[Ren]

[quote=CONCHO]Not everything has a dollar value — at 90 miles per day versus 10 miles per day, you are 9 times more likely to be in an automobile accident. And since much of that is on high-speed roads, if it occurs it is likely to be a doozy. Of course it will never happen to me because I am an excellent driver. And even if it does my Mercedes is of excellent quality and I will not be harmed.[/quote]

Sarcasm aside, you’re actually right. In 26 years of commuting (anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 minutes one way), I’ve never been in an accident, and I don’t need to knock on wood when I say that, because when you follow certain rules, you reduce the chances of getting into an accident to almost nil. They are:

1) Don’t drive an SUV. In crash tests, they test the tendency to roll on flat pavement at low speeds. SUVs pass those tests, but barely. In reality, drivers are doing 70+, swerve onto the median, over-correct, then the back end swings out and catches dirt. A sedan can make it through this without tipping, but a top-heavy vehicle usually won’t. You’re also much more likely to die in an SUV rollover than in a car rollover.

2) Don’t drive a compact car. More mass is better, to a point (see rule #1). Drive a smart car if you’re suicidal. In those, you ARE the crumple zone.

3) Assume everyone else on the road is a moron.

4) Be predictable, especially around aggressive drivers.

5) Always have an escape route.

6) Increase following distance with speed (a rule most don’t follow). This alone has kept me from getting in numerous accidents, one where I watched a Suburban do exactly what I described in rule #1.

7) Know the capabilities of the vehicles around you (e.g., it can take a large pickup twice as much road to stop from high speed).

8) Don’t be distracted. When you’re driving, that is your one and only job.

9) Stay away from cars in obviously poor condition. Drivers who don’t care about their cars don’t care about yours, either.

Even head-on collisions are usually avoidable, if 100% of your attention is on the road. The only danger to you then becomes the drivers you can’t avoid, which is those who run red lights, pull in front of you, or rear-end you. The vast majority of multi-car “accidents” on the freeway are the result of two or more drivers being stupid, not one idiot and his innocent victim.

[Ren]

[quote=CONCHO]Not everything has a dollar value — at 90 miles per day versus 10 miles per day, you are 9 times more likely to be in an automobile accident. And since much of that is on high-speed roads, if it occurs it is likely to be a doozy. Of course it will never happen to me because I am an excellent driver. And even if it does my Mercedes is of excellent quality and I will not be harmed.[/quote]

Sarcasm aside, you’re actually right. In 26 years of commuting (anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 minutes one way), I’ve never been in an accident, and I don’t need to knock on wood when I say that, because when you follow certain rules, you reduce the chances of getting into an accident to almost nil. They are:

1) Don’t drive an SUV. In crash tests, they test the tendency to roll on flat pavement at low speeds. SUVs pass those tests, but barely. In reality, drivers are doing 70+, swerve onto the median, over-correct, then the back end swings out and catches dirt. A sedan can make it through this without tipping, but a top-heavy vehicle usually won’t. You’re also much more likely to die in an SUV rollover than in a car rollover.

2) Don’t drive a compact car. More mass is better, to a point (see rule #1). Drive a smart car if you’re suicidal. In those, you ARE the crumple zone.

3) Assume everyone else on the road is a moron.

4) Be predictable, especially around aggressive drivers.

5) Always have an escape route.

6) Increase following distance with speed (a rule most don’t follow). This alone has kept me from getting in numerous accidents, one where I watched a Suburban do exactly what I described in rule #1.

7) Know the capabilities of the vehicles around you (e.g., it can take a large pickup twice as much road to stop from high speed).

8) Don’t be distracted. When you’re driving, that is your one and only job.

9) Stay away from cars in obviously poor condition. Drivers who don’t care about their cars don’t care about yours, either.

Even head-on collisions are usually avoidable, if 100% of your attention is on the road. The only danger to you then becomes the drivers you can’t avoid, which is those who run red lights, pull in front of you, or rear-end you. The vast majority of multi-car “accidents” on the freeway are the result of two or more drivers being stupid, not one idiot and his innocent victim.

