So I don't drive around like my heads on fire (...most of the time ), but I certainly don't belong in the right lane either. I just wish I could get just a little bit more road respect in my Fit. Everyday it seems like people are cutting me off or pulling out in front of me like they expect me to be going 5 mph under the speed limit on my way to bingo. I drive many kinds of vehicles as part of my job, and there definitely is a difference in the way I am treated when I'm in my Fit. Maybe if I put a big set of bull horns on my hood or maybe a giant skull and crossbones. My wife thinks a bazooka mounted on the roof with a set of big-rig airhorns would do the job. I love my Fit, but I hate the respect it gets. We're in the Rodney Dangerfields of the road.

 

Do you drive in the fast lane going slow? If you're driving in the wrong lane while doing the speed limit. That's pretty annoying.

 

true i think our cars dont show up in rear view mirrors or something

 

Ever since I got my GE8 I adapted driving on slower lanes because it's fun to watch my avg mpg guage around 37 mpg People tend to cutting me off time to time but I just pass them as soon as they cut me off and then slow down right infront of them to piss them right off

 

Oh and make sure u give them a little middle finger or emergency lights right after u do that

 

Get this and tie it to your antennae.

 

I haven't noticed that problem, although it probably helps that my Fit is orange.

 

^^^same here...lol

 

I agree, Do you know what I do? I make sure to start off faster from most people at red lights, and show them that I mean business.

 

I don't have the problem because I don't cause the problem. On the highway, I average about 70mph- usually between 70- 75. People who want to go faster than that, I have no problem with them getting around me. I even move out of the way if it makes the whole situation safer at the moment. Suburban driving, I'm not the one holding things up, that's for sure. The Fit is a spitfire and can get out of the way and keep out of the way. Just like always, no matter if it was my previous 8 cylindar road eater or my Fit, I'm still surrounded by everyone else holding ME up! And I'm not an agressive or dangerous driver. For years now, I find I'm surrounded by coma drivers. It's the driver, not the car, who people lose their patience with, in my experience. And most of the time, it's for a very good reason.

Dan

 

Interesting, I haven't noticed any of this happening! But I usually go faster than traffic.

 

Yes you do. Stay right except to pass.

Usually, it isn't the car. It is the driver. Give respect in order to get some.

 

I've driven a variety of vehicles, from small hatchbacks (Ford Escort) to sports (Corvette) and vans/trucks.

Doesn't matter what I drive or how fast I am going... I find that I'll ALWAYS encounter some moron.

I can be going 15 mph over speed limit (which cops don't even care anymore in SD on the highway)... only to have some moron speed up from a mile back going at least 20 mph FASTER than me, cut me off and brake in front of me, while the rest of the road is clear.

How about going just over speed limit on the fast lane... only to get cut off by a car that had just entered the highway going 20 mph UNDER speed limit. I had to slam my brakes AND swerve... TWICE, cause the next lane had a school bus going even slower. I was within in inches of touching the bus. I can easily forgive the bus since it was there from the beginning. And you know how it's worse? There were no cars behind me, it could've just taken it slower and not cut me off.

Far too many times, I'll get cut off by cars left and right... only to go slower than me. And it doesn't even matter if I go under speed limit.

My point is... if you're asking for road respect... you're asking for too much. It isn't gonna happen. I assure you, you WILL encounter another Fit driver that treats you just as badly. Proving what Shockwave199 said... it ain't the cars...

 

People think I'm tailgating because I'm lowered and they can't see my tail lights. It's really funny to see them getting angry when I'm 20 ft behind them.

 

At what speed? You should be maintaining AT LEAST a 2 second following distance, and greater if feasible. If you are 20 feet behind them (, you would have a 2 second following distance at 10 feet per second. That is 6.8 mph. The average car is around 15 feet long (180 inches)... That's just a hair over one carlength.

 

That's ridiculous. Have you ever driven on a highway? There's no reason to leave a two second gap. To illustrate, imagine yourself standing on the side of the highway looking at the cars go by. Car #1 goes by, 1 mississippi, two mississippi, car #2 goes by. That is a longgggggggg gap time.

I've never caused a wreck. I don't tailgate. I know my car and its limits. I was 16 once and I used to tailgate, but I'm past that phase.

 

Let me put it this way... at 30 mph, do you think you can RECOGNIZE a problem and react within 1/2 second? Not only react, but COMPLETE the action (ie, having the car come to a full stop or whatever necessary).

Lets say the vehicle in front of you is just large enough you can't see what's in front of it in your lane. The driver in front of you decides to be a moron and looks down to reach for something even though there's a stopped semi-tractor trailer (you'd be amazed how un-rare this is). He plows into the trailer and smashed vehicle aside, comes to a full stop. You think you can come to a full stop in that 1/2 second? The Fit takes that 20 ft just to stop, leaving you with no reaction time. Do you think you can react and make the Fit swerve clear within that 1/2 second? It would take that 1/2 second just for you to react, let alone have the car THEN react.

While I do agree that 2 seconds feels like a LONG time... I think you should still give yourself at least 1 second, rules or no rules.

I find myself naturally holding 1-1/2 second distance. If I start counting, then I back off to 2 seconds. That 1-1/2 second has been good to me in almost all conditions. The only time it wasn't good enough was black ice.

 

At highway speeds is when you need the distance the most. Not many of the drivers I see on my highway commute actually "tailgate," but I would say at 70-80MPH the vast majority of the drivers are following way too close.

You may know your car's limits....but it's just as important to know your own.

 

i went from a v6 accord to the fit, when i drove the accord i was usually at around 75-80mph and i didnt really get a lot of ppl going around me, if they tried i speed up a little :X, but on the fit, i stay at about 75 to try and at least keep a 35mpg reading on my meter, i do have a lot of ppl passing me on the far left lane so i just stay at the 2nd to far left lane, although i do get a few tailgaters here n there

 

Speed is distorting your view of safety. Explain it to me. Why you need to stay that close at highway speeds?