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Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

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  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Well, if accidents count as inconsiderate, then this excerpt from a yahoo news article has to rank up there:

    "At least five fatal crashes were blamed on the storm, including one that killed a New Jersey couple when a sport utility vehicle crashed through their bedroom."

    and on a separate issue:
    an editorial from Road and Track
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yesterday on the way to work - 2 lane in each direction suburban road posted at 40mph. I passed a young woman/girl in a Focus going about 20, who was text messaging as she "drove". A little further up the road, where it widens with a turn lane in the middle and a wide shoulder and the limit drops to 35 (it's a prime revenue generating spot), she flew by me at maybe 50, still text messaging. Funniest thing is that we both were stuck at the poorly sequenced light down the road, beside each other.

    This morning I was behind/beside/in front of a Mistu Fuso Cabover on a 30mph 4 lane urban street who would vary between 20 and 45 for no apparent reason. The other cars on the road were becoming very frustrated, he'd speed up as they passed, etc. I had half a mind to get ahead of him and brake check him to see if I could get the thing to roll. Yes, I'm evil.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Had a good one today...I was out in the fintail, driving on a deserted residential street going maybe 30mph. An 87000 or so year old woman in a Camry was parked on the wrong side of the street, across the street from where I was driving (facing the same direction as me). As I almost get beside her, she randomly decides to start driving again, and seeks out exactly my spot. I hit the horn once, her course stays the same, so I hit it again a couple times until she backs off. She came within maybe 3 or 4 inches of me, and I could see a BIG scrape down the side of her car, so she's done something before. The first thing that crossed my mind was how fun it was going to be for me to file a claim on that fintail. Fintail vs Camry...could be messy.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Poor woman. You probably scared her half to death. :P

    Some people should not be on the roads. Still, I have more sympathy for the clueless than for the morons.

    Case in point: This morning on the way to work in 7:30 am twilight, there was the usual mix of clueless (no headlights) and morons (driving on parking lights). However, one driver deserves special mention.

    This guy was driving a full-size, short-bed, Ford pickup with just his parking lights (1). He makes a right turn at a light, realizes that he should have turned left, so he makes an illegal U-turn (2). He the proceeds back through the intersection just AFTER the light changes, running the light (3).

    Three for the price of one. What a winner! :surprise:

    james
  • tazerelitazereli Member Posts: 241
    in my case involves using my wife's kitchen broom. ITs a sweeping type broom vs a push broom. I found it works wonders when clearing off the top of my truck and the top of the wifes forester. For any ice or frost the snow brush/scrapper comes out. Here is a tip i learned recently...if it is going to snow, pull up your windshield wipers so they dont get coverd by snow and the ice. THat alone saves me at least 2-3 minutes in the morning when cleaning off the car. And so im not off topic...I noticed with our recent Philly area snow storm a few people braking before approaching a snow covered hill. Wouldn't you think it makes more sense to get a little speed going first? A couple of these made it maybe halfway before grinding to a halt and spining the wheels to smoke. on 2 of the occasions i got lucky with noone in the opposing lane and was able to pass of the left. On the last i got stuck with a line of cars as we watched what looked like a early 90's BMW 5er making no progress up a hill. From my vantage point about 50 yards behind it looked like it was wearing Dubs of some sort. Yeah, great idea to go into the snow with 20" performance tires. That person deserved to get stuck for their stupidity. Im not sure what possesses some people to venture out into the snow with performance tires on. That is a little inconsiderate and dangertous if you ask me.

    Regards,
    Kyle
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yeah I guess accidental stupidity is worse than intentional stupidity. Still, there's little excuse to miss This thing coming up behind you.

    People here are horrible about using their lights. They all figure if there's any light in the sky, they are just fine, as they can see. They don't understand that isn't the point.

