A peeve here--not yet a pet peeve, but on the way up the scale.
I am on the road many days at 0530 or earlier. With me are a considerable number of pick-up trucks, some of whom are likely tradesmen on their way to the jobsite.
What I have come to notice at this ungodly hour is the disproportionate number of times that I am tail-gated by people driving pick-up trucks. Again, there are probably a higher relative number of trucks on the road at this time--but the observation carries through the day--especially when you add SUV's to the mix.
So my question of you pick-up truck and SUV drivers--do you drive differently in your truck than you do in a passenger car? Am I really off base on this one?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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It's an interesting dynamic. I drive quite politely in my pick up truck, but I similarly find that, more often than not, the larger the pick up (i.e. lift kits, tires designed to traverse the Himalayas, additional lights, and, regrettably, the back window covered with all manner of hunting decals...as well as a "piss on [name your personal irritant]" or two) tend to find it necessary to attempt attaching themselves to my trailer hitch...even when I'm going 10 mph over the speed limit and cars are clearly in front of me in my lane (so going faster is not an option).
I believe there may be a perfectly understandable explanation for this phenomenon. One day, while heading over to a "hail and farewell" at a pub nearby the Pentagon, one of my female co-workers walking in company looked with disdain at the driver of a similarly over-the-top Hummer (that had probably never seen a speck of mud) that was blocking the crosswalk. Once she caught his attention, she said "Sorry about the size of your penis." Perhaps all that truck machofication and associated aggression is really just personal compensation.
On the other hand, are you poking along in the fast lane, drifting off to lala land while listening to your educational cds? That would probably get me on your rear bumper. Especially if you've been assimilated into the Maryland requirement never to use a turn signal unless it is to leave it on with no intention of turning.
Perhaps the pick-ups just appear to be closer because the lights are at a higher level and at 5:30 AM, more noticable in your rear view mirror?
I think there's no difference in between... it is just the way you feel it..
I drive a very large pick-up and don't tailgate. Actually, I drive a little bit slower than everyone else on the beltway (I drive a big truck not a sports car). I usually find that luxury cars are the ones tailgating. Just my observation.
Dave P.
1-2-3 Whaaa!
All kidding aside, I believe Mr. de Plume may be onto something.
Also P/U grills seem to be more square (rectangular) than most sleek car front-ends today. Thus loom larger and appear closer in the rearview mirror.
My P/U is a peach as is the driver!
Just my $.02,
Doc "I can't believe I purchased a GM Product" Milnamo
No fellas, the tailgaiting isn't my imagination. What MAY be is my sense that pickups tailgate MORE than other cars.
I drive a pick up truck and have found that while I drive normally everywhere else I find NVa to be a place where if you give an inch some little bmw or whatever feels the need to slip right in and force me to hit the brakes. Not sure of the rest of the world but NVa creates the tailgate mindset more then anywhere.
Some considerations about tradesmen:
They're paid hourly...time is money. This time of year they often don't get to work due to weather. They're burning more gas to travel farther to do less profitable work than they ever have, and they'd just as soon get there as soon as possible since the clock doesn't start till they're on site.
They're by and large good old boys like me, who probably resent rice burning midget cars piloted by crappacino sipping wing-nuts who are hoggin' the hammer lane while chattering away on blue-tooth thingies and tweeting on their dingleberries.
They aren't getting enough hours or enough pay, and they're generally pretty angry...angry at Washington, angry at illegal aliens, angry at the sonofabitches that got their McMansion mortgages bailed out, angry at Wall St., angry at the political correctness that spawns stories about Navy Seals getting court marshalled for punching out jihadis, angry at Obama for selling us out to the freaking Chi-comms and the Eurotrash.
They love NASCAR and have always dreamed of bump drafting on the Interstate. They bought trucks to do a job, but don't mind that they're big enough to intimidate everyone on the highway.
I'm not defending them, just giving you some perspective on the workaday pickup driving man.
The only time I tailgate is when some Yo! bimmer with blacked out windows and curb feelers runs up my butt with his headlights flashing and his horn honking...gettin' it at about Mach3.1 so he can get to wherever he's not going to work faster. I calmly let the sumbitch by and then pull in behind close enough to give him an eyeful of grill and high beams for a mile or two. Stupid...yeah. Immature...yep. Dangerous...probably, but it's less lethal than the other options I'm considering at the time.
So John, sounds to me like I might not be imagining things....
As my 16 year old would say, "Prolly not"
I think people will act the way you expect them to act, change your frequency, change your thoughts, see what happens.
I cannot agree, its a stereotype.
Its akin to saying all Volvo drivers are bad drivers. Very true.
Perhaps all that truck machofication and associated aggression is really just personal compensation. Hahahaha!
I have to agree with Ben on that one.
Funniest article I have seen in a while, good work!
I agree, more luxury cars tailgate.
Untrue my friend, just idiots tailgate, some just happen to drive luxury cars.
Don't argue over it, I do agree it is more down to the driver than the model/make of their car.
Unfortunately there is an idiot gene, no known cure
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