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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM

Title: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
I cannot tell you how many times I see people make left turns from the right lane or right turns from the left lane.  It is so mind boggling how many people do it each day.  You would figure that one out of every 10,000 cars you would expect to see it, but is seems like one out of every ten accomplishes unsafe turns.  What amazes me is when someone makes a left turn from a through lane while waiting for the left turn signal in that lane holding up traffic as he waits for the green arrow.  That one is amazing considering they are obeying the signal which is following the law there, but they are breaking it by making the turn from the wrong lane at the same time and knowingly having horns honked at them and cursed out for blocking traffic.

Then when I used to work at a timeshare resort in Orlando, we would have motorists pass the main entrance only to stop and back up to reach it instead of using the median breaks later on as it is a divided highway where U turns are easily to accomplish.   We used to make jokes at those who stayed there at the time as we used to say that the resort we worked out had an entry exam for those who buy units for the week and only the stupid people were only allowed to buy and be our guests.  That is how we justified all of incidents like that we would say among us.

What ever happened to people who would safely continue on to the next intersection and turnabout?  Like I said before that a few people out there do not care and just do whatever they want, but now it seems like everyone does it.  Most of all the cops do not care either as I seen an Orange County, FL Sheriff's Deputy allow a driver to make an unsafe lane change to access the cash only lanes on the FL 417 at John Young Mainline Plaza.  It could have made a nice collar for him and revenue to our county at the same time yet he acted like it was normal driving.  I mean its not that hard to move on and correct plus common sense would tell you that as well yet the world seems to have gone mad with all the idiotic driving maneuvers you see everyday that should be rare unless we all are emotionally disturbed as a society.
Title: Why do not people accept responsiblity for their driving mistakes anymore??
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 29, 2014, 10:01:48 AM
And whatever happened to people knowing the roads?
Title: Re: Why do not people accept responsiblity for their driving mistakes anymore??
Post by: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 10:06:45 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on July 29, 2014, 10:01:48 AM
Do you actually want answers on why people don't accept responsibility for their driving, or do you want to know why people drive poorly, or did you start yet another thread on this old subject in order to vent?

Many people can't feed themselves properly, many people can't write properly, many people can't raise kids properly, and many people can't drive properly.

You want to know why?  Probably too much government, or not enough, depending on who you ask.

Next: why do good people die young?
Actually neither.  I know this sounds kind of strange and I admit its very off beat and if NE 2 were here he would heckle me for it, but there is something interesting about this everyday happening that I thought it would be a great topic.  I do not know what, but it is.  I guess I want to see what this could lead to and maybe get us to open up more about our everyday driving.

As far as me I am not upset as much as I am amazed at what we have become and it seems like driving is now bringing out the worst in us humans.  I was wondering if anyone else is amazed as I am, as many non road geeks can talk endlessly about the roads and driving in typical chat.
Title: Re: Why do not people accept responsiblity for their driving mistakes anymore??
Post by: US71 on July 29, 2014, 10:14:17 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 10:06:45 AM

As far as me I am not upset as much as I am amazed at what we have become and it seems like driving is now bringing out the worst in us humans. 
People are in too much of a hurry and have too much going on in their lives. I see people driving while talking on their cell phones and wonder how we ever survived without them </snark>
Title: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 29, 2014, 10:23:42 AM
My point is (and frankly I decided it was so tired a point that I deleted the post, but you got to it first) that a combination of general laxness and the empowering isolation afforded us by technology (including automobiles) is distancing us from any real sense of consequences.

Plus, honestly, when half the TV watching these days is people getting off on others' personal misery, why should we suddenly start feeling concern for others when we nearly make them crash?
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 10:28:16 AM
I see you changed it as so did I change the thread title.  As you said it did not make sense, and for me it did not either.  As we all know too well, that there are times in our lives where we have a point, but we stumble upon words to express it.

Anyway its to the point where I expect things to happen that should be unexpected.  To me now when I drive when someone does a crazy thing, now I say to myself "another amazing maneuver again" and just let myself be humored by it.  Unless someone does something really crazy and causes an almost near hit, that is now the only time I will get disturbed by it.

   
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 29, 2014, 10:28:30 AM
Because people don't get punished (ie: Ticket) for doing things wrong, and when someone does something wrong and does get a ticket they make a big deal about it and get a whole bunch of people that weren't there and didn't witness it claim that the police shouldn't have bothered with it because there's people doing other worse things. (take deep breath)

Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: on_wisconsin on July 29, 2014, 10:39:58 AM
Kids these days, I tell ya...
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: formulanone on July 29, 2014, 10:58:26 AM
I don't think anything's really changed in 25 years of driving: There's always been distractions of some sort; other people, cars, drivers, sights, music, food...Before, it was cars kept up in poorer conditions, or less-than-safe conditions. Or, they were harder to operate, more difficult to maneuver. Now, the cars and roads are somewhat safer, but there's a few more electronic distractions. On the other hand, there's a few more safety devices installed on cars.

I'm not a so-called perfect driver, and I don't expect 100% of the drivers to be exact automatons, either. It's the downright thoughtless and dangerous actions that cause real problems. No amount of additional laws, technological wonders, nor safety nets are going to stop dangerous jackasses, angry drivers, mobile drunks, and those who fall asleep behind the wheel. Net difference over the years: nothing, really. It's neither amusing nor terrifying. If it were the latter, I wouldn't bother driving about for essentially no reason other than for the pleasure of it.

We just have another medium to complain about it...again and again.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: renegade on July 29, 2014, 01:08:41 PM
Yeah.  I am thoroughly amused every time some asshole tries to kill me when I am out on my motorcycle, when they are much too important to pay attention to their driving because they are busy texting, taking selfies  and updating their Fakebook statuses while driving, not to mention the fact that speed limits, STOP signs and traffic signals are there only in an advisory capacity.  I laugh my ass off at these people every day!

:banghead:
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Kacie Jane on July 29, 2014, 03:03:18 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
I cannot tell you how many times I see people make left turns from the right lane or right turns from the left lane.  It is so mind boggling how many people do it each day.  You would figure that one out of every 10,000 cars you would expect to see it, but is seems like one out of every ten accomplishes unsafe turns.

Well, if you see this 1 out 10 times, and I see this.... never... I suppose an average of about 1 out of 10,000 might be accurate.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: freebrickproductions on July 29, 2014, 03:08:43 PM
I find them amusing myself. A few days ago, I got to witness a person turning left out of the right-hand lane in a parking lot.
Several months ago, I saw two people pull onto the wrong side of the road to make a left turn, despite the left-hand lane (which they were already in) doubling as the left turn lane.
I'm not a perfect driver though, and I'll never call myself one.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brandon on July 29, 2014, 03:21:03 PM
I see far too many of them around Chicagoland.  After a while, all you can do is look and laugh at the idiot.  I've also seen this shit for the past 30+ years, so it's not anything new and/or different.  Same assholes, different era.

My favorites are the ones who go straight instead of turning in the turn lane (be it right or left).  I've even seen passing maneuvers performed this way.  Mr. Impatient will go through the turn lane just to pass the vehicle in front of him.

Then you have the ones who do the "oh shit!" exit from the lane furthest from the exit ramp cutting across 3 or 4 lanes of traffic.  I see these at least once a week, more often, more often.

Remember, there is a reason Chicago drivers are well known as FIBs.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 29, 2014, 06:03:16 PM

Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 29, 2014, 03:03:18 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
I cannot tell you how many times I see people make left turns from the right lane or right turns from the left lane.  It is so mind boggling how many people do it each day.  You would figure that one out of every 10,000 cars you would expect to see it, but is seems like one out of every ten accomplishes unsafe turns.

Well, if you see this 1 out 10 times, and I see this.... never... I suppose an average of about 1 out of 10,000 might be accurate.

It may depend on where you live.  I see turns as described from the wrong lane between once a week and once a month.

When they called Boston "the Athens of America," I think they were referring to the driving habits.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: wisvishr0 on July 29, 2014, 06:43:23 PM
DesertDog: You can't blame people for following the Advisory speed limits: that's what they're there for. What if they're new to the area? Also, overtaking is a driver's prerogative: it can be really dangerous and you're technically not supposed to overtake at a speed faster than the speed limit, so if a driver's going 5-10 under, you may not be (legally) able to accelerate to a high enough speed to pass them quickly and efficiently. You do have a point with the GPS, though: my sister didn't know what a state route was until I told her a few months ago.

