What are your driving pet peeves?

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: Tornado Red
Originally Posted By: timish


If someone is driving slowly in the fast lane, slow enough to have a line of cars behind him and forcing drivers to pass on the right, then on a few occasions I've called 911 to report a drunk or drug-impaired driver. I give a description of the car, the license number, the approximate location along with direction and speed. I never know what happens afterward, but maybe if the slowpoke is pulled over and given a breathalyzer then he or she might consider the seriousness of the offense.


There is the original unadulterated quote....Nothing about erratic behaviour, nothing that would make any reasonable person assume that the guy is drunk. Just how much slower in the Kingdom of Tornado Red would it require to have the Cops stuck on your tail?

 

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Originally Posted By: firemachine69
Originally Posted By: Paul56
I'm sure I will ruffle a few feathers with this one... well... go ahead and be ruffled.

Today I'm driving along in the left most, yes LEFT most, lane of a multi-lane highway at the speed limit.

At first I have one car on my tail and he obviously wants me to move right... nope not moving right. So he moves right, passes on the right and cuts right in... in front of me. Ok.

The another car comes up on my rear bumper... same thing happens.

I am NOT moving over to the right lane when I need to take a left turn off this multi-lane highway in a few hundred feet.

Apparently these boneheaded tailgater left lane showboats don't understand this concept... the only concept they seem to understand is the I am slowing them down... on their way to the next big box store where they can empty their wallet and load up their credit cards.

I knew I would need to turn left at a certain street and I wasn't about to try to negotiate getting into the left lane when the street sign came into vision. Didn't have the GPS on either... I could have anticipated in advance with that.

Ok... go ahead... party on about how I'm a left lane slowboat hog.

You may merge into the left lane, after the last intersection. Using that excuse to drive two miles in the left lane of a city street is unacceptable. Merge right, drive, last major intersection or light prior to your left turn, re-merge into the left lane. Anything else would get you a big fat ZERO for proper merging on your road test. FYI, no provincial tester will ever fail you for speeding up 5-8km/h over the posted limit for "flow of traffic" (unless, of course, there's no traffic...)



Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
No doubt....I think the jist of these latest posts are basically, GET THE [censored] OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!


It's called being a courteous driver, and from this thread alone, I can see many people have a problem doing so.



LOL....I think you missed the humour in what he posted, and the quote above has nothing to do with what was said. He was pointing out that some are screaming get out of the left lane, or risk false accusation...and also get out of the right lane because someone may want to make a right....but the more time I spend here I realize no one really reads anything before forming their opinion so carry on.

Oh and for the 911 nark, where in your original post did you say that you were seeing erratic driving behaviour? You simply said that on occasion you called 911 on people who were simply going to slow in the left lane, no mention at all of erratic driving behaviour.



Oh, I senses that, but sadly, more people seriously drive in such a manner where their speed is what THEY want to impose on everyone. 10km/h over in the left-lane, please. In Ontario, the right lanes should carry around the speed limit. Same thing applies for single-lane highways. The speed limit is set arbitrarily low, for revenue collection purposes. If the government actually took driving seriously, and imposed some hefty rules on the many incompetent drivers I see everyday, wee could safely raise the speed limit by 20kph, easily.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Agreed, if they would set the speed limits at the observed 75th or maybe 80th percentile level, then you would see much smoother traffic patterns. But like you say, then they miss out on all that free revenue they get to raise writing us tickets.

Thats why the 911 comment got my hackles up, seems arbitrary and I'm sure anyone in here would be very upset if it were done to them.

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Originally Posted By: Tornado Red


If someone is driving slowly in the fast lane, slow enough to have a line of cars behind him and forcing drivers to pass on the right, then on a few occasions I've called 911 to report a drunk or drug-impaired driver. I give a description of the car, the license number, the approximate location along with direction and speed. I never know what happens afterward, but maybe if the slowpoke is pulled over and given a breathalyzer then he or she might consider the seriousness of the offense.


There is the original unadulterated quote....Nothing about erratic behaviour, nothing that would make any reasonable person assume that the guy is drunk. Just how much slower in the Kingdom of Tornado Red would it require to have the Cops stuck on your tail?

Here are the details of the particular instance I was referring to:
I was driving south on Interstate 5 through southern Orange County. Beginning shortly around Laguna Niguel I ran into heavy congestion: slow-moving traffic in the carpool lane, the fast lane, the #2 lane, even the #3 lane. I may have stayed in the fast lane, I may have moved to the right because those lanes were moving faster, I don't remember. Eventually, AFTER passing the nuclear power plant at San Onofre, AFTER about 15 miles, I caught up to the slow-moving green Suburu traveling 50-55 mph in the fast lane, that had been impeding traffic, that had been forcing drivers to pass on the right, that had been forcing drivers in the #2 lane to move to the #3 lane to get around the obstruction. Seriously, at least several hundred drivers were affected by this single slowpoke, a woman who had been ignoring the horns and flashing headlights for more than 15 miles.

I passed her, then I called 911. Though I said "on occasion" in my previous post, I think this was the only time I actually pulled the trigger and called 911, since normally I do not carry a cell phone. So usually I can't "nark" on anyone even if I want to.

