Pet Driving Peeve

[TimeFlies]

Not saying that drivers are great.
But at least here it seems that people on pedal bikes never stop for stop signs, never signal turns, ride on sidewalks meant for pedestrians only, etc.

 

[Lockasiam]

they arent nearly as aggressive as Ohio drivers in bigger cities.. Cleveland, C-bus, cincy etc.

I thought driving in Louisville/Indy/Cincy was bad until I drove in DC and Baltimore. Every other car had some kind of crash damage over on the east coast

 

[Lockasiam]

Bicyclists who totally ignore laws, which here is 99% of cyclists.
I wish all people who rode bikes on roads, had to pass a written test, and skills test, buy insurance, and have license plates on their bikes.

Have you ever ridden a bike?

 

[TimeFlies]

Have you ever ridden a bike?

Plenty of times.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Green light and traffic coming the other way. I want to turn left. I go beyond the line so when it turns red I can go left. The majority of people will wait behind the line and wait for another cycle.

In some cities, like LA, where many, if not most left-turn pockets aren't arrow-controlled, that's the only practical way to make a left turn against traffic, and for those who don't, a telltale sign of a non-resident driver who doesn't know the "rules."

What is already bad traffic would be worse if that wasn't the normal practice.

It wouldn't be going out on limb to say that half the left turns are made against a red light by those who chase the cars that have entered the intersection.

 

[billt460]

We have a high traffic intersection here in town that is a comfortable 3 lanes wide at the stoplight. (Left turn only., straight ahead, and right turn only).... And allows right turns on red. However, it is not striped.

So what always happens when it's busy, is some guy will stop too far to the right in the center lane, and block the right turn lane. So people have to sit and wait to proceed.

 

[Sayjac]

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm unclear as to what the 'peeve' is here. Is that others don't hang back behind the intersection line while one car (OP) waiting in intersection? Or is it that multiple cars should follow into the intersection? I'm guessing the former.

Here (NC) it is completely legal to enter an intersection and wait to turn left when doable. Heard it called "claiming the intersection", and as noted legal. I would say, more than one car entering the intersection does make it dicey for those not first in line. So, depending on situation hanging back behind line if not first car turning, not a bad idea imo.

 

[MCompact]

My pet peeve are the vehicle operators ("drivers " is far too generous a term) who take corners and interstate ramps at no more than 50% of the posted advisory speed- with their foot on the brake pedal the entire time.

 

[TimeFlies]

My pet peeve are the vehicle operators ("drivers " is far too generous a term) who take corners and interstate ramps at no more than 50% of the posted advisory speed- with their foot on the brake pedal the entire time.

I'm sometimes guilty of this in a loaded truck.

 

[Skippy722]

I'm sometimes guilty of this in a loaded truck.

No no, that makes sense. Mr./Ms. “this car is nothing more than an appliance to me” in their otherwise empty RAV4 on the other hand could take that curve at 70 no problem but here we all are putzing along behind them because GOD FORBID THEY FEEL ANYTHING WHILE DRIVING!

 

[John105]

Green light and traffic coming the other way. I want to turn left. I go beyond the line so when it turns red I can go left. The majority of people will wait behind the line and wait for another cycle.

Are we fraternal twins, or do you also live in PA?!

 

[John105]

Some states it’s illegal to that move.

Which states? It would then require stopping on green, behind the line.

 

[shortyb]

Its illegal to wait in the intersection to turn left here.

Having said that there are a multitude of lights here where exactly zero people would get to turn left for several hours a day, so everyone does it.

View attachment 259714

And people used to get so pissed off when I would find them contributing to the collision and issue a citation when they get slammed in the middle of an intersection. Well sir or m'am, because you are not allowed to do that. Most would ask "then how do I make the left turn"? I would say to go down the street about another 100' and get in the middle turn lane to make your left or pull a u-turn (unless prohibited). Still taking a risk (heck, driving in general around here is a risk), but at least you won't be blocking an intersection. Never issued a citation solely for someone being beyond the stopbar to make a left in an intersection though, I just wanted to see traffic move. But if you put yourself in that situation, and got into a collision, well, then I HAD to do it. The flashing yellow for left turns is an entirely different ball of wax to deal with the driving public on .

 

[Pew]

Different states, different procedures for left turns. I would have hoped by now the powers-that-be would be smart enough to standardized crap like this across the country.

 

[John105]

Different states, different procedures for left turns. I would have hoped by now the powers-that-be would be smart enough to standardized crap like this across the country.

Imagine stopping on green, behind the line, and cycling yellow, then red, in Boston, NYC, DC. Verbiage often says must yield until the left turn can be made with reasonable safety. Statutes rarely say behave like a nervous nelly and bring traffic to a standstill

 

[Jetronic]

What the OP describes, and to your question, is illegal in some states. In many states, you must wait at the stop line until you are actually able to go completely.

By proceeding into the intersection, and waiting until the light turns red to make your left turn, you are effectively blocking intersecting traffic when their light turns green. But that doesn’t matter, as long as you’re able to go, right?

In some states, that’ll get you a blast on the horn, in other states they use their middle finger to signal people who block the intersection for others.

And in others, the ones getting green have to wait by law till the others cleared the intersection. Just follow the rules of where you are.

 

[Jetronic]

That dog is about to yell at you to mind your own business!

"stick your hand through the window. I dare you. I double dare you!"

 

[John105]

to try to interject some common sense, pee wee hockey players, and soccer players, are able to continue play and avoid off side. They’re 11 years old. The puck or ball goes in first.

How is it that we are to believe adults who passed some sort of state licensing, are not able to navigate a left turn. Or is hyperbole intended for arguments sake, as much is today.

 

[grampi]

Do "they" teach anything to anyone before handing them and little card with their picture on it?

According to drivers in my area, no...

 

[grampi]

Wait—are you saying that car drivers, after doing all that to get their license, are now perfect drivers?

As a cyclist I pay plenty in taxes and insurance.

But do you obey traffic laws?