Around Manhattan in 24 minutes
September 9, 2013 5:54 AM Subscribe
This needs a full screen, and preferably a dark room: Fastest Lap Around Manhattan 2013
The driver, who refers to himself as "Afro Duck" told Jalopnik that he'll release his name in a year's time. Police have identified him as Christopher Tang, aged 30.
The driver, who refers to himself as "Afro Duck" told Jalopnik that he'll release his name in a year's time. Police have identified him as Christopher Tang, aged 30.
If the reckless endangerment charge is first degree, he faces up to seven years in state prison.
posted by JaredSeth at 6:05 AM on September 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by JaredSeth at 6:05 AM on September 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
And it seems to be a couple of days earlier in Australia. Dude has been arrested and charged.
I hope he sees jail time too.
posted by spitbull at 6:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I hope he sees jail time too.
posted by spitbull at 6:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I really hope he gets jail time.
posted by Theta States at 6:16 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Theta States at 6:16 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Goes to show you that if you speed in NYC (and run red lights, and tape the whole thing, and essentially deliver it straight to the cops), you can actually be charged!
(The usual NYPD response to any law broken while behind the wheel is "no criminality suspected," and maybe a citation for your lights if you kill someone.)
posted by mhz at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
(The usual NYPD response to any law broken while behind the wheel is "no criminality suspected," and maybe a citation for your lights if you kill someone.)
posted by mhz at 6:22 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
happy to hear he's been arrested. hope he has to pay a hefty fine and has to sell his car in the process of paying it.
posted by photoslob at 6:26 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by photoslob at 6:26 AM on September 9, 2013
I'd like to see this video without the 4x speed-up. It would likely look considerably less lunatic, considering the average speed is 66 mph. The lane changes in particular would seem less like quantum jumps. Meanwhile, glad to see NY drivers still enjoy slamming on the brakes on when they see someone speeding up behind them.
posted by chavenet at 6:31 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 6:31 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Is this an attempt at an updated C'était un rendez vous? (Video)
posted by Kiwi at 6:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Kiwi at 6:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
I would bet that the actual lap record is probably held by a cop sometime in the past, going round with his blues and twos on.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by MuffinMan at 6:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'd like to see this video without the 4x speed-up. It would likely look considerably less lunatic
I dunno. I saw at least one instance where he passed a vehicle (which looked a lot like an ambulance) on the right (clearly marked as a "don't even think about driving here" space) going up a one-lane ramp. That's pretty fucking lunatic/dickish.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:42 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
I dunno. I saw at least one instance where he passed a vehicle (which looked a lot like an ambulance) on the right (clearly marked as a "don't even think about driving here" space) going up a one-lane ramp. That's pretty fucking lunatic/dickish.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:42 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
It's like C'était un Rendezvous would have been if Paris required no technical driving whatsoever and Claude Lelouch had terrible taste in cars.
posted by jaduncan at 6:43 AM on September 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 6:43 AM on September 9, 2013 [9 favorites]
He clearly runs a red light at the 2:26 mark of the Youtube video (not the sped up time in the actual video). It seems that should disqualify his lap time.
posted by NoMich at 6:56 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by NoMich at 6:56 AM on September 9, 2013
The Jalopnik article discusses Rendezvous. And the previous 2001 run.
I agree that some of the moves are nuts, but he does stop for reds -- he runs one or two as they're changing, but LA drivers do that all the time so maybe I find it less alarming. Some of his top speeds have to be unsafe to beat the previous record (which involved 144 mph speeds) and some of the lane changes are a bit whacko but the time compression does exaggerate the effect.
I wonder if not being familiar with NYC speed limits might be a part of my dampened reaction here. The communication Jalopnik received from the driving team indicated they scouted out the intersections and watched traffic for a while to determine the optimal time. So they're on what looks like freeway to me, for much of the ride. In LA, in light traffic on the freeway it's not uncommon for traffic to start moving pretty fast in the left lanes, and to have a few drivers coming through even faster. This looks mostly like someone aggressively cutting through light to medium freeway traffic to me.
I mean, they did it in a Saturn Sky convertible. How much grunt does that thing have?
