My latest car-related annoyance

So I drive into a gas station and pull up behind a car just sitting there. Figuring that they're inside paying, I choose to wait since all the other lanes are equally busy. I then noticed that the person was sitting inside the car, yet the gas nozzle wasn't connected. What are they doing? Texting of course, preventing what's supposed to be a gas station from doing business. Whether they had already fueled up or had just pulled in made no difference because my Annoyance Meter was pegged either way.

Some people are just so clueless and oblivious to their surroundings, and yes, it was a woman. A guy would be too ashamed, risking that his Man Card would be cut up... but women have no such concerns. (Next time you're in Costco and someone completely blocks the lane with their cart because they're getting a food sample*, note whether it's a man or woman. Case closed.)

• One of these days I'm either going to push their cart to the far corner of the store, or drop in a box of Depends.

Same thing happened to me last weekend, except it was two people at once...a Prius and Dodge Caliber...blocking the only two diesel pumps.

That's one thing that bugs me - a gas car at a diesel pump. It's not very thoughtful, especially since I'm usually driving a rig that's 50' long when I'm looking for diesel. Not easy to just whip around.

But if I pull the big Dodge with the push bar up right behind them, they usually don't loiter long after finishing the fill up.

I was in fact lined up to use the ethanol pump, but in California at least, gas, diesel, and E85 pumps are all mixed in together.

Overall, better while stopped, than in motion. I just drove ~6 miles, had two near head-ons with texters. The first one, about 300 yards from home, flipped me the bird with her otherwise unused steering hand, as I put two wheels onto someone's tree lawn.
The percentage of shiny happy people seems to be rapidly increasing. We truly live in Idiocracy now .

Keith Tanner wrote: That's one thing that bugs me - a gas car at a diesel pump. It's not very thoughtful, especially since I'm usually driving a rig that's 50' long when I'm looking for diesel. Not easy to just whip around. But if I pull the big Dodge with the push bar up right behind them, they usually don't loiter long after finishing the fill up.

I feel the same way, but about the E85 pump.

Especially since there are less than 10 stations in the metro area that sell it and it's typically 1 station (2 pumps) out of 14+

Ok, if we're going to bitch, I'd like to complain about people who go on about things despite the fact that the statistics don't back them up. Case in point, if texters are so bad, where's the carnage? For the most part, both accidents and fatalities are down. I'd suggest two possible reasons for this: first, someone who is likely to have an accident due to texting is the sort who is likely to have accidents via any number of reasons. I.e. Whether it's cell phones, make-up or snacks, some types are just a menace. The second reason is that for some people, a distraction can actually make them more attentive. I'm most dangerous when there is little sensory input and I get mesmerized by the road. When that happens, eating and talking actually make me a safer driver.

I was so amazed by the newly discovered gauge panel on my laptop tuning software that I damn near drove into a ditch. I closed the laptop.

When I see someone texting and driving I get their attention by throwing my beer at them.

Yesterday afternoon as I left for my ill-fated road trip. 1/4 mile from the house I'm turning left from one major road onto another with a green arrow and I'm about 4th car back in the line. Just as I start my turn some dude comes barreling into my path from across the street. He had to swerve around the cars waiting at the red light and back across my line of travel.

I slam on the brakes and swerve right to avoid him and he doesn't even acknowledge that he nearly caused a major head-on accident (and dude, your S-10 will lose against my Suburban).

Continue on another 200 FEET when two girls pull out in front of me turning left into traffic. AND STOP! When I beep at the idiots the driver flips me off before she speeds off into traffic (causing more people to brake and beep).

I should have turned around and gone home, the universe was sending me a message via shiny happy people.

flatlander937 wrote: When I see someone texting and driving I get their attention by throwing my beer at them.

Drink drivers are responsible for 1 out of 5 fatal accidents. I think we should focus on the other 80% that are sober, personally.

People that do that sort of thing at the pump are usually incapable of reversing with any sort of skill, if at all. Pull as close to their front bumper as possible. Watch as they attempt to reverse. Hilarity will ensue.

flatlander937 wrote: When I see someone texting and driving I get their attention by throwing my beer at them.

I sometimes think it should be legal to have small handguns in cars and when we see stupid crap going on we should be allowed to pop someone's tire.

Datsun310Guy wrote:

flatlander937 wrote: When I see someone texting and driving I get their attention by throwing my beer at them.

I sometimes think it should be legal to have small handguns in cars and when we see stupid crap going on we should be allowed to pop someone's tire.

I had the thought that everyone should carry paintball guns and "mark" cars seen doing stupid E36 M3. If you have a whole bunch of "marks" you might get the hint and cops would know who to give "generally crappy driver" tickets to.

