Entries by JWD (4)

The Good, the Bad, and, well, the Rest of Us

DLA Labs received a comment to last week's post from the folks at AboveAverageDriver.com, a site that lets readers file reports excoriating poor driving and lauding the good. (Good drivers come up short with only 5 "commendations" in the past three months while bad drivers got more than 20 comeuppances in the past three weeks alone.)

Of interest, of course, to the research staff here at DLA was the incidence of Massachusetts driver reports.  Massachusetts drivers were the second most reported violators over the past 30 days...but a poor second place showing it was: only five reports with first place finisher Illinois sweeping the field with 37 reports.

above_average_driver.png 

Source: AboveAverageDriver.com 

But nothing stumps the DLA research team for long. Researchers here have long suspected that ass-like driving behavior is something of a defacto standard and, it seems,  the standard to which most drivers aspire. Hence,  most native assachusetts drivers would be at a loss if asked to identify a single act of ass-like driving behavior.  In fact, it is theorized that quite the converse would be true: Massachusetts drivers would be more likely to identify as ass-like anyone who did NOT behave in a manner similar to the rest of the drivers since, clearly, such drivers are impeding traffic, creating a hazard, and, basically, causing a nuisance.

One grey-templed DLA staffer recalled an early example of this phenomenon in an article by Caskie Stinnett, the late travel writer, editor of Holiday magazine, founder of Leisure magazine, and all-round grumbler and intolerant.  Mr. Stinnett related an incident he witnessed on Storrow Drive in Boston while driving with a "native" Boston driver in which car in front of them carefully signalled and suddenly performed a U-turn, jumping the median strip, and speeding off in the opposite direction.  Stunned and speechless, Mr. Stinnett turned to his friend who, shaking his head in wonder, said: "Gosh...I'd NEVER have the nerve to try that!"

It takes one to know one,  I guess.

Posted on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 02:28PM by Registered CommenterJWD in , , , | CommentsPost a Comment

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS....

At first I thought this was no different than radar detectors. But, upon further reflection...

photoblocker_spray.jpg 

Posted on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 01:33PM by Registered CommenterJWD | CommentsPost a Comment

GOTTA GET ME ONE OF THOSE!

 I like this but I found that sharp turns send the french fries onto the floor.  Need a "floating" mount so it stays level while driving.

tray%20table.jpg3 In 1 Auto Tray - 14155
Instantly transform your car or truck into a mobile office. Quickly create a flat, stable surface for a laptop computer, a meal on the go, or for writing a note. Easily secures to your car' s steering wheel, front passenger seat or against the back of the front seat. Built-in cup holder. ABS plastic and steel. 13 3/4"L x 9 3/4"W.  

Price: $14.99 

 

 Submitted by Anonymous

Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 12:28PM by Registered CommenterJWD | CommentsPost a Comment

Mumbai? Boston? What's the difference?

OK...so it's not Boston.  But, really: isn't this what it's like getting off the Pike at the Allston Brighton tolls? Or Bell Circle in Revere?


Submitted by WA 


Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 05:27PM by Registered CommenterJWD in , | Comments2 Comments