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:57 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree that some of the moves are nuts, but he does stop for reds -- he runs one or two as they're changing, but LA drivers do that all the time so maybe I find it less alarming. Some of his top speeds have to be unsafe to beat the previous record (which involved 144 mph speeds) and some of the lane changes are a bit whacko but the time compression does exaggerate the effect.
I wonder if not being familiar with NYC speed limits might be a part of my dampened reaction here. The communication Jalopnik received from the driving team indicated they scouted out the intersections and watched traffic for a while to determine the optimal time. So they're on what looks like freeway to me, for much of the ride. In LA, in light traffic on the freeway it's not uncommon for traffic to start moving pretty fast in the left lanes, and to have a few drivers coming through even faster. This looks mostly like someone aggressively cutting through light to medium freeway traffic to me.
I mean, they did it in a Saturn Sky convertible. How much grunt does that thing have?
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:57 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Looked it up:
The Sky features 18-inch (457 mm) wheels and a 2.4 L Ecotec LE5 straight-4 engine that produces 177 hp (132 kW), a new straight-4 2.0 L turbocharged direct injected engine that makes 260 hp (194 kW) as well as an optional dealer-installed turbo upgrade kit that makes 290 hp (216 kW). Both five-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.
The 290hp turbo version does the trick I suppose. The car can't weigh much.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:59 AM on September 9, 2013
The Sky features 18-inch (457 mm) wheels and a 2.4 L Ecotec LE5 straight-4 engine that produces 177 hp (132 kW), a new straight-4 2.0 L turbocharged direct injected engine that makes 260 hp (194 kW) as well as an optional dealer-installed turbo upgrade kit that makes 290 hp (216 kW). Both five-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.
The 290hp turbo version does the trick I suppose. The car can't weigh much.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:59 AM on September 9, 2013
I'm not saying I condone his actions, but I certainly sympathize with his situation. Living slowly with a fast car is a really hard life.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
The usual NYPD response to any law broken while behind the wheel is "no criminality suspected," and maybe a citation for your lights if you kill someone.
I was explaining to my girlfriend yesterday that as far as the apparatus of justice is concerned, if you are on a bicycle (or I suppose even if you are a pedestrian) you essentially stop being a person if hit by a car. She didn't get it at first, and I don't blame her. When she finally asked why, I had no answer. There is no reason, it's just the way it is.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2013
I was explaining to my girlfriend yesterday that as far as the apparatus of justice is concerned, if you are on a bicycle (or I suppose even if you are a pedestrian) you essentially stop being a person if hit by a car. She didn't get it at first, and I don't blame her. When she finally asked why, I had no answer. There is no reason, it's just the way it is.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:00 AM on September 9, 2013
Previous 26:03 lap of Manhattan video, from 2011.
posted by ceribus peribus at 7:01 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by ceribus peribus at 7:01 AM on September 9, 2013
When she finally asked why, I had no answer. There is no reason, it's just the way it is.
Generally speaking, it's because if you're on a bicycle you must obey the vehicle code. I don't think they'd treat a pedestrian the same way, but I'm not a New Yorker.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:02 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Generally speaking, it's because if you're on a bicycle you must obey the vehicle code. I don't think they'd treat a pedestrian the same way, but I'm not a New Yorker.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:02 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I believe his car was seized.
I hope they force him to watch it being run over and crushed by a tank.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 7:03 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
I hope they force him to watch it being run over and crushed by a tank.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 7:03 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
He handled the shitty drivers on the northern end of the FDR just beautifully. Fuck the East Side. The upper portion of the Henry Hudson presented no problems, however. Great driver. Shame he used a shitty camera. He'll have to try it again once he's not in "trouble" anymore, with a better rig.
posted by ReeMonster at 7:14 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by ReeMonster at 7:14 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
> Generally speaking, it's because if you're on a bicycle you must obey the vehicle code. I don't think they'd treat a pedestrian the same way, but I'm not a New Yorker.
As long as you don't assume all cyclists violate the law, I won't assume all NYC car drivers are ego-wracked speed maniacs.
posted by ardgedee at 7:16 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
As long as you don't assume all cyclists violate the law, I won't assume all NYC car drivers are ego-wracked speed maniacs.
posted by ardgedee at 7:16 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Generally speaking, it's because if you're on a bicycle you must obey the vehicle code. I don't think they'd treat a pedestrian the same way, but I'm not a New Yorker.
