HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: curt@vtucs.cc.vt.edu (Curt Tilmes)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Flashing Headlights
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:15:31 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
In-reply-to: rob@zorro.cecer.army.mil's message of 10 Nov 92 20:06:02 GMT

In article <BxInu2.2I4@news.cecer.army.mil> rob@zorro.cecer.army.mil (Rob Knauerhase) writes:
>In <1992Nov10.173720.5180@linus.mitre.org> troyer@mitre.org (Tom Royer)
>writes:
>>A slight variation on this thread.  What's the
>>best way to signal an on-coming driver that
>>s/he should turn ON the lights?

>Turning your lights off/on (as you mentioned) is probably the best signal.
>The two concerns, though, are (1) it might be illegal (see other post) and
>(2) the other guy might not _want_ his lights on.  Not everyone agrees when
>lights should be turned on, and it's a little paternalistic to assume that
>you know better than the other guy does.

There are two purposes for lights, so you can see your environment,
and so other cars can see you.  In the evening, even though you can
still see things around you fine, it may be becoming increasingly
difficult for other cars to see you.  This isn't something you always
notice yourself.. your eyes may be better than the other guys.  The
first poster isn't saying "Hey, turn your lights on", he wants to say
"Hey, it is difficult for me to see you".  Of course the final
decision lies with the hand on the light switch, but he just wants a
way to convey his information to that driver.

I generally turn my lights on in the evening when I see other cars
start to turn their lights on, which is usually a good while before it
gets dark enough to need them for myself.  It doesn't hurt me, and it
may help someone else to spot me sooner.

Curt
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: chenh@neptune.ecs.csus.edu (H. Philip Chen)
Subject: Re: Quick Poll
Organization: California State University, Sacramento
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 23:43:54 GMT

kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup) writes:
:Quick poll- how many of you out there turn off *everything* in your car
:(radio, heater fan, etc.) before you shut the engine off?

Me!  Me! 


:More importantly, why?

Dunno.  It's probably just a habit (like how I like to put my 
left shoe on before the right side every time:-))

Ok, that (switching everything off) gives me something to
do while waiting for the turbo to kinda cool down before
shutting the motor.

One more reason.  I don't wanna jump off the seat and hit 
the roof when the radio kicks (after I turn the ignition key 
when I get back).


Cheers,

-phil
From: dos@major.panix.com (Dave O'Shea)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: The "clean air" act stinks.
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 22:29:54 EST
Organization: ACME products - artillery division

Several papers have detailed the next step that the enviromaniacs will
be taking to penalize car owners and drivers. New emissions standards
will be set for all large U.S. cities. Every vehicle will have to be
tested for compliance initially every 24 months, though it's a sure bet
that it will be every 12 shortly.

The emissions testing will be done on a setup which will cost
$150,000.00 per unit. A dynamometer and several previously-unused gas
sensors will be part of the test. Costs to drivers for the new test have
not been determined, but are sure to be steep, to cover the cost of the
new equipment. Waiting times are also guaranteed to be phenomenal, since
private garages will not be allowed to perform the testing, even if they
could afford the equipment.

Garages which had previously purchased state-approved emissions testing
equipment are, basically, shit out of luck. Their $15,000 test setups
will be worthless on day one.

A spokesman for the EPA claimed that 2 out of 5 vehicles tested will
probably need repairs, which he estimated the cost of at "30 to 120
dollars". (Has anybody here had anything, even a flat tire, repaired for
$30 in the last decade?)

As before, diesel equipment, including soot-spewing buses will be
exempted from the requirements.


--
Q: How can you tell if Bill Clinton is lying?
A: His lips are moving
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!)
Subject: Re: WIDE turns
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 20:33:33 GMT

maciuca@vehicle.Berkeley.EDU (Dragos Maciuca) writes:

>Maybe a rally driving techique called "pendulum turn"?   I doubt that that is
>necessary at an average intersection in the city.

