Didn't realize how invisible we are to trucks until I sat in one

[new2bxstr]

Got in a friend's large pickup truck that was raised a little bit. The Boxster is so low that unless I'm looking for it, or using the side mirrors well, I would totally not see it if I glanced over my shoulder quickly to see if there are any cars.

Now I find myself accelerating past big pickups and 18 wheelers rather driving alongside of them. Maybe I'm being too risk-averse, but I was surprised at how invisible the car was when I was in the truck.

[silver-S]

Thanks for the reminder. Hustle past big trucks -- got it.

[KRAM36]

Look at their mirror, if you can see them, they can see you.

[healthservices]

With people these days on the cell phone, and in a hurry all the time, I drive defensively and constantly aware and remove myself from people's blind spot.

At the same time you have to be careful when you drive a nice car. People who like to take a moment or two to take notice of your car tend to always be in that blind spot of yours, so I always look in my blind spot esp when I'm going the speed of traffic for a long period.

[BrokenLinkage]

I assume every vehicle out there is going to hit me if at all possible. I use the Porsche's agility, acceleration, and braking to put as much distance between me and other drivers (especially clumps of cars and particularly trucks) as is reasonably possible on the interstate.
So far it is working out, although one wreck happened next to me recently with nowhere for me to go. Thankfully the truck involved did see me and was kind enough not to run my a$$ over in an effort to avoid hitting another truck. A large piece of debris (?hood) flew right over the top of my car, but not a scratch. Both trucks totaled less than 2 feet away.

[healthservices]

I'm constantly scanning and looking in the mirrors. about three weeks ago I made the mistake of pointing out a car to my daughter. Traffic was slower on a particular part of the freeway as it always is on the 91 headed east past the 55. as I slowed down I looked in the mirror and see a BMW dart left and right passing cars. It must have been going at least 30 mph faster than traffic. A moment later, I glance in my right mirror and see the car is in a slow spin and overtaking me on the right. Just before it passes us, (we are still going at least 50) I say to my little girl, look to the right honey and see what happens when you not aware of whats around you! She looks over just as it passes us backwards, in the slow spin still, two to three lanes to the right, it hits an embankment and goes what seems like 10 feet in the air.... Well there is more to the story but now when she thinks I'm not paying attention, she asks me to watch what i'm doing.

[Jinx]

We always use our lights no matter how
Short the trip.
Boxster is Silver. Dealer from whom
We purchased it from told me about it
Being a color that's hard to see.

If we are on the interstate or turnpike
We also use the fog lamps.
That being said I was coming back
From a meeting yesterday afternoon
On the turnpike and got pulled over.
Reason being officer thought there was a problem
With back lights. With the rear fog lamps
On only the right lamp acts as a fog lamp
Vs both lamps. No ticket. Complemented
Me on the car.

[Fintro11]

I was almost run off the road by an idiot with a lift kit, I just stayed in my lane. I honked and he swearved back into his lane lost control and spun into the oncoming lane then into the ditch. I don't know why they let idiots run lift kits on the road.

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by Jinx

We always use our lights no matter how
Short the trip.
Boxster is Silver. Dealer from whom
We purchased it from told me about it
Being a color that's hard to see.

I used to tell people about that color all the time and they don't believe me. but owning a silver car and having people make lane changes when they should have seen me tells me differently.

[Muzzle of Bees]

My Boxster is silver.
Rule: I never spend too much time next to any vehicle. My focus is to try and get past quickly and back into the cruiser lane.
My daily driver is an Xterra, no lift. Its sits pretty tall from the factory. It is one reason why I own it.
See rule above.

[jotoole]

Yep-
safety first.

[KenDFW]

Imagine being in a boxster with lowering springs. (All you lowered/sport suspension folks know). I have the Eibach springs on my car and SUVS/Trucks, drive-thru windows are pretty high up. I will have to take a picture.

[jb92563]

If you want to stay out of accidents you need high situational awareness (SA), stay out of everyone's blind spots and don't drive beside/behind the tires of Tractor Trailers.

I was beside a Tractor-Trailer, passing to get away from him and I got to the front tires when I heard a huge boom. His rear cab tire blew out and the tow truck following me got a huge tire tread square in the windshield, he swerved and barely managed to keep out of the ditch with his windshield totaled.

I also assume the slow drivers are intoxicated and that cars wandering all over the road are texting.

Last week a raised truck hit a concrete road barrier endways due to wandering out of his lane in a construction area.

Too many Drivers suck and I think the drivers license should require as much education as a pilots license to weed out all the crappy drivers.

[antny]

Maybe it is the motorcyclist in me. I never if avoidable drive in anyones blinds spot or next to ever. I always try to be in front of traffic if at all possible.

[husker boxster]

I always freak out when I'm stopped at a light and a big 4 wheeler rolls up. Seems they always have to pull right up behind and I know they have no idea how close they are. No way they can judge distance when they can't see my rear bumper.

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by antny

Maybe it is the motorcyclist in me. I never if avoidable drive in anyones blinds spot or next to ever. I always try to be in front of traffic if at all possible.

Same here. On the bike I hit the carpool lane for safety. Unfortunately I can't alwa do that in the Boxster.

[KRAM36]

What are you guys talking about? There's no crazy drivers out there.

[Nine8Six]

^ OMG!!!

Choppers, fighter jets, lightning, flying debris, electrical cablings.....geeez man that got to be the most dangerous place to drive on planet earth

[NewArt]

In Canada DRLs (daytime running lights) have been the law for decades. I don't understand, in light of positive research, why this is not adopted everywhere. What's the downside?

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by NewArt

In Canada DRLs (daytime running lights) have been the law for decades. I don't understand, in light of positive research, why this is not adopted everywhere. What's the downside?

I think DRL is the bomb, very important feature. That's why I want these headlights, but everyone says the quality on them is terrible.