Toyota hits house

A woman in Georgia blamed the troubled company for hitting a neighbor's house with her Toyota Corolla. It may or may not be the cause of the accident, (sounds more like "operator error" to me), but I think this is where the potential for heavy lawsuits against Toyota lie. If someone had been seriously hurt in the house, I'm sure there would be hordes of attorney's lining up to take that case against Toyota. Also, as an aside, I learned today that although the CEO of Toyota has a last name of 'Toyoda', with a 'd', and proudly states that his "name is on each and every Toyota" manufactured, Toyota uses a 't' because of the fact that in traditional Japanese lettering 'Toyota' has 8 brush strokes while 'Toyoda' has 10. In the Japanese culture, 8 is very lucky. Ironic!

More on Passing

I'm attempting, initially, to make each entry a certain length, give or take, but with a very discriminate eye on length. As an addendum to yesterday's entry, I want to say that there is another consideration or two. Towards the end of the post I mentioned "holding back" while waiting for an "out" to clear. There are two options here. 1) If I'm in the passing lane, I cannot travel at the same rate of speed as the slower moving cluster waiting for my out to clear because I then risk creating a cluster of anguished drivers behind me. The thought process I use then is to proceed to pass in the passing lane but under caution at a safe rate of speed while looking for tell-tale signs, (a future post), of a harried driver looking to make a move. 2) Sometimes making a pass, without an out, may be deemed too risky. Weather, time of day, fellow drivers, etc can affect risk assessment. At that time, I prefer to "hold back" with the cluster in that particular lane until I assess that an out has opened and it's safe to pass.

Always have an "out"

I believe that many accidents are caused by what I call "high risk, low rewards" moves. Many times these moves are attempts to pass at a higher rate of speed while approaching much slower traffic. Of course, we encounter slow drivers all the time. Vehicles moving slower than the traffic around them creates a following of drivers quickly. Most looking to make a move. When approaching a cluster like this I have a few considerations in mind. Primary being that these cars backed up behind the slower vehicle are eager to make their own pass. As I approach these cars while in a passing lane I'm aware that one or more of these cars may or may not see me. With their frustration and anger growing the potential for one of these cars making a drastic, short sighted move becomes more and more likely. Knowing this, I always make sure I have an "out". An out being an evasive maneuver. I want to make sure that while making the pass that there is another passing lane available free of fast approaching traffic, or, at the very least, a wide shoulder that will allow me to avoid an accident should an unexpected move occurs. Alternatively, if I decide to make the pass and I'm between a 18 wheeler, or cement divider and the slower moving cluster then I'm in a position where there's no where to go if a driver happens to not see me. At that point, the wise move is to realize the high risk potential, hold back and wait for the "out" to clear. Many times it's better to realize that "patience is a virtue" and to make moves that allow you to "live to see another day".

Toyota in trouble?

Jim Lentz, a Toyota executive, told House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman that Toyota is still examining the issues that caused the recent recall. Toyota is still unclear whether the malfunction is computer related, or electronic. Also, causing Toyota more image problems is the news today that an imprisoned man convicted of vehicular homicide is looking to get his conviction reversed based on new found evidence from the defense that some 1996 Camrys were subject to a recall because of acceleration issues while under cruise control. You'd think that would be one of the first details an attorney would properly research. Check your Camrys!