Not to mention unheard-of.  If you stopped 100 drivers who dribbled off to
the right when making left turns and asked them, "Why did you do that?" chances
are that 99 44/100 of them would have no idea what a pendulum turn is.  For
that matter, a lot of them probably wouldn't know what a rally is.  Or a pen-
dulum.  (I don't like stupid drivers either.)  I think the primary cause is
those intersections where two or more lanes turn left.  People on the outside
get into the habit of cutting their left turns unnaturally wide to accomodate
the cars on the inside lane, and this habit carries over to one-lane left turns
as well.  Either that or it's just good ol' stupidity at work again.
-- 
Michael T. Chaffee        |******BOYCOTT COLORADO******|  ______    
mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu | Professional Slapthologist |  \    /     HATE
Member, Universal Life Church, Sect of Loons           |   \  /  can never be
Annoyance Theatre Platinum Member |     Evil Genius    |    \/  a FAMILY VALUE
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: nau@ssesco.com (William Nau)
Subject: Re: OK to drive 5 miles without coolant?
Keywords: hyundai excel radiator leak
Organization: SSESCO
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 15:25:07 GMT

Alexander Essbaum Writes:
>1) just drive it the 5 miles.  i've driven several ~5 liter engines (350 olds,
>350 chevy, 351W ford) lots farther than 5 miles with no coolant.  never any
>problems.  they overheat and start to run "poorly" and then you stop for 15
>minutes and listen to the radio while the engine cools.  i suppose there's a
>small chance this could do some damage ;).

There's a big chance he could do some damage.  I've known people to melt
engines in much less time than that.  Sure, it works sometimes, but it's
simply not worth the risk.

-- 
William R. Nau
Supercomputer Systems Engineering and Services Company (SSESCO)
511 11th Avenue South, Suite 216
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415-1536
(612) 342-0003

nau@SSESCO.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: skrauss@cs.ulowell.edu (Susanne Krauss)
Subject: Re: I-84 Patrols (Conn.)
Organization: University of Massachusetts at Lowell Computer Science
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:15:51 GMT

	Quite a few years back a friend and I were travelling through 
	I-84 north of Hartford but heading westbound and we were
	pulled over by a speed trap aided by a small aircraft
	circling above the highway.
	
	There were regular state trooper cars and also
	some red Mustangs ready to catch anyone who didn't pull
	over when the cop in the right lane pointed to them. It
	was an interesting experience to say the least.
	My friend received a court notice instead of a speeding ticket.
	We were travelling about 90MPH trying to get from Lowell,MA
	to Litchfield,CN in about 2hrs. We almost made it. I was
	wondering if the troopers handed out court dates to everyone
	or just people who were driving recklessly/to endanger.
 
	Thanks,	Susanne

Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marshal "Airborne" Perlman)
Subject: Re: Paying a Reasonable Price for Gas
Reply-To: tex@r-node.ts.org
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 21:18:12 GMT

No..the Japeneese guy wasn't right about the USA...he is a damn 
LOOSER. If you do some research into that asshole who said Americans
are lazy...you'll see he had his job handed down to him becuase he did
favors for the government...why not have a damn monarch? That is about what
japan is. The people of japan do work hard, and so do the americans, but
the damn government in japan is flat out self centered. 
 
I will refrain from making any comments re: canada..as I do not want to start
a flame war...many many canadians read this and would be upset.

Just remember, the USA is the greatest country in the UNIVERSE..and we
are the leaders of the universe!


--
 Marshal Perlman <> Florida Institute of Technology <> (407) 768-8000 x 8435
                 Private Pilot - Airplane Single-Engine Land

Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: dmunroe@vcd.hp.com (Dave Munroe)
Subject: New hand signals (was: Re: Following for Company)
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 02:22:32 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard


In article <1992Nov2.133613.8274@mips2.ma30.bull.com> K.Buck@ma30.bull.com writes:

>if people had a simple WAY to say _please_ and _sorry_ when they were
>driving, i think they'd use it and there'd be less anger exhibited on
>the roads.

I don't know about "please", but not long ago a magazine article recommended
the "peace sign" (index and middle finger in a "V") as a signal for saying
"sorry".  Personally, I think that gesture could be easily misinterpreted
in its meaning, or be seen incorrectly as The Finger.

For "sorry", I'd prefer what I call the "open hand" signal, where your
arm is raised at the elbow and all five fingers are extended.

I offer a prize of 4 million photons to anyone coming up with a successful
way of alerting the driver ahead of you that his turn indicator is flashing.