[Ren]

[quote=CONCHO]Not everything has a dollar value — at 90 miles per day versus 10 miles per day, you are 9 times more likely to be in an automobile accident. And since much of that is on high-speed roads, if it occurs it is likely to be a doozy. Of course it will never happen to me because I am an excellent driver. And even if it does my Mercedes is of excellent quality and I will not be harmed.[/quote]

Sarcasm aside, you’re actually right. In 26 years of commuting (anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 minutes one way), I’ve never been in an accident, and I don’t need to knock on wood when I say that, because when you follow certain rules, you reduce the chances of getting into an accident to almost nil. They are:

1) Don’t drive an SUV. In crash tests, they test the tendency to roll on flat pavement at low speeds. SUVs pass those tests, but barely. In reality, drivers are doing 70+, swerve onto the median, over-correct, then the back end swings out and catches dirt. A sedan can make it through this without tipping, but a top-heavy vehicle usually won’t. You’re also much more likely to die in an SUV rollover than in a car rollover.

2) Don’t drive a compact car. More mass is better, to a point (see rule #1). Drive a smart car if you’re suicidal. In those, you ARE the crumple zone.

3) Assume everyone else on the road is a moron.

4) Be predictable, especially around aggressive drivers.

5) Always have an escape route.

6) Increase following distance with speed (a rule most don’t follow). This alone has kept me from getting in numerous accidents, one where I watched a Suburban do exactly what I described in rule #1.

7) Know the capabilities of the vehicles around you (e.g., it can take a large pickup twice as much road to stop from high speed).

8) Don’t be distracted. When you’re driving, that is your one and only job.

9) Stay away from cars in obviously poor condition. Drivers who don’t care about their cars don’t care about yours, either.

Even head-on collisions are usually avoidable, if 100% of your attention is on the road. The only danger to you then becomes the drivers you can’t avoid, which is those who run red lights, pull in front of you, or rear-end you. The vast majority of multi-car “accidents” on the freeway are the result of two or more drivers being stupid, not one idiot and his innocent victim.

[Ren]

[quote=CONCHO]Not everything has a dollar value — at 90 miles per day versus 10 miles per day, you are 9 times more likely to be in an automobile accident. And since much of that is on high-speed roads, if it occurs it is likely to be a doozy. Of course it will never happen to me because I am an excellent driver. And even if it does my Mercedes is of excellent quality and I will not be harmed.[/quote]

Sarcasm aside, you’re actually right. In 26 years of commuting (anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 minutes one way), I’ve never been in an accident, and I don’t need to knock on wood when I say that, because when you follow certain rules, you reduce the chances of getting into an accident to almost nil. They are:

1) Don’t drive an SUV. In crash tests, they test the tendency to roll on flat pavement at low speeds. SUVs pass those tests, but barely. In reality, drivers are doing 70+, swerve onto the median, over-correct, then the back end swings out and catches dirt. A sedan can make it through this without tipping, but a top-heavy vehicle usually won’t. You’re also much more likely to die in an SUV rollover than in a car rollover.

2) Don’t drive a compact car. More mass is better, to a point (see rule #1). Drive a smart car if you’re suicidal. In those, you ARE the crumple zone.

3) Assume everyone else on the road is a moron.

4) Be predictable, especially around aggressive drivers.

5) Always have an escape route.

6) Increase following distance with speed (a rule most don’t follow). This alone has kept me from getting in numerous accidents, one where I watched a Suburban do exactly what I described in rule #1.

7) Know the capabilities of the vehicles around you (e.g., it can take a large pickup twice as much road to stop from high speed).

8) Don’t be distracted. When you’re driving, that is your one and only job.

9) Stay away from cars in obviously poor condition. Drivers who don’t care about their cars don’t care about yours, either.

Even head-on collisions are usually avoidable, if 100% of your attention is on the road. The only danger to you then becomes the drivers you can’t avoid, which is those who run red lights, pull in front of you, or rear-end you. The vast majority of multi-car “accidents” on the freeway are the result of two or more drivers being stupid, not one idiot and his innocent victim.

