Annoying driver behavior NOT caused by incompetence

[CtrlAltDel]

There have been a number of threads recently offering criticism of other drivers, so I figured I'd continue, but on a different tack: What are some of the things that other drivers do that annoy you but that aren't the result of incompetence, illegality, discourtesy, and the like?

For me, it would have to be when the driver in front of me on the freeway takes the same exit I do. I'm not sure why, but it drives me nuts. It takes a lot of effort to remind myself that the other driver has full right to be where they are and to go where they want to go.

[sprjus4]

People who micro-pass doing the speed limit or under.

[Beltway]

People who pace me in the lane next to me on a multi-lane highway, when the road is well below capacity.

[Max Rockatansky]

People who pace me in the lane next to me on a multi-lane highway, when the road is well below capacity.

I second this one, it drives me up the wall when people don't pass fast enough or speed up when you try to pass them. 

[kphoger]

People who alternate between driving faster than me and slower than me on a long-distance drive.  This is especially annoying at night, because I keep wanting to get ahead of their headlights, thinking I've done it, and then later being disappointed that I haven't.

[milbfan]

Let's say the speed limit is 70mph.  There's a cop/trooper out, cruising at around 55-60.  No one is willing to pass the trooper even though they'd still be under the speed limit.  Traffic, then, gets clogged up.

[GaryV]

Drivers on a 2-lane highway who, when you get to a 4-lane passing zone, speed up so I can't pass them.  Then slow back down when it goes back to 2 lanes.

Drivers who switch from the left to the empty right lane in front of me as the approach a red light, thus preventing me from turning right on red.

[MNHighwayMan]

Some of the things listed so far are things I would consider to be caused by incompetence...

[SectorZ]

Some of the things listed so far are things I would consider to be caused by incompetence...

I'd argue everything noted so far is incompetence.

[ozarkman417]

Drivers cutting across three to four lanes of traffic to get to their exit, cutting plenty of people off while their at it.

[wanderer2575]

Drivers cutting across three to four lanes of traffic to get to their exit, cutting plenty of people off while their at it.

I see this all the time with the left exits at the I-94/M-10 interchange in Detroit, with motorists entering the freeway illegally cutting across three lanes of traffic to access the left exit.  With the publicized efforts to enforce the urban speed limit, I wish the police would devote a little effort enforcing the prohibition against this.

[TEG24601]

Drivers on a 2-lane highway who, when you get to a 4-lane passing zone, speed up so I can't pass them.  Then slow back down when it goes back to 2 lanes.

Drivers who switch from the left to the empty right lane in front of me as the approach a red light, thus preventing me from turning right on red.

We have a similar annoying thing happen on my island.  The road is 2-lane, speed limit is 45-55.  There are some people who drive 35 MPH whenever it is a no passing zone, and then speed to 60 when it is a passing zone.  They don't want people here and are trying to piss others off.  Almost makes me want to invent either a transporter or Portal™ Gun so I can get them off the road.

Drivers cutting across three to four lanes of traffic to get to their exit, cutting plenty of people off while their at it.

I see this all the time with the left exits at the I-94/M-10 interchange in Detroit, with motorists entering the freeway illegally cutting across three lanes of traffic to access the left exit.  With the publicized efforts to enforce the urban speed limit, I wish the police would devote a little effort enforcing the prohibition against this.

With the opposite happening in Seattle between SR 520 and Mercer Street.  They call it the Mercer crawl, but they really should just prevent people from crossing 5 lanes of traffic in 1/2 mile, and have people use alternate routes.

[J N Winkler]

Often I "time" stoplights by slowing down as I approach them so I can keep rolling through the intersection as the light turns green.  I've come to realize I don't actually like to be behind anyone else who is also doing this, because the reduction in speed makes it harder for me to maintain my space cushion.

[Beltway]

Drivers cutting across three to four lanes of traffic to get to their exit, cutting plenty of people off while their at it.

I would call that not only incompetence, but also reckless driving as in warranting a summons for a reckless driving charge.

[kphoger]

Drivers on a 2-lane highway who, when you get to a 4-lane passing zone, speed up so I can't pass them.  Then slow back down when it goes back to 2 lanes.