-Dave


Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: vetter@mtu.edu (STEVEN J. VETTER)
Subject: Re: OK to drive 5 miles without coolant?
Organization: Michigan Technological University
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:29:05 GMT

ashaw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (andrew.shaw) writes:
>This is a (technical) driving question, so I'll ask it here.  Sorry if
>it annoys, but I don't read the other.
>
>My wife's 4-cyl Hyundai Excel (no more jokes, please) developed a
>coolant leak in the passenger compartment.  The seal around the
>piston that goes up and down to control the coolant flow behind
>the dash (heater valve?) presumably no longer seals.  To keep this
>from flooding the interior, I drained the radiator.  Now I want
>to take it to be fixed.  Can I drive ~5 miles to the shop without
>coolant (ambient temp about 45F), or do I have to refill the radiator,
>drive it with a pan to catch the drips, and then drain it again?
>Alternatively, can I disconnect the hoses into the interior, or will
>all the coolant boil out of the hose ends if I do so?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>	Andrew Shaw


	I wouldn't think there would be such a problem with overheating, 
  siezure or melting of the engine or any parts therein so long as:  

	1.  You aren't flooring it the whole way.
	2.  It isn`t alot of stop and go where you may be  
            waiting for a while at a light.

  	However, the problem with no coolant is that your water pump 
  may be damaged severely.  Your water pump uses the cooland in the 
  engine as it`s source of lubrication, hence anti-freeze advertizements
  of their lubrication properties.   
  	I agree with looping the heater hoses together.  This works fine
  and does not chance damage to the engine or water pump.

	Also, I don't think comparison between a durable V8 and a Hyundai  
  four-banger is applicable.  The Hyundai is made to run a higher rpm and has
  to work harder to get to any appreciable speed :) .  (No Flame intended, 
  just my opinion).

  Steve  (vetter@mtu.edu)

  PS- I'M F___ING COLD !!!>
From: c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Night vision
Keywords: Where is that lane??
Date: 12 Nov 92 19:46:25 GMT
Organization: Delco Electronics Corp.

In article <1du6n9INNlta@gilligan.East.Sun.COM> mike@gilligan.East.Sun.COM (Mike Roncadori) writes:
>Do y'all think it's reasonable to test for nighttime vision? What
>about restricting bad night vision folks to daylight driving?

The magic word is A.A.R.P :-)

To help, I've seen demos of night vision systems developed by an 
automotive electronics company (which one ?-)) and it's like WOW. 
The price of imaging sensors is coming down so we'll see it soon
(I hope). For anyone with long serious drives thru foul weather
(indiana's fog, rain, deer, etc all make it in the picture) it
will be very helpful.

Spiros
-- 
Spiros Triantafyllopoulos                    c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
Software Technology, Delco Electronics       striantafyll@kosds1.gm.hac.com
GM Hughes Electronics, Kokomo, IN 46904      [A Different Kind of Disclaimer]
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: bcrulifs@eos.ncsu.edu 
Subject: Flashing Headlights
Originator: bcrulifs@c00482-224wi.eos.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: bcrulifs@eos.ncsu.edu 
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:28:29 GMT


	I've been wondering for a while the correct and universally understood
headlight flashing signals.  My understanding:
   1--When you're behind someone in the left lane who is slower than you--give
      two quick flicks of the high beams.
   2--When you want someone in the oncoming traffic to slow down  (some people
      mistakenly refer to this practice as 'warning of police in the area')--
      at least one long-ish flash of the low (or high? at night)

	My problem is that many people around either mis-intrepret my meaning
or I just don't understand what I'm telling them.   Is this practice inherently
rude?  Or does it purely depend on the perosn driving in front of you.   Also
Does anyone know if #2 is unlawful in NC?  I read somewhere a few years back 
that it was/is in Missouri.  

BC Rulifson              bcrulifs@eos.ncsu.edu

"Everyone traveling over the posted speed limit is practicing civil 
 disobedience, they just aren't fully aware of it."
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: troyer@mitre.org (Tom Royer)
Subject: Re: Flashing Headlights
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:37:20 GMT

A slight variation on this thread.  What's the
best way to signal an on-coming driver that
s/he should turn ON the lights?

At dusk, or even at night, I occasionally 
encounter a car without lights.  I usually
turn my lights off, then back on.  But the
results are sort of indifferent.