Impractical and open to lots of misuse, but an amusing idea.

In reply to Kreb: You're right, but texting while driving leads to more close calls than we want currently. Autonomous cars will fix this problem in 11-20 years.

In reply to Datsun310Guy: I much prefer the idea of shooting at each other with paintballs.

I started blowing the horn at texting drivers about a year ago.

25% realize they are idiots and got caught. They put down the phone and take the next right.

25% get scared when they hear the horn, drop the phone and then get pissed that you blew the horn at them. They usually speed off to prove they are faster than me, after flipping me off.

25% just get pissed. They either swerve to scare me, slam on the brakes, stomp the gas, drive 20 under the speed limit, or do something equally stupid. I usually point out the dash camera to them, smile and wave. Then they speed off to get away from me.

The last 25% are just oblivious to the world. I'm not even sure they hear the horn.

As yet, nobody has called the number on the side of my truck. I'd love to have a discussion about the merits of paying attention.

The only down sides? I'm on my third horn. They apparently don't have much of a duty cycle. It also doesn't seem to help. Stupid doesn't even realize they are stupid, and apparently they multiply faster than smart.

I might stop and talk to the police up-fitters next door to my office about a more durable horn.

In reply to Toyman01:

Get an air compressor and train horn.

Or a set of horns off an old Caddy.

Keith Tanner wrote: Or a set of horns off an old Caddy.

LKQ in on my list of stops next week.

I think people think the rest of the world vaporizes once they get behind the wheel of their car. I was out for a ride on my motorcycle today and witnessed the following maneuver. On a four lane road with an intersection less than 100 yards away, a woman did a u turn from the west bound right hand lane into the east bound left hand lane. This move cut off people driving in both directions. She proceeds to the next intersection, staying in the left lane. At this intersection there in an on ramp to the northbound highway about 200 yards ahead on the right. I was sitting next to her at the red light and had the feeling she would be getting on the highway. Sure enough about 50' before she went by the ramp she flips on her blinker (1st decent move she made) and swerves onto the ramp. Glad I had the foresight to hang back and wait to see what her plan was. She was totally oblivious to the fact she nearly caused multiple accidents in less than 2 minutes. I've been known to miss a turn or two before but I will wait until I can find a place to safely get to where I want to be. I guess most people don't have a clue about their surroundings or just don't care. Either way they are scary. Maybe it is the full moon???

You want the 4 tone A C D F setup when looking for Cadillac horns. I think you might be able to still buy them from GM, it was an option well into the 90s, IIRC you can find them in other full size GM products as well.

Kreb wrote: Ok, if we're going to bitch, I'd like to complain about people who go on about things despite the fact that the statistics don't back them up. Case in point, if texters are so bad, where's the carnage? For the most part, both accidents and fatalities are down. I'd suggest two possible reasons for this: first, someone who is likely to have an accident due to texting is the sort who is likely to have accidents via any number of reasons. I.e. Whether it's cell phones, make-up or snacks, some types are just a menace. The second reason is that for some people, a distraction can actually make them more attentive. I'm most dangerous when there is little sensory input and I get mesmerized by the road. When that happens, eating and talking actually make me a safer driver.

Because statistics can lie. I work in health care and I can tell you from actual experience that there has been a sharp spike up in rear end accidents from people texting. As in car A is sitting at a light watching Car B approaching from behind and clearly seeing them texting before they plow into them. By the time the police get there the phone is nowhere to be found and Car B is simply shocked that anyone would even imply that they might have been texting. Years ago I might see one or two rear enders a year and now it's 5-10 month. Oh ya, and nearly everyone one of them ends up in a law suit clogging up the courts and causing all of our insurance rates to go up. Texting and driving is out of control.

Keith Tanner wrote: Or a set of horns off an old Caddy.

I can confirm that they are extremely loud all the way back into the 50's. Like get out of my peasant I am late for my job firing people loud and obnoxious. I now have a set on the cobra the TBird and the Caddi.

Damn, so yall are saying Mississippi isnt the only place with E36 M3ty drivers? Everything listed happens to me on a daily basis.

Ive got one yall missed, crusing down a 2 lane country highway at 75, it NEVER FAILS someone pulls out in front of me not 100ft ahead. I admit I've pulled out in front of people before but every single time I nail the throttle so I can at least try to prevent them from slamming the brakes or rear ending me. These asshats wont even hit the speed limit for another 2 miles.

Someone mentioned burning through 3 horns, I havent broken a horn yet but I have broken my hand bashing my horn at stupid drivers in New Orleans. They may be some of the worst drivers but at least they arent scared to floor it.