Yep, you stop being a person as far as presumption of innocence and protection from collective punishment goes, too.
posted by ambrosen at 7:18 AM on September 9, 2013
Yep, you stop being a person as far as presumption of innocence and protection from collective punishment goes, too.
posted by ambrosen at 7:18 AM on September 9, 2013
On the one hand, the guy is an asshole (and dumb, on multiple levels), and I really hope he gets jail time.
But on the other hand, fast things go vroom!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:21 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
But on the other hand, fast things go vroom!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:21 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
That poor dude, having had to live slowly with his fast car all this time.
My eyes, they mist.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 7:22 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
My eyes, they mist.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 7:22 AM on September 9, 2013 [4 favorites]
I too want to see this without the compression (particularly to figure out what his route was on the downtown surface streets and thus what constitutes a "loop.")
posted by Navelgazer at 7:22 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by Navelgazer at 7:22 AM on September 9, 2013
My reactions whilst watching this:
0 - 20 sec: What a dick, he's driving like a complete idiot.
20 - 25 sec: Oh wait, it's America, they overtake on the other side so maybe it's...
25 sec onward: Nope. What a dick, he's driving like a complete idiot.
posted by Ned G at 7:24 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
0 - 20 sec: What a dick, he's driving like a complete idiot.
20 - 25 sec: Oh wait, it's America, they overtake on the other side so maybe it's...
25 sec onward: Nope. What a dick, he's driving like a complete idiot.
posted by Ned G at 7:24 AM on September 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
I hope they nab some of the other drivers in the video too, there's a blue hatchback with a Yankees logo on the back of his car that comes pretty close to flying into another car (not just him) that he caught on film as well.
This is the main why I hate driving anywhere near NYC. Either the traffic is unbearable, or in the few moments it might be bearable, some jackass is willing to cut anyone and everyone off because he can...
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:28 AM on September 9, 2013
This is the main why I hate driving anywhere near NYC. Either the traffic is unbearable, or in the few moments it might be bearable, some jackass is willing to cut anyone and everyone off because he can...
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:28 AM on September 9, 2013
As long as you don't assume all cyclists violate the law, I won't assume all NYC car drivers are ego-wracked speed maniacs.
Yep, you stop being a person as far as presumption of innocence and protection from collective punishment goes, too.
I have no idea what you're on about, and as I've said I'm from LA, not NYC. Feel free to think of NYC drivers however you like. They routinely horrify me when I visit. The low average speeds and constant congestion normalize some very odd moves that I'll never understand. Especially around tunnel merges etc.
I was responding to the notion that you 'stop being a human being' when you're a bicyclist hit by a car. My point is that from the antiseptic legal-analytical standpoint you become the operator of a vehicle when you mount a bicycle and ride it on the 'highway' (i.e. the public roads). That's how the accident will be analyzed by the police, by insurance companies and by courts. That's why you get that dehumanized sense. If you happen to be violating some vehicle code section at the same time you are struck by a motorist, which as someone who tries to bike in Los Angeles I know it can be legitimately hard not to do while trying to negotiate traffic, then there's going to be a comparative negligence issue. It's always going to be considered, the same way it would be in a collision of two motor vehicles. There's a presumption of innocence, but the investigation looks at both vehicles.
That's just how it is. Motorists are expected to be at greater pains to safeguard pedestrians than other vehicles--even non-motorized vehicles. It's not realistic, but the law is often unrealistic and frustrating.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:35 AM on September 9, 2013
Yep, you stop being a person as far as presumption of innocence and protection from collective punishment goes, too.
I have no idea what you're on about, and as I've said I'm from LA, not NYC. Feel free to think of NYC drivers however you like. They routinely horrify me when I visit. The low average speeds and constant congestion normalize some very odd moves that I'll never understand. Especially around tunnel merges etc.
