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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Worst States to Drive are not a Surprise

Driving in SW Florida can be a challenge or a pleasure. The difference depends largely on the season. Snowbird season in Naples makes the roads more crowded with drivers who do not have the same courtesy and safety habits as our year-round residents. It seems many of the drivers have not recently been through driver safety training. Come to my AARP Driver Safety Course and I can give you some tips. Find a class near you at www.AARP.com/Driver



Florida is not the worst state in which to drive. Forbes listed the worst states to drive within the United States, based on gas prices, safety, insurance, infrastructure, and legal protections. California was the worst, followed by:



Illinois

New York

Michigan

Alaska





South Carolina was rated the best state for drivers, followed by:



Nebraska

Missouri

North Dakota

Mississippi



I like driving in the Carolinas and Florida best of any states. Read the Forbes article and tell me if you agree.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1542/the-best-and-worst-states-for-drivers/



This is Rob G asking you to drive like me.

Never use the Car Horn to Express Emotion

While driving in SW Florida I sometimes witness a careless driving act where two cars almost collide. The "violated" driver sounds the horn to get the violators attention and avoid a collision. Good, that is what the horn is designed for.



However, many other drivers continue to blow the horn even after the danger is cleared. Wrong action that defines road rage. This action can also cause certain gestures and even escalate to violence.



Here is a driving tip. Just breath, inhale...exhale...repeat.



There is little to be gained by escalating this incident. Are you trying to start a fight? Are you ready for a gun battle? Even if you win the fight you will face a lengthy trial and certain prison sentence. Why?



As a former police officer named Chuck F. told me his driving tip. Think of the acronym FIDO, which stands for: Forget It, Drive On.

Excellent advice to avoid an even worse situation than the collision itself.

This is Rob G. asking all of you to Drive Like Me.



Tell those hot-heads to follow me at http://www.drivelikeme.com/.

Disabled Traffic Signal Becomes a Four-Way Stop

Power outages happen frequently in SW Florida and elsewhere nationwide. What does a driver do when power is out and the traffic light does not work? Treat the intersection as a four-way stop sign.

Who goes first? There is a standard order for vehicles to proceed safely through the intersection. One must first come to a full and complete stop. Then use this order as compiled from the Florida Driver Safety Manual and the AARP Driver Safety Program:

First- the first car to the intersection is the first to go.

Second- if two cars get to the intersection at the same time, drivers must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on their right (right has the right-of-way)

Third- if two cars get to the intersection at the same time from opposite directions, vehicles turning should yield the right-of-way to vehicles going straight. Vehicles going straight have the right-of-way.

Be cautious of protected routes where one direction may have a yield sign or a flashing red or yellow signal. These signals take precedence over these rules.

Remember that one must not take the right-of-way, the other driver must GIVE the right-of-way.

Keep the roads and highways safer. Take a driving course to sharpen your skills and update your knowledge. Take a friend and make your roads safer for everyone.

This is Rob G asking you to Drive Like Me.