Anyways, for your entertainment, there are a lot of channels that show bad driving habits on Youtube. My favorite is "halomastermind117"'s channel, "Bad Drivers of South Carolina." It's really amusing!

https://www.youtube.com/user/HaloMasterMind117/videos
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: txstateends on July 29, 2014, 08:06:50 PM
It has even made it to TV ads for cars:  http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7DFD/infiniti-q50-distracted-driving

The first time I saw this the other day, well, it was more than a little jarring....
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 29, 2014, 08:10:54 PM
A lot of these complained-about behaviors are in scenarios not everyone has experience with.  We don't have many steep grades or two-lane high speed roads here, so people aren't experienced with those.  On the other hand, it can be frustrating here when folks from elsewhere don't know how to drive around a streetcar or when to make a left on red.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: txstateends on July 29, 2014, 08:21:07 PM

Quote from: wisvishr0 on July 29, 2014, 06:43:23 PM

The GPS thing drives me nuts though.  It's amazing to me that so many people really and truly have no literal clue what the most basic of directional signage means.  I was explaining my sister the US and Interstate grid...the total blank look of astonishment cracked me up. lol


I can't count how many guests at my hotel tell me what their GPS did to them for their trip (mostly the ones coming in from the airport's rental car area).  "I must have gone in circles for 2 hours!!"  >ugh<  Sheep, blind mice, I don't know how to describe them.  And of course, they wait till they're at the hotel to tell me this--instead of calling us while they're on their way like most seem to do.

I told a friend one time about the US grid/Interstate grid difference--he had no idea.  "Really?!? Wow."
I told him about mile-based exit numbering--he had no idea about that either.

There seems to be regular occurrences here anymore of left-turns from right/right-turns from left, freeway lane changes from far left to far right to make an exit, continuing straight at a light when the sign says left-turn-only (one of those by where I work--surprised there aren't more wrecks there), etc.  And why do I get honked at when I'm not the one putting on makeup or looking at my cell phone or texting while I'm driving??

Amusing?  Maybe at times.  Irritating and frustrating?  Probably more like it.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: vdeane on July 29, 2014, 09:01:58 PM
Amusing: they guy who sits in bumper to bumper traffic for a mile and then gets off at the last second, forcing everyone cruising by in the exit only lane to slow down for him

Just plain aggravating: the guy who slams on his brakes at the end of the same exit only lane to merge back into the bumper to bumper traffic he was passing

Shouldn't be allowed to drive: that guy who always slams on his brakes when merging onto the Northway from Albany-Shaker Rd, creating a backup that doesn't end until rush hour is over.  Thankfully he was off today and the Northway was flowing smoothly (first time I've seen that happen on a weekday that wasn't a holiday at 4:45).  And yes, it's one guy... I've seen the backup form right in front of me a couple of times.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: realjd on July 29, 2014, 11:29:25 PM
Quote from: DesertDog on July 29, 2014, 06:33:03 PM
I'm more amused by the inability of the general populace to handle a two lane road, navigation or mountain grades. 

There is nothing like the frustration getting stuck behind three or four cars that refuse to pass the guy going 10 MPH under the speed limit and then having to pass all of them of at once.  Worse yet is the people on mountain grades who take the yellow speed limit signs too literally and drive slow as $#!+ on corners that could be handled the actual speed limit with car control.  I think of CA 1 through Big Sur and CA 41 as infamous examples where Caltrans posts a 55 MPH marker and it's nothing but yellow suggested signs for the next forever....it means the speed limit is 55 MPH!  :banghead:

The navigation part cracks me up.  Nobody knows how to navigate a US or Interstate Route marker these days and rely too much on GPS units.  I ran into a 18 year kid trying to get to Naples from Orlando when I was passing through on US 27 a couple months back.  Basically this kid somehow got on US 27 and missed the turn badly to US 17....and worse was relying on a GPS to save the day.  I had to explain what US, Interstate and even Florida Route markers....thankfully US 98 was right there at the same corner which got the kid headed back to US 17.  All I could say was.."when you go home make sure you take I-75 and I-4 so you don't get lost again."

US27 to SR29 to SR80 to I75 isn't a terrible route from Orlando to Naples... I'll bet the GPS was taking him that way. It's a much shorter and quicker route than I4 to I75.

As long as you avoid stupid dirt roads in the desert, a GPS won't necessarily send you down the best route but it sure has hell will get you to your destination. Assuming the kid keyed in the proper destination address, he would have been fine following his GPS.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: spooky on July 30, 2014, 07:08:06 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
Then when I used to work at a timeshare resort in Orlando, we would have motorists pass the main entrance only to stop and back up to reach it instead of using the median breaks later on as it is a divided highway where U turns are easily to accomplish.   We used to make jokes at those who stayed there at the time as we used to say that the resort we worked out had an entry exam for those who buy units for the week and only the stupid people were only allowed to buy and be our guests.  That is how we justified all of incidents like that we would say among us.

People who probably aren't familiar with the area back up when they miss the driveway instead of using the median breaks that they probably don't know are there?  oh the hilarity!!!!
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 30, 2014, 08:03:18 AM
Quote from: spooky on July 30, 2014, 07:08:06 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
Then when I used to work at a timeshare resort in Orlando, we would have motorists pass the main entrance only to stop and back up to reach it instead of using the median breaks later on as it is a divided highway where U turns are easily to accomplish.   We used to make jokes at those who stayed there at the time as we used to say that the resort we worked out had an entry exam for those who buy units for the week and only the stupid people were only allowed to buy and be our guests.  That is how we justified all of incidents like that we would say among us.

People who probably aren't familiar with the area back up when they miss the driveway instead of using the median breaks that they probably don't know are there?  oh the hilarity!!!!

Well, then they go to the next traffic light or something. Backing up on a busy roadway is generally one of the most unsafe things one can do, as some drivers have a tendency to turn the car back into the highway.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: spooky on July 30, 2014, 08:09:18 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 30, 2014, 08:03:18 AM
Quote from: spooky on July 30, 2014, 07:08:06 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
Then when I used to work at a timeshare resort in Orlando, we would have motorists pass the main entrance only to stop and back up to reach it instead of using the median breaks later on as it is a divided highway where U turns are easily to accomplish.   We used to make jokes at those who stayed there at the time as we used to say that the resort we worked out had an entry exam for those who buy units for the week and only the stupid people were only allowed to buy and be our guests.  That is how we justified all of incidents like that we would say among us.

People who probably aren't familiar with the area back up when they miss the driveway instead of using the median breaks that they probably don't know are there?  oh the hilarity!!!!

Well, then they go to the next traffic light or something. Backing up on a busy roadway is generally one of the most unsafe things one can do, as some drivers have a tendency to turn the car back into the highway.

Well sure that's what I would do, I just don't get how this guy is so amused or surprised at drivers doing dumb things when he lives in a tourist-infested area in a state that already has the dumbest people in all the land.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on July 30, 2014, 09:49:50 AM
Quote from: spooky on July 30, 2014, 08:09:18 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 30, 2014, 08:03:18 AM
Quote from: spooky on July 30, 2014, 07:08:06 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 29, 2014, 09:43:57 AM
Then when I used to work at a timeshare resort in Orlando, we would have motorists pass the main entrance only to stop and back up to reach it instead of using the median breaks later on as it is a divided highway where U turns are easily to accomplish.   We used to make jokes at those who stayed there at the time as we used to say that the resort we worked out had an entry exam for those who buy units for the week and only the stupid people were only allowed to buy and be our guests.  That is how we justified all of incidents like that we would say among us.

People who probably aren't familiar with the area back up when they miss the driveway instead of using the median breaks that they probably don't know are there?  oh the hilarity!!!!

Well, then they go to the next traffic light or something. Backing up on a busy roadway is generally one of the most unsafe things one can do, as some drivers have a tendency to turn the car back into the highway.

