British Expatriate Network

Or whatever they are called! On cars, that is. Why don't American cars have them? I hate it when it rains. I can't see anything and then when the stupid drivers don't put their lights on, which I might add is the law when your windscreen wipers are on (in NY and NJ they are anyway), it just makes it even worse. All you can see is a spray of water and no car!

And then you get some idiot up your rear end, while you are passing a truck, hoping you will move out of the way so they can zoom passed. Where would they like me to go - under the bloody truck! evil

And woo be tide there is a cop car hanging around nearby - everyone slams there brakes on!

You can get them but they are always an add-on option and most people don't bother. I notice that the car bodywork obviously gets a lot dirtier without but I guess you can just wash the car more often. Mud flaps aren't really very stylish, in a car-fashion sense, I suppose so another reason people go without.

I can't say I've ever been bothered by their lack on other people's cars. Usually, it is trucks that cause the most spray/visibility problems on the road that I notice.

I would suspect the folks behind you are suggesting you overtake a bit quicker and then move over. I rarely do this but if someone is taking their sweet time at overtaking something, I'll occasionally drop a hint that there are others waiting to do the same. Hanging out next to a truck is not a safe option at the best of times so the quicker you pass, the better for all parties.

That said, there are some morons who will sit on your tail regardless of what you are doing or what speed you are going.

The most annoying thing I notice on roads here is the folks that can't read the periodically placed signs saying "Slower traffic keep right".

"Christmas Tree"-ing or the mass-lighting up of brake lights when a police car is sighted is quite useful for those who like to drive spiritedly. It's a lot better than a radar detector sometimes as the police will sometimes just switch their radar guns on and off instantly, to catch anyone using a radar detector.

My daughter just paid out for aome after market mud flaps and I think they look good on her small truck.
They also stop the mud(sand) and rocks on our road from doing as much damage to the paint work.

:lol: nice phrasing!

:lol: Thank you.

A lot of folks drive trucks here in texas , and there is no point in having mud flaps what self respecting redneck would have a truck that was free of mud and you could see clearly though the windshield.

lol lol

Pilgrim, I do totally agree with you that when someone is going slow or is siding a truck etc. However, I was doing nearly 70 at the times the big SUVs would come up my backside in a 55 mile zone in the pouring rain! And I mean pouring, with puddling on the roads!

And yes, the trucks are the worst for the spray.

and even with the big overhead signs reminding people that it is illegal to not put your lights on when using windscreen wipers, people were still bombing along with no lights.

I like the 'Christmas tree' analogy - very true. What is the point though when the cop car is going at 70+ anyway and everyone trails behind him, until the cop car pulls off at the next exit and everyone speeds up roll And the occasional risky driver overtakes while the cop car continues on his merry path.

Can you tell I've been driving on the Long Island Expressway a lot today roll

Matter of fact I recently learned that all duallies (four wheels on a single rear axle) in Texas must have mud flaps.

Good points Ben. I was thinking more of the police cars here who sit around next to things that obscure the drivers' vision with their radar but aren't "hiding" (right!)

For patrols, our State Police just bought a bunch of souped-up Dodge Chargers which will make their Crown Victorias look quite pedestrian. They already had a few Camaros which were also modified with faster engines etc.

Speaking of trucks, cars and the Long Island expressway, did you see that video from earlier this year of the truck that cut across two lanes of the expressway when his (bald) tires failed during braking, pulling an Audi TT under his trailer and slamming it into the concrete median? It was on the ABC breakfast news and the guy in the Audi survived (despite the emergency services assuming they were going to cut out a mangled body when they arrived) with relatively minor injuries and expected to recover fairly quickly.

Turned out he was a salesman for an Audi dealership and was going to play-up the safety aspect of the car in future. It was quite shocking though when he and his wife watched the video in the hospital and I choked up with them too as it is unbelievable that he survived.

No, I didn't see it, Pilgrim. But I'm not surprised. I'm just glad to hear the driver survived even though he is shocked by it. It is the only road that trucks are allowed on from the east end to NYC. I hate driving on it but have to to get to work. At least I'm going in the opposite direction to the majority of traffic.

OOOH I was on the LIE today as well, rained like hell was comming! would not be so bad if they had something resembling a drainage system! Then you get to the NJ parkway and it gets worse,lol!
lights off, eyes closed, foot down! never seems to fail them!