RANT: Don't Drive "Dopey"

[RobbieL2415]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic
-Turn slowly for no reason
-Don't get in the turn only lane immediately once it begins
-Don't accelerate to the common speed of traffic on on-ramps when safe and without signs prohibiting such
-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 
-Make unnecessary or egregious lane changes
-Drive down the middle of a two-way parking lot and/or refuse to turn into a two-way parking lot when there's a car on the opposite side.  IF YOU STAY TO THE RIGHT AND/OR GO SLOWLY YOU WON'T HIT ANYONE.  If I can do it, so can you.

Bottom line: drive with purpose.  If you're execution is crap, don't get a driver's license until it isn't crap.

[wxfree]

This reminds me of a satire article about a state passing a DUID law, which allows police to arrest those who are guilty of "driving under the influence of being a dumbass."

[webny99]

This reminds me of a thread I just started 

I think that would fit into "make egregious lane changes", but I may also add, "prevent others from doing things as they should be done".

[ET21]

You'd hate Illinois lol

[hotdogPi]

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Aren't speeds for gear ratios different in every car?

[abefroman329]

Don't honk at people because they didn't accelerate a millisecond after the light turned green.

Don't treat two-way stops like they're four-way stops.

Alleys are not parking lots.

[Takumi]

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Aren't speeds for gear ratios different in every car?

Indeed. So many variables go into that.

[hbelkins]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic

Jackrabbit starts are bad for fuel economy and hard on the engine as well. I always accelerate gradually; it may anger the drivers behind me, but I'm not going to stomp on the gas and try to drag race the driver next to me if it's a multilane road.

There for awhile, though, any acceleration I did was gradual, because unbeknownst to me, my throttle body was going bad.

[jeffandnicole]

-Turn slowly for no reason

While I usually take turns at higher speeds, sometimes there's stuff within the car, such as cargo or people (such as a sick person), that require me to take turns at a lower speed. You and everyone else behind me won't realize that.

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Not only is this specific to your car, if your car can't drop into a gear, there may be an issue with your transmission.  In my vehicle, anything over 25 mph or so drops it into overdrive. But if I'm going 25, or 25.5, or 24.5, or whatever, I'm not noticing any issues anyway.

Also, if you can't go any faster than the car in front of you, you can drive slower.  So if you're having a problem with a borderline speed, then slow down a mph or two.

[PHLBOS]

In my vehicle, anything over 25 mph or so drops it into overdrive. But if I'm going 25, or 25.5, or 24.5, or whatever, I'm not noticing any issues anyway.

Overdrive at over 25 mph?  Wow.    Every vehicle I've owned that's had an overdrive transmission, including my current vehicles, has the overdrive gear kick in between 40-45 mph.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic
-Turn slowly for no reason
-Don't get in the turn only lane immediately once it begins
-Don't accelerate to the common speed of traffic on on-ramps when safe and without signs prohibiting such 
-Make unnecessary or egregious lane changes

</sarcasm>

[jeffandnicole]

In my vehicle, anything over 25 mph or so drops it into overdrive. But if I'm going 25, or 25.5, or 24.5, or whatever, I'm not noticing any issues anyway.

Overdrive at over 25 mph?  Wow.    Every vehicle I've owned that's had an overdrive transmission, including my current vehicles, has the overdrive gear kick in between 40-45 mph.

Honestly I don't know the exact speed.  But I don't think it's very fast.

[RobbieL2415]

-Turn slowly for no reason

While I usually take turns at higher speeds, sometimes there's stuff within the car, such as cargo or people (such as a sick person), that require me to take turns at a lower speed. You and everyone else behind me won't realize that.

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Not only is this specific to your car, if your car can't drop into a gear, there may be an issue with your transmission.  In my vehicle, anything over 25 mph or so drops it into overdrive. But if I'm going 25, or 25.5, or 24.5, or whatever, I'm not noticing any issues anyway.

Also, if you can't go any faster than the car in front of you, you can drive slower.  So if you're having a problem with a borderline speed, then slow down a mph or two.

-Fair enough.  But if you're clearly the only person in the vehicle don't hold me up by turning right onto a road at 5mph

-Auto transmissions are designed to shift up for maximum fuel effeciency.  Even four speed autos will go into overdrive at 25mph.  If I went into overdrive in a manual transmission I'd probably stall.

[PHLBOS]

-Auto transmissions are designed to shift up for maximum fuel effeciency.  Even four speed autos will go into overdrive at 25mph.  If I went into overdrive in a manual transmission I'd probably stall.

The '86 Ford Escort my brother had was equipped with a 5-speed manual with the 5th gear being the overdrive gear.  The yellow UP SHIFT indicator light the car (& others like it) had back then lit up to shift in that gear around 40 mph.  Realistically, it was better to shift into that gear at about 50-55 mph.