Well sure that's what I would do, I just don't get how this guy is so amused or surprised at drivers doing dumb things when he lives in a tourist-infested area in a state that already has the dumbest people in all the land.
Amused yes. Surprised no.  Whether you are a tourist or not we still have common sense within us.  We should use it or be using it. 
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 10:05:28 AM
To answer the question in the original post, I don't know if I'd use the word "amusing," but I'm not sure what word I would use. I'm sure most of us have had the same experience, some of us more often than others depending on where we live and the amount of traffic, where you encounter dumbassedness and flat-out rude and aggressive driving on a regular basis. It bugs the crap out of me and I often vent right then (since I don't usually have the windows open when I drive, yelling at someone is a harmless way to vent) and then forget about it. I do usually have my dashcam running and I periodically compile some of the more egregious stuff and put on YouTube, mainly as entertainment but also as a sort of "WTH is wrong with people" type thing.

The habit I do not understand is that a lot of people here in the DC area are leaving WAY TOO MUCH SPACE when stopping at red lights, often a full carlength or more. What you learn in driver's education may vary. I was taught to ensure you can see the bottoms of the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you and to leave extra space on a hill in case a manual-shift driver rolls back. I gather some people who learned to drive when carjacking was more of an issue may have been told to leave more space as an "escape route," although what good that does if you're in the middle lane of three has always been unclear to me. But either way, I've always thought as a courtesy to other drivers you keep aware of what's around you and you move up if possible to allow people to access the turn lane. I frequently wind up honking to try to get people to move up a little so I can get into the turn lane. If you're leaving a full carlength or more, I have no qualms whatsoever about honking in that situation. It's rude to sit there blocking the road like that. Some of them are so engrossed in their little electronic toys that they never realize they're the ones being honked at; others don't care or give the finger; others will move up.

I don't think there's any one thing that factors into it. We can all bemoan the poor state of driver education and DMV testing in this country, but you know, such things have been half-arsed for years and people didn't used to be as lousy at driving as they are now. What concerns me more about driver education is that the current system has no way of forcing drivers to become aware of advances in automotive technology. My favorite example is antilock brakes, as I know quite a few people who didn't know the pedal is supposed to vibrate as the system pulses the brakes. It's ludicrous to think that passing a multiple-choice test and driving around the block in 1989 should be deemed sufficient for the rest of your life!

Some things I think factor in:
–The cat is out of the bag on mobile phones and will never get back in the bag. State and federal authorities were too slow to react and now the public has essentially said, "We don't care, we're going to play with our devices." I find just about every time I drive anywhere I wind up beeping the horn (beeping, not blasting) at someone who doesn't move on a green light due to being engrossed in a phone.

–People feel stressed or impatient and they worry about things like being late to work when they're stuck in traffic and the like. It causes some people to do unreasonable things like driving on the shoulder, using the onramp acceleration lane as a passing lane, etc. They think they're somehow "justified" because they consider their appointments "important," but nobody else's can be considered to have any importance. This goes along with the next point:

–People have become ruder in general than they used to be. I think there's a lot more of a "me" attitude than there was 30 years ago and it's getting coupled more and more with a "fuck-you" attitude. How many times have all of us seen someone decline the opportunity to change lanes behind a clump of traffic, where there's tons of open space, and instead try to force his way through the clump and change lanes at the last second in front of someone? Does a lane change somehow not "count" if you don't get ahead of someone? Or are you somehow "admitting defeat"?

–In connection with the previous point, I do not understand the new attitude that if you make a mistake, you just go ahead and plow your way through as you wanted to go and expect everyone else to know what's coming and to let you through. You got in the wrong lane? Fine, go around the block, or if you're in a suburban area with no blocks, make the turn anyway and then turn around at the next intersection. See video–at this intersection the two left lanes are left-only, the two middle lanes are straight-only, and the two right lanes are right-only. The turkey in the white car couldn't figure out any of it.



–This comment is not politically correct, but I think it's valid in many areas: Immigration affects driving because people arrive from countries around the world with wildly different driving cultures and they have trouble adjusting. This is far more so for older people, of course. I grew up in the 1970s/1980s and there were a lot of local kids my age who were born in Vietnam or Korea and whose parents had grown up in those countries but relocated due to the wars or the wars' aftermath. The kids were as American as could be. Their parents were absolutely not and tended to be much more tentative and hesitant on the roads, especially the Interstate. I say that not to stereotype but just to recognize reality, as it's also true Americans have trouble dealing with road rules in some other countries, such as France's "priorite" system of yielding to the right even if the other road is of a lesser class.

–Finally, I'm beginning to wonder what "common sense" is, because stuff that seems to me like it should be "common sense" doesn't seem very "common" these days.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: oscar on July 30, 2014, 10:34:55 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 10:05:28 AM
The habit I do not understand is that a lot of people here in the DC area are leaving WAY TOO MUCH SPACE when stopping at red lights, often a full carlength or more. What you learn in driver's education may vary. I was taught to ensure you can see the bottoms of the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you and to leave extra space on a hill in case a manual-shift driver rolls back. I gather some people who learned to drive when carjacking was more of an issue may have been told to leave more space as an "escape route," although what good that does if you're in the middle lane of three has always been unclear to me. But either way, I've always thought as a courtesy to other drivers you keep aware of what's around you and you move up if possible to allow people to access the turn lane. I frequently wind up honking to try to get people to move up a little so I can get into the turn lane. If you're leaving a full carlength or more, I have no qualms whatsoever about honking in that situation. It's rude to sit there blocking the road like that. Some of them are so engrossed in their little electronic toys that they never realize they're the ones being honked at; others don't care or give the finger; others will move up.

That's a pet peeve of mine too, and applies also to drive-through lanes in fast food restaurants, where people will take their sweet time filling up the gap ahead of them, even when the line behind them is backing up into the street.

In addition to the anti-carjacking excuse (which as you note often doesn't make sense in city traffic), leaving some space ahead of you lets you pull up when the squeegee guy or other beggar comes by, to make clear than you really don't want your windshield cleaned, etc.  That was sometimes an issue where I used to work, where on my way home I usually took H Street N.W. which often was backed up on my way to an I-395 on-ramp.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on July 30, 2014, 10:47:41 AM
My favorite is when a light is short changing.  It happens a lot in Orlando where some intersections that are busy cut down on the green time during heavy traffic flow causing needless two to three light changes wait.  Then when it turns green for the second and third time still cars take their sweet time in moving after the light turns.  I mean duh, you have been sitting there longer than normal to pass through a simple intersection and you are careless to proceed further.

Thanks 1995, you just pointed out that some cannot be amusing as its causing me more gas money as a whole slough of idiots are careless even when they waiting in the same mess.

Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 10:55:17 AM
Quote from: oscar on July 30, 2014, 10:34:55 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 10:05:28 AM
The habit I do not understand is that a lot of people here in the DC area are leaving WAY TOO MUCH SPACE when stopping at red lights, often a full carlength or more. What you learn in driver's education may vary. I was taught to ensure you can see the bottoms of the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you and to leave extra space on a hill in case a manual-shift driver rolls back. I gather some people who learned to drive when carjacking was more of an issue may have been told to leave more space as an "escape route," although what good that does if you're in the middle lane of three has always been unclear to me. But either way, I've always thought as a courtesy to other drivers you keep aware of what's around you and you move up if possible to allow people to access the turn lane. I frequently wind up honking to try to get people to move up a little so I can get into the turn lane. If you're leaving a full carlength or more, I have no qualms whatsoever about honking in that situation. It's rude to sit there blocking the road like that. Some of them are so engrossed in their little electronic toys that they never realize they're the ones being honked at; others don't care or give the finger; others will move up.

That's a pet peeve of mine too, and applies also to drive-through lanes in fast food restaurants, where people will take their sweet time filling up the gap ahead of them, even when the line behind them is backing up into the street.

In addition to the anti-carjacking excuse (which as you note often doesn't make sense in city traffic), leaving some space ahead of you lets you pull up when the squeegee guy or other beggar comes by, to make clear than you really don't want your windshield cleaned, etc.  That was sometimes an issue where I used to work, where on my way home I usually took H Street N.W. which often was backed up on my way to an I-395 on-ramp.

I mostly notice the "backed up into the street" phenomenon at the Mr. Wash Express on Van Dorn Street at Edsall Road in Alexandria. Even though they have two lines, the place gets so crowded, and the customers leave such big gaps, that the line spills out into the street and sometimes blocks the box at the intersection there. Yet people refuse to risk "losing their spot" and will hold up traffic unless the off-duty cops are there to move things along.

