I have a moral driving dilemma .....
 

Hello Folks,

I thought I'd throw this out for your comments.

When I drive our FR-S in the mountains, on extremely curvy roads, I seem to attract drivers of less capable vehicles, that try to keep up with me.

Now, my FR-S is stock, but I have put on some pretty darn good A/S tires for the winter and I leave the nanny systems ON.

Case in point, last weekend, we were driving down off of Mt Rainer (a 14,000 ft high mountain - for you flatlanders .... ;)) when a newish, large, SUV gets waay to close to my rear end. My usually conservative wife says, "why don't you just lose that idiot in these curves". So, given the http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra.../greenflag.gif I step on it ..... what fun ..... BUT the dummy in the SUV is still trying to keep up ..... body roll and his rear end stepping out and all.

Now, if a Porsche was in front of me, I wouldn't try to keep up with it. Or if a jeep pulled off onto a dirt road, I wouldn't try to follow. What is with this dude .... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ages/crazy.gif

Now, I know the next set of curves contains a hairpin curve (keep in mind we are going downhill and the roads are sort of "misty") and my first thought is "this is where I show this dude".

However, my second thought was ... what if he tries to follow me and loses it and crashes into one of these really big trees we have growing about 12" off the sides of the roads?????

I would feel really bad ....... so, I backed off, eased around the hairpin curve, pulled over and waived him around.

What would you have done .... ??

:iono:

humfrz

If you're stupid enough to chase a nimble sportscar with your SUV, then you are more than welcome to try to eliminate yourself from the gene pool.

Either that or it's Randy Pobst behind you and he's trolling you softly.

If it helps you sleep at night, you did the right thing.

now you might not like my answer, but if you want to try and keep up with me then by all means try your hardest. Not my fault if you crash, and i wont feel guilty if you crash, in fact ill laugh probably. Some people just need that hard lesson to wake them up. Also +1 to what ozzman said, if you feel like you did the right thing, then there ya go.

You did the best thing in that situation, respect to you sir.

I am glad we have owners here with self control and their egos in check.

You put safety first and your ego second. You really did the right thing.

Seconded.

That was really big of you. I don't think I could've done it. I will be the first to admit I have a biased hatred/prejudice against SUVs, and would likely have realized the same thing in that situation. Whether I could've had the self control to not invite the guy into the bushes will have to remain a mystery, but if it wasn't blatantly perilous (a cliff, solid rock wall, mine field, etc.) I kind of feel like I would have hoped he went into the bushes.

Good for you though, I think you did the right thing. Although maybe he flew off the next cliff since he hadn't learned his lesson...

I love when people try to keep up with me on my twisty back roads. I floor it an lose them. If he crashed i'd laugh for trying to be something he isnt. Later that night I might feel bad, but he'd learn to mess with a BRZ in corners.

I had a Cadillac Escalade do that to me. He was tail gating me through some curvy roads. I sped up and he kept pace, body roll and all. My wife was in the car with me and she told me to slow down. I probably would have dusted him off if I was driving solo.

I guess these guys see the 86 in magazines and want to 'see what they're about'.

Eh.................... I'd just do whatever I normally do. I don't care what people do behind me. I'm not a caring enough person to babysit the whole world.

This.

The thing is that if it were a straight road and you were both just flooring it, you would probably be the one trying to keep up with him...

lol so true. sad, but true

I'm hustling through the twisty bits, and this driver CAUGHT me?!

And in an SUV, no less? Even if it is a Cayenne Turbo S… Whoa!

Call me impressed.

I'd have bought THAT girl a drink! :D

I read this thread and can't help thinking...

"A SUV is keeping up with you??? YOU NEED TO LEARN TO DRIVE!!!"

JK :P

I applaud you for being the bigger, smarter person. You know "dumb ass" would likely have killed himself / herself!

Idiots often call themselves "racing" me on the highway, as I pilot a liter bike (Yamaha R1). I usually let them win, as I ride through State Trooper HQ territory...we all know what I could win! :party0030:

I drive a ton for my work, see idiots every day driving terrible in the worst conditions. It's always best regardless of what you are driving and when and where to let the aggressive person pass as it simply is not worth it. Losing your license, having to deal with a tragic accident the list goes on, you did right but just waving him onward.

Well, my opinion (and I drive alot of narrow Mountain Roads): Let them pass. Its not worth it. Idiots like that tend to drive agressivly and have more ego than brain, so chances are that they are not only hitting a tree, but also your rear end at one point, or other traffic coming uphill because they use the whole road to keep up with you.