--
Tom Royer
"If you're not free to fail, you're not free."
                                            -- Gene Burns
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: andre@king.slc.mentorg.com (Andre' Hut)
Subject: Re: ***Police intimidation ???
Followup-To: rec.autos.driving
Organization: /net/king/usr1/andre/.organization
Distribution: na
Date: 10 Nov 92 14:15:06

In article <1992Nov10.035845.61@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> hasch@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Veljko Roskar) writes:

[Ugly story deleted... ]

If it were me, I would plead not-guilty.  You committed no traffic violation.  The only thing
I see that you are guilty of, is asking the police officer for an explaination of his orders,
since you felt his request was unreasonable.  He should have told you first why he wanted
you to turn around and then ask you to turn around.  He should have been professional and
polite.  Had he been so, I doubt that you would have had any trouble.  I would get an
attorney, and listen to professional legal advice, not USENET.

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions are solely my own, and do not necessarily reflect those
of my employer.

Andre' Hut       andre@slc.mentorg.com  or  utah-cs!caeco!andre
Mentor Graphics, Suite 300, 5295 South 300 West, Murray, Utah 84107
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau)
Subject: Re: Paying a Reasonable Price for Gas
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 92 21:41:47 GMT
Organization: Data General Corporation, RTP, NC

In article <92307.142724SROWELL@ESOC.BITNET> <SROWELL@ESOC.BITNET> writes:
>
> In Germany a pride is taken in protecting the environment and the
> US should do the same.

Given all this German pride, why was the US the world leader in
phasing out the use of leaded fuels?  And why does Germany still
*subsidize* the production and use of coal?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Goudreau			Data General Corporation
goudreau@dg-rtp.dg.com		62 Alexander Drive	
+1 919 248 6231			Research Triangle Park, NC  27709, USA
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving,bit-lawschool,misc.consumers
From: edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Subject: Re: ***Police intimidation ???
Reply-To: edp@math.zk3.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:06:18 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.024246.20735@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>,
hasch@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Veljko Roskar) writes:

I'm not a lawyer, but I'll try to give you some logical advice.  First,
you might talk this over with a lawyer.  Even if you can't afford to
hire a lawyer for a court appearance, a laywer might be able to give you
good advice.

>Looking behind, I noticed that I passed the white marker
>where the cars should stop (it was ~2 car lengths back
>from our car). This didn't concern me since our car was
>not blocking any traffic, nor was it in the intersection.

If that's not relevant to the citation or what comes up in court, do not
mention it unless asked.

>We had our windows up, so we couldn't hear what the
>policeman was shouting, but it was obvious that the
>driver of the van was apprehensive and/or confused, since
>he accelerated his vehicle and then abruptly stopped it
>(twice). The cop banged on the van driver's door,
>shouting.

Thus you can testify in court that the police officer appeared agitated,
intimidating, and not in complete control.  (If you question the
officer, don't ask if he was agitated; he's likely to say no.  Consider
asking about specific facts:  Did you yell at the previous driver?  Did
you bang on the door?)

>We didn't hear what he was yelling, so I started to roll
>down my window.

Thus you can testify that the officer's initial orders were not heard.

>Coming around to my side, he yelled:
>"You! Turn your car around and go back where you came
>from!"
> 
>I told him I wanted to make a left turn at the light. He
>then kept shouting "Turn your car around!" And when I
>started to speak again (respectfully) he shouted: "Pull
>up on the curb right now!"

Your citation is for allegedly disobeying an order.  But you neither
disobeyed nor refused to obey -- you did not turn your car left in
violation of the order.  You merely perceived the officer might have
misunderstood your intentions and you attempted to clarify them.

Again, questions you might consider asking are:  What did you say?  What
did I say?  Did I turn left after you told me to turn around?  What did
I do in violation of your order?


                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@rusure.enet.dec.com
From: graham@cs.chalmers.se (Graham Hutton)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: UK speeding-ticket advice
Date: 5 Nov 92 14:51:11 GMT
Organization: Dept. of CS, Chalmers, Sweden

This post concerns UK speeding laws...

A few months ago, I got a speeding ticket on a Motorway
in Scotland at 89mph in a 50mph zone (the speed limit is
normally 70mph, but there were some roadworks).  The police
told me that I would get a fine of around 200 pounds, and
possibly some points.  (At the moment I have a clean licence.)
I have since moved to Sweden, but a few days ago a letter
from the Procurator Fiscal's office arrived at my parents
place in Glasgow.  They returned it un-opened, with a note
saying that I had moved abroad.  I am interested in hearing
from anyone that knows what will happen next.  I assume that
the police will contact my parents and ask for my new address.
What will happen if they claim not to know where I am?