I can picture where you mean about H Street because I've encountered the squeegee men in that area on top of the I-395 tunnel (the way you have to loop around from WB Massachusetts to reach I-395), although I address those people by turning on my windshield washers when they approach.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: mtantillo on July 30, 2014, 12:21:58 PM
I think 1995hoo sums up the issue pretty well. DC area is filled with a lot of "MFFY" types (Me First F__ You).

DC also has tons of tourists, and they are about as clueless as you can get. And won't hesitate one bit to bring a whole road to a standstill while they try to get over.

A couple other pet peeves of mine:
- Improper use of high beams. A lot of times I will see people driving down the road with high beams on for no good reason, blinding everyone in their path, and they refuse to turn them off when you alert them using your high beams. Some drivers do it on purpose, others seem to have improperly maintained headlights. Those pop-in/pop-out headlights that were used in the 1980's are notorious offenders, cars on lift kits are as well.

- Driving at night with no headlights. Came up behind a black car on I-66 the other night, barely saw him because he had no brake lights. He was driving from the dim lights of his DRLs, with zero situational awareness. I notice this a lot more lately.

- Signaling a left turn to make a right turn, and vice versa. The stick on the steering wheel works just like the steering wheel, folks. When you turn left and the left side of the steering wheel goes down, you push the stick down to signal a left turn!

- Blind adherance to the "move over law": Just because you see a cop doesn't mean you have the right to cut someone off in the adjacent lane to move over immediately. Some tractor-trailer drivers are bad about this.

- People using the shoulder to bypass traffic jams: Using an acceleration lane is a dick move, but at least it is an actual lane that is legal for someone to drive in. The people who use the shoulder though, what the heck is so important that you have to cut everyone else patiently waiting in line? I came up on an accident on I-270 a few weeks ago, and traffic was at a standstill while it merged from 3 lanes into 1. Some self important jerk comes up the left shoulder in a red pickup truck and passes about a mile's worth of traffic. Funny thing is, he was actually doing so semi-safely...he was only going about 25 MPH and had his flashers on. Still, not acceptable!!! You are not law enforcement, you are not a tow truck, you can wait like the rest of us. A few cars up in front of me, a guy blocked him, and much horn honking and middle finger flashing ensued.

- Being obnoxious with the horn. Okay, we all toot our horns occasionally, and sometimes we do it to wake up inconsiderate drivers who are too busy texting to notice the light is green. But a couple of weeks ago, I was making a right turn (on green), and a car on the cross street comes plowing through the red light and almost killed me. He had the nerve to honk at me as if I was doing something wrong and should get out of his way. Seems like that horn honk was an "admission of guilt honk". Another example, making a right on red is not "required". If I don't think it is safe, I am not going to turn, and no honking behind me is going to make me hurry up.

- Drivers in the city not yielding to pedestrians. When you're in the city, it is time to use those city driving skills...part of which is remembering that in the big city, there are people walking around. If they are crossing with the light, they go before you go, and that includes when the driver is making a left turn. I've occasionally been honked at as a pedestrian by a driver trying to make a left turn, the cars are clear, and suddenly the driver realizes a pedestrian is in the way.

- Drivers who think the little gap in the guardrail on a dual carriage roadway is for them to get around a traffic jam. The I-95 reversible lanes in Virginia, and the NJ Turnpike are two notorious examples of this. We're driving along in the road, and one set of lanes hits traffic congestion. So people try to cut out of the lanes into high speed traffic in the other set of lanes, and these people are very difficult to avoid, since they come out of nowhere with no warning. I'm sorry, it sucks being in the set of lanes that moves slowly, but that doesn't give you the right to slowly jump out in front of everyone else in the other road. This used to happen a lot on I-95 in Virginia, heading south. The HOV lanes would usually move faster than the regular lanes due to its design flaw of having no southbound entrance ramps south of Springfield. So the lanes were "starved" of traffic and people would jump from the regular lanes into the HOV. But then when you get to the truck scales, the HOVs come to a standstill, and often move slower than the regular lanes, because they first have to squeeze into one lane before the merge point. So all those people who cut into the faster HOVs are trying to cut out early. At least the new HOT lanes will have camera enforcement to prevent this from happening.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 01:02:20 PM
Regarding people leaving too much space..... The first of these, where I blast the horn at the guy, was a situation where the traffic had been horrendous and we'd all been crawling along for 15 or 20 minutes to go just over a mile. We finally get to the Beltway ramp and the guy starts to leave a huge gap so you can't get on the highway.



In the vein of pet peeves, something that occurred to me earlier today: People who don't turn on their headlights in dark parking garages (especially underground ones, but it need not be underground to be dark).

The other thing that occurred to me was that people these days seem never to want to interact with a stranger at places like the grocery store or the shopping mall by saying a simple thing like "Excuse me" or the like–they will contort themselves into all sorts of strange positions to try to worm through a gap or to see around you when you're at the counter or whatever, when a simple "Excuse me" would be enough to get you to move over. I wonder how much of that sort of thing factors into some of the erratic behavior we see on the roads–they don't want to interact with other drivers any more than they would the other customers at the store. Could this perhaps be a symptom of people having "don't talk to strangers" drummed into them a bit too strongly when they were kids?
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brandon on July 30, 2014, 01:44:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 29, 2014, 09:01:58 PM
Just plain aggravating: the guy who slams on his brakes at the end of the same exit only lane to merge back into the bumper to bumper traffic he was passing

Ah, I see you've experienced Chicago traffic.

Seriously though, that's a common tactic around here.  They'll use the exit only lane for a passing lane (even if you're going 55-60 mph).  I've seen them cut across the gore to use the entrance ramp as a passing lane as well.  That one makes me think "what the fuck!?!".

Drivers in Illinois (including Chicago) are notorious for slowing down for every fucking curve.  Folks, it's a freeway.  It's designed to be handled at 60-70 mph on the fucking curves as well as the straights.  They also seem to think you can enter a freeway at 40-45 mph and then speed up.  Every time I'm behind one of these jackasses, I think I'm going to get killed when I try to merge behind them.  Again, it's a freeway, damnit.  You use the ramp to get up to speed (60+ mph), look for a spot, modulate your speed, and then seamlessly slide into the stream.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: J N Winkler on July 30, 2014, 04:17:21 PM
One pet peeve I have that I don't think has been mentioned before:  people who do driveway turnarounds at night instead of driving around the block.  What gives them the right to disturb people in the house behind the driveway by shining headlamps through their front windows?
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: wisvishr0 on July 30, 2014, 07:34:13 PM
I leave a large-ish space when I stop behind another car at a red-light if there's no one behind me (or if I'm not causing someone to block a turn lane), and no one is immediately next to me in the adjacent lane. That's so I have enough clearance in front of me to change lanes if I need to while I'm stopped (without backing up). I always look behind me and assess the situation before I do it, and I don't do it often: only in places I'm not used to driving in. If someone pulls up in the lane next to me, I close the gap, because there's no way I'd have space to change lanes even if I had to.

Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 30, 2014, 08:05:30 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on July 30, 2014, 04:17:21 PM
One pet peeve I have that I don't think has been mentioned before:  people who do driveway turnarounds at night instead of driving around the block.  What gives them the right to disturb people in the house behind the driveway by shining headlamps through their front windows?

At night, traffic is usually sparse enough that I can pull off a three point turn to avoid this scenario. I feel weird about pulling into people's yards during the day.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brian556 on July 30, 2014, 08:09:24 PM
Quote from JN Winkler:
QuoteOne pet peeve I have that I don't think has been mentioned before:  people who do driveway turnarounds at night instead of driving around the block.  What gives them the right to disturb people in the house behind the driveway by shining headlamps through their front windows?

The rudeness of shining headlights into windows at night is the reason I think that the use of high beams in residential areas should be illegal. There is absolutely no need for them at speeds of 30 MPH or less, in urban areas.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: wisvishr0 on July 30, 2014, 08:19:44 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on July 30, 2014, 08:09:24 PM

The rudeness of shining headlights into windows at night is the reason I think that the use of high beams in residential areas should be illegal. There is absolutely no need for them at speeds of 30 MPH or less, in urban areas.

The problem is Maryland says in its manual to use high beams specifically for seeing people better, so my drivers ed instructor interpreted it to mean: "use it in residential areas to see if there are any people walking in the road at night, as long as there are no cars within 500 feet of you."
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 09:18:42 PM
Our neighborhood has a problem of too many deer in the woods, as do many other local areas. I always use my high-beams on the way in or out at night specifically because of that hazard.

