ONCE AGAIN THE SUBJECT OF 'RED LIGHT' CAMERAS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT....WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC IN AN OBVIOUS WAY, A PART OF ME STILL IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS TACTIC....ANYONE CARE TO WEIGH IN.....

Oncoming Ambulance. Driver in front of me and I both deciding whether it was safe to move to the right in case the ambulance needed to come to our side of the road. I start to move to the right - not even halfway out of my lane. OHANA 90 is behind me, guns it, pulls to the left (because I was in 1/2 the lane) and tries to pass me - you know, to get 10 feet further ahead. The ambulance turns. Neither the car in front or I need to continue the right merge. OHANA 90 Lays on his horn, stays right on my driver's side quarter panel and tries to force me into the right lane. I wouldn't go. I show him the siren signal with my index finger and he gives me the middle finger and is screaming like an idiot in his car. The rule is simple, you pull to the right for sirens and lights. Not try to pass everyone who's actually following the law. 

 ... but they don't!



It's amazing how quickly traffic comes to a standstill with even the lightest of dustings... end of last week for example, I94 had people going 25 in a 60 in the left lane, with no congestion, when it started snowing lightly... even by the time I got to work (it took almost an hour for a 15-mile trip) less than 1/16 of an inch had fallen.

Then this monday, we have maybe half an inch of snow and slush, and SOMEONE manages to spin out in the left lane despite moving with traffic at less than 10 mph... needless to say, traffic after that was going less than 5 mph and was stop and go for miles upstream of that idiot.

The day after, people were going 30 in a 60 despite the roads being completely clear and dry and having half a minute of following distance on the traffic ahead, as if the snow the day prior had given them some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder that made them incapable of operating a vehicle. They always like to drive matching speed across the road, too, so no one can pass them, causing traffic to stack up for miles.

This is Minnesota, one of the coldest, snowiest places in North America... driving in snow is not rocket science, and these people have no excuse for these shenanigans. They are not snow virgins. With the same road conditions as people are scared to go 15mph in a straight line, I have no trouble at all racing pylons in an empty lot, and when people are SOMEHOW managing to spin out doing 10 on the interstate, I can do 40 around a hairpin without losing control of my car. WHY are drivers here so obtuse? WHY can't they handle such a simple task as commuting to work in the snow? it boggles the mind!

P.S., snow tires should be compulsory between December and March for a Class D. Can't afford them? take a bus.

Sorry I have been absent, although progress has been made on the new version (http://beta.platewire.com), life has been a bit rough for the last few months, so things have not progressed as quickly as I would have liked. I am glad to see that the site is still quite active and cannot wait to launch the new version, which will include Android and iPhone interfaces for on the go reporting.

Until the site is complete, I do not feel comfortable adding advertising, but expenses for the site grows. As such, I must reach out to you, the userbase, and hope that I can count on your generosity to help cover some of these expenses.

If you are willing and capable of making a donation towards PlateWire's expenses, then please feel free to send PayPal donations to badmark@gmail.com.

Any and all donations are greatly appreciated

Have a great new year, and stay safe on those crazy roads!

You can increase your bottom line by eliminating two things that most drivers don't use anymore.
First, there does not seem to be any reason to put ashtrays in vehicles, since most smokers just toss their butts (and ashes) out the window anyway.
Second, most vehicles don't need power steering.  I've encountered too many drivers going to the right curb lane to make a left turn, and vice versa. 

There's a new law in NC that lets cops take away licenses if teens drive recklessly. Some parents are upset because their kids need those licenses to take themselves to school and work. Here's a random thought- HOW ABOUT YOU TELL YOUR KIDS NOT TO DRIVE LIKE MANIACS AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING THEIR LICENSES.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20111230/News/312309982

 Green car maker Fisker declared a "potential safety issue" last week, in regards to the batteries in a number of its Karma models. Friday the company made it public. Fisker will be recalling around 239 cars. A construction mistake in the battery system may potentially cause a fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall filing said. Resource for this article: Fisker recalls 239 Karmas over battery issues



Notified by battery supplier



The issue with the battery is that the internal cooling system hose clamps were misaligned. This can cause a fire if the coolant leaks. The battery supplier informed Fisker of the issue which caused the recall. All Karmas assembled from July 1 to Nov 3 are impacted by this.



Replacing it all



Chief designer and CEO at Fisker, Henrik Fisker, explained in a letter:



“Our quality check procedures have enabled us to identify a potential battery coolant issue at the factory and initiate a rapid response program to address it in the marketplace. As a precaution we are replacing battery packs in the 50 cars already in customer hands with brand new ones, and are making modifications to address the issue in the more than 1,200 Karmas already produced and in production.”



