Crazy Drivers On HWY 101 in Oregon

[Gdavis101]

I have an interesting one for you all.. Today on my way home from work I observed one of the craziest things I have ever seen! I was traveling south on HWY 101 just before Waldport Oregon. When I looked in my rear view mirror to see some guy pass another guy in a no passing zone, it was actually a left hand turn lane for traffic going the opposite direction. The guy that did the passing we will call turnip1 and the guy that was passed we will call turnip2. Once the guy got around turnip2 he backed off when he saw my car (I drive a big white 92 Chev Caprice) and I figured he was probably trying to figure out if I was a cop or not.

As we got to the bridge just before Walport the two lane hwy turns into 4 lanes both ways, I immediately moved to the right to allow Turnip1 to go by and as he did I observed Turnip1 had his young son riding in the car. I just shook my head..When all of a sudden Turnip2 comes barreling through in his big white truck and almost clips the front end of my car to get along side Turnip1. As he gets along side an elderly white male starts hanging out the drivers side of Turnip2's truck and starts yelling and hollering at Turnip1. Turnip1, got to give him credit, he ignored this guy! But, when his screaming and yelling went unanswered he swerved his truck at Turnip1's car like he was going to hit him, forcing Turnip1 into the oncoming lane of traffic.

I watched as Turnip1 bought into this guys road rage and was going to chase after him. Turnip2 pulled ahead and cut off Turnip1, About this time I was right at the rear panel of Turnip1's car and he almost hit me.. Realizing I was right there he backed off and I again I really do think he thought I was a cop because he mouthed the words sorry to me and waived as I went by and just shook his head....

As we got into Waldport and got to the light I was still in the far right lane, turnip2 was in the left hand turn lane and turnip1 was going through the green. I decided that I pull off and get Turnip2's plate number and report so I pulled off a side street opposite the light and made a u-turn to come back to the light, while I was making my u-turn Turnip2 bolted... Speed limit is 25 and he was long gone! Then I came to the realization that even if I did get the plate the moron was from Idaho and there would be no real way to find him down here.

Not sure where Turnip1 was from, but Turnip2 did have Idaho plates. I have seen a lot of crazy things when I was a cop, but man this one just blew my mind! I watched Turnip2 all the way from Newport Oregon in my rear view mirror driving what must have been 10-15 under the speed limit and he had a line of about 20 cars behind him.. I was far enough ahead until the turnip1 passed turnip2 and then it was on.

What I would have given to be wearing a badge today!

Had to share!

 

[cheezyflier]

i've seen plenty of bonehead manuevers as well. makes for an interesting day, doesn't it?:isadizzy:

 

[Toastmaker]

I feel your pain ! It can be a bit frustrating when you're no longer paid to beat these jackasses into submission !!


(just kidding about the "beating" part. . . sort of. . .)

 

[Gdavis101]

It does make it interesting...

 

[mfitch]

Reckless passing is an unfortunately common pass time for locals here. The scenic Seward Highway from Potters Marsh (south Anchorage) to Turnagain Pass is also a death zone for this reason. No one likes to be stuck behind an RV with a driver who thinks doing 35 in 65 mph zone is just dandy, but passing a line of four cars in a no passing (actual recent event) is just silly.

 

[Willy]

That's why I like living out in the middle of rural nowhere. I get to miss a lot of the craziness of more populated areas.

 

[oakfloor]

Reckless passing is an unfortunately common pass time for locals here. The scenic Seward Highway from Potters Marsh (south Anchorage) to Turnagain Pass is also a death zone for this reason. No one likes to be stuck behind an RV with a driver who thinks doing 35 in 65 mph zone is just dandy, but passing a line of four cars in a no passing (actual recent event) is just silly.

Yup, seen that many times, slow drivers who think that everyone should go as slow as they do and cause many dangerous situations. Here in CA. its a commom practice to hold up traffic in the fast lane or refuse to pull over and let traffic go by. The usual response is "the more you tailgate, the slower I go" And checking your six?..well its just not done. Or the "we dont pull over for nobody" mindset. Makes driving a real pleasure. It take, what 30 seconds to use a turnout? and everyones happy, buts thats too easy.

 

[Willy]

Thats why when I take my monthly trip to the Memphis area, I take old US 70 instead of I-40. I can take my time and there's no where near as much traffic. Besides, the scenery is better than on Interstate and there's more places to stop and get a soda or something to eat.