I was responding to the notion that you 'stop being a human being' when you're a bicyclist hit by a car. My point is that from the antiseptic legal-analytical standpoint you become the operator of a vehicle when you mount a bicycle and ride it on the 'highway' (i.e. the public roads). That's how the accident will be analyzed by the police, by insurance companies and by courts. That's why you get that dehumanized sense. If you happen to be violating some vehicle code section at the same time you are struck by a motorist, which as someone who tries to bike in Los Angeles I know it can be legitimately hard not to do while trying to negotiate traffic, then there's going to be a comparative negligence issue. It's always going to be considered, the same way it would be in a collision of two motor vehicles. There's a presumption of innocence, but the investigation looks at both vehicles.
That's just how it is. Motorists are expected to be at greater pains to safeguard pedestrians than other vehicles--even non-motorized vehicles. It's not realistic, but the law is often unrealistic and frustrating.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:35 AM on September 9, 2013
My point is that from the antiseptic legal-analytical standpoint you become the operator of a vehicle when you mount a bicycle and ride it on the 'highway' (i.e. the public roads). That's how the accident will be analyzed by the police, by insurance companies and by courts. That's why you get that dehumanized sense.
Sorry, no, that's not what I meant in the slightest. What I meant is that if you are struck by a car driver, even if that person appears to be totally in the wrong, they are very unlikely to face criminal charges or penalties, in my experience, which does not appear to be true if you are both driving cars.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:43 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sorry, no, that's not what I meant in the slightest. What I meant is that if you are struck by a car driver, even if that person appears to be totally in the wrong, they are very unlikely to face criminal charges or penalties, in my experience, which does not appear to be true if you are both driving cars.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:43 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
My mistake. I agree with you about that, anecdotally. There does seem to be a fairly obvious reluctance to treat those cases as seriously as they should be treated in most big cities. It's definitely an issue in LA. Although bike activism has been helping that here.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:46 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:46 AM on September 9, 2013
Yeah. There is a lot of reckless cycling (and driving!) around NY, but cops have a special antagonism for the cyclists, it seems.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:49 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by Navelgazer at 7:49 AM on September 9, 2013
Yeah, it really seems like drivers in general don't think of cyclists as people, bizarrely. Some tribal identification thing, perhaps. And cops/prosecutors are generally drivers...
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:54 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 7:54 AM on September 9, 2013
I don't think he signaled for all of those lane changes.
posted by elmer benson at 8:07 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by elmer benson at 8:07 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Guys, the video has nothing to do with cyclists.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 8:08 AM on September 9, 2013 [17 favorites]
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 8:08 AM on September 9, 2013 [17 favorites]
Close enough for GRAR!
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
It certainly has to do with not giving a shit about safety!
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:10 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
We live downtown and my son walks to school. He wants to ride his bike, but I keep telling him "If someone hits you with their car and you die it will just be called an accident. People don't care about you."
In fact, I saw a guy in a wheelchair get run down in the crosswalk just up the street from our house. He died. It was an accident.
I hate cars and auto culture.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:11 AM on September 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
In fact, I saw a guy in a wheelchair get run down in the crosswalk just up the street from our house. He died. It was an accident.
I hate cars and auto culture.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:11 AM on September 9, 2013 [5 favorites]
I don't think he signaled for all of those lane changes.
Perhaps his blinker is broken? Erm, both of his blinkers?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:25 AM on September 9, 2013
Perhaps his blinker is broken? Erm, both of his blinkers?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:25 AM on September 9, 2013
The real crime here is the soundtrack.
It's less GRAR inducing when you play it with this going [YT] instead.
posted by notyou at 8:29 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's less GRAR inducing when you play it with this going [YT] instead.
posted by notyou at 8:29 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Perhaps his blinker is broken? Erm, both of his blinkers?
Yeah, apparently those break reeeeeeeal easy here in the Northeast Corridor. (And everywhere, maybe? But while I excuse/ignore much of the terrible driving here in Boston, I really hate people who cut me off without signalling.)
posted by maryr at 8:34 AM on September 9, 2013
Yeah, apparently those break reeeeeeeal easy here in the Northeast Corridor. (And everywhere, maybe? But while I excuse/ignore much of the terrible driving here in Boston, I really hate people who cut me off without signalling.)
posted by maryr at 8:34 AM on September 9, 2013
I've had a couple of cab rides that felt like this.
