I'm starting to hate driving...

[Falcon_LS]

when it used to be quite enjoyable. Commuting to work this morning in the Explorer, I've got the cruise control set to 75 MPH (speed limit) in the fast lane. Everyone else is cruising down the road at a similar speed, and it's jam packed.

I see an idiot in a Silverado push his way into the #1 from the #3 or #4, who low and behold starts tailgating me, repeatedly flashing his high beams. There's literally nowhere to go, the Camry next to me is matching my speed, and there's a 535i in front of me. The 535i has nowhere go either. I gradually slow down, and go behind the Camry, all whilst the son of a ***** in the Silverado cusses and curses. He then starts tailgating the 535i, literally braking every two seconds.

I take an exit, and the other highway I'm now on is no so packed. Then this idiot in a Suburban starts pulling out in front of me (from the #4 to the #3) without signalling or anything. I flash him off then he starts intermittently hitting and releasing the brakes, gesturing that I slow down. What the heck? I kind of lose it here, and gun the gas as I overtake him and get back in my lane, as he flashes me off and starts waving his arms like a chimpanzee.

Right, so that idiot is out the way and I'm back in the #1 doing 90 MPH (15 over the limit). Behind me is an older Kia Sportage, then a Mazda B-Series appears out of nowhere behind him, pulling into the hard shoulder. It's now dusty everywhere, and he drives right past me. I'm happy I didn't hear/feel anything hit my car, because I was really starting to lose my temper at this point.

Are people getting dumber or is it just me? How can people be this stupid, seriously? It's no wonder I needed anger management until last year.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

It's funny. Ever since I started driving years ago (over 10 yrs ago) I've always heard others complain about the "other drivers" out there.

I can honestly say that there were about a handfull of times I have legit complaints about other drivers.

Maybe I'm one of those bad drivers?...but then again I've never had an accident.

Agressive? heck yeah! but not enough to get police attention

Speeding tickets? sure! but no damage to any of my vehicles or anyone elses in all 15 years of driving.

Have I cheesed other drivers off? probably...do I care? nope. As long as we all get to our destinations with no injuries, I'd say the voyages were successful


It all boils down to just focusing on what you doing and not getting caught up in what others are doing. You can easily get worked up over it and cause unnecessary stress

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
Have I cheesed other drivers off? probably...do I care? nope. As long as we all get to our destinations with no injuries, I'd say the voyages were successful


You're not a good example - Vancouver must have the world's most polite drivers. A number of years back, I was heading out to Richmond, while on vacation, to catch a movie. The highway narrowed down to one lane due to construction, and not knowing that ahead of time, of course, I was in the wrong lane. But no, BC residents choose to be polite and everyone in the "wrong" lane, myself included, was let in with no fuss or frustration. Traffic in a construction zone there moved better than a normal road here.

 

[CourierDriver]

Try Chicago, most likely your town is easy.

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller
Have I cheesed other drivers off? probably...do I care? nope. As long as we all get to our destinations with no injuries, I'd say the voyages were successful


You're not a good example - Vancouver must have the world's most polite drivers. A number of years back, I was heading out to Richmond, while on vacation, to catch a movie. The highway narrowed down to one lane due to construction, and not knowing that ahead of time, of course, I was in the wrong lane. But no, BC residents choose to be polite and everyone in the "wrong" lane, myself included, was let in with no fuss or frustration. Traffic in a construction zone there moved better than a normal road here.

That reminds me of an instance in the Philadelphia, PA area. This area has an average number of knuckleheads so the above situation would not be overly polite, but everybody would get through it. In this instance, a big, muscular, PA State Trooper was standing, watching the merge, with a scowl on his face (he reminded me of the stereotypical Marine Corp DI). I have never, ever, seen such polite driving. Everyone was behaving like "you go next" "no, no, you go next", "why thank-you"... The merge was absolutely silky smooth.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Kuwait sounds like Miami..Within 30 seconds [or less] after getting onto I-95 someone will do something stupid..I would love to be a Leo for a day..I would have my quota done before lunch.

 

[Merkava_4]

Over here, the object of the game is who can get to the red light the first...

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Over here, the object of the game is who can get to the red light the first...


Boy that sums it up!

I used to love to drive, but any more it's only in the country where there's no one around. It's a shame that idiots have taken away one of the few pleasures I have in life.