[Ren]

[quote=CONCHO]Not everything has a dollar value — at 90 miles per day versus 10 miles per day, you are 9 times more likely to be in an automobile accident. And since much of that is on high-speed roads, if it occurs it is likely to be a doozy. Of course it will never happen to me because I am an excellent driver. And even if it does my Mercedes is of excellent quality and I will not be harmed.[/quote]

Sarcasm aside, you’re actually right. In 26 years of commuting (anywhere from 5 minutes to 90 minutes one way), I’ve never been in an accident, and I don’t need to knock on wood when I say that, because when you follow certain rules, you reduce the chances of getting into an accident to almost nil. They are:

1) Don’t drive an SUV. In crash tests, they test the tendency to roll on flat pavement at low speeds. SUVs pass those tests, but barely. In reality, drivers are doing 70+, swerve onto the median, over-correct, then the back end swings out and catches dirt. A sedan can make it through this without tipping, but a top-heavy vehicle usually won’t. You’re also much more likely to die in an SUV rollover than in a car rollover.

2) Don’t drive a compact car. More mass is better, to a point (see rule #1). Drive a smart car if you’re suicidal. In those, you ARE the crumple zone.

3) Assume everyone else on the road is a moron.

4) Be predictable, especially around aggressive drivers.

5) Always have an escape route.

6) Increase following distance with speed (a rule most don’t follow). This alone has kept me from getting in numerous accidents, one where I watched a Suburban do exactly what I described in rule #1.

7) Know the capabilities of the vehicles around you (e.g., it can take a large pickup twice as much road to stop from high speed).

8) Don’t be distracted. When you’re driving, that is your one and only job.

9) Stay away from cars in obviously poor condition. Drivers who don’t care about their cars don’t care about yours, either.

Even head-on collisions are usually avoidable, if 100% of your attention is on the road. The only danger to you then becomes the drivers you can’t avoid, which is those who run red lights, pull in front of you, or rear-end you. The vast majority of multi-car “accidents” on the freeway are the result of two or more drivers being stupid, not one idiot and his innocent victim.

[Ren]

[quote=Bob Lobbla]I have been commuting to Encinitas from South Temecula during rush hour for a few years. It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on seasonal traffic patterns. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the 78 from my driveway…[/quote]

Ditto.

I don’t mind the drive itself at all. KFI helps. It’s actually much better than when I lived in San Marcos and commuted to RB, before the 15 improvements. That 40 minutes of stop and go traffic was awful. At least with the Temecula to Carlsbad commute I’m moving most of the time.

[Ren]

[quote=Bob Lobbla]I have been commuting to Encinitas from South Temecula during rush hour for a few years. It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on seasonal traffic patterns. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the 78 from my driveway…[/quote]

Ditto.

I don’t mind the drive itself at all. KFI helps. It’s actually much better than when I lived in San Marcos and commuted to RB, before the 15 improvements. That 40 minutes of stop and go traffic was awful. At least with the Temecula to Carlsbad commute I’m moving most of the time.

[Ren]

[quote=Bob Lobbla]I have been commuting to Encinitas from South Temecula during rush hour for a few years. It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on seasonal traffic patterns. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the 78 from my driveway…[/quote]

Ditto.

I don’t mind the drive itself at all. KFI helps. It’s actually much better than when I lived in San Marcos and commuted to RB, before the 15 improvements. That 40 minutes of stop and go traffic was awful. At least with the Temecula to Carlsbad commute I’m moving most of the time.

[Ren]

[quote=Bob Lobbla]I have been commuting to Encinitas from South Temecula during rush hour for a few years. It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on seasonal traffic patterns. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the 78 from my driveway…[/quote]

Ditto.

I don’t mind the drive itself at all. KFI helps. It’s actually much better than when I lived in San Marcos and commuted to RB, before the 15 improvements. That 40 minutes of stop and go traffic was awful. At least with the Temecula to Carlsbad commute I’m moving most of the time.

[Ren]

[quote=Bob Lobbla]I have been commuting to Encinitas from South Temecula during rush hour for a few years. It takes any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on seasonal traffic patterns. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the 78 from my driveway…[/quote]

Ditto.

I don’t mind the drive itself at all. KFI helps. It’s actually much better than when I lived in San Marcos and commuted to RB, before the 15 improvements. That 40 minutes of stop and go traffic was awful. At least with the Temecula to Carlsbad commute I’m moving most of the time.