I ran a bit of this video on my weekend morning local news show and the station got two phone calls complaining that I was glorifying dangerous driving. I almost had to laugh, given that every third story in every single one of our newscasts is usually about a fatal car crash.
posted by none of these will bring disaster at 8:35 AM on September 9, 2013
I ran a bit of this video on my weekend morning local news show and the station got two phone calls complaining that I was glorifying dangerous driving. I almost had to laugh, given that every third story in every single one of our newscasts is usually about a fatal car crash.
posted by none of these will bring disaster at 8:35 AM on September 9, 2013
Yeah, on kind of that point - maybe this belongs in MeTa, but do we usually allow posts of obviously illegal, reckless crimes? I don't mean to be all "oh no! sax and violins!" but this seems pretty sketchy.
posted by maryr at 8:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 8:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
(Also, what's with the 'BMW' tag?)
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:43 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:43 AM on September 9, 2013
Yeah, on kind of that point - maybe this belongs in MeTa, but do we usually allow posts of obviously illegal, reckless crimes?
IME yes. You could indeed make a MeTa post though.
posted by jaduncan at 8:44 AM on September 9, 2013
IME yes. You could indeed make a MeTa post though.
posted by jaduncan at 8:44 AM on September 9, 2013
(Also, what's with the 'BMW' tag?)
He's driving a BMW Z4.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:45 AM on September 9, 2013
He's driving a BMW Z4.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:45 AM on September 9, 2013
I'm not saying I condone his actions, but I certainly sympathize with his situation. Living slowly with a fast car is a really hard life.
Arizona exists for just this sort of dilemma.
posted by running order squabble fest at 8:47 AM on September 9, 2013
Arizona exists for just this sort of dilemma.
posted by running order squabble fest at 8:47 AM on September 9, 2013
do we usually allow posts of obviously illegal, reckless crimes?
I don't see what harm posting the video could cause. MetaFilter is far enough off the beaten path for most folks that I hardly think posting it here would count as encouraging reckless behavior, and I don't know what other reason there would be for not posting.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:51 AM on September 9, 2013
I don't see what harm posting the video could cause. MetaFilter is far enough off the beaten path for most folks that I hardly think posting it here would count as encouraging reckless behavior, and I don't know what other reason there would be for not posting.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:51 AM on September 9, 2013
He's driving a BMW Z4.
Ah, OK. The longer article says Saturn, but the Z4 info is more recent. That makes better sense.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:52 AM on September 9, 2013
Ah, OK. The longer article says Saturn, but the Z4 info is more recent. That makes better sense.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:52 AM on September 9, 2013
He seems like the kind of person better suited to driving a 1999 Plymouth Neon.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:59 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by KokuRyu at 8:59 AM on September 9, 2013
maybe this belongs in MeTa, but do we usually allow posts of obviously illegal, reckless crimes?
It's not really something that rises of frequency of posts or established problematic impact on the site that has any kind of categorical policy attached to it, basically. Would indeed be for Metatalk if people really want to discuss it, though it'd probably good in that case to have more to look at in terms of examples than one post.
posted by cortex at 9:04 AM on September 9, 2013
It's not really something that rises of frequency of posts or established problematic impact on the site that has any kind of categorical policy attached to it, basically. Would indeed be for Metatalk if people really want to discuss it, though it'd probably good in that case to have more to look at in terms of examples than one post.
posted by cortex at 9:04 AM on September 9, 2013
It looks like he tops out at like 40, how dangerous could it be? From the comments I was expecting someone blitzing through traffic at 100+ miles per hour. That's basically a quick commute.
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 9:10 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 9:10 AM on September 9, 2013
Well I was exaggerating a bit, but he certainly doesn't seem to be dangerously fast compared to most traffic in the us, was my point.
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 9:13 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 9:13 AM on September 9, 2013
he certainly doesn't seem to be dangerously fast compared to most traffic in the us
How do you square this with the previous record involving 144mph speeds?
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:23 AM on September 9, 2013
How do you square this with the previous record involving 144mph speeds?
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 9:23 AM on September 9, 2013
Well I was exaggerating a bit, but he certainly doesn't seem to be dangerously fast compared to most traffic in the us, was my point.
