Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => General Monster Forum => Topic started by: The Bacon Junkie on July 01, 2008, 09:51:18 PM

Title: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 01, 2008, 09:51:18 PM
Twice within two miles a cager with food tried to kill me this morning. >:(   
   With the new no cell phone while driving law in CA today, I thought we would have an easier time of it on our highways and byways...  Boy was I wrong. 

  Sh!+Head #1   threw a big gulp cup out her window as I was coming up in the outside lane.  I  couldn't get out of the way, because of the K-rail on my left, so the cup bounced off the ground, then bounced off my head.  Cup still had ice in it.   ow   :(    I wanted to knock her mirror off with my fist, but I restrained myself and just pulled up next to her and wagged my finger "naughty naughty"  at her.

   Sh!+Head #2  two exits later starts getting close to my lane, so I move to the left side of my lane. he gets back into his lane, so I decide to get the hell outta Dodge and throttle up.  Just as I'm doing so, he darts into my lane! :o  luckily there is a wide shoulder for me to escape to.  He sees me at the last second and pulls back into his lane once more.  I get off the shoulder and look over and he's eating a breakfast burrito with both hands.  He gives me a shrug like it's no big deal that he almost just turned me into road pizza.  Douchebag.   Where's a  [leo] when you need one? 

OK... rant over.  Feel much better now.  Thanks
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: x136 on July 01, 2008, 09:59:52 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 01, 2008, 09:51:18 PM
   With the new no cell phone while driving law in CA today,

Oh, if only that were the case. Using a cell phone while driving is unfortunately still perfectly legal. One must just use a headset. So a driver can be just as distracted as before, absentmindedly yakking away about trivial crap while piloting a deadly weapon, but now they have an extra hand free!

I was kind of hoping this law would be enforced by snipers, but I have a feeling we'll be lucky if it's enforced at all.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: SolidSnake3035 on July 01, 2008, 10:18:39 PM
Now, if everyone wasn't so obsessed with starting the day so early maybe people like this would have more time in the morning to eat their breakfast at home, or at least off the road...

Hopefully they'll become pavement art.  Without anyone else joining them at the time...
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 01, 2008, 10:21:31 PM
Quote from: x136 on July 01, 2008, 09:59:52 PM
but now they have an extra hand free!


yeah... to eat breakfast burritos with!    [bang]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: NAKID on July 01, 2008, 10:22:31 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 01, 2008, 09:51:18 PM
Twice within two miles a cager with food tried to kill me this morning. >:(   
   With the new no cell phone while driving law in CA today, I thought we would have an easier time of it on our highways and byways...  Boy was I wrong. 

  Sh!+Head #1   threw a big gulp cup out her window as I was coming up in the outside lane.  I  couldn't get out of the way, because of the K-rail on my left, so the cup bounced off the ground, then bounced off my head.  Cup still had ice in it.   ow   :(    I wanted to knock her mirror off with my fist, but I restrained myself and just pulled up next to her and wagged my finger "naughty naughty"  at her.

   Sh!+Head #2  two exits later starts getting close to my lane, so I move to the left side of my lane. he gets back into his lane, so I decide to get the hell outta Dodge and throttle up.  Just as I'm doing so, he darts into my lane! :o  luckily there is a wide shoulder for me to escape to.  He sees me at the last second and pulls back into his lane once more.  I get off the shoulder and look over and he's eating a breakfast burrito with both hands.  He gives me a shrug like it's no big deal that he almost just turned me into road pizza.  Douchebag.   Where's a  [leo] when you need one? 

OK... rant over.  Feel much better now.  Thanks

Shithead #1 shoulda got her mirror knocked off

Shithead #2 shoulda got a boot sized dent in his door
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: crashmoto on July 01, 2008, 11:02:45 PM
driver #1 you should have taken lic no.- any object dispensed from a moving vehicle is considered to be liable for any damages or obstruction.  Like a boat's wake- if your wake rises too high and washes over another boats hull and causes damage you are liable for that.  If any part of your vehicle becomes separated during operation and comes into contact with another vehicle or person it is a liability of the individual who's vehicle it came from and thus any damages incurred are the responsibility of said vehicle's driver/owner.  She would have not only received a hefty littering ticket but potentially a reckless endangerment as well...

sorry that happened to you bro, I would have definitely knocked her mirror off
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: x136 on July 01, 2008, 11:21:47 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 01, 2008, 10:21:31 PM

yeah... to eat breakfast burritos with!    [bang]

I know this feel-good legislation is sure making me feel safer!