As previously stated, every car that I've owned that was equipped with an automatic overdrive transmission (all but one was a 4-speed and the remaining one was a 5-speed) wouldn't shift into the overdrive gear until 40-45 mph.

A shifting occurring at 25 mph tells me that the car's either going from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd gear depending on the transmission and number of speeds/gears.

[RobbieL2415]

-Auto transmissions are designed to shift up for maximum fuel effeciency.  Even four speed autos will go into overdrive at 25mph.  If I went into overdrive in a manual transmission I'd probably stall.

The '86 Ford Escort my brother had was equipped with a 5-speed manual with the 5th gear being the overdrive gear.  The yellow UP SHIFT indicator light the car (& others like it) had back then lit up to shift in that gear around 40 mph.  Realistically, it was better to shift into that gear at about 50-55 mph.

As previously stated, every car that I've owned that was equipped with an automatic overdrive transmission (all but one was a 4-speed and the remaining one was a 5-speed) wouldn't shift into the overdrive gear until 40-45 mph.

A shifting occurring at 25 mph tells me that the car's either going from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd gear depending on the transmission and number of speeds/gears.

Same here. I went a step further and actually monitored what gear my 4T-45E auto trans was in on my '00 Grand Am.  This was done using an OBD-2 Bluetooth adapter and an app on my phone that could interpret custom GM PIDs. It would shift into 4th at 25-30 every single time as long as the fluid temp was above 77F.

[Brandon]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic
-Turn slowly for no reason
-Don't get in the turn only lane immediately once it begins
-Don't accelerate to the common speed of traffic on on-ramps when safe and without signs prohibiting such
-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 
-Make unnecessary or egregious lane changes

RALC - Random Ass Lane Change - common in NE Illinois

-Drive down the middle of a two-way parking lot and/or refuse to turn into a two-way parking lot when there's a car on the opposite side.  IF YOU STAY TO THE RIGHT AND/OR GO SLOWLY YOU WON'T HIT ANYONE.  If I can do it, so can you.

Bottom line: drive with purpose.  If you're execution is crap, don't get a driver's license until it isn't crap.

You'd hate Illinois lol

Exactly.  That's just par for the course driving around here.  I can't name the number of times I've had to hit the horn on a parking lot asshole.  And, this is all in addition to the following:

- Using the opposing left turn lane to merge into traffic (yes, I saw this just the other day at Grove Rd and IL-126).
- Using the sidewalk to go around a truck waiting for a left turn signal.
- Using the opposing lane to get to your left turn because you are an impatient dick.
- Using the horn on a person turning right from the right lane with his turn signal on (and has been on for at least 200 feet, blinking before braking) (yes, this did happen to me).
- Brake for no good reason on the road.  No animals, no cops, no hazards of any sort.  I call it RAB - Random Ass Braking.

[SectorZ]

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Aren't speeds for gear ratios different in every car?

Yes, not to mention the differing amount of gears in automatic transmissions. We're up to 10, and cars to the mid-90's had as low as 3. Robbie, that's a hell of a weird rant...

[RobbieL2415]

-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 

Aren't speeds for gear ratios different in every car?

Yes, not to mention the differing amount of gears in automatic transmissions. We're up to 10, and cars to the mid-90's had as low as 3. Robbie, that's a hell of a weird rant...

I'm kind of a nut for fuel effeciency.

[froggie]

Instead, just run Dopey...

[capt.ron]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic
-Turn slowly for no reason
-Don't get in the turn only lane immediately once it begins
-Don't accelerate to the common speed of traffic on on-ramps when safe and without signs prohibiting such
-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 
-Make unnecessary or egregious lane changes
-Drive down the middle of a two-way parking lot and/or refuse to turn into a two-way parking lot when there's a car on the opposite side.  IF YOU STAY TO THE RIGHT AND/OR GO SLOWLY YOU WON'T HIT ANYONE.  If I can do it, so can you.

Bottom line: drive with purpose.  If you're execution is crap, don't get a driver's license until it isn't crap.

Agree with most, except with the one with the between gear ratios. Too many variables with that one, especially now with automatics having more and more gears.
But to elaborate with the accelerating from a red light that goes green... it's annoying when you have one that takes at least 20 seconds to reach the speed limit while others get there in 10 or less. I'm not condoning jackrabbit starts but I have this technique: When the light goes green (and I'm first), I press gently on the accelerator and then gradually put down more pressure (roughly 2-3 seconds later after going) as I continue to accelerate. I tend to accelerate more briskly when I have others behind me when pulling away from a intersection. If no one is behind me, I tend to accelerate more slowly.
Those that camp out in the middle or left lane and drive *below* the speed limit get on my nerves quick. I usually label them as LLD's (Left Lane Derps).
Brandon above mentions those that brake randomly on the highway... another pet peeve of mine. I call them "tappers" since they're tapping the brakes... I guess for ghost cars or invisible animals or something. LOL!!
Those that drive with their signals on and DO NOT SWITCH THEM OFF! Automakers need to make the signal noise louder after 30+ seconds (while moving) to discourage leaving it on.