He would have had to be averaging a lot more than 40 to do that route in 24 minutes - remember that you need to factor in the time he actually stopped at some of those downtown lights on the west side. You can't compare this to someone doing 70-80 going across the empty straight highways of the midwest or great plains!
It looks to me like he's going 60-80 for a lot of the straightaway / passing traffic parts of the video. I've driven the Harlem River/FDR and the West Side highways myself - in my nerdy 2008 Honda Civic - most people are going like 30. These are congested, narrow-laned, potholed highways.
I mean, over the years I've (very briefly!) encountered people driving like this on NY-, Chicago-, and Boston-area highways in fancy high-end cars (passing me like I am standing still at 65 mph); it's really unnerving to have one of these lunatics appear out of nowhere in your rear-view mirror and pass you in a flash. Driving twice or three times the speed of all the other traffic is just plain nuts, period. It's not necessarily higher speeds that cause accidents, but widely different speeds between different drivers on the same road definitely causes accidents.
posted by aught at 9:38 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
He would have had to be averaging a lot more than 40 to do that route in 24 minutes - remember that you need to factor in the time he actually stopped at some of those downtown lights on the west side. You can't compare this to someone doing 70-80 going across the empty straight highways of the midwest or great plains!
It looks to me like he's going 60-80 for a lot of the straightaway / passing traffic parts of the video. I've driven the Harlem River/FDR and the West Side highways myself - in my nerdy 2008 Honda Civic - most people are going like 30. These are congested, narrow-laned, potholed highways.
I mean, over the years I've (very briefly!) encountered people driving like this on NY-, Chicago-, and Boston-area highways in fancy high-end cars (passing me like I am standing still at 65 mph); it's really unnerving to have one of these lunatics appear out of nowhere in your rear-view mirror and pass you in a flash. Driving twice or three times the speed of all the other traffic is just plain nuts, period. It's not necessarily higher speeds that cause accidents, but widely different speeds between different drivers on the same road definitely causes accidents.
posted by aught at 9:38 AM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
maryr: "Yeah, apparently those break reeeeeeeal easy here in the Northeast Corridor."
Certainly in D.C. Metro, that flashing light on the side of your car is treated as a "Please pass me on this side now!" indicator, because the moment you turn one of those on, a car will immediately appear in the space next to you on that side. This happens to some degree in Boston, as well, but diminishes rapidly as you head north on 93.
So, just in case you were wondering why no one uses signals, it's because politeness won't get you off at the exit you need to get off at.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:43 AM on September 9, 2013
Certainly in D.C. Metro, that flashing light on the side of your car is treated as a "Please pass me on this side now!" indicator, because the moment you turn one of those on, a car will immediately appear in the space next to you on that side. This happens to some degree in Boston, as well, but diminishes rapidly as you head north on 93.
So, just in case you were wondering why no one uses signals, it's because politeness won't get you off at the exit you need to get off at.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:43 AM on September 9, 2013
From TFA:
It's about 26.5 miles in total. That makes the average speed only something around 66 miles an hour. As you can tell by watching the video, the real time saving comes from managing traffic.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:18 AM on September 9, 2013
It's about 26.5 miles in total. That makes the average speed only something around 66 miles an hour. As you can tell by watching the video, the real time saving comes from managing traffic.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:18 AM on September 9, 2013
That makes the average speed only something around 66 miles an hour
Averages have a way of hiding things. Particularly on some of the less congested parts, where he's whipping past other cars, he's clearly moving well above 66mph.
Though really, it's the bobbing and weaving in the congested parts that are giving me a heart attack.
posted by Panjandrum at 10:28 AM on September 9, 2013
Averages have a way of hiding things. Particularly on some of the less congested parts, where he's whipping past other cars, he's clearly moving well above 66mph.
Though really, it's the bobbing and weaving in the congested parts that are giving me a heart attack.
posted by Panjandrum at 10:28 AM on September 9, 2013
So, just in case you were wondering why no one uses signals, it's because politeness won't get you off at the exit you need to get off at.
