Reckless or normal ?

[Tommy]

After reading a thread on the Australian Cobra Club forum ( link ), I wanted to make a point. But rather than intrude on that thread, I decided to start this new one. I’ve long noted that many of the disagreements over issues related to aggressive driving on public roads come down to differing opinions about how most of us drive our cars. The “safety crowd” to which I belong, argues that only thoughtlessly reckless people drive aggressively on public roads. The “lighten up crowd” argues that everyone who owns a Cobra drives it aggressively some time. As driving a Cobra aggressively is normal in their eyes, the safety crowd is a bunch of hypocrites. Each side thinks it is right, and nothing I will say will likely change any of those opinions.

The point I wanted to make regards an observation about human behavior that has been used by many businesses screening potential employees for some time. Employers would like to screen out people who would likely steal from them if hired. But few people are dumb enough to answer “yes” to a questionnaire asking, “Do you think it is alright for you to steal from your employer?” However, it turns out that most of us humans think that our way of seeing the world is typical of the way most people see it. So many people will answer “yes” to the question, “Do you think most people occasionally steal things at work?” It turns out that people who think most people are thieves find it easy to rationalize their own behavior when they decide to steal a company pencil, calculator, car battery, tank of gas, or credit card.

So, I believe it is normal for each of us to assume that most of the world agrees with our point of view. Thus the safety crowd thinks most people drive safely and that only the reckless do otherwise. Likewise, the lighten up crowd thinks most people regularly drive aggressively and people who claim otherwise are hypocrites. Each side must adhere to its point of view to justify its own behavior. It turns out that one side of this particular argument must be wrong, but neither side is likely to ever give in.

[392cobra]

I think both sides are wrong.

I don't think most drive safely. A study was recently done that found most people who have been for a few years can not pass the written part of the Driver's License Test.That's not safe.

I don't think most people drive aggressively either. They are just generally clueless as to how to drive properly.

[mreid]

Most people are hypocrits in one way or another. It is simple human nature to damn one person for their transgressions and then turn around and justify your own. From a driving perspective, this can run from speeding to parking to handicap violations to driving under the influence to "demonstrations of power". All illegal, but justified in the minds of the perpetrator. We have all done it to some degree at some point in our lives. It's unfortunate when it is done in a car as unique and recognizable as a Cobra or other classic as some people will then damn the entire hobby.

[Buzz]

Someone one this forum has a byline that sums it up very nicely. I've seen it in various versions and it always gives me a chuckle. It goes something like:

"Have you ever noticed that anyone who is driving faster than you is a bloody maniac and anyone driving slower than you is a friggin' idiot?"

[Sawdust]

bi-line by "sundude"

[Bob In Ct]

Borrowed from George Carlin.

Bob

[deckofficer]

I feel I can weigh in one this one. Some of you know I posted a "spirited" driving video on the automotive forums I belong to. My forum and the 2 Cobra forums were the only ones I didn't take a lot of heat on. The powers to be over at the HAMB gave me a lifetime ban from that forum, which is a loss for me as that is the largest forum I belonged to.

I look at it this way, I don't know what kind of driver you folks are and the same applies to me, so I will never toss out negative comments on someone's driving from just watching a video. I have owned performance type cars all my life, have driven 2 lifetimes ( 2 mil+ miles), have never had an accident and have managed to avoid getting involved in other's accidents. Part of the ability to avoid other's accidents is to know the handleing charcteristics of your ride, so you know what you can get away with to avoid being part of someone else'e accident. Other than on Track Days, a lot of this knowledge is gained when driving on public roads and when conditions and lack of traffic permits, to push your car a bit. I'm lucky and mostly have lived rural with great, smooth 2 lane mountain roads to drive without traffic.

Poor drivers are generally distracted drivers. The normal distractions are screaming kids, texting or talking on the cell phone, engaged in conversation with your passenger, being lost in an area, well you get the idea. I would much rather share the road with fast, aggressive drivers piloting their Cobra or other total performance cars, alone in the car than any of the above distracted type of drivers.

Again, I thank this forum for not ripping me a new one from just viewing that video.

[Silverback51]

This is one of those situations where it does not matter what anyone says, we will not change the other side. No different than politics.

The only thing I will say is that how any of us behaves reflects on everyone else.

If a person see's a sports car, hot rod, jacked up 4X4, etc. (well you get the idea) doing something irresponsible, then it reflects on all of us. The next time that person see's another vehicle like the one he seen doing something, then he remembers that and thinks that other person is the same as the first one. Not right, but that is human nature.

[deckofficer]

Guess it is a good thing my ride doesn't look like anyone's other than mine. Two weeks ago I was pulled over by a CHP officer on the freeway heading to visit my Dad at the hospital. He had followed me for 3 miles on surface streets and lit me up after I got on hwy 50 eastbound. When he came up to my car, the first thing he said was "I'm not stopping you for any infraction, in fact I've never done this before and was willing to wait till you pulled into a destination, but was thinking once on 50 you might be heading to Tahoe". There was no problem, he was apoligetic and hoped I wouldn't be upset, but he said he has seen my car all over the Internet, on the walls of local eateries, and on East Coast Hot Rod retailer's sites. The pictures indicated I was a local and this was his first time of seeing it in person. Needless to say, I wasn't upset and answered all of his questions. I didn't ask, and he didn't say if he viewed the videos.

[Avmaviator]

There are times where it is more "okay" to be "aggressive" such as an empty farm road or a long stretch of interstate with nobody around. But also, there are times when is it not acceptable to be "aggressive" and such (high traffic areas, neighborhoods, etc..).

The problem is that every bodies definition of a safe "arena" for opening up your car differs.

For me, if I'm somewhere where the only person I could hurt if something goes wrong is me, then it is "Safe". If they are people around and such, I keep it "slow".

[Jamo]

I don't really care how others drive...just stay the hell out of the left lane.

...just sayin

[jams]

Anyone who drives slower than us is an idiot and anyone who drives faster than us is an a-hole.

I think it is stated in the NY drivers manual that you must drive below the prescribed speed limit in the left lane to piss off NJ drivers. I hear other states have similar laws.

[Bill Bess]

Hmmm! the government makes the laws for whatever reason, we tend to violate them for whatever reason. We're both correct.

The question should be do I care if I kill myself and others because I can drive fast, or do I want to live, not hurt anyone and be within the law.

We all think we are right! Now pick up your cell phone, grab that big gulp, adjust your sunglasses and punch it.....we can be good at doing all this and being safe.
Bill
Does this make any sense at all?

[Jamo]

Almost...

I sorta like "lead, follow or get the hell out of the way" regardless of whether it's the road or the checkout line at the local supermarket.

The two approaches can co-exist if one remembers not to bring 20 items into the express lane.

[Buzz]

Wel sed Bigga Brudda.

[HI Cobra]

Consideration of others and situational awareness eliminate most of these
problems. Just sayin.