 

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Agreed, if they would set the speed limits at the observed 75th or maybe 80th percentile level, then you would see much smoother traffic patterns. But like you say, then they miss out on all that free revenue they get to raise writing us tickets.

Thats why the 911 comment got my hackles up, seems arbitrary and I'm sure anyone in here would be very upset if it were done to them.



Intown, 30mph speed limits make sense - many intersections, hidden corners, etc.

But somehow, a ramped road, often barricaded and double-laned, is only good for 60mph? That makes no sense. If you actively enforced a passing-only zone in the left-most lane, along with serious jail-time for carelessness (following to closely, innatention, unfit vehicles, etc.), and payment to your victims' families in case things get really bad, there'd be no need for speed limits. Instead, speed limits are set very low to collect moneys for the elected fools to (mis-)spend, survivors have to rely on a corporate insurance culture which wants to pay as little as possible, and people who kill other motorists, are usually pretty shocked when they get a six months house arrest. It's a culture of lack of responsibility for one's actions.

I putter around town at the speed limit, in the right lane. I may do a few more, or a few less, dependant on traffic (although typically bang-on).

On a double-lane highway (or more), I follow the posted speed limit, with the transports, in the far-rightmost lane. Should I enter a single-lane highway, or enter a middle lane, I will accelerate about 10kph over (about 5-6mph) - after all, those extra lanes exist for, drum-roll please: PASSING! Get out of the way, get a safe distance in front, and merge back to the right. Occasionally, I make my way into the left-lane passing two side-to-side transports, what bothers me as that no vehicles ever allow me to re-enter the slower lanes when we start going uphill (and I start losing a bit of speed in the bus). Hello? Get out of my way, so I can get out of yours? Roads are wickedly overbuilt, but we allow inept drivers the "right" to drive (even though it should be a privilege.) Most road architects have no qualms about telling you the road is overbuilt for at least 10mph, but the revenue-seeking czars won't allow that. They think Ahmehmjihadded from India, with no experience in the snow; BillybulldogBob, the sixteen-year old who thinks he can Nascar-it; and last but not least, Jennifer-I'm-a-woman-therefore-i-excel-at-multi-tasking-including-make-up-while driving, that put all the drivers who care to put some attention into their driving.

This liberal indoctrinate of telling people what they should do needs to effen' STOP! Be courteous to your fellow motorists! Leave room, signal your intentions, and help your fellow drivers in their drive!

 

[labman]

I think in some places there is a special number posted to report impaired drivers. I don't think they are meant for Driving While Stupid, but those people are a menace.

Note, I have no problem with those wishing to drive slower than the majority if they stay in the right lane. I also think courtesy and self interest calls for allowing them into the left lane where they may need to make a left turn. Otherwise, you train them to get into the left lane when the getting is good.

I think we helicopters with grappling hooks for those that pass long lines at congested exits and then slow down or even stop waiting a chance to merge into the exit lane at the last moment. Most freeways have a posted 45 MPH minimum limit.

 

[Paul56]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69

Oh, I senses that, but sadly, more people seriously drive in such a manner where their speed is what THEY want to impose on everyone.


Speaking for myself only... I don't drive my vehicles to impose my will on everyone else.

I do drive my vehicles in a safe & legal manner and keep the concept of "sharing the road" in mind while doing that.

If I decide to hover around the speed limit no one else should be getting their socks in a knot over it.

When I need to be in the left lane... I'm going to be there; however, most of the time I'm in the right lane with the other so called grannies.

Some people never learn. I was on a long road trip a few weeks back when a vehicle passes me like I'm stopped. A few miles up the road I see the cops have this same vehicle pulled over. Sweet! They are wrapping it up as I approach... Mr. Speeder decides to cut me off while pulling back onto the highway... and then proceeds to resume his original speed for which he was just ticketed. Sweet! I see another ticket in his future... and perhaps a suspended licence.

Driving is an earned privilege that can be revoked.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm


People who (on a multi lane road) get into the far right lane at a red light and go straight instead of moving over a lane to allow right-turners to use the far right lane.



Well, we could either inconvenience you at a red light or move over to the left lane and risk getting called into 911 as a drunk driver.

Nah,its just simply being courteous and considerate to everyone else on the road. It`s sort`ve like the reverse-concept of when you`re on a highway and you should move to the left lane (if possible) to allow drivers to merge onto said highway to enter safely which leads to another peeve of mine........drivers on highways who won`t let mergers enter. Some people act like it insults their driving just because you want to share the road with them in a courteous manner. Anyone here who lives in a big city knows you have to respect others on the road if we all expect to be able to get somewhere.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Thats why the 911 comment got my hackles up, seems arbitrary and I'm sure anyone in here would be very upset if it were done to them.

In my early days driving, I clearly remember a few times when I refused to yield the left lane to faster cars because I was convinced I was driving as fast as anyone should. If someone had called 911 on me and I had been ticketed, you're dang right I would have been annoyed. Needless to say that never happened. But today, I feel like that's one ticket I would have deserved.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
you have to respect others on the road if we all expect to be able to get somewhere.