As someone who learned to drive in Boston (which made New York, where I drive occasionally, seem like a piece of cake) I always understood the requirement to be that you turn on your signal right AS you are cutting into the lane, literally in the same movement in which you start to cut the wheel. It doesn't mean "hey, I'd like to change lanes," it means "look out, I'm changing lanes now whether you like it or not and my car is uglier than yours motherfucker." It's a weird passive aggressive northeastern thing, like saying "thanks" in a really obnoxious and obviously sarcastic tone when you get obnoxious service somewhere, and also provides the defense needed if you are pulled over ("hey, officer, I did the minimal thing that would keep me from getting a ticket"), not that anyone gets pulled over for failure to signal alone.
posted by spitbull at 10:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
As someone who learned to drive in Boston (which made New York, where I drive occasionally, seem like a piece of cake) I always understood the requirement to be that you turn on your signal right AS you are cutting into the lane, literally in the same movement in which you start to cut the wheel. It doesn't mean "hey, I'd like to change lanes," it means "look out, I'm changing lanes now whether you like it or not and my car is uglier than yours motherfucker." It's a weird passive aggressive northeastern thing, like saying "thanks" in a really obnoxious and obviously sarcastic tone when you get obnoxious service somewhere, and also provides the defense needed if you are pulled over ("hey, officer, I did the minimal thing that would keep me from getting a ticket"), not that anyone gets pulled over for failure to signal alone.
posted by spitbull at 10:40 AM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
(Of course followed by the passsive-aggressive half-wave, used nationally, for "thanks for letting me cut you off, here's a little fake politeness to take the sting out of it by making it seem like your idea to let me in.")
posted by spitbull at 10:42 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by spitbull at 10:42 AM on September 9, 2013
This dude should be sentenced to drive a 70s Lada 1200 for the rest of his life.
posted by elizardbits at 10:56 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 10:56 AM on September 9, 2013
It's criminal that the soundtrack isn't yakety-sax.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:54 AM on September 9, 2013
posted by blue_beetle at 11:54 AM on September 9, 2013
I'd like to point out that all this "how people from Boston and New York use turn signals" talk is why I regularly tell my wife that she "drives like a Yankee" and why I absolutely don't mean that in a nice way.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:21 PM on September 9, 2013
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:21 PM on September 9, 2013
Fuck afroduck.
I used to spend time on a track and I have had severally significantly modified cars that could smoke that Z4. But I never drive like that, not in traffic. At those speeds you have no margin for error and other drivers are sure as hell not expecting to see you bearing down on them on the right hand side then pulling 3 lanes across in front of them. If you did that shit on a track you'd get your ass handed to you in the pits. On the road you deserve to lose your license permanently.
Driving a car that fast in traffic is no different than waving a loaded gun at the cars around you.
Fuck afroduck.
posted by skepticbill at 12:55 PM on September 9, 2013 [7 favorites]
I used to spend time on a track and I have had severally significantly modified cars that could smoke that Z4. But I never drive like that, not in traffic. At those speeds you have no margin for error and other drivers are sure as hell not expecting to see you bearing down on them on the right hand side then pulling 3 lanes across in front of them. If you did that shit on a track you'd get your ass handed to you in the pits. On the road you deserve to lose your license permanently.
Driving a car that fast in traffic is no different than waving a loaded gun at the cars around you.
Fuck afroduck.
posted by skepticbill at 12:55 PM on September 9, 2013 [7 favorites]
Guys, the video has nothing to do with cyclists.
Why do you get to decide that? Speed kills. People driving recklessly kill people on bikes. In the Netherlands, they're trying to change the culture by showing people how driving just slightly over the speed limit is dangerous. So what some of us here are trying to do is something similar and make it clear that driving like this has its consequences besides getting a ticket or getting arrested.
posted by funkiwan at 3:38 PM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
Why do you get to decide that? Speed kills. People driving recklessly kill people on bikes. In the Netherlands, they're trying to change the culture by showing people how driving just slightly over the speed limit is dangerous. So what some of us here are trying to do is something similar and make it clear that driving like this has its consequences besides getting a ticket or getting arrested.
posted by funkiwan at 3:38 PM on September 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
You think that's reckless driving? THIS is reckless driving!
posted by jcruelty at 4:20 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jcruelty at 4:20 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
jcruelty, yeah, the M5 drive is much more insane. I read in the last week or two that the driver in that video, Giorgi Tevzadze, was killed in a car accident where he was a passenger in his own infamous M5.
