I am not doing a lot of driving lately so I am taking a break from this website www.DriveLikeMe.com. Visit http://www.SportOpinionGuy.com to read my new blog posts.
Safe driving,
Rob
Safe driving,
Rob
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Crashing Chevy's- 1959 versus 2009
Those giant passenger cars of 1959 would be like tanks on the road today. There is a highway safety video showing the 1959 Chevy crashing head-on with a 2009 Chevy. The crash video is incredible and shows many different angles. i would not have guessed the results.
Both cars received incredible damage. The safety experts determined the driver of the 2009 Chevey would have an injured leg. The driver of the 1959 Chevy would have died on impact.
A participant in my AARP Driver Safety Program was a former safety engineer for a major manufacturer. He said 40% of the price of a new car is for safety features. It is clear from the crash results that the safety features are working.
View the video: http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/7322/offset-crash-test-video-1959-chevy-bel-air-vs-2009-chevy-malibu
This is Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
Both cars received incredible damage. The safety experts determined the driver of the 2009 Chevey would have an injured leg. The driver of the 1959 Chevy would have died on impact.
A participant in my AARP Driver Safety Program was a former safety engineer for a major manufacturer. He said 40% of the price of a new car is for safety features. It is clear from the crash results that the safety features are working.
View the video: http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/7322/offset-crash-test-video-1959-chevy-bel-air-vs-2009-chevy-malibu
This is Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Lane-Weaving Speeder- Stay Clear!
I am driving in the center lane of a three-lane highway when a car driving at least 90 mph blew past on the right and cut in front of me. He was going so fast i did not even pick him up in my mirror checks every few seconds. Then the car cut back to the right, in front of another car. I am guessing that the speeding driver was angry at the slower car in the right lane. The speeder could have stayed in the far left lane and got through just fine.
He was going too fast to get the plate number and dial *347 to report him as a reckless driver. Lucky him.
Speeders may have been going to the hospital with a sick child or going to a fire, literally. That is why I never purposely block their path. Even if the person is just a jerk, stay away and let the person through. Blocking the lane can be dangerous for you and anyone behind you.
So move over and let the jerk fly past. Hope the next car he passes is an unmarked police car with an angry officer at the wheel.
The seasonal people are back in SW Florida. Watch out, be more alert and cautious. I know I will be driving my BMW much more defensively. So much for "Paradise Driving."
I'm Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
He was going too fast to get the plate number and dial *347 to report him as a reckless driver. Lucky him.
Speeders may have been going to the hospital with a sick child or going to a fire, literally. That is why I never purposely block their path. Even if the person is just a jerk, stay away and let the person through. Blocking the lane can be dangerous for you and anyone behind you.
So move over and let the jerk fly past. Hope the next car he passes is an unmarked police car with an angry officer at the wheel.
The seasonal people are back in SW Florida. Watch out, be more alert and cautious. I know I will be driving my BMW much more defensively. So much for "Paradise Driving."
I'm Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
BMW Service, the Good and Bad
Not all dealerships are alike. I bought a used 1997 BMW a year ago when I moved to SW Florida and have had terrific service at the Naples, FL dealership. Unlucky for me, there is another dealership that is closer to my work so I took my car there. Only 36,000 miles so the low mileage performance is all there.
I took my car to the "other" BMW dealership for a simple oil change and because the airbag light was on. They also replaced a $40 bulb in the tail light. The total bill was over $700. Whaaaaaat???
So they call me and said my car was ready. I went after work to pick it up and waited and waited and ... a half hour later they said if I could just wait a bit they would also wash the car. WAIT a bit??? Wait even more??? Just bring my car.
I jumped in my car and saw the "check engine" light was now on. I returned and the not-so-friendly advisor said to bring it back in a few days if the light was still on. Huh??? I would call that unsafe, maybe careless or dangerous. What do you think?
I drove home and found fluid leaking from under the car. I imagined it was just some oil that dripped off. WRONG!!! I dropped off the BMW again at the same dealership and there is a broken transmission bracket and a severed transmission line. Plus, they want to replace another part that MIGHT cause a problem. For $1,000! I assure you that I baby this car and did not hit anything. Who do you think damaged my car?
BMW has failed, big time!!! I can't wait to get the bill so I can post a mega-rant on http://www.skidmarkoftheweek.com/.
Just to make things worse for them, I will not fill out the comment cards or surveys they send. Let the owner figure out on his/her own why they are losing business.
They can't really think I would trade-in my car on another BMW after this. Maybe they don't care.
I am Rob G. asking you to DriveLikeMe.
Tell your friends and neighbors to be cautious. I learned the hard way. That's all I can say.
I took my car to the "other" BMW dealership for a simple oil change and because the airbag light was on. They also replaced a $40 bulb in the tail light. The total bill was over $700. Whaaaaaat???
So they call me and said my car was ready. I went after work to pick it up and waited and waited and ... a half hour later they said if I could just wait a bit they would also wash the car. WAIT a bit??? Wait even more??? Just bring my car.
