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Detroit, 4:25 AM
Sat Dec 12
24 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/25/09
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11/25/09
I am a self-proclaimed lead foot, but I still stand by the argument that speed doesn't always equate to safe/unsafe driving habits. Quite the contrary, it seems to me that people who drive slower (and get less speeding tickets) are the same people who are intimidated by merging, passing larger vehicles, and the right lane.
So here's a study for you. Let's take those same 10 vehicles and see if we can coorelate them to accidents, insurance claims, and driver error.
Oh, and for the record, if you're speeding and you're in plain sight of the cop, you're going to get tagged. Doesn't matter if you're in a pickup truck or a Buick, doesn't matter what year or what color. The only thing your vehicle of choice might determine is whether or not the cop decides to let you off the hook once he's pulled you over (or write you up a few more citations). It might also change the reason he pulled you over in the first place (hint, a muffler won't add horsepower).
11/25/09
Consider yourself on the "tentatively banned for being a boring asshat" list.
11/25/09
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11/26/09
So anyway, I'm this horrible person because I think this article is complete BS.
So Ben, you wrote this article or this came from another source? Either way, when I read: "Vehicle: 2009 GMC Sierra 1500...Why it isn't ticketed: It's a big pickup truck. Unless you're outfitted with the entire JC Whitney off-road catalog, pickups are as good as invisible on the streets."
Thanks for such an insightful argument.
So, I own 2 cars and I have a work truck:
1. Infiniti G20, very quiet, low profile, sort of a rust bucket.
2. Nissan Sentra (V6 swap). Red, LOUD AS FUCK!! Exhaust dumps. Hits 100 in about 10-11 seconds.
3. Stock 2008 Nissan Frontier, White.
So far, 2 tickets in the truck, 1 ticket in the infiniti, 0 tickets in the Sentra, I drive them about equally on the street. Now, I'm sure my situation will never match up with the average and I'm not refuting your data, but still: right place, right time, all about the person behind the wheel.
Your article is clearly tuned as to "Why" these vehicles are pulled over less. Here are your answers (in order): "Pickups are invisible," "It's a Buick," "Nothing says "I'm not worth your time officer" better than a minivan," "Platform prostitution at its finest."
Sorry, I don't agree those are the reasons why a vehicle model falls so low on police radar. The reason they have less collective tickets, it's because they are ACTUALLY DRIVEN slower, as an average. These cars are tuned towards older drivers who generally don't break the speed limit. It's not stereotyping, it's not brand imaging, it's not blending in, it all falls back on who's behind the wheel.
11/24/09
11/24/09
The black Crossfire I blew past 10 seconds earlier got busted instead. The only way that truck could be more invisible is if it was literally transparent.
11/24/09
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11/24/09
#tips
11/25/09
Hmf?
11/24/09
I picked up a '99 Miata a little over a year ago. Average 1,000 miles a month in it. Drive it like an absolute idiot, like it was designed to be driven- redline shifts out of every light, squealing tires through the corners.
I am astounded that I've never even been pulled over and given a warning, to say nothing of a ticket.
I think it has everything to do with the Miata's reputation as a "cute" car, rather than the sports car that it is.
Not that I'm complaining...
11/24/09
Perhaps the police are scared of frisking a homosexual?
Just sayin... stereotypes are pretty damn widespread.
11/24/09
11/24/09
Here in Portland, Oregon, the most pulled over cars fall into the "Ricer" category.
However, I drive a Honda Civic. It's rather amazing that not only have I not gotten any tickets what-so-ever, it also hasn't been jacked into which the guys claim is a miracle.
11/24/09
I'm surprised the "White Camry" demo didn't make this list. Anyone who drives one of those has zero ambition and nowhere important to be. Then again, they're also frequently asleep at green lights, so there you are.
11/24/09
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Oh, and did I mention I was driving a 1988 LeSabre, whose speedo only goes up to 85mph? (It maxes out way more than that, however.) So, all bets are off.
11/24/09
11/24/09
Appearances are deceiving. And when it gets a little older and more dinged up, I'm definitely going to rat it up. There will be some SN (Spousal Noise) but hey, when is there not?
11/24/09
I suspect the reason the cars on this list are pulled over less frequently has less to do with the car itself and far more to do with the sort of people that tend to drive them.
11/24/09