There are areas in where I use them whenever I can due to pedestrians dressed all in black wandering around in the street at night.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on July 30, 2014, 09:23:37 PM
We no more teach people to wear white at night like we teach our society to ride a bike with traffic and not against it.  Yeah I have gotten scares myself driving and out of no where a person crosses the street wearing black usually jay walking too.   It is not amusing there as it is not at all pleasant or amazing to nearly injure another party. 

Also Florida, where I am at, I have been hearing that we have the highest pedestrian fatality rate of all the states.  That does not help either.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: oscar on July 30, 2014, 11:48:12 PM
Quote from: mtantillo on July 30, 2014, 12:21:58 PM
DC also has tons of tourists, and they are about as clueless as you can get. And won't hesitate one bit to bring a whole road to a standstill while they try to get over.

Don't forget the diplomats, who often combine cluelessness and/or asshole-ism with immunity.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on August 01, 2014, 08:43:01 AM
I was hit once in Houma, LA as you say drivers turning right do not look ahead of them to see what is at or around the corner.  What is even worse is Houma, LA in many parts do not have dedicated crosswalks or even sidewalks for pedestrians there.

My friend who lives in Houma at the time says that they have not yet advanced that far in adding sidewalks outside the downtown areas especially in Bayou Cane, LA which is the unicorporated area of Houma to the Northwest along LA 24.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: roadman65 on August 01, 2014, 09:28:14 AM
Oh yesterday I went on a little mini road trip with two guys here on this forum.  We found that Innovative Way, a new roadway on the east side of town, is so pedestrian and bike friendly as they installed a bike lane and a sidewalk in an area where they will not be used for centuries as there is no development whatsoever along the ROW of the newly built arterial.

Yeah you are so right, Orlando in many places have no sidewalks or enough bridges for pedestrians to use.  However, if you put overpasses for people to use along OBT in the areas north of Sand Lake do you really think people will stop jaywalking in that region?  I think not.  Around Holden they put up middle of the block crosswalks and people diagonally cross OBT at the crosswalk!
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 09:35:33 AM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.

you attempted to turn across multiple lanes, and checked only the nearest lane of approaching traffic? 

please shred your license.

Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on August 01, 2014, 09:28:14 AM
....

Yeah you are so right, Orlando in many places have no sidewalks or enough bridges for pedestrians to use.  However, if you put overpasses for people to use along OBT in the areas north of Sand Lake do you really think people will stop jaywalking in that region?  I think not.  Around Holden they put up middle of the block crosswalks and people diagonally cross OBT at the crosswalk!

Absolutely correct. Around here there was a huge problem with people (the news reports said the vast majority were immigrants) trying to jaywalk across US-50 in the Seven Corners area. The speed limit there is 45 but traffic usually moves at closer to 55 or 60.

Bing Maps link here because it's faster than Google: http://binged.it/1odqFpH  The whole area from where the map says "Thorne Rd" all the way down to the intersection of US-50 and Patrick Henry Drive had a horrible problem with pedestrian accidents. So a very nice pedestrian bridge was constructed, although they dropped the ball a bit because on each side, the ramp is accessible from only one direction (you can see the pedestrian bridge under construction, and the ramps already in place, if you click to the "Bird's Eye" view and turn off labels). That means, of course, lots of the pedestrians don't use it and are continuing to try to run across the street. NOT a wise thing to do in that area at all.

I've heard traffic planners refer to the concept as a pedestrian's "desire line." In other words, what's the most direct route from Point A to Point B? The pedestrian desires to walk that way and some of them will often do so regardless of what's legal or safe. I recall in London a number of the pedestrian crossings near Parliament had islands halfway across with fences such that the two crosswalks were not straight across from each other–you had to go through the fences and it made it a lot harder to try to run across against the light. (Bing view here: http://binged.it/1ogAWNx  One crossing is where the white vehicle is that's already made the left turn. The other is closer to the intersection below the bike box.) I'm sure if anything like this were attempted in most American cities, people would howl with outrage that they don't like being fenced in or that they think they're being treated like farm animals or some such.




Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 09:35:33 AM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.

you attempted to turn across multiple lanes, and checked only the nearest lane of approaching traffic? 

please shred your license.

I interpreted the comment as being that as he turned into the first lane, the front of his car crossed into another lane and someone speeding down that lane hit him. I'm sure we've all encountered the situation where you're trying to turn out of a gas station or a 7-11 or whatever (the bank, in this example) and the driveway configuration is such that you're going to protrude across the line even as you turn into the nearest lane.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's OK not to check the other lane, but I'm not about to pass judgment when I wasn't there to observe the situation. Suppose the person who stops to let you in is driving a big SUV, you can't see over it, and the person waves to indicate the way is clear....but it's not. You weren't there to see "renegade" in the collision and neither was I, so it's not like we can know what happened.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Zmapper on August 01, 2014, 10:01:16 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 10:05:28 AM
–This comment is not politically correct, but I think it's valid in many areas: Immigration affects driving because people arrive from countries around the world with wildly different driving cultures and they have trouble adjusting. This is far more so for older people, of course. I grew up in the 1970s/1980s and there were a lot of local kids my age who were born in Vietnam or Korea and whose parents had grown up in those countries but relocated due to the wars or the wars' aftermath. The kids were as American as could be. Their parents were absolutely not and tended to be much more tentative and hesitant on the roads, especially the Interstate. I say that not to stereotype but just to recognize reality, as it's also true Americans have trouble dealing with road rules in some other countries, such as France's "priorite" system of yielding to the right even if the other road is of a lesser class.

I've heard good-faith arguments put forth that immigrants here illegally are more likely to drive cautiously; unlike citizens who realistically would end up with a hefty ticket at the worst for a car collision provided they weren't drinking, toking, or driving too unreasonably, they have to seriously consider the risk of being deported.

On the other hand, the completely unbiased source that my car insurance agent casually estimates a full quarter of the driving population drives without insurance (purchasing a one month policy every year to register their vehicle). Given that immigrants and/or non-white populations are statistically more likely to have limited incomes, and that people with limited incomes are more likely to cut "frills" like car insurance from their budget, then it would be a logical conclusion that non-native populations are more likely to drive without insurance.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 10:09:47 AM
In Virginia, it's legal to drive without insurance provided you pay the "uninsured motorist fee" each year. From the DMV website:

QuoteThe Virginia Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee allows a motor vehicle owner to register an uninsured motor vehicle. At the time of registration, the motor vehicle owner must certify whether the vehicle is insured or uninsured.

If the vehicle is uninsured, the motor vehicle owner is required to pay to DMV a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee in addition to normal registration fees. Payment of the $500 fee does not provide the motorist with any insurance coverage. If involved in an accident, the uninsured motorist remains personally liable. This fee is valid for twelve months but may be prorated for a shorter amount of time.

Motor vehicle owners who falsely certify that they have insurance and are found by DMV to be uninsured face stiff penalties. In addition to facing suspension of all driver and registration privileges, compliance includes payment of a $500 statutory fee, a $145 reinstatement fee and filing proof of insurance for three years. During the three-year period, insurance companies cooperate with DMV by providing notification if a policy is canceled. This requirement to maintain proof of insurance enables DMV to ensure that these motor vehicle owners maintain liability insurance on their registered vehicles.

It's an idiotic thing to do and I don't know how many people do it; I also don't know how many people drive without insurance and without paying that fee. Either way, Virginia insurance regulations require that your policy provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up to your policy limits. Under the circumstances, that's a good thing. (In other words, for those unfamiliar with insurance, say the other driver is at fault in an accident and your coverage provides higher limits of liability than the other driver's insurance, say because he's an idiot who buys only the statutory minimum coverage. The damages in the accident exceed what his policy will pay. Your insurance will kick in for the remainder above his policy limits, and your insurance carrier then has the right to sue him to recover those amounts because ultimately he's responsible for them.)

The real problem, of course, is that so many of the people who don't have insurance are what we call "judgment-proof": You can sue them and win, but you'll have a hard time recovering any money because they don't have any and because almost every state's law allows the person owing the money to protect certain parts of their income from being garnished (in order to ensure they can buy food, for example, which is reasonable).
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 10:20:12 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
I interpreted the comment as being that as he turned into the first lane, the front of his car crossed into another lane and someone speeding down that lane hit him. I'm sure we've all encountered the situation where you're trying to turn out of a gas station or a 7-11 or whatever (the bank, in this example) and the driveway configuration is such that you're going to protrude across the line even as you turn into the nearest lane.

