Rt 17 heads up

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   Just a heads up to any drivers who pick up Rt 17 riders in the afternoon at the Pentagon. I have been caught off guard twice so far by a gentleman who does not stand in the slug line ...he waits in the wings (out of sight) ...and as you pull up ...he quickly appears and gets in. The problem is that he is very large ...and cannot negotiate the seat belt. I did not appreciate the tactic he uses ...and short of being rude and asking him to get out of the car ...I gave him the ride. In the future ...I think I will avoid the Rt 17 line ...and opt for the Rt 610 or Rt 630 riders.

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SpotsyDriver Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpotsyDriver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rt 17 heads up Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 6:58am
	Just a heads up to any drivers who pick up Rt 17 riders in the afternoon at the Pentagon. I have been caught off guard twice so far by a gentleman who does not stand in the slug line ...he waits in the wings (out of sight) ...and as you pull up ...he quickly appears and gets in. The problem is that he is very large ...and cannot negotiate the seat belt. I did not appreciate the tactic he uses ...and short of being rude and asking him to get out of the car ...I gave him the ride. In the future ...I think I will avoid the Rt 17 line ...and opt for the Rt 610 or Rt 630 riders.

waterelf Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote waterelf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 9:24am
	What time do you usually see this person? If those of us in line know to look for this person, we may be able to "remind" him of the "rules" of slugging. There are few enough drivers at the Pentagon for Route 17. I'd hate to lose another just because of some rude individual.

SpotsyDriver Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpotsyDriver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 10:50am
	Thanks for the response. He is usually there from 3PM to 3:30PM. I also think he needs to review the slug etiquette rules on this site about seatbelt usgae. If he cannot fit into a standard seatbelt ...maybe he should think about an alternative means of commuting ...rather than put drivers and himself at risk.

mirangus Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Aug 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote mirangus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 11:51am
	quote: Originally posted by SpotsyDriver [br]Just a heads up to any drivers who pick up Rt 17 riders in the afternoon at the Pentagon. I have been caught off guard twice so far by a gentleman who does not stand in the slug line ...he waits in the wings (out of sight) ...and as you pull up ...he quickly appears and gets in. The problem is that he is very large ...and cannot negotiate the seat belt. I did not appreciate the tactic he uses ...and short of being rude and asking him to get out of the car ...I gave him the ride. In the future ...I think I will avoid the Rt 17 line ...and opt for the Rt 610 or Rt 630 riders. Where specifically does he wait?? Where does he hide? Does he cut others off in line?

SpotsyDriver Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpotsyDriver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 12:55pm
	I am not sure where he waits ...and do not believe he has cut of any others in the line ... I believe he waits for an opening and quickly comes up to the car ...opens the door and gets in ... not really asking for permission ....he just assumes it is ok.

USA Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Jun 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote USA Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 2003 at 4:39pm
	Regarding seat belts, note that the PASSENGER is responsible and is the one to get the ticket, NOT the driver. Some cops think otherwise and may try to ticket the driver, but that ticket should be dismissed in court because the law makes the driver responsible only for front-seat passengers between the ages of four and sixteen. (I won this one once.) Of course, the only way to get a seat-belt ticket is to be doing something else to warrant being pulled over......

MDC Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 04 Dec 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MDC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 2003 at 8:04am
	USA, You are probably correct about the law(I don't have any experience with it). SpotsyDriver may have been referring to the fact that an unrestrained passenger is a risk in the event of a crash, and not even thinking about a ticket.

SpotsyDriver Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpotsyDriver Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 2003 at 10:28am
	Thanks for the comments from USA and MDC ....and yes I am not concerned about getting a ticket for an unrestrained driver ...only concerned about that individual's safety in the event of an accident ...and also the risk that it causes others in the vehicle. I think the lesson I take away from all of this ...is that I will have to politely decline to give a ride to anyone who cannot buckle up ... no matter the reason for not being able. Thanks.

SJS Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SJS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 2003 at 9:29am
	quote: Originally posted by SpotsyDriver [br]Just a heads up to any drivers who pick up Rt 17 riders in the afternoon at the Pentagon. I have been caught off guard twice so far by a gentleman who does not stand in the slug line ...he waits in the wings (out of sight) ...and as you pull up ...he quickly appears and gets in. The problem is that he is very large ...and cannot negotiate the seat belt. I did not appreciate the tactic he uses ...and short of being rude and asking him to get out of the car ...I gave him the ride. In the future ...I think I will avoid the Rt 17 line ...and opt for the Rt 610 or Rt 630 riders.

SJS Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SJS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 2003 at 10:15am
	quote: Originally posted by SpotsyDriver [br]Just a heads up to any drivers who pick up Rt 17 riders in the afternoon at the Pentagon. I have been caught off guard twice so far by a gentleman who does not stand in the slug line ...he waits in the wings (out of sight) ...and as you pull up ...he quickly appears and gets in. The problem is that he is very large ...and cannot negotiate the seat belt. I did not appreciate the tactic he uses ...and short of being rude and asking him to get out of the car ...I gave him the ride. In the future ...I think I will avoid the Rt 17 line ...and opt for the Rt 610 or Rt 630 riders. I am familar with the gentleman you are talking about and he does in fact follow slug-line etiquette and although he sometimes reserves his place in line and then leans against the concrete barriers, he is not hiding as you suggest. He also routinely passes on rides that he does not think will accommodate his size. It is certainly the perogative of the driver as to who they will or will not pick up but hopefully this is not a case of discrimination due to his size. He is a very nice man. Route 17 certainly needs all the drivers we can get, so please speak up if you do not want to give him a ride. I have witnessed some drivers doing this and he has gotten out of their cars without hesitation or animosity.