    And about the snow...we get 2 inches, and it's armageddon here. I see a lot of questionable used car lots putting 18"+ wheels on normal cars and 22"+ wheels on dumb old SUVs in order to move them - these things will be fun in the snow.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Yeah I guess accidental stupidity is worse than intentional stupidity. - I'm sure you meant the opposite. Regardless of the cause, it would be a shame for that magnificent old beast of yours to get totaled (it wouldn't take much, you know) by a sideswipe from a Camry.

    It's amazing what people can NOT see. I once had an old Chevy Suburban (the thing was huge!) that was hit broadside by a lady that "just didn't see" it on a nice sunny day. :cry:

    james
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    Hahah.... no kidding. It would be a shame, but you know, it is such a pleasant blue that she thought it was a beautiful day for a drive...... :P

    Darn it all, the driving here has been so pleasant lately! We had some freezingish rain (that's the kind that mostly freezes before it hits the ground and so creates a knobby ice rather than the trecherous, cannot be driven on, Eastern Oregon style sheet of wear-a-pillow-on-your-[non-permissible content removed]-if-you-don't-want-bruises freezing rain, but it is still somewhat slick) on Saturday night or Sunday morning. I thought the roads would be a zoo yesterday when I went out, but no. Other than a few boneheads (many not entirely sober I'm willing to bet) finding their way to the ditch in odd places, traffic was great!

    I loved the Road & Track column posted by carlisimo, by the way. Having spent a few miles on most roads north of Texas, I can truly appreciate it!

    Oh, and brooms... I use a sweep broom occasionally too, but it is a corn bristled one, so it gets chewed up if I use it to clear the tops of the cars - great for the hoods, glass, and sides though. Faster, gentler, and more thorough than anything else bar none.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    That's what I am scared of...rip the bumper off the thing and they'd probably total it. But I'd just buy it back, collect my settlement, and fix it. A damaged title isn't bad on a car you'll never sell (and it has no VIN anyway).

    Maybe she confused the color of the car with the sky.

    No idiot drivers yet today
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    If you're driving at a constant speed your brake lights should not be turning on every 2 seconds!

    You're not using either pedal correctly!

    (it's not dangerous, but it sure gets on my nerves)
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Yeah I got behind someone like that the other day. Perfectly clear dry straight road and the car in front of them was at least a quarter mile in front of them. Yet their brake lights kept coming on. I kept a nice even pace behind them and never really caught up so I know they weren't slowing down much.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Some people must drive with their left foot hovering over the brake pedal 'just in case' so that they're triggering the brake light switch but, hopefully, not applying any brake pressure.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    This morning on the way to work in 7:30 am twilight, there was the usual mix of clueless (no headlights) and morons (driving on parking lights).

    Saw this again yesterday afternoon driving in rural areas about 15 minutes before and 15 after actual sunset time on a very heavy overcast winter day. In some lightly wooded areas, can barely distinguish dark mass (unheadlighted vehicle) in distance coming in opposing lane. Sometimes I will flick my headlights on and off a few times as friendly reminder. Did this yesterday, and can tell by their taillights of course if they put on headlights. Not a single one did. No offense to pickup drivers, but my unscientific observation over time shows most "parking lights on" drivers at sunset and sunset+ are in pickups.
  • gogogodzillagogogodzilla Member Posts: 707
    Same here in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan axis.

    It'll be a Saturday or Sunday morning, with only one or two cars on the highway... And they'll be driving 60 in a 65 mph speedzone, in the passing lane, pulsing their brakes every few seconds.

    And you know the brakes are engaging, because you can see (as you pass in the slow lane, of course) that their hood is dipping down each time.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    I probably shouldn't narrow it down even more than that, but I notice it to be either Dodge/Toyota pickups, or any make of little Civic-like sedan. :sick:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Rather than install very expensive runway barriers to prevent this from happening in areas prone to adverse weather - install a tail hook system as used on carriers.