posted by bz at 4:38 PM on September 9, 2013
posted by bz at 4:38 PM on September 9, 2013
other drivers are sure as hell not expecting to see you bearing down on them on the right hand side then pulling 3 lanes across in front of them
Like the spot at 1:45 in the video timecode (not his clock) when he passes an ambulance on an exit ramp by driving on the right shoulder, and almost gets crushed between the wall and the vehicle.
posted by charlie don't surf at 5:47 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Like the spot at 1:45 in the video timecode (not his clock) when he passes an ambulance on an exit ramp by driving on the right shoulder, and almost gets crushed between the wall and the vehicle.
posted by charlie don't surf at 5:47 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've walked on plenty of the sidewalks that he's speeding by at reckless speeds. May he rot in jail.
Unfortunately, there is essentially no mechanism in American law to ensure he never drives again, because car culture is awful.
posted by akgerber at 7:19 PM on September 9, 2013
Unfortunately, there is essentially no mechanism in American law to ensure he never drives again, because car culture is awful.
posted by akgerber at 7:19 PM on September 9, 2013
One time I drove 10 blocks in 24 minutes in Manhattan. I thought that was a record.
posted by just_another_crowd at 8:24 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by just_another_crowd at 8:24 PM on September 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't think I saw this linked to yet… he's been arrested.
posted by Lexica at 9:09 PM on September 9, 2013
posted by Lexica at 9:09 PM on September 9, 2013
Averages have a way of hiding things.
A friend went on a fast ride over a largely empty, dry, nicely-surfaced, very rural scenic highway (think maybe three gated forest service side roads in 50 miles, no towns or houses) and he was going about as fast as was comfortable without being stupid about it. Still, on the (empty) straights, it would have been not a very fun encounter with law enforcement had a radar gun fallen on him. Over those 60 miles (posted speed limit 60 for most of them, not counting the many corners with advisory signs), he coincidentally also averaged 66 MPH.
Trust me when I say he and his friend were going plenty fast.
It's one thing to go out into the weeds on a dry day when no one is around and push things a bit. It's another to recklessly careen through city traffic, veering around like a lunatic and only coming through without hurting someone by dumb luck, mostly.
As said up-thread, fuck this guy.
posted by maxwelton at 10:54 PM on September 9, 2013
A friend went on a fast ride over a largely empty, dry, nicely-surfaced, very rural scenic highway (think maybe three gated forest service side roads in 50 miles, no towns or houses) and he was going about as fast as was comfortable without being stupid about it. Still, on the (empty) straights, it would have been not a very fun encounter with law enforcement had a radar gun fallen on him. Over those 60 miles (posted speed limit 60 for most of them, not counting the many corners with advisory signs), he coincidentally also averaged 66 MPH.
Trust me when I say he and his friend were going plenty fast.
It's one thing to go out into the weeds on a dry day when no one is around and push things a bit. It's another to recklessly careen through city traffic, veering around like a lunatic and only coming through without hurting someone by dumb luck, mostly.
As said up-thread, fuck this guy.
posted by maxwelton at 10:54 PM on September 9, 2013
From the linked article where the driver talks about his drive: "I did go through one red light, although it was not at an intersection. It was only at a pedestrian cross walk." FFS!
when he passes an ambulance on an exit ramp by driving on the right shoulder,
It doesn't really make it significantly less assholish, but I actually think that's a small bus, not an ambulance.
posted by aught at 6:59 AM on September 11, 2013
when he passes an ambulance on an exit ramp by driving on the right shoulder,
It doesn't really make it significantly less assholish, but I actually think that's a small bus, not an ambulance.
posted by aught at 6:59 AM on September 11, 2013
Depending on NY state laws, it might make it significantly less illegal though.
posted by maryr at 9:41 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by maryr at 9:41 PM on September 11, 2013
Well, I mean, there's still plenty of illegal in there without it being an ambulance.
posted by maryr at 9:41 PM on September 11, 2013
posted by maryr at 9:41 PM on September 11, 2013
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posted by R. Mutt at 6:05 AM on September 9, 2013