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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / September 2006New Video: Highlights of My Morning Commute
Some things to look for as you watch the video: a GREEN ramp meter signal, something you almost never see on a SoCal on-ramp during the morning rush hour! I've lived in SoCal for almost 10 years, and I've never seen one until today. It seems there was a very bad accident about a mile up the road - traffic was at a complete stop, and several lanes were closed. This had the effect of choking off all the traffic and leaving the freeway wide open for me (which you'll also see). The traffic sensors counted so few cars that the meter just stayed green. Another thing to watch for is the silver 350Z which hits speeds in excess of 100 MPH both on the freeway and on surface streets - especially after he escapes from behind a Sloth who drives with half of his SUV in the bike lane. http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2heljso I'm also looking forward to the "critiques" from my Fan Club. :)  SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2heljso > > I'm also looking forward to the "critiques" from my Fan Club. :) The only thing I could critique about your driving is near the end of the video where you fail to return to the right lane after passing what looks like a minivan (unless there was another vehicle keeping pace with you on the right that wasn't visible in the video). Arif Khokar <akhokar1234@wvu.edu> said in ca.driving: >> http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2heljso >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >looks like a minivan (unless there was another vehicle keeping pace with >you on the right that wasn't visible in the video). Right after the fade I made a left turn. > Arif Khokar <akhokar1234@wvu.edu> said in ca.driving: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Right after the fade I made a left turn. I just can't get over the refreshing lack of traffic - is that what passes for "rush hour" where you live? nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Nate Nagel <njnagel@flycast.net> said in rec.autos.driving: >I just can't get over the refreshing lack of traffic - is that what >passes for "rush hour" where you live? Partially. Normally the freeway portion is jammed with Truckers, who drive 15 - 25 MPH slower than the rest of traffic and clog up the rightmost 3 lanes. However, thanks to the accident, they were temporarily filtered out along with the rest if the traffic, so the freeway traffic was unusually light. As for the surface street portion, I'd say that's pretty typical. The only unusual part was the wide open right lane which allowed the 350Z (and me) to bnreak free and pass all the Sloths. That's one of the advantages of living in a "master-planned" community - unlike older cities, which were designed for the horse and buggy, the streets here were designed for the automobile, and the road system in the city has managed to keep up with 35 years' worth of growth (and counting). This is why I complain so bitterly when I have to drive in other cities like Tucson - I'm spolied rotten by the driving conditions here. Even with all the MFFYs, driving here is a lot more pleasant than it is most anywhere else (as long as you stay off the freeways). SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > Partially. Normally the freeway portion is jammed with Truckers, who > drive 15 - 25 MPH slower than the rest of traffic and clog up the > rightmost 3 lanes. **rant warning** If the flaming idiots who make the speed laws didn't *require* them to drive significantly slower, they wouldn't. Many truckers up here drive the same speed as everyone else anyhow, which IMHO is the safe thing to do. Driving 70 and coming up fast on people who must drive 55 is not safe. It's perfectly legal up here, as 70 mph is California's rural speed limit. But it's stupid. :( (And I'm not faulting the auto drivers or the truck drivers for this situation, either; it's not their fault.) SignatureSteve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room. > I just can't get over the refreshing lack of traffic - is that what > passes for "rush hour" where you live? It is more or less where I live :) >> I just can't get over the refreshing lack of traffic - is that what >> passes for "rush hour" where you live? > > It is more or less where I live :) I'm just going to have to buy one of those cheapo digital video cameras to show the living hell by comparison that I drive in. I'll need to set it so it shows the rearview mirror too... Miss at least half of it without seeing aft. tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in rec.autos.driving: >>> I just can't get over the refreshing lack of traffic - is that what >>> passes for "rush hour" where you live? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >it so it shows the rearview mirror too... Miss at least half of it >without seeing aft. I'm already familiar with your hell, having driven the Dan Ryan, the Kennedy, and the Edens at rush hour many, many times. And I bet I can take some video here in SoCal that will top it. :) Here's a little sample to whet your appetite: http://i10.tinypic.com/2h6svao.jpg All those people are heading to their jobs in the office buildings in the Irvine Industrial Complex (near John Wayne Airport) - they still have about 5 more miles of this stop-and-go traffic to slog through before they even get close. But that's nothing compared to the northbound 5 through the Orange Crush. Maybe I'll have to get up early one morning and shoot some nice rush hour videos that will make a lot of people feel better about their own commutes. ;) SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > I'm already familiar with your hell, having driven the Dan Ryan, the > Kennedy, and the Edens at rush hour many, many times. And I bet I can [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > have about 5 more miles of this stop-and-go traffic to slog through > before they even get close. I don't see anyone passing on the shoulders. There's still space in the far left lane. And why doesn't the other side look exactly the same way? > But that's nothing compared to the northbound 5 through the Orange > Crush. Maybe I'll have to get up early one morning and shoot some nice > rush hour videos that will make a lot of people feel better about > their own commutes. ;) My commute is short but annoying at times thanks to the 15 under crowd on two lane roads. tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in rec.autos.driving: >> http://i10.tinypic.com/2h6svao.jpg >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I don't see anyone passing on the shoulders. There's still space in the >far left lane. And why doesn't the other side look exactly the same way? The other side is headed east into the Inland Empire. There are no jobs in the Inland Empire, which is why you see all those cars flooding OUT of the IE and heading towards the coast. SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > The other side is headed east into the Inland Empire. There are no > jobs in the Inland Empire, which is why you see all those cars > flooding OUT of the IE and heading towards the coast. That's funny, everyone I know works there. **sjs (waiting for the obvious reply) SignatureSteve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room. > tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in > rec.autos.driving: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > jobs in the Inland Empire, which is why you see all those cars > flooding OUT of the IE and heading towards the coast. In chicago, the 'reverse' commute is typically worse these days. Which is why I brought it up. And no shoulder passers. Tonights rice boy that insisted on tailgating me shoulder passed a slow driver in the right lane that I used as pick to get him off my a.s. Brent P wrote: <brevity snip> > Tonights rice boy that > insisted on tailgating me ... Tailgating *you*?! So tailgating isn't "urban defensive driving"... unless *you're* doing the tailgating? <'csuse me> BuhWaHahahaha!!!! ----- - gpsman tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in rec.autos.driving: >In chicago, the 'reverse' commute is typically worse these days. Which is >why I brought it up. In general, coastal SoCal is so decentralized that there is no reverse commute - everyone is going every which way on the freeways wirthin LA and Orange counties. However, for the people who live in The 909, there's nowhere to go but west, and nobody lives near the coast and commutes to a job in the Inland Empire. That would be like living in Chicago and commuting to a job in Manteno. :) >And no shoulder passers. Tonights rice boy that >insisted on tailgating me shoulder passed a slow driver in the right lane >that I used as pick to get him off my a.s. Dang it, never a shoulder-blocking Trucker when you need one. :) SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > In general, coastal SoCal is so decentralized that there is no reverse > commute - everyone is going every which way on the freeways wirthin LA > and Orange counties. However, for the people who live in The 909, > there's nowhere to go but west, and nobody lives near the coast and > commutes to a job in the Inland Empire. That would be like living in > Chicago and commuting to a job in Manteno. :) You'd be surprised. A number of people live in chicago and then drive to far out suburbs where they work. Thing is, it's pretty much expected that anyone who is single is supposed to live that way. Height of stupidity if you ask me. At least a good portion of those who live in suburbs and work in chicago can take train. Forget about using a train in the other direction. >>And no shoulder passers. Tonights rice boy that >>insisted on tailgating me shoulder passed a slow driver in the right lane >>that I used as pick to get him off my a.s. > Dang it, never a shoulder-blocking Trucker when you need one. :) I've been acceleration lane/shoulder passed by a semi once. The next pick I was going to use was disabled car but he didn't try passing me on the shoulder. He exited shortly after. And this wasn't stop and go. He was probably doing about 85-90mph on the shoulder during his pass. Brent P wrote: <brevity snip> > A number of people live in chicago and then drive to > far out suburbs where they work. Thing is, it's pretty much expected that > anyone who is single is supposed to live that way. Really? "Pretty much expected"... by whom...? ----- - gpsman Scott en Aztlán <scottenaztlan@yahoo.com> said in rec.autos.driving: >tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in >rec.autos.driving: >>I'm just going to have to buy one of those cheapo digital video cameras >>to show the living hell by comparison that I drive in. I'll need to set [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Kennedy, and the Edens at rush hour many, many times. And I bet I can >take some video here in SoCal that will top it. :) Well, this particular one may not top the Dirty Dan Ryan, but it gives you an idea of