I actually think that behavior accords with natural tendencies.  With more lanes, a driver tends to feel safer driving at faster speeds.

[GaryV]

Drivers on a 2-lane highway who, when you get to a 4-lane passing zone, speed up so I can't pass them.  Then slow back down when it goes back to 2 lanes.

I actually think that behavior accords with natural tendencies.  With more lanes, a driver tends to feel safer driving at faster speeds.

I know that's why it happens.  But as the thread title says, it's annoying.

[silverback1065]

Making a left turn from the right lane in a roundabout

[webny99]

Drivers on a 2-lane highway who, when you get to a 4-lane passing zone, speed up so I can't pass them.  Then slow back down when it goes back to 2 lanes.

I actually think that behavior accords with natural tendencies.  With more lanes, a driver tends to feel safer driving at faster speeds.

I know that's why it happens.  But as the thread title says, it's annoying.

I tend to associate four-lane roads (particularly non-divided) with urbanized areas and towns. Probably because in upstate NY, there are zero such roads in rural areas, so I cannot say whether I'd go faster with four lanes as compared to a two-lane road.

I think it is common courtesy to maintain at least the speed limit on two lane roads. If a line is developing behind you and there are limited passing opportunities, either speed up, or move to the shoulder to let others pass. Some people don't understand this, and they speed up and slow down not based on how safe they feel, but because they are control freaks, want to stay in front of the pack, want to force others to abide by the speed limit, etc.

[Flint1979]

People that purposely drive slow. Like today I was on M-53 a little south of Bad Axe and I'm doing abo it 62 mph or so. I come up to a truck that is behind a car driving about 50 mph. We got a passing lane, both the truck and I moved into the right lane and passed the 50 mph car while the 50 mph car stays in the left lane the entire time the passing lane was present ignoring signs that say "Keep right except to pass" so the truck and I had to use the right lane to pass this idiot.

[texaskdog]

People who don't use turn signals.  People who drive over speed bumps at 2 MPH. 

[lstone19]

People that purposely drive slow. Like today I was on M-53 a little south of Bad Axe and I'm doing abo it 62 mph or so. I come up to a truck that is behind a car driving about 50 mph. We got a passing lane, both the truck and I moved into the right lane and passed the 50 mph car while the 50 mph car stays in the left lane the entire time the passing lane was present ignoring signs that say "Keep right except to pass" so the truck and I had to use the right lane to pass this idiot.

And the opposite, people who pass you on the right when there's an empty lane to your left. Typically happens when I'm at an interchange so I've moved to the second lane from the right to leave room for entering traffic and then someone comes charging up behind me and passes on the right even though there's one or two empty lanes on my left.

[Mark68]

When I'm driving on a freeway/highway, and leaving a safe distance between myself and the car in front of me, and then someone takes that as a cue to change lanes in front of me.

Also, people who change lanes in front of me, then go slower than the rate of speed that I was driving.

[TEG24601]

People who don't use turn signals.  People who drive over speed bumps at 2 MPH.

Especially those who don't use signals to enter or exit a roundabout.

[webny99]

Some of the things listed so far are things I would consider to be caused by incompetence...

I'd argue everything noted so far is incompetence.

Incompetence: inability to do something successfully.

So, it really depends not on how you define not incompetence, but success. Generally, if you are getting from one point to another without incident, I would argue you are competent. If you are actively disrupting and/or frustrating other drivers, then we may be getting into incompetence territory.
Thus, if you regard driving it as a mere action verb, there is not really a lot of total incompetence to speak of. If you regard it as a skill, i.e., a noun, meaning you have to be actually good at it, heck yes, there are plenty of incompetent drivers out there, but they're not necessarily out there claiming lives or causing significant systemic disruption.

[webny99]

Often I "time" stoplights by slowing down as I approach them so I can keep rolling through the intersection as the light turns green.  I've come to realize I don't actually like to be behind anyone else who is also doing this, because the reduction in speed makes it harder for me to maintain my space cushion.

I do that too, but I can't say I've ever noticed having to slow down for other people doing it.

People who drive over speed bumps at 2 MPH.

I would extend that to: people who brake for speed bumps, period. It is completely unnecessary to use the brakes, at all, ever, for a speed bump.