Several drivers that have angered/amused me this week

Oh let's see:
There was the one in some kind of hatchback that took speed limits very seriously. We were on a 4 lane road and the speed limit goes from 55->45->35 and this person slowed down very quickly at each change. I mean, they hit the brakes so hard at the signs the car visibly nose-dived. It was like they believed they would bounce off of an invisible barrier if they were going 1mph over.

There was the little old lady driving what I assumed to be a used car to the lot for delivery. She had the generic little old lady stance behind the wheel. She could barely see over the wheel. That is bad enough but she had white letters and numbers scrawled down the left side of the windshield, her sun visor fully deployed and the wire from some device hanging from the rearview. Her total "window" of vision couldn't have been but about 6"x8". And she was riding my bumper through stop and go traffic.

How about the douchbag in the Landcruiser this morning? There are 4 lanes, 2 each way and he is leapfrogging through traffic. At one point, he passed me like I was sitting still (I was going about 60) only to slam on his brakes because of traffic ahead. This went on for about 2 miles and he had his left blinker on the whole way...until he jumped from the left-most lane to a right turn lane. He did change his signal then.

Then there are the everyday bozos who race through yellow/red lights but take forever to start moving at green
And the ones who slam on their brakes before getting into the empty 1/4 mile long turn-only lanes. They usually signal after braking.
Or the ones who drive almost the entire length of the empty turn-only lanes to brake and jump over at the last minute. Then there are the ones who are in so much of a hurry that they have to turn out in front of me on a 2 lane, 55mph country road...just to speed up to 10 under and make another turn half a mile up.
*And I wouldn't want to forget the 3 dipE36 M3s that ran the left turn light after the semi in front barely made it through. The one who stopped (a quarter way into the intersection) looked at me like I was the shiny happy person for daring to go when I had the green.

On a positive note, I didn't see anyone reading or having breakfast while driving.

Always look at the bright side of life

rmarkc wrote: The one who stopped (a quarter way into the intersection) looked at me like I was the shiny happy person for daring to go when I had the green.

did you salute him and tell him he was #1 with you ?

I do believe every jack a$$ that had no business with a license was on the roads this week. The worst for me was the MB in the fast lane on the interstate. Over a 10 mile stretch he was anywhere from 10 under the speed limit to 15 over. Not more that a half a mile at a constant speed. He was just one of many...

On my drive in this morning I was behind a late-model Caddy. We're in the left lane on Nova Road, which has three lanes in each direction separated by a grassy median. At one point the driver put on their left turn signal and got into the turn lane--no drama, no over-slowing, no problem. They even did most of their braking while in the turn lane itself.

From there, this person executed a perfect left turn. I applauded.

rmarkc wrote: *Or the ones who drive almost the entire length of the empty turn-only lanes to brake and jump over at the last minute.

While towing 8,000 lbs of bobcat, I've sent more than a few of those dicks into the dirt. I will not be letting you in front of me. Good day, Sir.

I drive most of the day, every day. Worse yet, I have a competition license, so my standards are even higher. I could rant endlessly...

But, this weeks Super Driver Genius was the Milton-esque dude in a faded Saturn that I passed at a leisurely 70 or so and just happened to glance over at him. He had both hands off the wheel, and in a red faced rage was using all his digits against his side window as he angrily mouthed "Fifty Five!!" at me.

In a 65 zone.

I'll throw mine out there, from last night: Those idiots who passed me last night when I was going 60 in a 55 in a torrential downpour. I saw six cars start to hydroplane. All AWD. Interesting.

Also, that shiny happy person who flashed his brights at me in the same situation. I was in the left hand lane, and he was coming up FAST in a BMW X5. Flashed his brights to get by. I was going at a good pace, and everybody else was in the lane too because it was the only one WITHOUT STANDING WATER.

Actually, when I'm going faster than the flow and am in the left lane, which usually means I'm passing and get flashed by the brights, it pisses me off more than almost anything. Thats when I slow to the pace of traffic. I would have done the same last night had I not been nervous about the entire situation with the rain and fear of flood.

mtn wrote: Actually, when I'm going faster than the flow and am in the left lane, which usually means I'm passing and get flashed by the brights, it pisses me off more than almost anything. Thats when I slow to the pace of traffic. I would have done the same last night had I not been nervous about the entire situation with the rain and fear of flood.

2 wrongs don't make a right.

