What the Heck Just Happened?

[Carborendum]

I was driving home on the expressway -- two lanes in my direction.

I saw a car approaching from behind.  As he got closer I saw him changing lanes because apparently 75 mph is not fast enough for him  He went out from my field of vision in my rearview mirror and into my blind spot.

I kept a lookout from the corner of my eye to watch for him passing me.  But he didn't.  He just stayed in my blind spot.  I found that really annoying.  I think it's dangerous.  I tried slowing a bit to let him pass me.  But he was still in my blind spot.  I kept an eye out for movement in my rear view, side view, and beside me.  I couldn't see him.

Then I saw another car come from behind and do the same thing.  But instead of staying there in my blind spot, he came up and passed me.  

So, what just happened to the first car?  I asked my wife to look around and verify that there were no cars around us.  She assured me that there weren't.  There were no off-ramps we passed.  The car just freaking disappeared!

(cue Twilight Zone music).

[NeedleinA]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:34 PM, Carborendum said:

(cue Twilight Zone music).

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Unbeknownst to you, you were just in a "Blind Spot Mirror" commercial. 
I went to an Autozone type store several years ago and bought some little $5 stick on blind spot mirrors... they have been used every time I drive now. Huge help!
Similar to the attached picture. 

Glad you both were safe and you didn't end up on an episode of 'Active Self Protection'. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by NeedleinA

[NeuroTypical]

Well, if you were in the fast lane, then my carnal fallen self hopes you have nightmares about it, and the ghost car haunts you to the end of your days.  People who drive in the fast lane (so says my sinful natural man), deserve far worse than they usually get.

[askandanswer]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:53 PM, NeedleinA said:

Unbeknownst to you, you were just in a "Blind Spot Mirror" commercial. 
I went to an Autozone type store several years ago and bought some little $5 stick on blind spot mirrors... they have been used every time I drive now. Huge help!
Similar to the attached picture. 

Glad you both were safe and you didn't end up on an episode of 'Active Self Protection'. 

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I have the same thing on my car. They're cheap, effective, easy to use and make a significant contribution to road safety. 

[Jamie123]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:34 PM, Carborendum said:

So, what just happened to the first car?

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Perhaps it turned into a wave! 😯

[JohnsonJones]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:34 PM, Carborendum said:

I was driving home on the expressway -- two lanes in my direction.

I saw a car approaching from behind.  As he got closer I saw him changing lanes because apparently 75 mph is not fast enough for him  He went out from my field of vision in my rearview mirror and into my blind spot.

I kept a lookout from the corner of my eye to watch for him passing me.  But he didn't.  He just stayed in my blind spot.  I found that really annoying.  I think it's dangerous.  I tried slowing a bit to let him pass me.  But he was still in my blind spot.  I kept an eye out for movement in my rear view, side view, and beside me.  I couldn't see him.

Then I saw another car come from behind and do the same thing.  But instead of staying there in my blind spot, he came up and passed me.  

So, what just happened to the first car?  I asked my wife to look around and verify that there were no cars around us.  She assured me that there weren't.  There were no off-ramps we passed.  The car just freaking disappeared!

(cue Twilight Zone music).

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Took one of the exits that you passed?

[classylady]

My guess: Maybe the driver of the other car thought he saw a patrol car and quickly decelerated and backed off, which you didn’t notice.

[mordorbund]

The car was coming from inside the vehicle.......

[Just_A_Guy]

He and his car were un-translated* in that very moment. 
 

*(Like being translated, except you go to hell instead of heaven.  If there’s a just God, this is A Thing—especially for obnoxious drivers.)

Edited February 8, 2021 by Just_A_Guy

[Traveler]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:34 PM, Carborendum said:

I was driving home on the expressway -- two lanes in my direction.

I saw a car approaching from behind.  As he got closer I saw him changing lanes because apparently 75 mph is not fast enough for him  He went out from my field of vision in my rearview mirror and into my blind spot.