Most not sold yet



Although the recall affects 239 vehicles, Fisker believes most of them are still in dealer inventories. About 50 are believed to have been sold to consumers. The automaker claims the owners will be notified in mid-January. The business claims its dealers will replace the battery pack free of charge.



The Karma is one of the most pricy electrical automobiles on the industry. The luxurious and sporty EV sells for more than $100,000.



Battery issues abound



The General Motors Chevy Volt has been under fire lately since its battery could start a fire after an accident. That means the Karma is not alone in the battery troubles.



Do you need to know more about the Karma recall? You are able to choose option 2 after calling 1-855-575-7577 to get more information.



Sources



Safecar.gov

Autoguide

Earth Techling

  HI ALL...I'VE MISSED YOUR MISSIVES...HAVE YOU MISSED MINE?

  I know it's not just BMW, but this is amusing. Around my office, even the BMW people had to laugh. http://jalopnik.com/5869734/secret-document-reveals-why-bmw-drivers-are-asshats

This is a cool site! A friend of mine recommended it to me after he found it to be a good outlet for his driving frustration. I now have to teach myself to look at and record the license plates of drivers I'd like to flag. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can do this safely while driving if my memory is not so great? For the record, I do not think that snapping pictures while driving is very smart or safe. So how do you guys get it done?

 New name. same loser! Obviously someone with no life.

- I have enough trouble with incompetent drivers who are paying attention.

Mary Ann Lahann was inching past the Bay Bridge toll plaza when -- wham! Rear-ended by a driver with her head down, texting away.

It's no surprise to the 51-year-old engineer from Carmichael that cellphone use and texting now rank as the biggest safety worries on our roads, according to a survey released Thursday by the state Office of Traffic Safety. Motorists consider phone users more dangerous than speeders, tailgaters or drunken drivers.

Those fretting about drivers using cellphones more than doubled from a year ago, to 39 percent, a "dramatic" increase, according to safety officials.

And though 55 percent claimed they didn't once hold a phone while driving in the past month, 46 percent say they have made driving mistakes while talking on cellphones, and 60 percent say they have been hit or nearly hit by other drivers who were talking or texting.

"The person behind me just flat-out didn't stop," Lahann said. "When I got out and went to her window, she was sitting there kind of stunned. She said, 'I was on my phone! I didn't see you.' Like that was an excuse!"

In 2010, 22 percent of drivers thought speeding and aggressive driving were the biggest problems, followed by cellphone talking and texting, which totaled 18 percent combined. In the latest survey, speeding and aggressive driving dropped to 18 percent. Drunken driving was next on the list, with 13 percent considering it the biggest danger on the roads.

"I would agree (cellphone use) is the No. 1 distraction," said California Highway Patrol Officer D.J. Sarabia, of San Jose. "Oftentimes we see drivers weaving in and out of lanes or driving on the shoulders. We stop to investigate what we may think is a possible DUI driver only to find out it was someone talking on the phone, hands-free or not."

Added Alameda County Sheriff Tom Rodrigues: "I see drivers on their cellphones every day. It's as if the laws don't even exist. I write every one that I possibly can. With all of the innovative tools out there for hands-free use, I am at a loss as to why people don't use them."

The CHP has issued nearly 475,000 tickets to drivers violating the hands-free law since it went into effect in July 2008. Police estimate local departments have issued a similar number of tickets over that period.

The survey comes at a time when federal officials have begun a campaign against distracted driving by targeting teens. This weekend a safety video dubbed "OMG" will begin playing during previews at some movie theaters and at gas stations with video screens at pumps in the Bay Area and nationwide.

The cost of a ticket is about $159. A bill to double that amount and apply the same law to bicyclists was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Data on how many crashes can be directly linked to cellphone use are inconclusive. Some studies say it's a huge problem, while others point to an overall decline in crashes and injuries and say concerns are overstated.

"Speeding, aggressive driving, drunk driving all are very serious and actually kill more people than cellphone use," said Chris Cochran, a spokesman for the traffic safety group. "But crashes from cellphone use are a fast-growing problem and one that the public is correct in noticing and, hopefully, reversing early."

One piece of encouraging news is that a larger percentage of drivers (40 percent) say they talk less on their phones while driving than last year (35 percent) because of the hands-free law.

Meanwhile, police say they are getting better at spotting cellphone abusers who try to hide phones in their hair or hoodie, let the phone drop to the floor or pretend they are scratching their face or playing with earrings.

Safety studies say a driver texting while going 55 mph can cover the length of a football field without looking at the road.

"What if a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk? What if a child runs across the street? What if the vehicle in front of you stops to avoid a hazard?" said CHP Officer Sarah Jackson, of Aptos. "The consequences are permanent."

And if being rear-ended wasn't enough, Lahann had another bad experience one day as she walked through the parking lot at a grocery store. Without warning, a teen texting while on his bicycle ran into her as he rode head down, no hands on the handlebars, texting like mad.