What makes you think that YOU get to decide what speed is the right speed? If someone flashes you, get the F out of his way. You can get back to the lane that you own after he passes. Slowing down because they want past you is probably the worst possible thing to do. Think about the times when you're in a hurry.

zomby woof wrote:

mtn wrote: Actually, when I'm going faster than the flow and am in the left lane, which usually means I'm passing and get flashed by the brights, it pisses me off more than almost anything. Thats when I slow to the pace of traffic. I would have done the same last night had I not been nervous about the entire situation with the rain and fear of flood.

2 wrongs don't make a right. What makes you think that YOU get to decide what speed is the right speed? If someone flashes you, get the F out of his way. You can get back to the lane that you own after he passes. Slowing down because they want past you is probably the worst possible thing to do. Think about the times when you're in a hurry.

+1

I can't believe the number of people that don't know how to use their turn signals, ever.

So in the real world the last week I've gotten people who think that turn lanes are for passing, truck drivers can turn right at an intersection in one motion while under a red light, and the occasional woman I thought was drunk, but instead is talking on a cell phone and babysitting children in the back seat.

Don't get me started on my recent Forza experiences.

As an antidote to the annoying drivers, a little old lady is a regular customer at the donut shop near my house. She has a temporary handicap placard that hangs from her mirror. The first time I saw her at the shop I saw her car swing up into a handicap space with no indication that she was handicap. No permanent handicap license plate, no hanging placard. But, as soon as she was stopped, she whipped out the placard and stuck it on the mirror.

Just like the instructions on the placard say you are supposed to use it.

Most handicap drivers I see just keep it on the mirror all the time and reduce their forward visibility while driving.

During a track school this same topic came up and the chief instructor stated "You shouldn't get frustrated with other drivers on the road, you should just try to remember that they're doing the best they can with a very limited resouce."

The high point of my commute to work is a simple Right/left/right ramp that is a blast in my little Escort. However, there is also a 1/2 mile drag race to be the first into this ramp and and often get stuck behind a person with more straight and less turn in their machines.

One M3 driver actually stopped and we had a nice conversation about how I not only beat him to the ramp but pulled a few car lengths through the ramp.

Don't get me started on the froggers, teachers, 2 light draggers, and the least favorite "your car is ugly, small, and slow so I have the right of way" folks.

Bruce

My favorite is the "I have an empty acceleration lane to get onto the highway, that merges safely into traffic, but I am going to wait until all three lanes of onramp are empty before I even think about moving from a complete stop".

I wish I had a better way of describing this, as I have only seen it in Georgia...unfortunately, I see it EVERY MORNING on my way to work.

zomby woof wrote:

mtn wrote: Actually, when I'm going faster than the flow and am in the left lane, which usually means I'm passing and get flashed by the brights, it pisses me off more than almost anything. Thats when I slow to the pace of traffic. I would have done the same last night had I not been nervous about the entire situation with the rain and fear of flood.

2 wrongs don't make a right. What makes you think that YOU get to decide what speed is the right speed? If someone flashes you, get the F out of his way. You can get back to the lane that you own after he passes. Slowing down because they want past you is probably the worst possible thing to do. Think about the times when you're in a hurry.

not sure I agree 100% with you...maybe it depends on the situation... if I'm in the left lane, passing cars, and there is a long line of cars in front of me in that left lane and some shiny happy person comes up behind me and starts flashing his lights then berkley him.... he probably should have left home earlier... if it's a medical emergency, probably should have call 911

After some recent trips on the Garden State Parkway, I can't begin to enumerate the driving flaws. What direction signals ?

Even if you are in the left lane and someone wants by, move over and let him go. Just common courtesy. Now if they only will do it for you.

wbjones wrote: not sure I agree 100% with you...maybe it depends on the situation... if I'm in the left lane, passing cars, and there is a long line of cars in front of me in that left lane and some shiny happy person comes up behind me and starts flashing his lights then berkley him.... he probably should have left home earlier... if it's a medical emergency, probably should have call 911

Flashing lights is the polite way to ask you to move over.

Likewise, if he's coming up behind you, he's therefore faster, therefore you need to move over, otherwise you are blocking the left lane.

I usually accelerate if possible, move over, move back left, and get on with my life, unless I'm suck behind a train of folks behind one person whose attitude is, well, yours, basically: refusing to yield the passing lane because, by gum, nobody should be passing any faster than they are.

What gets me is when I'm in the RIGHT lane, empty lane(s) to my left, and someone comes up behind me and flashes. Uh, no. I can't move any further to the right, and besides, there are open lanes to the left. If you can't be bothered to change lanes, you must not be that interested in going faster...