"taking the turn wide" is, to me, synonymous with "turning across multiple lanes".

so, I reiterate: if you can't see ALL the lanes you're wanting to enter, then don't begin your turn.

yes, there are super shitty driveways out there where one has to basically make a radius-zero turn or encroach multiple lanes.  I'm okay with waiting.  it's quite rare to have an intersection with no break in traffic due to an upstream traffic light capturing the mainline.  or, if traffic is that heavy that someone is making room for you, then it's entirely appropriate to make a three-point turn as needed.  traffic won't have moved.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 11:01:19 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 09:35:33 AM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.

you attempted to turn across multiple lanes, and checked only the nearest lane of approaching traffic? 

please shred your license.

I interpreted the comment as being that as he turned into the first lane, the front of his car crossed into another lane and someone speeding down that lane hit him. I'm sure we've all encountered the situation where you're trying to turn out of a gas station or a 7-11 or whatever (the bank, in this example) and the driveway configuration is such that you're going to protrude across the line even as you turn into the nearest lane.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's OK not to check the other lane, but I'm not about to pass judgment when I wasn't there to observe the situation. Suppose the person who stops to let you in is driving a big SUV, you can't see over it, and the person waves to indicate the way is clear....but it's not. You weren't there to see "renegade" in the collision and neither was I, so it's not like we can know what happened.

Still, the license should be shredded.  One has an obligation to check all lanes and enter the roadway only once all lanes are clear.  It's a pet peeve of mine, having people pull out, trusting that you won't change lanes on them.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 11:15:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 11:01:19 AM
Still, the license should be shredded.  One has an obligation to check all lanes and enter the roadway only once all lanes are clear.  It's a pet peeve of mine, having people pull out, trusting that you won't change lanes on them.

that's an artifact of people driving too far to the left compared to the lane they should be in.  they should not be changing lanes - they should have changed lanes a long time before.

if you're going to make a right turn, it is sufficient to check just the right lane strictly, and then give a casual check to the second-most-right lane.  (assuming you can make the turn tightly; if not, add one lane to this calculation.)

if someone's initiated changing lanes (turn signal, inching to the right side of their lane, slowing down when there is no reason to do so for going straight, etc), then the right lane is theirs.  if they have not, then the right lane is yours. 
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 11:22:29 AM
As I said, since I wasn't there and didn't see what happened, I'm not in a position to pass judgment, and neither are any of you. For example, I'd like to know how fast the vehicle that hit him was going at the time.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 11:40:06 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 11:22:29 AM
As I said, since I wasn't there and didn't see what happened, I'm not in a position to pass judgment, and neither are any of you. For example, I'd like to know how fast the vehicle that hit him was going at the time.

the other vehicle was going 4 billion trillion miles per hour.  he still had right of way.

the original post had a huge cloud of entitlement parked over it.  the tone was almost openly bragging about how he looked only at one lane, moved over two, and was surprised at the rudeness of others to not get out of his fucking way.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 11:52:34 AM
You sound almost like NE2 now.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 12:04:10 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 11:52:34 AM
You sound almost like NE2 now.

I'm okay with that.

I have a strong opinion that, in a topic where people are complaining about bad drivers, one should not openly post anything to the effect of "I did something stupid.  why the fuck is everyone else a bad driver?"

it reminds me of the joke about a guy hearing the radio broadcast.  "there's someone going the wrong way down the freeway."  "one?  they're ALL going the wrong way!"
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 09:35:33 AM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.

you attempted to turn across multiple lanes, and checked only the nearest lane of approaching traffic? 

please shred your license.

I interpreted the comment as being that as he turned into the first lane, the front of his car crossed into another lane and someone speeding down that lane hit him. I'm sure we've all encountered the situation where you're trying to turn out of a gas station or a 7-11 or whatever (the bank, in this example) and the driveway configuration is such that you're going to protrude across the line even as you turn into the nearest lane.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's OK not to check the other lane, but I'm not about to pass judgment when I wasn't there to observe the situation. Suppose the person who stops to let you in is driving a big SUV, you can't see over it, and the person waves to indicate the way is clear....but it's not. You weren't there to see "renegade" in the collision and neither was I, so it's not like we can know what happened.

Or it could be what happened to my dad - he intended on making a left turn onto a 4 lane roadway.  The car in the nearest right lane stopped to let my dad thru.  As my dad pulled out, a car in the next lane over hit him.  Of course, the car that stopped realized what happened and took off.

This is the result of someone being nice, but failing to pay attention to their surroundings.  It's very much like waiting for a line of vehicles to pass, and the last car in line decides they want to stop and let the person out.  It would be faster and safer for all involved if that car just went. 

Yes, sometimes, we need to practice courteous driving skills.  But there's being courteous...and then there's obeying the law.  Often times, the two conflict with each other.  I don't often let someone out of a parking lot into my line.  One, is for selfish reasons - I bet that person is probably going to go slower than the speed I would be travelling.  But two - technically, it's not my responsibility to become traffic cop and permit that person to pull out from a stop sign when there's traffic on the road.  Doing so puts me at risk for causing an accident, and even if I wasn't directly involved, I could be found liable for the accident.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: theline on August 01, 2014, 01:10:04 PM
I'm with agentsteel on this 100%. When I don't have the right-of-way, my first obligation is to be certain I'm not putting my vehicle in a position that might infringe on those that do have the right-of-way. It's not only the law, it's also the smart thing to do.

I don't want to wreck my car (or anyone else's) or cause injury. The fact that someone else may have been speeding or not paying attention will give me little comfort when I'm lying in the ICU or give my family little comfort if I'm in the morgue.

When some well-meaning citizen waves me into traffic the only time I proceed is when he's in the nearest lane and that's where I'm going. Otherwise, I smile and wave him on.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2014, 01:49:47 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PM
Or it could be what happened to my dad - he intended on making a left turn onto a 4 lane roadway.  The car in the nearest right lane stopped to let my dad thru.  As my dad pulled out, a car in the next lane over hit him.  Of course, the car that stopped realized what happened and took off.

This is the result of someone being nice, but failing to pay attention to their surroundings....

Uh.... no.   Why is it the responsibility of the person being nice to check the other lanes of traffic?

If someone in the right lane is letting you in, but you are turning left (or feel that you need to pull beyond the right lane in order to turn right), then it is your responsibility and yours alone to check the other lanes.  If you can't do so, then like theline said, you wave him on and wait for the next opportunity.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PMDoing so puts me at risk for causing an accident, and even if I wasn't directly involved, I could be found liable for the accident.

Again, no.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:01:18 PM
Yes & Yes.  MANY legal cases have ruled the driver waving someone thru is responsible. 

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/waving-a-car-or-truck-driver-into-a-highway-lane-may-pin-civil-liability-on-a-driver-for-any-injury-or-death-that-results/

http://www.pavlacklawfirm.com/blog/2012/03/23/think-before-you-wave-78449/

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/03/06/244965.htm

Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: renegade on August 01, 2014, 02:04:02 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 11:40:06 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 11:22:29 AM
As I said, since I wasn't there and didn't see what happened, I'm not in a position to pass judgment, and neither are any of you. For example, I'd like to know how fast the vehicle that hit him was going at the time.

the other vehicle was going 4 billion trillion miles per hour.  he still had right of way.

the original post had a huge cloud of entitlement parked over it.  the tone was almost openly bragging about how he looked only at one lane, moved over two, and was surprised at the rudeness of others to not get out of his fucking way.

Wow. You sure read a lot into that while still missing the point entirely.  People stop every day to let people out of private driveways, when they should keep moving and not hold up traffic.  They think they are somehow being polite, something I don't think you have to worry about.  In many cases, that politeness causes someone to be maimed or killed, whereas continuing on their way would allow traffic to clear and the person waiting to get out would be able to do so safely.  Also, stopping to let someone out can and does block the view of other oncoming traffic. 

Thanks for your insightful opinion, though.

I heard the house next to NE2 is up for sale.  You should buy it.  I'll bet you two could be good friends.