[SSOWorld]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic

Jackrabbit starts are bad for fuel economy and hard on the engine as well. I always accelerate gradually; it may anger the drivers behind me, but I'm not going to stomp on the gas and try to drag race the driver next to me if it's a multilane road.

There for awhile, though, any acceleration I did was gradual, because unbeknownst to me, my throttle body was going bad.

Jackrabbit starts may be but that's 0.0001 of the economy of a drive in a lower gear (older cars) so I call bullshit on that. Such acts are necessary if you're going to be able to get into a highway that's high-capacity.  We have our own preferences.

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic
-Turn slowly for no reason
-Don't get in the turn only lane immediately once it begins
-Don't accelerate to the common speed of traffic on on-ramps when safe and without signs prohibiting such
-Drive at a speed in between gear ratios.  This is especially annoying when driving automatic because I can't force the tranny into overdrive when the engine speed is borderline. 
-Make unnecessary or egregious lane changes

RALC - Random Ass Lane Change - common in NE Illinois

-Drive down the middle of a two-way parking lot and/or refuse to turn into a two-way parking lot when there's a car on the opposite side.  IF YOU STAY TO THE RIGHT AND/OR GO SLOWLY YOU WON'T HIT ANYONE.  If I can do it, so can you.

Bottom line: drive with purpose.  If you're execution is crap, don't get a driver's license until it isn't crap.

You'd hate Illinois lol

Exactly.  That's just par for the course driving around here.  I can't name the number of times I've had to hit the horn on a parking lot asshole.  And, this is all in addition to the following:

- Using the opposing left turn lane to merge into traffic (yes, I saw this just the other day at Grove Rd and IL-126).
- Using the sidewalk to go around a truck waiting for a left turn signal.
- Using the opposing lane to get to your left turn because you are an impatient dick.
- Using the horn on a person turning right from the right lane with his turn signal on (and has been on for at least 200 feet, blinking before braking) (yes, this did happen to me).
- Brake for no good reason on the road.  No animals, no cops, no hazards of any sort.  I call it RAB - Random Ass Braking.

[Bruce]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic

Red-light runners love to plow into people who accelerate quickly at stoplights. Just chill out and let people drive at a speed they feel is safe, especially when you're not going to save more than a few seconds anyway (and probably would lose that savings at the next stoplight).

Pet peeve: Drivers that don't relax, instead treating driving like a race.

[hbelkins]

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic

Jackrabbit starts are bad for fuel economy and hard on the engine as well. I always accelerate gradually; it may anger the drivers behind me, but I'm not going to stomp on the gas and try to drag race the driver next to me if it's a multilane road.

There for awhile, though, any acceleration I did was gradual, because unbeknownst to me, my throttle body was going bad.

Jackrabbit starts may be but that's 0.0001 of the economy of a drive in a lower gear (older cars) so I call bullshit on that. Such acts are necessary if you're going to be able to get into a highway that's high-capacity.  We have our own preferences.

He specifically said accelerating from traffic lights. Merging onto a freeway is a different circumstance.

These drivers absolutely grind my gears.  They include folks that:

-Accelerate from stoplights considerably slower than the rate of traffic

Red-light runners love to plow into people who accelerate quickly at stoplights. Just chill out and let people drive at a speed they feel is safe, especially when you're not going to save more than a few seconds anyway (and probably would lose that savings at the next stoplight).

I've avoided being hit by red-light runners by hesitating and looking for cross traffic before accelerating on the green. There's a light right outside my office that gets run routinely by a lot of traffic, including big trucks, and I'm super-cautious there.

[jakeroot]

Drivers who don't keep up with other drivers. Almost all signals in my area are fully actuated, and leaving a decent gap will trigger the side-street signals if someone is waiting. I have missed countless signals because drivers accelerated away from a light just a hair slower than everyone else, but that hair added up to twenty car lengths; next thing I know, we're stopped at a red light. Again.

Ever wonder why slow drivers are always at the front of the pack? The cars that were in front of them have long since accelerated away. The drivers in front of them could be miles ahead, having made green lights that the slow driver missed.

Moral of the story? Always keep up with traffic, no matter what.

[Plutonic Panda]

Alleys are not parking lots.

Get over it. Some people don't have a choice like me in areas that have no parking and by what I mean by that is parking that is extremely hard to come by. I work for food delivery and whether or not I park in an alley to try and avoid a parking ticket makes a difference between me having a job or not. So fuck your convenience of having to go slowly around my car which I make sure people can.