For those who just like to play with Idiots like that, or even say they will laught if the SUV driver crashes, ask yourself the following. Worst case, that guy cuts the corners which he cant see in fully to keep up with you, another car comes uphill, he crashes into that, maybe killing some of the ppl in the cars. Would you still think its ok? Would you still think you've done nothing wrong? I for myself could not.

At the end, this is not a Need for Speed game, this is real live, and real ppl. Do Racing on racetrack. Also, drive spirited on roads you can, but always keep in mind that safety is better than being dead or responsible for a dead/injury of oter ppl, even if its just indirect.

Bottom line, @humfrz you did the right and mature thing there. You know you could beat him, no need to prove anything to anyone for the sake of risking someones health.

What if by letting him pass you let him go beyond his And the suvs ability and it crashed up the road how would you feel then. Just kidding you did the right thing

There was one very talented driver here , trying to chase down an 86 and he successfully caused a multiple car crash.
Another time , i let one pass on a wet road and only minutes later , he had successfully parked inside a boat that was on a trailer being towed.

I would have blown him away, or driven to the full capabilities of my car. I've done it a number of times. Straight line they are up my ass, then comes to curves and they are no-where to be seen. I smile and continue on.

All Seasons are not for the snow, just a heads up if you are driving her year round.

Probably would have let them drive stupid. If an accident occurred, I would feel remorse but in the moment of adrenaline fueled anger I would let the idiot run off the road. Good deed by being the better person :thumbup:

It's unfortunate he's too much of a moron to appreciate your consideration.

Well, now, Kostamojen, ..... ;) .... obvisouly you don't have the mrs humfrz sitting beside you ..... read, I didn't want to spend the rest of our day trip with my co-pilot giving me the silent treatment ...... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ges/snooty.gif

PS - I know how to drive ..... I just don't have the guts to push my limits ..... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/cry2.gif

humfrz

I can confirm I was large newish SUV following op

Thanks op

I pull over frequently for agro bumper suckers. It's a contagious disease. Prophylaxis is a good thing.

Had an escalade positioned predictably going north up Blewett Pass on my motorcycle.
I pulled over and let him run point for radar. I waved when he got pulled on the other side.

Randy Pobst trolling you softly needs to be a meme.

Knowing how to drive means knowing when NOT to push limits, so I think you did the right thing.

This pretty much applies to any instance when someone is riding my bumper. If possible, I pull right and let them pass. There could be any number of reasons why they want to pass. Maybe good reasons, maybe just impatience. Regardless, I would rather take a moment and let them pass than continue along with a 2-ton SUV on my tail.

With them in front of me, I can control how close I get. With them behind me, I have no control. And being rear-ended is no fun.

I LOVE the drive down from Paradise on Rainier. Just a blast when you're not stuck behind a slowpoke.

You did the right thing humfrz. No need to egg him on. There are a lot of stupid people out there, and karma does suck.

He was probably having a mid life crisis and just trying to justify buying a kid wagon instead a sports coupe to himself. This happens all the time to me with middle aged men in their Grand Caravans trying to race me, and I've always just let them do what they want and make sure I stay away from their own insecurities. You did the right thing. :)

With your wife in the car. YES.

Alone. Drive like a hooligan. LOL

But in all seriousness, some SUV drivers are comfortable driving their big machine really fast. I am surprised sometimes.

Personally I'd just carry on at my pace and not pay attention. My normal pace through twisty roads can be quick, so if he's keeping up in an SUV, he's trying hard.

Five years ago, my answer probably would have been different, but age (or more likely being married) has gotten the better of me. Although I still do stupid things from time to time, as my wife can attest to.

Now that my oldest just got his driving license, I am, or least reminded by my wife to be more cognizant of teen drivers. Anytime someone is driving stupidly, I would think that perhaps it is piloted by somebody's son or daughter, perhaps a teen, likely less capable and that I should do my part to be protective of them.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_rZEQKR7I...l_not_pass.jpg

J/K - Let speedy take point. @humfrz - You did the right thing.

I might have to take a drive up there soon just to check it out.

The Sunrise road is just as good. Take a day off midweek though.

Both may be closed for the season soon. It's chilling down quickly and the weather is moving in.

i would've blown him away too... its his/her decision to do what they want... i would feel no obligation or sympathy for them - it was their choice to do something stupid and they are the ones responsible, not you...