Troll.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: renegade on August 01, 2014, 02:04:48 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:01:18 PM
Yes & Yes.  MANY legal cases have ruled the driver waving someone thru is responsible. 

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/waving-a-car-or-truck-driver-into-a-highway-lane-may-pin-civil-liability-on-a-driver-for-any-injury-or-death-that-results/

http://www.pavlacklawfirm.com/blog/2012/03/23/think-before-you-wave-78449/

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/03/06/244965.htm

This.  This is exactly what I am talking about.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:07:00 PM
unless the traffic is almost completely stopped, I will disregard people waving me in. 

then again, I generally don't even merge in front of someone whose right turn signal is on.  yes, they could be turning at a driveway upstream from me... or they could be turning downstream from me at another driveway, or at the next cross street.  if they're clearly slowing and turning, then I will turn in front of them, but not until that point.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 02:04:02 PM
Wow. You sure read a lot into that while still missing the point entirely.  People stop every day to let people out of private driveways, when they should keep moving and not hold up traffic.  They think they are somehow being polite, something I don't think you have to worry about.  In many cases, that politeness causes someone to be maimed or killed, whereas continuing on their way would allow traffic to clear and the person waiting to get out would be able to do so safely.  Also, stopping to let someone out can and does block the view of other oncoming traffic. 

I happen to agree with what you say here.  however, in the post that started it all, you breezily admitted that you took advantage of a wave, failed to consider traffic in other lanes, and went ahead and gave your car some spontaneous body work.  so, I do not have high regard for your opinion, because it was part of a confession of sheer and complete dumbassery. 

if you hope to be a logical and intelligent being on this earth, you cannot say "I hate this!  I take advantage of it!".  that just doesn't make sense.

QuoteThanks for your insightful opinion, though.

I heard the house next to NE2 is up for sale.  You should buy it.  I'll bet you two could be good friends.

Troll.

I'll take 100 trolls over one dumb fuck any day.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 02:13:15 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2014, 01:49:47 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PM
Or it could be what happened to my dad - he intended on making a left turn onto a 4 lane roadway.  The car in the nearest right lane stopped to let my dad thru.  As my dad pulled out, a car in the next lane over hit him.  Of course, the car that stopped realized what happened and took off.

This is the result of someone being nice, but failing to pay attention to their surroundings....

Uh.... no.   Why is it the responsibility of the person being nice to check the other lanes of traffic?

If someone in the right lane is letting you in, but you are turning left (or feel that you need to pull beyond the right lane in order to turn right), then it is your responsibility and yours alone to check the other lanes.  If you can't do so, then like theline said, you wave him on and wait for the next opportunity.

Exactly.  I hit someone who decided to just go out of a driveway when waved (by two cars).  Of course, the wavers left the scene of the accident.  The twit that I hit kept screaming at me, "you was speedin'!".  The City of Chicago policeman shows up and asks my side of the story.  I tell him that I was slowing down for a red light in the left turn lane.  Thought I had the whole lane to slow down in nicely as there was no one in front of me, and then she pops out from between two vehicles to my right.  He then asks her her side of the story.  She tells him about the drivers waving her out, so she thought it was clear and just went.  Policeman then tells her, "lady, you know you're supposed to look first."  Her jaw hit the pavement after that and she shut up as the cop wrote her a ticket.  Priceless.  Her insurance picked up the whole thing including my rental car.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:15:23 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:01:18 PM
Yes & Yes.  MANY legal cases have ruled the driver waving someone thru is responsible. 

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/waving-a-car-or-truck-driver-into-a-highway-lane-may-pin-civil-liability-on-a-driver-for-any-injury-or-death-that-results/

http://www.pavlacklawfirm.com/blog/2012/03/23/think-before-you-wave-78449/

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/03/06/244965.htm

it's also illegal to sell a pickle in Connecticut that doesn't bounce, and corporations are people.  not all laws are sensible.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 01, 2014, 02:34:42 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:07:00 PM
....

then again, I generally don't even merge in front of someone whose right turn signal is on.  yes, they could be turning at a driveway upstream from me... or they could be turning downstream from me at another driveway, or at the next cross street.  if they're clearly slowing and turning, then I will turn in front of them, but not until that point.

I agree with this for the additional reason that it might just be the stereotypical old lady who doesn't know her blinker's on. I never trust anyone until I see the car is actually turning.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brian556 on August 01, 2014, 02:35:27 PM
Here is a video of a woman texting and driving, and constantly encroaching into other lanes. You got to watch this.
Not amusing at all. This woman should be arrested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVZJuqHWuOg&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVZJuqHWuOg&feature=youtu.be)
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:36:33 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 02:13:15 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2014, 01:49:47 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PM
Or it could be what happened to my dad - he intended on making a left turn onto a 4 lane roadway.  The car in the nearest right lane stopped to let my dad thru.  As my dad pulled out, a car in the next lane over hit him.  Of course, the car that stopped realized what happened and took off.

This is the result of someone being nice, but failing to pay attention to their surroundings....

Uh.... no.   Why is it the responsibility of the person being nice to check the other lanes of traffic?

If someone in the right lane is letting you in, but you are turning left (or feel that you need to pull beyond the right lane in order to turn right), then it is your responsibility and yours alone to check the other lanes.  If you can't do so, then like theline said, you wave him on and wait for the next opportunity.

Exactly.  I hit someone who decided to just go out of a driveway when waved (by two cars).  Of course, the wavers left the scene of the accident.  The twit that I hit kept screaming at me, "you was speedin'!".  The City of Chicago policeman shows up and asks my side of the story.  I tell him that I was slowing down for a red light in the left turn lane.  Thought I had the whole lane to slow down in nicely as there was no one in front of me, and then she pops out from between two vehicles to my right.  He then asks her her side of the story.  She tells him about the drivers waving her out, so she thought it was clear and just went.  Policeman then tells her, "lady, you know you're supposed to look first."  Her jaw hit the pavement after that and she shut up as the cop wrote her a ticket.  Priceless.  Her insurance picked up the whole thing including my rental car.

Police don't rule on cases.  They simply decide who is at fault based on the evidence they have available.  In cases like this when the person doing the waving left the scene, it becomes a simply, more ordinary careless driving incident.  The stop-sign runner will go to court and be found guilty.  And the insurance company of the stop-sign runner will simply pay for the damages.

Now, if the waver did stay at the scene, then that changes the situation.  The cop will still probably write the ticket to the person going thru the stop sign.  The insurance company would pay Brandon what he is due.  But now stop-sign runner and their insurance company could decide to pursue liability against the waver.  In fact, if this scenario would've occurred in Brandon's accident, Brandon probably isn't even involved in the case at this point.   It would be a separate case of the stop-sign runner vs. the waver.

Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:15:23 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:01:18 PM
Yes & Yes.  MANY legal cases have ruled the driver waving someone thru is responsible. 

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/waving-a-car-or-truck-driver-into-a-highway-lane-may-pin-civil-liability-on-a-driver-for-any-injury-or-death-that-results/

http://www.pavlacklawfirm.com/blog/2012/03/23/think-before-you-wave-78449/

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/03/06/244965.htm

it's also illegal to sell a pickle in Connecticut that doesn't bounce, and corporations are people.  not all laws are sensible.

In many cases, we're not talking about laws - we're talking about legal rulings.  Totally different avenues. 
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2014, 02:41:50 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:01:18 PM
Yes & Yes.  MANY legal cases have ruled the driver waving someone thru is responsible. 

http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/waving-a-car-or-truck-driver-into-a-highway-lane-may-pin-civil-liability-on-a-driver-for-any-injury-or-death-that-results/

http://www.pavlacklawfirm.com/blog/2012/03/23/think-before-you-wave-78449/

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/03/06/244965.htm



Eh.  Civil lawyers are money-grabbing idiots, what else is new.

I'll concede this.  If an entering car is clearly indicating an intention to turn left or go straight rather than turn right, and a driver waves them through without making sure all lanes are clear, then that driver is doing something negligent.  So I suppose there's some possibility those decisions are correct.  Maybe.

But that still doesn't absolve the entering driver of their own responsibility to make sure their path of travel is clear.  I didn't read those links super closely, but it looked like they always split responsibility at most 50/50.  I don't personally agree with that, but that does at least show the juries/judge didn't lose all sanity.