Borg headset in one ear, iPod earbud in the other, breakfast burrito in one hand, composing text messages with the other...
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 02, 2008, 05:03:53 PM
Quote from: NAKID on July 01, 2008, 10:22:31 PM
Shithead #1 shoulda got her mirror knocked off

Shithead #2 shoulda got a boot sized dent in his door

I reeeeeally wanted to, but then I would be no better than them.  Plus we get a bad rap anyway from the general public, I didn't want anymore negativity directed towards my fellow riders.  It's like the 4/11 rule of marketing...  If someone likes a product/service, they'll tell 4 others about it. If they don't, they'll tell at least 11. Didn't want to be that guy.  (well I did, but... )   [evil]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 02, 2008, 05:05:40 PM
Quote from: x136 on July 01, 2008, 09:59:52 PM

I was kind of hoping this law would be enforced by snipers

+ 11tybillion  [thumbsup]   ;D
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Spike on July 02, 2008, 05:35:55 PM
Yep, you have gotta keep an eye out for the knuckleheads out there and leave them in your wake at the first opportunity. You did the right thing, don't succumb to the urge to dispense justice. Just keep yourself safe.  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: psycledelic on July 02, 2008, 06:06:49 PM
I have always wondered why after drivers pull out or change lanes in front of you, they give you that, "hey, that was your fault" look.  There is a big difference between couldn't see you and didn't look!  As far as the flying drink cup goes.  That sucks.  As much as I would have wanted to take her mirror out, THAT would have been when the cop was around.  I have found that, although not safe, the pull up beside and flip them off method to be nonviolent and very gratifying.  If there is room, I hold it for a second or two so I can see their reaction.  There again, not safe and not a suggestion, just something that works for me. 
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: cmorgan47 on July 02, 2008, 08:00:50 PM
a)  really?  People still throw crap out of their windows?   I thought the crying Indian killed that off around the time we last cared about gas prices

b) these are the worst.   The "shruggers."   or the "wavers."
like they're saying  "sorry dude.   It's cool, right?"  I can't tell you how oftens this happens... But then, I don't need to.  Seriously though.... I've had cops do this

Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 02, 2008, 08:17:39 PM
Quote from: crashmoto on July 01, 2008, 11:02:45 PM
Like a boat's wake- if your wake rises too high and washes over another boats hull and causes damage you are liable for that.

Last time I checked the rules of the road, no such thing exists. Where are you getting your information from?
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: He Man on July 02, 2008, 08:34:19 PM
Quote from: someguy on July 02, 2008, 08:17:39 PM
Last time I checked the rules of the road, no such thing exists. Where are you getting your information from?

you need to check rules of the sea, not road. ;D

Someone install a window breaker on their knuckle protector and give me a review. Still on my to do list of mods. :/
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: dbran1949 on July 02, 2008, 09:33:32 PM
The new law actually makes it more dangerous. Now I can't tell who is on the phone. At least before it was obvious who was yakking on the phone. Moron legislators think it was driving with one hand that was dangerous, in reality it is the distraction of maintaining a conversation about what was just on Oprah while trying to command the right foot to depress the accelerator that is dangerous
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 10:34:52 PM
Quote from: someguy on July 02, 2008, 08:17:39 PM
Last time I checked the rules of the road, no such thing exists. Where are you getting your information from?

... so let me get this right... you actually think that what this individual did falls outside any law?  Throwing an object and striking someone at a minimum could be construed as assault... from a vehicle perhaps deadly weapon comes in to play... consider this- a guy piles a bunch of lumber in to the bed of his truck, is lazy and doesn't tie it down very well, going along at 65 mph hits a bump a piece comes loose and careens into another motorist who then crashes and dies, a cop sees the whole thing... you THINK that guy is just off the hook because "whoops it just fell off" ?? dude in this world you can be held liable for just about anything.

i'd like to know where you get YOUR info other than the 'rules of the road' hand book [roll]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 02, 2008, 10:44:18 PM
Quote from: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 10:34:52 PM
... so let me get this right... you actually think that what this individual did falls outside any law?  Throwing an object and striking someone at a minimum could be construed as assault... from a vehicle perhaps deadly weapon comes in to play... consider this- a guy piles a bunch of lumber in to the bed of his truck, is lazy and doesn't tie it down very well, going along at 65 mph hits a bump a piece comes loose and careens into another motorist who then crashes and dies, a cop sees the whole thing... you THINK that guy is just off the hook because "whoops it just fell off" ?? dude in this world you can be held liable for just about anything.

i'd like to know where you get YOUR info other than the 'rules of the road' hand book [roll]

I wasn't speaking of the object thrown from the window. I was referring to your example:

Quote from: crashmoto on July 01, 2008, 11:02:45 PM
Like a boat's wake- if your wake rises too high and washes over another boats hull and causes damage you are liable for that.