I kept a lookout from the corner of my eye to watch for him passing me.  But he didn't.  He just stayed in my blind spot.  I found that really annoying.  I think it's dangerous.  I tried slowing a bit to let him pass me.  But he was still in my blind spot.  I kept an eye out for movement in my rear view, side view, and beside me.  I couldn't see him.

Then I saw another car come from behind and do the same thing.  But instead of staying there in my blind spot, he came up and passed me.  

So, what just happened to the first car?  I asked my wife to look around and verify that there were no cars around us.  She assured me that there weren't.  There were no off-ramps we passed.  The car just freaking disappeared!

(cue Twilight Zone music).

Expand  

I have two thoughts or expressions for you:

#1. Perhaps the first car was being driven by one of the 3 Nephites.

#2. All cars driven in the USA should be equipped with 3 mirrors.  The mirror on the right side should be adjusted so you can see cars and anything else on the right side of your car that is not in your peripheral vision.  The mirror on the middle of your windshield is so you can see cars and anything behind your car.  The mirror on your left side is so you can see cars and other things on your left that is not in your peripheral vision (most often it is this side where blind spots are created.)  If you have a blind spot it is because your mirrors are not adjusted properly.  It seems to me that 90% of drivers do not know how to adjust their mirrors.  Too many people seem to think that all the mirrors should be adjusted to see what is behind them which will create blind spots.

 

The Traveler

[Vort]

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:53 PM, NeedleinA said:

Glad you both were safe and you didn't end up on an episode of 'Active Self Protection'.

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What? You mean I'm not the only one who watches that?

[Carborendum]

  On 2/7/2021 at 9:11 AM, Jamie123 said:

Perhaps it turned into a wave! 😯

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Yes, see Mordor's post below.

  On 2/7/2021 at 7:59 PM, classylady said:

My guess: Maybe the driver of the other car thought he saw a patrol car and quickly decelerated and backed off, which you didn’t notice.

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I was paying really close attention -- as much as possible without distracting myself from seeing in front of me.  And there really were no other cars near us.  I think I'd notice.

  On 2/8/2021 at 1:00 AM, mordorbund said:

The car was coming from inside the vehicle.......

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If we believe in a dark matter car or a phase change from matter to energy, or the existence of Pym particles, that could certainly be possible.

  On 2/8/2021 at 5:36 AM, Just_A_Guy said:

He and his car were un-translated* in that very moment. 

*(Like being translated, except you go to hell instead of heaven.  If there’s a just God, this is A Thing—especially for obnoxious drivers.)

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Sometimes I wish that were a thing.  Then I take a look at the mirror and think better of it.

  On 2/8/2021 at 5:57 AM, Vort said:

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:53 PM, NeedleinA said:

Glad you both were safe and you didn't end up on an episode of 'Active Self Protection'. 

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What? You mean I'm not the only one who watches that?

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I've never heard of that before.  But I'm checking it out now.

[NeuroTypical]

  On 2/8/2021 at 1:42 PM, Carborendum said:

  On 2/8/2021 at 5:57 AM, Vort said:

  On 2/6/2021 at 11:53 PM, NeedleinA said:

Glad you both were safe and you didn't end up on an episode of 'Active Self Protection'. 

Expand  

What? You mean I'm not the only one who watches that?

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I've never heard of that before.  But I'm checking it out now.

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Quite a bit of horrible advice and dumb videos out there.  ASP is one of the good ones.

Edited February 8, 2021 by NeuroTypical

[NeedleinA]

  On 2/8/2021 at 3:05 PM, NeuroTypical said:

There's a lot of horrible advice and dumb videos out there.  ASP is one of the good ones.

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"You've got to cover your ASP". Here is an example for you @Carborendum

Edit: You can see their videos online.

Edited February 8, 2021 by NeedleinA

[NeuroTypical]

Oh - we need a warning for those videos.  Active Self Protection videos like the one above, tend to be extremely graphic.  They walk through and critique real violent and/or deadly situations.   Someone dies in the video above.