[Ren]

[quote=pedrocon]Dont buy in Temecula. Long term the land there has no value. Imagine living in Temecula when gas is $5. Unless you are buying orange groves (or something like that).[/quote]

The first comment isn’t even worth a reply. As for the second, a couple, driving separately, getting 30mpg:

$3/gallon:
10 miles each/day $40 total
90 miles each/day $360 total

$5/gallon:
10 miles each/day $65 total
90 miles each/day $600 total

At $5/gallon, that’s $500+ more than the SD commuter, plus the car depreciation which is negligible. Meanwhile we’re saving $1,500+/month over renting an equivalent place in SD, plus $200 in child care. We just couldn’t get past that math – the gas expense isn’t even an issue. It’s the time away from family that’s the hard choice.

If your income is substantial enough that $1,000-1,500 in savings every month isn’t a big deal, or the drive is unacceptable, then SD is a better choice for you.

[Ren]

[quote=pedrocon]Dont buy in Temecula. Long term the land there has no value. Imagine living in Temecula when gas is $5. Unless you are buying orange groves (or something like that).[/quote]

The first comment isn’t even worth a reply. As for the second, a couple, driving separately, getting 30mpg:

$3/gallon:
10 miles each/day $40 total
90 miles each/day $360 total

$5/gallon:
10 miles each/day $65 total
90 miles each/day $600 total

At $5/gallon, that’s $500+ more than the SD commuter, plus the car depreciation which is negligible. Meanwhile we’re saving $1,500+/month over renting an equivalent place in SD, plus $200 in child care. We just couldn’t get past that math – the gas expense isn’t even an issue. It’s the time away from family that’s the hard choice.

If your income is substantial enough that $1,000-1,500 in savings every month isn’t a big deal, or the drive is unacceptable, then SD is a better choice for you.

[Ren]

[quote=pedrocon]Dont buy in Temecula. Long term the land there has no value. Imagine living in Temecula when gas is $5. Unless you are buying orange groves (or something like that).[/quote]

The first comment isn’t even worth a reply. As for the second, a couple, driving separately, getting 30mpg:

$3/gallon:
10 miles each/day $40 total
90 miles each/day $360 total

$5/gallon:
10 miles each/day $65 total
90 miles each/day $600 total

At $5/gallon, that’s $500+ more than the SD commuter, plus the car depreciation which is negligible. Meanwhile we’re saving $1,500+/month over renting an equivalent place in SD, plus $200 in child care. We just couldn’t get past that math – the gas expense isn’t even an issue. It’s the time away from family that’s the hard choice.

If your income is substantial enough that $1,000-1,500 in savings every month isn’t a big deal, or the drive is unacceptable, then SD is a better choice for you.

[Ren]

[quote=pedrocon]Dont buy in Temecula. Long term the land there has no value. Imagine living in Temecula when gas is $5. Unless you are buying orange groves (or something like that).[/quote]

The first comment isn’t even worth a reply. As for the second, a couple, driving separately, getting 30mpg:

$3/gallon:
10 miles each/day $40 total
90 miles each/day $360 total

$5/gallon:
10 miles each/day $65 total
90 miles each/day $600 total

At $5/gallon, that’s $500+ more than the SD commuter, plus the car depreciation which is negligible. Meanwhile we’re saving $1,500+/month over renting an equivalent place in SD, plus $200 in child care. We just couldn’t get past that math – the gas expense isn’t even an issue. It’s the time away from family that’s the hard choice.

If your income is substantial enough that $1,000-1,500 in savings every month isn’t a big deal, or the drive is unacceptable, then SD is a better choice for you.

[Ren]

[quote=pedrocon]Dont buy in Temecula. Long term the land there has no value. Imagine living in Temecula when gas is $5. Unless you are buying orange groves (or something like that).[/quote]

The first comment isn’t even worth a reply. As for the second, a couple, driving separately, getting 30mpg:

$3/gallon:
10 miles each/day $40 total
90 miles each/day $360 total

$5/gallon:
10 miles each/day $65 total
90 miles each/day $600 total

At $5/gallon, that’s $500+ more than the SD commuter, plus the car depreciation which is negligible. Meanwhile we’re saving $1,500+/month over renting an equivalent place in SD, plus $200 in child care. We just couldn’t get past that math – the gas expense isn’t even an issue. It’s the time away from family that’s the hard choice.

If your income is substantial enough that $1,000-1,500 in savings every month isn’t a big deal, or the drive is unacceptable, then SD is a better choice for you.

[Author]

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