So I apologize for speaking too quickly.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Coelacanth on August 01, 2014, 02:50:01 PM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 01:35:12 AM
A big peeve of mine is people who believe it is their obligation to stop and let someone out of a private driveway (gas station, shopping center, fast food restaurant etc.) when they obstruct traffic behind them.  I was let out of a bank parking lot once and the car in the next lane over did not share the enthusiasm of the driver in the curb lane.  My car was mostly destroyed, but I was otherwise uninjured.  Ever since then, I have refused to let someone out in a situation like that, and it aggravates me to no end whenever I see someone do that.
Over half of the collisions I have ever been in were caused by someone doing this.

There are some driving habits (lane changes without signaling, leaving too much space at a stoplight) which I find annoying or frustrating, but this letting people out of a driveway thing is one of the few that makes me downright angry.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Mr_Northside on August 01, 2014, 03:25:09 PM
Quote from: Coelacanth on August 01, 2014, 02:50:01 PM
There are some driving habits (lane changes without signaling, leaving too much space at a stoplight) which I find annoying or frustrating, but this letting people out of a driveway thing is one of the few that makes me downright angry.

The worst (IMO) is when someone does this for a vehicle pulling out of a driveway/parking lot into a queue for a traffic signal that is sensor actuated (as opposed to timed).  Usually the car pulling out takes their sweet time (maybe being extra sure they are being let out - and / or just not in a hurry), which creates enough of a gap that the signal decides to switch phases. 
It's usually yellow just long enough for the car from the driveway/lot and the car that let him/her go to make it thru, leaving me to either run a red light or sit and wait the cycle.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 03:47:14 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 02:36:33 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 01, 2014, 02:13:15 PM
Quote from: Kacie Jane on August 01, 2014, 01:49:47 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 01, 2014, 01:08:33 PM
Or it could be what happened to my dad - he intended on making a left turn onto a 4 lane roadway.  The car in the nearest right lane stopped to let my dad thru.  As my dad pulled out, a car in the next lane over hit him.  Of course, the car that stopped realized what happened and took off.

This is the result of someone being nice, but failing to pay attention to their surroundings....

Uh.... no.   Why is it the responsibility of the person being nice to check the other lanes of traffic?

If someone in the right lane is letting you in, but you are turning left (or feel that you need to pull beyond the right lane in order to turn right), then it is your responsibility and yours alone to check the other lanes.  If you can't do so, then like theline said, you wave him on and wait for the next opportunity.

Exactly.  I hit someone who decided to just go out of a driveway when waved (by two cars).  Of course, the wavers left the scene of the accident.  The twit that I hit kept screaming at me, "you was speedin'!".  The City of Chicago policeman shows up and asks my side of the story.  I tell him that I was slowing down for a red light in the left turn lane.  Thought I had the whole lane to slow down in nicely as there was no one in front of me, and then she pops out from between two vehicles to my right.  He then asks her her side of the story.  She tells him about the drivers waving her out, so she thought it was clear and just went.  Policeman then tells her, "lady, you know you're supposed to look first."  Her jaw hit the pavement after that and she shut up as the cop wrote her a ticket.  Priceless.  Her insurance picked up the whole thing including my rental car.

Police don't rule on cases.  They simply decide who is at fault based on the evidence they have available.  In cases like this when the person doing the waving left the scene, it becomes a simply, more ordinary careless driving incident.  The stop-sign runner will go to court and be found guilty.  And the insurance company of the stop-sign runner will simply pay for the damages.

Now, if the waver did stay at the scene, then that changes the situation.  The cop will still probably write the ticket to the person going thru the stop sign.  The insurance company would pay Brandon what he is due.  But now stop-sign runner and their insurance company could decide to pursue liability against the waver.  In fact, if this scenario would've occurred in Brandon's accident, Brandon probably isn't even involved in the case at this point.   It would be a separate case of the stop-sign runner vs. the waver.

I don't know how things are done in New Jersey, but the insurer takes who got the ticket into account here in Illinois.  The person who got the ticket is generally assumed to be at fault.  And yes, she did get a ticket.  I watched the cop write it and hand it to her.

An interesting note, she also tried to get me in trouble for not having a city tax sticker in my windshield.  Some municipalities in Illinois have them (such as Chicago), some do not (such as mine, Joliet).
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: hbelkins on August 02, 2014, 12:11:50 AM
Watching this discussion about someone pulling out into multiple lanes of traffic when only one lane occupant stops to allow the other driver to pull out reminds me of an action taken by KYTC in Hazard at the request of the local police department.

In one area where KY 15 intersects a local street, 15's a four-lane undivided highway (there are no tolls so you don't have to pay  :-D ). People in the the right lane of the northbound direction were stopping to let people pull out to turn left. The right lane becomes an exit-only lane for the on-ramp to KY 80 eastbound. So when the drivers pulled out, they did so right into the path of the left lane, which is the through lane for KY 15 northbound. Local police said they were working too many wrecks, so they requested KYTC eliminate left turns off the local street onto KY 15 southbound. And they also requested that KYTC eliminate left turns from southbound KY 15 onto this road.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Zmapper on August 02, 2014, 01:13:13 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 30, 2014, 01:02:20 PM


My new pet peeve - people who are unable to maintain reasonable composure when driving through regular urban traffic situations. Regardless of the other motorists' allegedly irresponsible actions, the driving behaviors depicted combined with the demonstrably heightened level of emotional distress increase the odds of a collision occurring.

Besides, multiple times [6:14, 10:57] the tires of the vehicle in front are visible, indicating that more space was left than what the poster deems prudent. If you're going to criticize others for improper (but excepting egregious cases, not necessarily illegal) behavior, it would be reasonable to expect that you display the same level of courtesy towards other motorists.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: renegade on August 02, 2014, 10:41:28 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 01, 2014, 02:10:52 PM
Quote from: renegade on August 01, 2014, 02:04:02 PM
Wow. You sure read a lot into that while still missing the point entirely.  People stop every day to let people out of private driveways, when they should keep moving and not hold up traffic.  They think they are somehow being polite, something I don't think you have to worry about.  In many cases, that politeness causes someone to be maimed or killed, whereas continuing on their way would allow traffic to clear and the person waiting to get out would be able to do so safely.  Also, stopping to let someone out can and does block the view of other oncoming traffic. 

I happen to agree with what you say here.  however, in the post that started it all, you breezily admitted that you took advantage of a wave, failed to consider traffic in other lanes, and went ahead and gave your car some spontaneous body work.  so, I do not have high regard for your opinion, because it was part of a confession of sheer and complete dumbassery. 

if you hope to be a logical and intelligent being on this earth, you cannot say "I hate this!  I take advantage of it!".  that just doesn't make sense.

QuoteThanks for your insightful opinion, though.

I heard the house next to NE2 is up for sale.  You should buy it.  I'll bet you two could be good friends.

Troll.

I'll take 100 trolls over one dumb fuck any day.

I did not say that I take advantage of this.  The lesson here is not to do this.  Have a nice day. :wave:
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: 1995hoo on August 02, 2014, 12:00:29 PM
Quote from: Zmapper on August 02, 2014, 01:13:13 AM
....

Besides, multiple times [6:14, 10:57] the tires of the vehicle in front are visible, indicating that more space was left than what the poster deems prudent. If you're going to criticize others for improper (but excepting egregious cases, not necessarily illegal) behavior, it would be reasonable to expect that you display the same level of courtesy towards other motorists.

Don't forget the camera is higher on the windshield than the driver's eyes. The perspective is not the same.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Crazy Volvo Guy on August 02, 2014, 01:39:09 PM
Amusing?  More like infuriating.
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: freebrickproductions on August 03, 2014, 12:46:53 PM
Saw a person turn left from the right-hand lane on Triana Blvd. here in Huntsville yesterday... :banghead:
Title: Re: Do many of you all find today's driving habits amusing??
Post by: Pete from Boston on August 05, 2014, 07:01:14 PM
Do people record traffic and review/clip out the annoying stuff?  I'd go crazy if I didn't let myself forget.  There's too much!  I catch myself talking about things that happened to me in traffic and suddenly I feel bad for the people I'm talking to, who always have that look.  The woman tells me "Tell me what happened in traffic" when she is trying to go to sleep. 

I get that there are issues, and there is a big problem, but so many dumb little incidents happen that I feel like it's borderline mania to collect and reflect upon them.