don't weave in and out of traffic especially with the wife and kid in the car. Yes, I was pissed off, as was my wife, but not enough to put ourselves in danger.
I agree about driving in the left lane - I find it safer. My one pet peeve is that people generally have no perception when it comes to judging how fast a car is approaching from behind and thus I constantly see people pull from the middle lane into the left lane right into the path of someone who is speeding in the left hand lane. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 580
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 9:04 am: |
|
Yes Tom, I was kidding. As far as leaving the right lane "exclusively" for exiting and entering, I would say "primarily," but people who travel slower than the average flow of traffic should be in the right lane too.
I'd also say you need to be patient with driving and avoid passing on the right especially when travelling in the middle lane--since there's just too much going on in the right lane. When some pinhead's dawdling in the left lane, give him some time to recognize that there's a car that's fairly close (without tailgating) rather than going around. Hopefully, he'll take a cursory glance in the rearview at some point during his cell phone conversation, and it will occur to him that perhaps he should move over to let you pass. Unfortunately, pinheads by their very nature dawdle in the left lane--only leaving the left lane when they see that their exit is 100 yards up the road.
Really driver training in this state (and I guess in this country as a whole) is a joke. I took my driving test in Eatontown. The test course was akin to a kiddie ride at an amusment park. I passed and after that I was "legally" qualified to hop behind the wheel and deal with the dreaded Eatontown circle. Of course my mom insisted on driving home. I didn't put up a fight, because I wanted no part of that chaotic traffic pattern. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 1744
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 9:21 am: |
|
Occasionally, on those 3- or 6-lane highways (whatever), I have seen signs that instructed drivers that the right lane was for slower/exiting/entering traffic, middle lane for "through" traffic and left lane for "passing". I more or less interpret this as the middle lane being the assumed correct lane if you are traveling at the speed limit and then adjust from there for my speed as well as traffic conditions. I also find it very frustrating to move over (sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right as conditions dictate) in order to let a speeder by and then getting "stuck" in the right or left lane, which is almost never appropriate to my ongoing travel. If the speeding vehicle that is overtaking me is able to pass me, I usually do not move over, although the "no trucks in left lane" rule complicates that, and I do try to move over for the trucks. I'm not sure that I really see the value in that rule, especially when the speeding laws are not vigorously enforced against those trucks (or anyone else for that matter.)
I am speaking as a regular commuter on I-78 to Hunterdon County. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5011
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 9:30 am: |
|
Yeah, my ex-wife took her NJ "road" test not on a road, but on a track, in Rahway. No traffic! And the intersections don't resemble real ones. |
gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 588
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:29 pm: |
|
I took my road test in Pennsylvania. It was like a kiddie ride course behind the state police barracks. At the time, the only road test on the road I knew of was when Marcia and Greg Brady were getting their licenses!  |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 587
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:34 pm: |
|
I gotta beat Marsha! I gotta beat Marsha! |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4917
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:34 pm: |
|
Just my luck. I had a an army drill sargeant on real roads in Morristown.
"Left here"
"Sir, Yes Sir!" |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1391
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:34 pm: |
|
My motorcycle test consisted of riding down the street about 50 yards and then making an ILLEAGEL u-turn, and then ride back. I asked if it was a trap, and the woman said “No but you're the one risking your life on that thing. So we just want to make sure you can make it out of the parking lot.” |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5020
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:40 pm: |
|
That gave me a laugh, Brett. But then I realized that yes, you're risking your life when on your motorcycle, but you're risking everyone else's life when in your car. Why does our society take this so unseriously? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1393
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:46 pm: |
|
I was pretty surprising but the woman was right. I would have to aim at someone and try my hardest to hit them if they tried to move.
It is strange though with everyone trying to protect everyone from themselves, motorcyclists can go out and try to kill ourselves on a daily basis and the worst anyone can do is force us to wear a helmet.
|
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5021
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 3:48 pm: |
|
I'm fascinated with people's distorted views of risk. People thought I was nuts to threaten a guy when he almost ran me down in a crosswalk. Sure, I was nuts, but I wasn't the one posing the threat; the driver was.
I've ridden my bicycle many places, and people tell me I'm nuts. That's because of the danger they pose, not the danger I pose.
Motorcycle liability insurance is cheap, because you don't threaten much. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1395
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 4:01 pm: |
|
I've been stopped three times on my bike and have NEVER been asked for an insurance card (I am insured). One time I didn't even have a motorcycle license, just a regular one.
BTW throwing a magazine at a SUV is no way to earn a Nobel Peace Prize.
|
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5022
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 4:46 pm: |
|
Hey, I didn't defend my action as sensible! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3614
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 5:58 pm: |
|
Had a great one just happen on my way home....
Heading east on Springfield, I was cruising along at a whopping 20mph. Suddenly, a car (which was stopped to make a left hand turn from the westbound lane into the Buy Wise lot) started flashing his brights at me & jumped in front of me to make the turn. If I weren't quick on the brakes, I'd have slammed right into his right front side.
I'm really lucky that the guy behind me stopped; last year, I had an accident with $10k worth of damage to my car & it spent 7 weeks in the shop when another jerk jumped in front of me & the guy behind me didn't stop in time.
I just don't get people some times. Is there really any that much of an emergency? If a life is at stake, call an ambulance. Otherwise, learn to friggin' drive or get off the road.
As has been said before, where's a cop when you need one? |
newone
Citizen
Username: Newone
Post Number: 189
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 9:16 am: |
|
I think it's the old "I'm more important than you" syndrome. Just like people who double park to pick up their pizza instead of walking a whole 100 feet from the parking spot that's open. They don't care that they're backing up the street because they're the "important" ones. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 349
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 7:06 pm: |
|
This woman once nearly backed into me in the middle of Maplewood Avenue. I was walking near the corner of Ken's Drugs, and this car let me go by to cross to The Stationers, and she was in the middle of the street, and I crossed, and she was holding up traffic, and when I was crossing, she bolted back, and the other car that had just let me cross the street was still being held up by this woman, and I jumped out of the way, and she finally sped off. No idea what she was doing, but I took down her plates and called the non-emergency line, and they looked up the plates and said they'd talk to her. So it's never too late, they could still talk to this person, and say "hey, you're a freaking idiot." |
suzanneng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 227
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 10:14 pm: |
|
To add to Tom's post with local police dept non-emergency numbers:
"And since you should not use 911, I took down the numbers of the neighboring police departments, and I carry them with me. Stick this in your wallet or in your PDA or on your dashboard:
Irvingon Police 973-399-6600
Maplewood Police 973-762-3400
Millburn Police 973-564-7001
Newark Police 973-733-3000
South Orange Police 973-763-3000
Springfield Police 973-376-0400
Union Police 908-851-5000 "
Thanks Tom R, and I'd like to add:
West Orange Police - 973-325-4000
Livingston Police - 973-992-3000 #4 for Non-emergency
Verona Police - 973-857-4809
East Hanover Police - 973-887-0432
And someone earlier mentioned 711 for reporting reckless drivers - they were probably thinking of #77 (pound sign, 7 7 ) which connects to the NJ State Police.
However, check out these links:
http://www.911dispatch.com/911_file/mobilenumbers.html
http://www.nextel.com/services/digitalcellular/star_pound_dialing.shtml |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page