^^ THIS.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Thats why the 911 comment got my hackles up, seems arbitrary and I'm sure anyone in here would be very upset if it were done to them.

In my early days driving, I clearly remember a few times when I refused to yield the left lane to faster cars because I was convinced I was driving as fast as anyone should. If someone had called 911 on me and I had been ticketed, you're dang right I would have been annoyed. Needless to say that never happened. But today, I feel like that's one ticket I would have deserved.


Way to man up and admit it. Also good to see you have changed your ways. On a motorcycle, above the speed of the flow of traffic is the way to go. Getting passed by 18 wheelers is not a good thing.

Recently my car has been burning alot of oil, so I tend to drive 65mph (5 under on the interstate), just above the speed of the slower moving company trucks. So I do pass some people on the interstate, but when I do and there is someone behind me in the left lane I will gladly speed up (sometimes 10 over) to get around the truck and not clog up the left lane.


I used to see alot of people that like to drive 2 or 3 over the limit and take their sweet time when passing someone, and heaven forbid they have to pass a semi and take minutes to accomplish the task.


The left lane should be kept free and clear, because when its not everyone suffers, OR lead, follow, or get out of the way. Everyone likes to do their own speed and should be able to. Speeders should be cautious when overtaking another vehicle because they may decide to get left to pass the one they're behind and if the speeder is way above the limit then they may never be seen and not have proper distance to slow down. And those who go slow and must pass should pick it up a little bit when passing someone if you're going so slow that people are tailgating you or there it a line behind you......after the pass the cruise will resume all you have to do it let your foot off the pedal.

 

[jcwit]

Around here we have state signs asking drivers to call 911 to report impared drivers and others breaking the laws.

 

[grampi]

Tailgaters, people who drive 10 MPH or more over the speed limit, left lane campers, cell phone yackers, last second mergers when approaching a closed lane at a construction zone, people driving with their fog/driving lights on when it's not foggy, truckers who insist on passing each other on 4 lane highways and not caring how long it takes or how many passenger vehicles they hold up while doing it, the people who think they must get in front of as many other drivers as possible (the "me first" syndrome)........

 

[grampi]

Another one is the idiots with their loud, boomy stereos. I'd love to take a hunting knife to their subwoofers....

 

[labman]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
And those who go slow and must pass should pick it up a little bit when passing someone if you're going so slow that people are tailgating you or there it a line behind you......after the pass the cruise will resume all you have to do it let your foot off the pedal.


If it takes 20 minutes to get by somebody and you just can't bring yourself to speed up, perhaps when traffic is heavy, you should stay behind them.

Oh, BTW, You see all those truck treads laying along the roadside? You might want to remember them the next time you are loitering next to a tandem.

 

[Paul56]

Today we are having our first winter storm of the season in this area, so I'm staying off the roads and at home where it is safe.

It always seems to take some drivers some re-learning at the start of each winter on how to drive in the slippery stuff again... and that is a pet peeve. Winter up here lasts for a good 5 months so why do these people act like it is their first time on snow EVERY year?

I am certain there are plenty of drivers caught without their snow tires on as well... the tire shops will all be busy tomorrow... AFTER the storm.

 

[Paul56]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Tailgaters, people who drive 10 MPH or more over the speed limit, left lane campers, cell phone yackers, last second mergers when approaching a closed lane at a construction zone, people driving with their fog/driving lights on when it's not foggy, truckers who insist on passing each other on 4 lane highways and not caring how long it takes or how many passenger vehicles they hold up while doing it, the people who think they must get in front of as many other drivers as possible (the "me first" syndrome)........


Most semi's have speed governors... and they are not all adjusted exactly the same.

Some could be 60... others could be 57... and others 55... who knows. The point is that those slow passing semi's are most likely both governed with the one passing set slightly higher.

The driver of the semi in the right lane really should ease up on the fuel a bit to speed up the progress, but most often they don't. The vast majority of them earn by the mile so the more miles the more they earn... to heck with the 4-wheelers piling up behind.

 

[jcwit]

The idiot on the road that thinks he just has to get around you because you might not be going the speed limit, then you find him sitting at the first red light in town in the left lane behind a box truck because obviously thats the fast lane even tho no one is in the left lane.

But then every village needs one.

 

[silverrat]

It's been mentioned before. The people who have a slow reaction time to greens. I'm in the left turn lane and we get an advanced green and the car at the front has a 3 second reaction time! Come on you're at the front be ready to go. It screws everyone behind them.

And then the people who creep up deep into traffic lights waiting for green then have a slow reaction when it turns green and proceed to take 10 seconds to reach 60kph.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Paul56
Today we are having our first winter storm of the season in this area, so I'm staying off the roads and at home where it is safe.

It always seems to take some drivers some re-learning at the start of each winter on how to drive in the slippery stuff again... and that is a pet peeve. Winter up here lasts for a good 5 months so why do these people act like it is their first time on snow EVERY year?

I am certain there are plenty of drivers caught without their snow tires on as well... the tire shops will all be busy tomorrow... AFTER the storm.

People here in IL just can't seem to find a happy medium when driving in the winter weather. They're either driving way too slow, or way too fast. Idiots!