I jumped in my car and saw the "check engine" light was now on. I returned and the not-so-friendly advisor said to bring it back in a few days if the light was still on. Huh??? I would call that unsafe, maybe careless or dangerous. What do you think?
I drove home and found fluid leaking from under the car. I imagined it was just some oil that dripped off. WRONG!!! I dropped off the BMW again at the same dealership and there is a broken transmission bracket and a severed transmission line. Plus, they want to replace another part that MIGHT cause a problem. For $1,000! I assure you that I baby this car and did not hit anything. Who do you think damaged my car?
BMW has failed, big time!!! I can't wait to get the bill so I can post a mega-rant on http://www.skidmarkoftheweek.com/.
Just to make things worse for them, I will not fill out the comment cards or surveys they send. Let the owner figure out on his/her own why they are losing business.
They can't really think I would trade-in my car on another BMW after this. Maybe they don't care.
I am Rob G. asking you to DriveLikeMe.
Tell your friends and neighbors to be cautious. I learned the hard way. That's all I can say.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Personalized License Plates
Many drivers in SW Florida display personalized license plates to show a bit of personality and sometimes humor. Today the Naples Daily News listed a few and I will share some with you:
BN BOATN
HU CARES
IMLATE
N SUR U
FLU BYE (ON A FERRARI)
PARADYZ
RL NAUTI
MI401K
LOOAVUL (HINT: IT IS A BIG CITY IN KENTUCKY)
OL HIPPE
SR RITAS
Have fun and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!
This is Rob G. asking you to DriveLikeMe.
BN BOATN
HU CARES
IMLATE
N SUR U
FLU BYE (ON A FERRARI)
PARADYZ
RL NAUTI
MI401K
LOOAVUL (HINT: IT IS A BIG CITY IN KENTUCKY)
OL HIPPE
SR RITAS
Have fun and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!
This is Rob G. asking you to DriveLikeMe.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Turning Left Across Traffic
SW Florida can be a challenging place to drive. Teaching an AARP Driver Safety Class in Bonita Springs, FL allowed me to teach the participants as well as learn from their experiences. To get the right image, picture that drivers are turning left into a shopping plaza on your left while oncoming drivers uses the same break in the median to turn into a plaza on your right.
Ed and Louise debated how to turn left at a break in the median when oncoming cars were pulling into the same median break. They debated whether to turn in front of the oncoming cars or to pull in behind them, looping around them.
Ed made a good call when he insisted he will turn left before he reaches the oncoming car and will not loop past the car before turning left. He said oncoming cars could pull in front of him and block his turn. Good point.
I think turning left before you get to the oncoming car will allow smoother traffic flow and a safer traffic pattern. Note: if this advise conflicts with local traffic laws or signage, loop around as instructed. Use your best judgement to avoid a crash.
This is Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
Tell drivers over 50 to attend an AARP driver Safety Program to help drivers improve their driving skills. Find an AARP Driving Course at www.AARP.com/driver.
Ed and Louise debated how to turn left at a break in the median when oncoming cars were pulling into the same median break. They debated whether to turn in front of the oncoming cars or to pull in behind them, looping around them.
Ed made a good call when he insisted he will turn left before he reaches the oncoming car and will not loop past the car before turning left. He said oncoming cars could pull in front of him and block his turn. Good point.
I think turning left before you get to the oncoming car will allow smoother traffic flow and a safer traffic pattern. Note: if this advise conflicts with local traffic laws or signage, loop around as instructed. Use your best judgement to avoid a crash.
This is Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.
Tell drivers over 50 to attend an AARP driver Safety Program to help drivers improve their driving skills. Find an AARP Driving Course at www.AARP.com/driver.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Allow them to Change Lanes
Watching my son drive in Seattle was a much different experience than driving in SW Florida. My son proved to me that putting on his turn signal caused any gap in the next lane to dissolve. Amazing!
When changing lanes in Naples or Fort Myers, FL, we put on our turn signal and the gap actually widens. Better drivers make room for the lane-changing car. We need to spread the word across the nation.
I suggest that Seattle drivers go back to driving school and get some driving tips on how to change lanes safely. Closing up gaps is dangerous and forces drivers to hide their intentions and eliminate lane-changing turn signals. Bad idea and not very safe.
When a driver sees the turn signal please back off and let the other driver merge in front. Give that driver enough buffer to get in safely and quickly. Restore your normal following distance and enjoy the feeling you are making the roads safer.
This is Rob G asking you to Drive Like Me.
When changing lanes in Naples or Fort Myers, FL, we put on our turn signal and the gap actually widens. Better drivers make room for the lane-changing car. We need to spread the word across the nation.
I suggest that Seattle drivers go back to driving school and get some driving tips on how to change lanes safely. Closing up gaps is dangerous and forces drivers to hide their intentions and eliminate lane-changing turn signals. Bad idea and not very safe.
When a driver sees the turn signal please back off and let the other driver merge in front. Give that driver enough buffer to get in safely and quickly. Restore your normal following distance and enjoy the feeling you are making the roads safer.
This is Rob G asking you to Drive Like Me.
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