how miserable SoCal freeway traffic gets. This is the northbound 5 freeway at 6:30 PM on a weekday. The road is choked with cars trying to get home from their jobs in "Silicon Valley South." http://www.zippyvideos.com/6475731486052606/socal_traffic/ Notice the southbound side isn't that much better, but at least it's flowing. That's what we refer to as "light traffic" here in SoCal. :) SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > Some things to look for as you watch the video: a GREEN ramp meter > signal, something you almost never see on a SoCal on-ramp during the [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > I'm also looking forward to the "critiques" from my Fan Club. :) love the heads up speedometer display...... :) >love the heads up speedometer display...... :) I wanted to see the HUD hit 3 digits . . . Signature"If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot 'em?" >> Some things to look for as you watch the video: a GREEN ramp meter >> signal, something you almost never see on a SoCal on-ramp during the [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >love the heads up speedometer display...... :) Yeah, but the whole video suffers from the Abu Gharib syndrome. That is, when you're doing something wrong, NEVER, EVER make a video tape of it, and if you do make a video tape of it, NEVER, EVER show it to anybody else. That tape would, in the case of an accident, take any plausable deniability and turn it into possibly a case of involuntary maslaughter, just from the speedometer readout. This is one of the reasons, besides it being simply expensive, that I don't stick a video camera in my car. I think there's just about no way to actually drive in the real world and not be violating this or that law, unless you just slow down to speeds much slower than everybody else and let cars whiz by. Then you're legal, but its just a matter of time until somebody blabbing on a cell phone or some trucker that's half asleep runs over your a.s from the rear. Either way, you're screwed. I will probably never make a video tape of me driving (and if I do, YOU ain't never gonna know about it... <G>) Dave Head Ladies and Gentlemen (and I use those words loosely), Dave Head said in rec.autos.driving: > This is one of the reasons, besides it being simply expensive, that I don't > stick a video camera in my car. I think there's just about no way to actually > drive in the real world and not be violating this or that law, unless you just > slow down to speeds much slower than everybody else and let cars whiz by. Then... ...you are obstructing traffic. :) Signature"Take off that silly a.s hat!" --Chris Rock necromancer <necromancer@kretp.tmy> said in rec.autos.driving: >Ladies and Gentlemen (and I use those words loosely), Dave Head said in >rec.autos.driving: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >...you are obstructing traffic. :) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1102772954458963270&hl=en SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! Dave Head <rally2xs@att.net> said in rec.autos.driving: >This is one of the reasons, besides it being simply expensive, that I don't >stick a video camera in my car. Better rip out your airbags too, then - the "black box" data recorder in your airbag controller is just as incriminating as the speedometer in the video. Actually, probably more so, because the data recorder also logs braking, throttle position, and other data besides speed. BTW, the video camera is a $70 Logitech webcam, stuck onto the dashboard with masking tape. You can't afford $70?!?!?!?! SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! >Dave Head <rally2xs@att.net> said in rec.autos.driving: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >in the video. Actually, probably more so, because the data recorder >also logs braking, throttle position, and other data besides speed. Yours might. Mine just goes bang. A black box data recorder is as good a reason as any to disable the airbags, though. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto) said in rec.autos.driving: >>Dave Head <rally2xs@att.net> said in rec.autos.driving: >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Yours might. Mine just goes bang. What makes you so sure yours doesn't? Do you have the source code to the controller's firmware? >A black box data recorder is as >good a reason as any to disable the airbags, though. Better get cracking. SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! >russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto) said in >rec.autos.driving: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >What makes you so sure yours doesn't? Do you have the source code to >the controller's firmware? Who needs the source when I have the object code? What kind of wimp can't read 80186 binaries? Seriously, I know because it's a separate computer to which the sensors you refer to don't attach. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. > Who needs the source when I have the object code? What kind of wimp > can't read 80186 binaries? Any of those wimpy non-x86 processors, obviously. >> Who needs the source when I have the object code? What kind of wimp >> can't read 80186 binaries? > >Any of those wimpy non-x86 processors, obviously. That excuse works for silicon but not for carbon-based life forms. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto) said in rec.autos.driving: >>>>Better rip out your airbags too, then - the "black box" data recorder >>>>in your airbag controller is just as incriminating as the speedometer [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >Who needs the source when I have the object code? What kind of wimp >can't read 80186 binaries? More importantly, what sort of 'tard uses an 80186 instead of a modern microcontroller like an ARM7 or an MSP430? Theose guys must work for Ford (or Visteon)... ;) >Seriously, I know because it's a separate computer to which the >sensors you refer to don't attach. Maybe not directly, but have you verified that there's no connection between the airbag controller and the PCM via the vehicle's CAN (or equivalent) bus? SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! >russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew Russotto) said in >rec.autos.driving: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >microcontroller like an ARM7 or an MSP430? Theose guys must work for >Ford (or Visteon)... ;) I can read ARM (and Thumb) and MSP430 too, though :). >>Seriously, I know because it's a separate computer to which the >>sensors you refer to don't attach. > >Maybe not directly, but have you verified that there's no connection >between the airbag controller and the PCM via the vehicle's CAN (or >equivalent) bus? No such bus in my car. Now, to be fair I haven't gone in with a scope or logic analyzer and verified that there isn't a secret backchannel running over a connection claimed to be something else, but that's too paranoid even for me. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. > BTW, the video camera is a $70 Logitech webcam, stuck onto the > dashboard with masking tape. You can't afford $70?!?!?!?! It's the lap top I would have to buy special ;) tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in rec.autos.driving: >> BTW, the video camera is a $70 Logitech webcam, stuck onto the >> dashboard with masking tape. You can't afford $70?!?!?!?! > >It's the lap top I would have to buy special ;) You don't have a laptop?!!?!?!?! Hell, I've got a shitload of upgrade orphans. Send me your address and I'll mail you one. ;) SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS@yahoo.com (Brent P) said in > rec.autos.driving: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > You don't have a laptop?!!?!?!?! Nope. Never needed one so I never bought one. > Hell, I've got a shitload of upgrade orphans. Send me your address and > I'll mail you one. ;) Hmmm I just may take you up on that... as I see to run a home for wayward obsolete computers ;) >Dave Head <rally2xs@att.net> said in rec.autos.driving: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >BTW, the video camera is a $70 Logitech webcam, stuck onto the >dashboard with masking tape. You can't afford $70?!?!?!?! I was thinking more of the $1300-ish video cams with built-in hard disks that will run all day (for long trips) - won't be getting anything like that. Dave Head Here's my evening commute. 15MPH all the way . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVQy-O-wBC4 Signature"If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot 'em?" Justice Gustine <justicegustine@aol.com> said in rec.autos.driving: >Here's my evening commute. 15MPH all the way . . > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVQy-O-wBC4 Looks more like siesta hour than rush hour... SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! >Justice Gustine <justicegustine@aol.com> said in rec.autos.driving: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Looks more like siesta hour than rush hour... Si. Mi vida lenta. Signature"If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot 'em?" Ladies and Gentlemen (and I use those words loosely), Scott en Aztlán said in rec.autos.driving: > http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2heljso I'm dissappointed. You never reached 100 on that trip? > I'm also looking forward to the "critiques" from my Fan Club. :) Which one would that be, Scott??? FWIW, I'm surprised that the gpstroll hasn't chimed in yet to lecture you about your driving. ;) Signature"f.cking California!" --Bruce Willis as John McClane in "Die Hard." necromancer <necromancer@kretp.tmy> said in rec.autos.driving: >Ladies and Gentlemen (and I use those words loosely), Scott en Aztlán >said in rec.autos.driving: > >> http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2heljso > >I'm dissappointed. You never reached 100 on that trip? I'll try to do better next time. :) >> I'm also looking forward to the "critiques" from my Fan Club. :) > >Which one would that be, Scott??? FWIW, I'm surprised that the gpstroll >hasn't chimed in yet to lecture you about your driving. ;) THAT'S the fan club I'm talking about. ;) SignatureI'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! > necromancer <necromancer@kretp.tmy> said in rec.autos.driving: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > THAT'S the fan club I'm talking about. ;) <chime> Pffft. What did your son think of it...? ----- - gpsman > Some things to look for as you watch the video: a GREEN ramp meter > signal, something you almost never see on a SoCal on-ramp during the [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > -- > I'm a wreckless driver and damn proud of it! Nice clip, Scott! The speedo display is just good enough to make Aunt Judy cringe. ;) Amazing: you apparently held back by staying below 100. Didn't think you had that in you. The SUV Sloth was only half the problem; the big tank in the LLB operation contributed the other half. Another day of surviving CA traffic follies to tell the story. |
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