Do hybrids... - GreenHybrid

grock321 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 06:58 AM

Offend or anger other drivers? I have had a couple of people make totally unwarranted moves on the freeway and wondered what was up. Anybody experience anything like that?

Delta Flyer · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 07:08 AM

Check out What Ticks You Off Most On The Road?

I think everybody has at least one war story....

Delta Flyer · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 07:20 AM

Come to think of it, back when I rode a bike I would get a hard time from some young "men" in pickup trucks just like I occasionally do in my hybrid.

Isn't it ironic that Lance Armstrong is from Texas?

coyote · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:04 AM

Sometimes, as Mr. Enzyte states above, people get offended by hybrids. It is unfortunate and a shame.

However, of all the hybrids, I would imagine that your Ford Escape Hybrid is probably so incognito (unless you have adorned it with a big decal saying "hybrid" or something), that I doubt the folks who were jerks to you, were even aware that your midsize SUV was a hybrid.

It seems to me that the only hybrids that are easily detected by the general population, and thus subject to unpleasant behavior, are the Insight and Prius. Also, cars with license-plate-holders or decals may get noticed (in a negative way) as well, as has been posted in another thread.

So my uneducated and most likely incorrect guess is that you can chalk up the nasty behavior of the other drivers to the fact that -- well, lots of drivers just tend to be nasty.

ElectricTroy · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:37 AM

I run into rude drivers no matter what car I drive.

troy

nitramjr · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:58 AM

I haven't noticed any negative behavior that is any worse when I drive the Hybrid than it is any other time. Drivers around Boston are notoriously rude and aggressive so it's tough to tell.

I have had several people ask questions about the Hybrid at stop lights or sitting in traffic. I have also shattered a few misconceptions about Hybrids being slow. I've laid into it coming out of traffic lights and surprised a couple people.

There are some ignorant people out there but man, I hope people wouldn't harass you for driving a Hybrid - unless you were driving like grandma trying to keep it in EV....

hawkGT647 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 10:28 AM

After purchasing an Insight and coming across this fine forum, I wanted to spread the word and enlighten my fellow commuters.

So I bought a GreenHybrid license plate frame proclaiming "70 MPG. You?"

Seemed innocent enough. First, I get people that tail-gate very close, so close that I can't see their headlights in my rear view mirror. I'm doing the speed limit on a two-lane rural road. That was a month or so ago.

Last week, on I-10, I hit a traffic jam (everybody leaving the Gulf Coast because of Hurricane Dennis) where everyone slowed to a crawl (20-30 mph). A fine gentlemen behind me in a late '80's GMC pickup decided to warn everyone around him about the situation by blowing his horn. Then I realized he was blowing his horn at me, probably because I was leaving a two car gap ahead of me. He couldn't pass on the left side, so he decided to pass on the right median. As he passed, I received the one finger salute and some comment screamed out his window. Classic road-rage.

So he got one car ahead of me, still stuck in the traffic jam. There was blue oil smoke coming from his exhaust, I had to put the vent fan on recirc. Then I started checking out this truck... Decals all over the back window. Calvin peeing on "Ford", "This Truck protected by Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson", and a small Confederate flag.

I just went back to a two car gap, let that ya-hoo get waay ahead of me.

This past weekend I took the license plate frame off and modified it. After careful cutting, I removed the "You?" after 70 MPG. Maybe that won't be so "in your face". We'll see.

Regards,

Delta Flyer · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 11:17 AM

....but if I was a real man, I'd be like him.

I hear they have a pretty hard exam required to be allowed to drive. Too bad we don't have one here so your "friendly pickup driver" would have to chill out and start using his head.

grock321 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitramjr

- unless you were driving like grandma trying to keep it in EV....

Not I! I try to drive based on what's happening all around me (not just in front) and respond accordingly. This morning on my I-85 commute into Atlanta ,traffic was running 75 - 80 mph; though it ruined my mileage, I kept up so I wouldn't cause an accident.

Schwa · #10 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 02:16 PM

People are quite friendly to hybrids around here... They are getting popular, so it's not uncommon to see 3-6 Prius II's while driving around. There are rude drivers, but they are rude to any driver that obeys the laws or drives sane and safe. That's unavoidable, but perhaps they might target hybrids, especially if they get bad mileage. So far, I haven't noticed anything in particular, but this is Canada.