Knurled wrote:

wbjones wrote: not sure I agree 100% with you...maybe it depends on the situation... if I'm in the left lane, passing cars, and there is a long line of cars in front of me in that left lane and some shiny happy person comes up behind me and starts flashing his lights then berkley him.... he probably should have left home earlier... if it's a medical emergency, probably should have call 911

Flashing lights is the polite way to ask you to move over.

Not the way I've seen it used. Especailly when they are 2 ft off your bumper. With a car ahead and to the side.

If I'm in a long line of cars passing other cars, where where in the world am I supposed to go? Especially if I want to go 75, and we are all going, say, 68. Why are YOU more important than the rest of us.

I greatly enjoy watching people go backwards as they try to weave in and out of traffic, pretending that they are in a hurry, as opposed to just being paitent with the other thousands of drivers who are sharing the road with you.

Just because you think you are more brave and think you can drive faster than the rest of us doesn't mean that you actually are GOING to drive faster than the rest of us.

The ones that I REALLY hate are the ones who come screaming up on you, while in traffic, and when you do finally find a spot to get over, then they crawl by. And then pull in front of you. And slow down.

If you come up behind me quickly, but then keep a safe distance, I'll generally get out of the way as fast as I can. But if you are going to be a total A-hole to me- well, I then apply the golden rule- since that's how you want to be treated- I'm happy to be an a-hole to you, too.

Eric

Knurled wrote:

wbjones wrote: not sure I agree 100% with you...maybe it depends on the situation... if I'm in the left lane, passing cars, and there is a long line of cars in front of me in that left lane and some shiny happy person comes up behind me and starts flashing his lights then berkley him.... he probably should have left home earlier... if it's a medical emergency, probably should have call 911

Flashing lights is the polite way to ask you to move over. Likewise, if he's coming up behind you, he's therefore faster, therefore you need to move over, otherwise you are blocking the left lane. I usually accelerate if possible, move over, move back left, and get on with my life, unless I'm suck behind a train of folks behind one person whose attitude is, well, *yours*, basically: refusing to yield the passing lane because, by gum, nobody should be passing any faster than *they* are. What gets me is when I'm in the RIGHT lane, empty lane(s) to my left, and someone comes up behind me and flashes. Uh, no. I can't move any further to the right, and besides, there are open lanes to the left. If you can't be bothered to change lanes, you must not be that interested in going faster...

as I said (don't think you really read my post) if you come up behind me flashing your lights (yes I realize you're going faster than I am) and I'm in a line of several cars that are passing others then as I said you're acting like a shiny happy person so berkely you... you're the one that's not showing common courtesy... you're the one whose saying ... I much more important than you so you need to get out of my way... just where the heck do you think you're going to go..??? flash your lights at every car in line..??? na not going to happen... lift, chill out, and wait for the line to clear the right lane traffic...

Left lane = passing lane.

If you're passing a car, that's where you should be. If you aren't passing a car, you should move at least one lane to the right. At least that's how I was taught.

Flashing lights to encourage others to clear a path for you isn't in any driving manual I've ever seen.

zomby woof wrote:

mtn wrote: Actually, when I'm going faster than the flow and am in the left lane, which usually means I'm passing and get flashed by the brights, it pisses me off more than almost anything. Thats when I slow to the pace of traffic. I would have done the same last night had I not been nervous about the entire situation with the rain and fear of flood.

2 wrongs don't make a right. What makes you think that YOU get to decide what speed is the right speed? If someone flashes you, get the F out of his way. You can get back to the lane that you own after he passes. Slowing down because they want past you is probably the worst possible thing to do. Think about the times when you're in a hurry.

If getting out of the way puts me in a dagerous situation, (remember, the fast lane was the only one without standing water) the X5 driver can suck it. I'm with mtn on this one.

Once again, as Appleseed said, the left lane was the only lane I felt safe in due to road conditions. I was still going faster than the flow.

And as I said before, it only happens in a situation like that, or when I'm passing a long line of cars.

Knurled wrote:

wbjones wrote: not sure I agree 100% with you...maybe it depends on the situation... if I'm in the left lane, passing cars, and there is a long line of cars in front of me in that left lane and some shiny happy person comes up behind me and starts flashing his lights then berkley him.... he probably should have left home earlier... if it's a medical emergency, probably should have call 911

Flashing lights is the polite way to ask you to move over.

I disagree. I immediately think D-bag when someone flashes their lights at me. If they're behind me for a while, and I'm a bonehead and not getting over, then thats fine. But thats never happened. It always happens that I'm going (too fast) and they are coming up flying behind me and flash their brights before they even get to me. To me, thats a dick move.