John

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Too many people taking up too much space. Like rats. Ive read 2x population increase since I was born. Time for an EVENT to thin the herd.

 

[Smokescreen]

Just reading the OP reminded me of an announcer in a race...#1 #3 are neck and neck...#2 moves up to #1...#3 falls back to #4...

I never get into "the game" so it never affected me when I lived in the big city. If someone went all "ape" behind me I just ignored them , if they continued the tirade I simply laughed at them as they truly were the punchline in a poor joke.

 

[jeepman3071]

I agree driving used to be enjoyable. I've only had my license for about 7 years, but it has gotten worse in the area I live in. Since my town is next door to a college town, summer is also MUCH quieter. I've found that now I only drive when I have to. I drive to work and back and occasionally friend's houses.

If I need to run errands I do so at night. A trip to WalMart usually takes place about 9pm or so. It is much quieter with less maniacs on the road. I'd rather have to look out for deer than other people with there 60 mph weapons.

 

[onemig]

You're in Kuwait.

 

[mechtech2]

Things are getting worse.
Cell phones.
Music.
The 'me first' attitude that is prevalent and growing.
Not taking driving seriously - people want portable living rooms, and have been accommodated by the car mfrs. We are paying a huge price.
Ignorance of laws.
Drugs and alcohol.
Being a teenager [parts of the brain are not fully developed until early 20s]
Zero consideration for others.
ETC., etc.
And what really gets me is they get mad if you honk or whatever if they cut you off [or whatever]. You'd think you'd get a hand wave of apology, like people used to do when they screwed up. But no, they get abusive and angry when THEY do something very wrong.
Oh yes, things are very much worse.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

There used to be 2 lights in the town where i grew up driving, now there are 37 at last count. Thats good for traffic and gas mileage - MAJOR NOT !

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My commute to and from work is only 8 miles (unless the DOT decides to arbitrarily shut down the interstate to do something miniscule).

I get cut off and nearly rear ended every day at least 4 times. Poor traffic patterns combined with people driving like maniacs just doesn't work.

There is one section where there are two onramps and a merge in the same spot (look up the 81/690 Interchange in downtown syracuse). Heading northbound on 81, the speed limit is 45. You have the right lane going 55 and the left lane going 75. Then incoming traffic from the right.

As much as it's not safe to be going so fast through there, I try to hop in the left lane (because I'm less likely to be hit by someone merging from the right not paying attention) and try to not get run over. It's nuts.





Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
There used to be 2 lights in the town where i grew up driving, now there are 37 at last count. Thats good for traffic and gas mileage - MAJOR NOT !


There's a small town by where I grew up, the population is only 4000. They have more stoplights than the city of 145,000 where I live now. I'm not even kidding, either.

EVERY intersection of EVERY BLOCK has a stoplight. It's ridiculous.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Things are getting worse.
Cell phones.
Music.
The 'me first' attitude that is prevalent and growing.
Not taking driving seriously - people want portable living rooms, and have been accommodated by the car mfrs. We are paying a huge price.
Ignorance of laws.
Drugs and alcohol.
Being a teenager [parts of the brain are not fully developed until early 20s]
Zero consideration for others.
ETC., etc.
And what really gets me is they get mad if you honk or whatever if they cut you off [or whatever]. You'd think you'd get a hand wave of apology, like people used to do when they screwed up. But no, they get abusive and angry when THEY do something very wrong.
Oh yes, things are very much worse.


I agree with this post....100%

 

[bigmike]

People think they're special.

They're not.

 

[BearZDefect]

Sure they are special...

as special as everyone else.

 

[bladecutter]

Honestly, just carry a camera in your car that you can record their behavior, and post it on youtube for all the internet to see. Maybe send a link to your local police station if you don't live in Kuwait, where no one seems to care about anyone else.

BC.

 

[dakota99]

People are in a hurry 24/7 anymore. Couple that with the "me me me" complex most people have, you create a disaster situation. It's entertaining when people fly from red light to red light as fast as they can when accelerating normally would get them to the same spot in the same amount of time.

Of course you could be like the guy who was arrested here locally a couple days ago for waving a gun at someone when they didn't drive to his specifications. (thanks for giving responsible gun owners a bad rep in the process..)