Please reply by email, because I don't read news often.

Thanks,

Graham Hutton
(graham@cs.chalmers.se)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: nau@ssesco.com (William Nau)
Subject: Re: OK to drive 5 miles without coolant?
Keywords: hyundai excel radiator leak
Organization: SSESCO
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:43:32 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.175640.17551@cbfsb.cb.att.com>, ashaw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (andrew.shaw) writes:
|> This is a (technical) driving question, so I'll ask it here.  Sorry if
|> it annoys, but I don't read the other.
|> 
|> My wife's 4-cyl Hyundai Excel (no more jokes, please) developed a
|> coolant leak in the passenger compartment.  The seal around the
|> piston that goes up and down to control the coolant flow behind
|> the dash (heater valve?) presumably no longer seals.  To keep this
|> from flooding the interior, I drained the radiator.  Now I want
|> to take it to be fixed.  Can I drive ~5 miles to the shop without
|> coolant (ambient temp about 45F), or do I have to refill the radiator,
|> drive it with a pan to catch the drips, and then drain it again?
|> Alternatively, can I disconnect the hoses into the interior, or will
|> all the coolant boil out of the hose ends if I do so?
|> 
|> Thanks in advance.
|> 
|> 	Andrew Shaw
|> 
Refill the raditor.  Drive it for even 5 min at a temp above -20F and
you will melt the thing.  An engine without coolant will heat up real
fast.
-- 
William R. Nau
Supercomputer Systems Engineering and Services Company (SSESCO)
511 11th Avenue South, Suite 216
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415-1536
(612) 342-0003

nau@SSESCO.com
From: essbaum@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Alexander Essbaum)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Quick Poll
Date: 9 Nov 92 19:26:53 GMT
Organization: IBM Rochester
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM

In article <174@bluehau.bubble.org>, hugo@bluehau.bubble.org (Hugo Bueno) writes:
|> kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup) says:
|> >Quick poll- how many of you out there turn off *everything* in your car
|> >(radio, heater fan, etc.) before you shut the engine off?
|> >
|> >More importantly, why?
|> >
|> >        -Kenny

i pretty much turn things off in a random order (engine, lights, radio, etc.).
i usually start the engine before turning other stuff on.  if i think of it,
i turn the engine off last and on first but i often don't think of it.

just to be different :)

axel
From: jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Braking distances.
Date: 11 Nov 1992 22:49:15 GMT
Organization: CenterLine Software, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: 140.239.3.202

jaa@hutcs.cs.hut.fi (Jari Alasuvanto) writes:
>Elementary physics (not counting the time to react):
>		     2	
>	umgs = 1/2 mv
>		where 
>			u is the coefficient for friction (depends on
>			the road surface, tires etc. but not on the tire
>			size (directly). Typically around 0.3 (dry road,
>			good tires)
>			m is the weight of the car (but it does NOT
>			count as it can be eliminated)       2
>			g is the gravitional constant 9.8 m/s
>			s is breaking distance in meters.
>			v is the velosity of the car in m/s
>		yields 
>	      2
>	s = v/(2ug)

>	So that breaking distance is dependent on the square of the
>	speed and the friction between tires only.  So that if you are
>	going 100 km/h (about 60 mph), the breaking distance is about
>	131 m ( about 430 ft).  The distance for other speed is easy to
>	calculate.  For instance 30 mph yields a little over 100 feet
>	etc. 

I suspect that either there's something wrong with your equation or
with your "typical u".

Assume:

	v = 100km/h = 27.7m/s

Plugging into your equation:

	s = (27.8^2)/(2*u*9.8)

and reducing:

	us = (27.8^2)/(2*9.8)

gives us simply:

	us = 767.27/19.6 = 34.43

for any car going 100kph.

Consider that for typical cars stopping distances are between 120 and
150 feet, extracted from any car magazine.  My car's best is about 124
feet, or roughly 39 meters, which seems to be a fine example.  Plug
that into your equation and you get a u of 1.011, or three times that
of your "typical u" and a coefficient of friction of better than 1,
which sounds pretty fishy to me.

It's been awhile since I've done this, and maybe I screwed up, but
your example's stopping distance of 400+ feet is in the range of a
loaded truck on a slippery surface so something's wrong.

jim frost
jimf@centerline.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving,rec.motorcycles