"I saw him at the last moment and jumped to the side," she said. "His front wheel swiped me. He wobbled and almost went down. No apology, just a swear word."

I work for a local pizza place here in Mechanicsburg PA. I have noticed lately, people trying to race me at every light. At my pizza shop, we do not have car-toppers, so we do not stand out like the chain-stores. At least once per night, I always get some douche in an expensive car revving at me, looking over at me and then when the light turns green, he floors it... The most common intersection for this to occur at is where the new township police station is. The ironic thing is, my delivery vehicle is a 1996 Camry...

I love to drive and ride. I am careful, and expect the same from others. Even though that doesn't always work out that way, I am always expecting the unexpected. I keep my vehicles in top shape to leave no question as to the safety of my vehicles. 

Taylor James Spedden Taylor James Spedden Taylor James Spedden Wes Rd Secretary, MD is now my new best friend. He is white, hates blacks (see the MD page) and brown people. He is sooo cool, and threatens a lot, but can't even bring himself to kiss Pria Dutt, even though she likes him and has said so. He is a child, and his father is a coward. Just ask Tay-tay's mother. She is such a bitch, not like TONI. He loooooves TONI. In THAT way!!!
Now, let me make the goobs here reeeeaaaal happy. I'm leaving. PW has no more for me, and I'll have much more fun winking at Taylor when he sees me around school. I've filled his head with enough lies that he'll NEVER know who I am, but he so generously posted ALL of his REAL info all over the web. What a reject! Bye-bye Plate Wire. I will now go the way of BadWookiee. Hahaha, who was also...ta-da....ME!!!!!!!

Drivers need to learn what to do when a traffic light is flashing yellow at an intersection for them and is red for the ones in the lanes perpendicular to them. The cars getting the yellow flashing light should not STOP, but continue through cautiously. That allows traffic to open up for the others who have the red light and do have to stop. I'm constantly finding a jam up in all directions because everyone stops and then no one knows who should proceed.

 A funny email I got...

This morning on the Interstate, I looked over to my left and there was a woman in a brand new Cadillac doing 65 mph with her face up next to her rear view mirror, putting on her eyeliner.

I looked away for a couple seconds to continue shaving, and when I looked back she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup. As a man, I don't scare easily, but she scared me so much that I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the donut out of my other hand.

In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, my cell phone got knocked away from my ear. It fell into the coffee between my legs which splashed, and burned, Big Peter and the Twins, ruined the damn phone, soaked my trousers, and disconnected an important call.

Damn women drivers!

(CNN) -- A Miami police officer in a marked squad car has been charged with reckless driving, accused of zigzagging through Florida Turnpike traffic at more than 120 miles an hour so that he could be on time for his off-duty job, the Florida Highway Patrol said Saturday. Officer Fausto Lopez, 35, of Miami was handcuffed at gunpoint earlier this month and charged with second-degree reckless driving, a misdemeanor, according to the highway patrol's offense report. Lopez was eventually released, authorities said.  

I’ve always taken the position nobody should be banned from this site. Registered users such as pisseddriver26  are causing me to reconsider my position. It’s not a matter of disagreement, it’s a matter they’ve destroyed a once active site.

Reckless Endangerment - 6LCM598 This guy gets the award for going above and beyond your typical Los Angeles a-hole! LANE-SPLITTING between multiple cars at 100MPH+, driving on shoulders, erratic lane changes all in a rush to LAX airport! I was in the right lane on the 405N to the 105W interchange (only 2 lanes), when I notice a MB in my rear view mirror approaching the vehicle in the lane to my left very VERY rapidly. I thought he was going to slow down, but instead, he drove right between both our cars, forcing us both to swerve out of our lanes and almost into the sidewalls, then cut me off and missed sideswiping my car by literally an inch! I had to hit my brakes so hard to avoid him that my brake system now has a malfunction warning. He continued to drive erratically, nearly hitting multiple vehicles, and drive around them on the shoulder of the freeway. I called 911 to report him as we both exited at the first street and proceeded into LAX. I stayed in my car on the phone with the police, and he pulled up curbside in front of terminal 7 to pick up a colleague. While I was on the phone with the police, he gave me a cocky smirk before getting back into his car. I called the local autorizities as well and was told to contact the CHP. I went to the local CHP to report him for endangerment and reckless driving. After seeing how shaken up I was, they confirmed his information and were sending local authorities to his residence to speak with him. Call CHP if you ever see this arrogant bastard on the road. License Plate 6LCM598 Vehicle Descriptions: 2010 White Mercedes Benz E-Class - Car does not have model emblems, dark tinted windows. License Plate 6LCM598 Driver Description: -White Male, Brunette, mid 50's. - Nickname - Douchebag We both live in the same area...he better pray he doesn't cross my path again!