I got my info From the rules of the road as provided by the United States Coast Guard-back when I was studying to get my 100 ton master's license. Once again, what makes you think an operator is liable for wake damage to other boating?


Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 10:53:08 PM
Quote from: someguy on July 02, 2008, 10:44:18 PM
I wasn't speaking of the object thrown from the window. I was referring to your example:

I got my info From the rules of the road as provided by the United States Coast Guard-back when I was studying to get my 100 ton master's license. Once again, what makes you think an operator is liable for wake damage to other boating?




I had to take a boater's safety class so my friends and I could go wake boarding by ourselves when we were much younger- this is what we were taught and it applied to lakes not oceans... basically we would be liable for anything our wake caused whatever it may be.  This was in Wisconsin about 12 years ago.  Perhaps the example is not perfect but I think you get my point- I would have gathered the license plate information if possible  :)
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 02, 2008, 10:59:09 PM
Yup, true for lakes. I always forget we have those.


IDK where the OP is located, but in Cali if you report them, they get a letter from the local littering enforcement. AFAIK, not much else gets done.


I'd rather take the mirror off  [evil]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: hbliam on July 02, 2008, 11:06:57 PM
In CA if you report someone for littering NOTHING happens. If a cop didn't see it and decide to enfore it, it's over. The "get the license number" nonsense is just that..nonsense. If they dump a ton of dirt or trash that's a bit different. Big gulp? Never happened.

Throwing something out of your window and striking someone is not assault unless you had the intent to strike them. Losing aload of lumber. Negligence. You are liable.

Bottom line is ride defensively, expect no one to see you.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: arai_speed on July 02, 2008, 11:10:02 PM
I heard of a guy that had a set of fishing weights strung around his handle bars.  When cars would piss him off, an accident would occur where a wheel weight or two would magically disloldge and bounce onto the offending car.

[evil]
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 11:15:46 PM

hm, thanks for clarifying this guys, guess we do live in a society bereft of responsibility, i see things more clearly now, you're on your own basically.

as for taking off the mirror... I live in SF now, have done this maneuver actually- the mirror doesn't come off so easily it mostly just pivots backwards because newer cars' mirrors do this for people who scrape into stuff when reversing I think... not as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 02, 2008, 11:22:33 PM
Quote from: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 11:15:46 PM
hm, thanks for clarifying this guys, guess we do live in a society bereft of responsibility, i see things more clearly now, you're on your own basically.

as for taking off the mirror... I live in SF now, have done this maneuver actually- the mirror doesn't come off so easily it mostly just pivots backwards because newer cars' mirrors do this for people who scrape into stuff when reversing I think... not as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be

Well heck, welcome!

Post up in the MOB: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=19.0

and come say hi at the next gathering  :)
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 11:58:46 PM
why thank ya!  I believe I've been to said gathering at zeitgeist which was the old board's deal... will we still go there.. can we still!?!? (hehe)

I've "signed in" on the MOB- I need to get some pics up here

I also want to go riding tomorrow before heading up to tahoe (yipee ... [roll])
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: SolidSnake3035 on July 03, 2008, 12:20:04 AM
Quote from: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 11:15:46 PM
hm, thanks for clarifying this guys, guess we do live in a society bereft of responsibility, i see things more clearly now, you're on your own basically.

as for taking off the mirror... I live in SF now, have done this maneuver actually- the mirror doesn't come off so easily it mostly just pivots backwards because newer cars' mirrors do this for people who scrape into stuff when reversing I think... not as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be
Haha that would still be awesome, especially since they wouldn't be able to see what was coming if they tried to reach out the window and fix it while driving.
At the very least it would get them to notice you, and you wouldn't have to worry about them getting pissed cause you broke their stuff.  Less of a chance they'll run you off the road probably.