 

[cheezyflier]

it's been over 15 years since i traveled by car for my living. at least in the southeast it wasn't so bad back then. i don't know how it is now.
still, the more time you spend on the road, the more you see. i have seen some bizzare and sad things. up here the traffic is thicker than you can imagine. unless you live in los angeles. i have steady traffic driving under my living room window at 2 am on a weeknight. i have no idea where all those people are going.

 

[Gdavis101]

I saw a lot of stupid stuff when I was a cop, but man it just seems like it has gotten much worse over time..

 

[GT182]

Gd, come to Delaware... you ain't seen nuthin yet like this place. I thought Montreal, NYC and LA was bad, but DE has em beat.

 

[Wulf190]

To be honest I wonder whats in the drinking water sometimes...

Today I was coming home from grabbing a bite to eat, and I was about ready to pull in to my townhouse complex. Well I hear sirens and I look in my rear view mirror and sure enough there was a police cruiser tearing down the road sirens blaring and lit up like the forth.

Now I was in the median about to turn left but I wasn't going to move till the cruiser went by me. Last thing a cop/medic/fireman needs to worry about when going full bore are everyday drivers not getting out of the way and still driving down the road.

Well another car who was in the lane next to me didn't see the cop and didn't move over one way or the other to make room, so that forced the cop to turn in to the median to go around him.... and remember where I was?

Needless to say I moved as far as I could to the edge to avoid being hit by the cop, but not so much as to block/ be hit by traffic in the other direction. I'm blaming the cop at all, but I don't know how close the cruiser was, and I don't wanna know.

The cruiser blasted past me, and no one got in to any scrapes... but yeesh!

One thing I learned was if you see lights and hear sirens PULL OVER and get outa da way mon!!


The first a few rules in drivers supposed to be A. Keep up with traffic B. Pay Attention and C. Make room right??

 

[Toastmaker]

Yep, you're right. Doesn't sound like you had much of a choice there. . .

 

[Rami]

Live in the Bay State, my friends. They don't call us Mas*holes for nothing!

 

[cheezyflier]

Gd, come to Delaware... you ain't seen nuthin yet like this place. I thought Montreal, NYC and LA was bad, but DE has em beat.

hare's corner (13/40 & 273) was, at one time, voted one of the most dangerous intersections in the country. concord pike has been a pita ever since i can remember. the last time i was there, the churchman's area of I-95
was a complete mess, right there near 7, 273, and 1. still, you ain't seen traffic until you've been stuck on the 401 during rush hour up here in canadia.

 

[3/7charlie]

I watched in horror one rush hour as I was south bound in the Massey tunnel, there, blasting down the centerline at 110 kph+, comes a katana jerk. Standing on the seat. Pulling a long wheelie.
In fairness, some of the worst drivers I see are police. Speeding, never signaling. I watched one watching porn on the monitor, balancing a jumbo coffee while swerving in and out of traffic. Another one blowing a red light at very high speed on a dark, rainy night, no lights or siren, while chewing down a burgher. another comming out of a left turn lane pulls a u-turn in a insanely busy intersection, cutting off traffic, nearly clipping a woman in the cross walk, to get to the drive through banking machine.
If I could, I'd buy a surplus -113 to drive. But thats considered irresponsable.

 

[cheezyflier]

I watched in horror one rush hour as I was south bound in the Massey tunnel, there, blasting down the centerline at 110 kph+, comes a katana jerk. Standing on the seat. Pulling a long wheelie.

the comical side of that is, the katana is one of the tamest sportbikes you can buy.

 

[Meshman]

Here's a little something for the complainers;

http://moneycentral.msn.com/quiz/driving-skills-quiz/home.aspx

You only get a final score and comparisons, not the question(s) you missed. I got 95% and am figuring I messed up on the stopped emergency vehicle in the street with the lights on. Sad to see the average score down around 80% across most of the age brackets.

 

[djscoo]

Here's a little something for the complainers;

http://moneycentral.msn.com/quiz/driving-skills-quiz/home.aspx

You only get a final score and comparisons, not the question(s) you missed. I got 95% and am figuring I messed up on the stopped emergency vehicle in the street with the lights on. Sad to see the average score down around 80% across most of the age brackets.

Ha! I made a 65. I passed my driver's test the fist try though...with a 70.

 

[smilo]

in Washington, if you are holding up 5 or more vehicles, by law, you must pull over and let them by.
I have seen slugs pulled over and ticketed, but not often enough.
the authorities also like to make a big deal about road rage around here.
as they should.
BUT...I am of the opinion that more of an effort should be made to find and punish those that are the cause.