What I want to know, however, is how you could take your right hand off the throttle while next to them and maintain the speed while being able to punch the mirror without crashing or something of the sort.
Unless I suppose your handlebars happen to be at mirror height.  But wait, wouldn't it then clamp down on your front brake??   ??? ouch..
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: NAKID on July 03, 2008, 01:58:27 AM
Quote from: crashmoto on July 02, 2008, 11:15:46 PM
as for taking off the mirror... I live in SF now, have done this maneuver actually- the mirror doesn't come off so easily it mostly just pivots backwards because newer cars' mirrors do this for people who scrape into stuff when reversing I think... not as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be

You're doing it wrong. You have to use your hand like a hammer and come down on it. They don't bend that way...
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 04, 2008, 07:38:38 PM
Quote from: arai_speed on July 02, 2008, 11:10:02 PM
I heard of a guy that had a set of fishing weights strung around his handle bars.  When cars would piss him off, an accident would occur where a wheel weight or two would magically disloldge and bounce onto the offending car.

[evil]

Thinking about carrying ball bearings in my pockets from now on...   [evil]   
of course,  if they hit anyone else other than the car that almost took me out, I'd feel bad.   :-[ 

~sigh
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 04, 2008, 07:42:56 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 04, 2008, 07:38:38 PM
Thinking about carrying ball bearings in my pockets from now on...   [evil]   
of course,  if they hit anyone else other than the car that almost took me out, I'd feel bad.   :-[ 

~sigh

They will get thrown up into the air again and again and again. Possibly damaging all sorts of things. Like my classic car. Or my bike, or me while I'm on the bike. I wouldn't do this.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: The Bacon Junkie on July 04, 2008, 07:48:36 PM
Quote from: someguy on July 04, 2008, 07:42:56 PM
They will get thrown up into the air again and again and again. Possibly damaging all sorts of things. Like my classic car. Or my bike, or me while I'm on the bike. I wouldn't do this.

I would NEVER...  Just feel makes me feel tough when I "talk big"    ;D
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 04, 2008, 08:06:10 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 04, 2008, 07:48:36 PM
I would NEVER...  Just feel makes me feel tough when I "talk big"    ;D

Take the mirrors off  ;D
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: sbrguy on July 04, 2008, 09:08:25 PM
remember you should NEVER DO ANY ILLEGAL ACT IN RESPONSE TO AN ILLEGAL ACT.  afterall two wrongs don't make a right.

then again, like someone else said, if the cop didn't see it, he isn't doing anything about it..

something to remember.
[laugh]

and like i have a said before, what needs to happen is people need to pay more attention while driving regardless and be more careful and not be eating, reading, talking on the phone, etc during driving a 3000lb vehicle at 60mph. 

the only thing that you can hope for is that people that do these sorts of negligent things is that they learn their lesson and not do any of these acts and focus only on driving only.. unfortunately, the only way people learn this lesson is by having a serious accident that seriously injures themselves or kills/injures someone that is a close relative or friend by an equally negligent person.  sad but true.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: c_rex on July 04, 2008, 10:57:59 PM
Live and let live is a beautiful sentiment unless the a$$hat next to you doesn't seem to subscribe to the same mantra.  If this is the case kick the sheite out of a door panel or mirror.  Maybe next time they'll be more understanding.






I love not being moderate.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: He Man on July 05, 2008, 12:25:44 PM
So are you suppose to ride up nexst to them and hammerfist the mirror from the up position? Would a stiff leg work? I've personally wanted to do it many many times but never knew how strong those mirrors are.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on July 05, 2008, 12:48:09 PM
Quote from: He Man on July 05, 2008, 12:25:44 PM
So are you suppose to ride up nexst to them and hammerfist the mirror from the up position? Would a stiff leg work? I've personally wanted to do it many many times but never knew how strong those mirrors are.

Just find a deserted street on a Saturday night and practice on all the parked cars on one side. People will assume some drunk came by and sideswiped them.
Title: Re: Can't blame the cell phones....
Post by: Privateer on July 05, 2008, 05:01:50 PM
Quote from: TazioS on July 04, 2008, 07:38:38 PM
Thinking about carrying ball bearings in my pockets from now on...   [evil]   
of course,  if they hit anyone else other than the car that almost took me out, I'd feel bad.   :-[ 

~sigh

Just report them to CARB as a 'smoking vehicle. (http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/complaints/smoke.htm)'


Andy