    Knowing which planes usually land in Winter conditions, they could contain the hooks. Snowy airports can install their own cable catchers that would be actuated when the aircraft exceeds a certain point on the runway while landing. Timing is critical so as to pop up the cable after the wheels have passed by. :D
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    The main problem with Midway airport is that the runways end just shy of the roads around the airport. I think the end of the runway that plane was landing at was less than 175 yards from the intersection. Most airports have at least 1,000 yards from the end of the runways to anything else like a road or building.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Is building a runway with a bridge over the interstate. How that for a freakish sight.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Is it a runway or a taxi strip. O'Hare airport in Chicago has a taxi strip over the interstate going into the airport. I find it hard to believe that they would allow landings and take offs using a bridge.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    Well, they land aircraft on boats, so why not bridges? :P

    Seriously though, space is a big issue for most major cities and you can't have anything over top of the runway, so why not build it over top of roads that could just as well be underground as over? Sure, there's the issue of "missing," but chances are slim that will happen - perhaps once a decade which is acceptable risk IMO.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I think that there is some sort of rule about how far from a road or populated area a runway can be. Places like Midway have been grandfathered in.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    I think that there is some sort of rule about how far from a road or populated area a runway can be. Places like Midway have been grandfathered in.

    It would seem that they can use eminent domain to raze nearby builidings and relocate roads and intersections near ends of runways. There is an airport in suburban Chicago named Palwaukee were an intersection at end of long runway used by corporate jets was relocated. Seems that City of Chicago has power and clout to do the same at Midway. City of Chicago is currently going through proceedings to demolish homes in suburbs near Ohare Airport in order to reconfigure runways. Why not do the same at Midway (demolish homes, move roads) to make longer and safer runways.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I wonder what intersection that was near Palwaukee, I used to live right by there. Anyway Palwaukee is not that big of an airport.

    As for O'Hare that expansion is running into legal challenges and while it will go through the costs are going to kill the airport. Midway would be way to cost prohibitive to do that.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Ok I am coming into work today, there was light snow and had been snowing that way for some time. The roads were slightly covered with snow and a little slick. I was in the right lane which I was since I got on the road leading some traffic going slightly under the limit. Ahead of me was nothing save a stoplight and an older looking sports car stopped at the light in the left lane.

    Well as I am approaching the light slowing down the light changes to green and since I was already moving I just started to slowly accelerate back to the speed I was going. Well I guess since the road narrowed down to one lane somewhat after the light the guy in the sports car apparently didn't; like me passing him and tried to take off as fast as he could. All he did was sit there and fishtail as he tried to take off.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    I wonder what intersection that was near Palwaukee, I used to live right by there. Anyway Palwaukee is not that big of an airport.

    Hintz and Wolf. Think that it is in top 3 in Illinois in operations and also that it has most corporate jet operations in Illinois.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I just checked the map, while it may be they moved Hintz. the intersection looks like it is where its always been. But to be honest I would have to go there to be sure. As for activity I know I can name a half dozen that are busier in the state.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    It was interesting to hear the talk on Ch 17. Truckers were warning of a high speed German sportscar weaving in and out of multiple lanes.

    When the "M" whizzed by me - traveling in the Passing lane about to overtake several semis, one of them suddenly moved over to the Passing lane while the remainder lanes were occupied by other semis, blocking all lanes of I-5.

    Usually, blocking is not appreciated, but in this case it was instant justice that lasted for about 15 minutes when the "M" finally passed all the trucks on the shoulder! :mad: Twenty miles down the freeway the "M" driver was busy with a trooper, on the shoulder. :D
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Had a semi tailing me. A left-side center city ramp came onto the x-way with a Park AVenue at 52 mph. Trucker flashed his lights at me as the PA merged in front and I slowed from 60 or 58.

    Then .75 mile later the trucker is still tailgating me after the 90 degree turn and I'm in the left lane behind the Park Ave who's still going 55 speed limit. I pull to middle lane so I could get the trucker's numbers since he turned his bright lights on and kept them on. He went by me blowing his horn so he could tailgate the PA.

    I collected his various numbers, trailer, 800 and local dall number for DFW and watched him weave in and out of Friday evening medium to heavy traffic in 3 lanes. I zoomed up on his right to get his tractor number again when he made a mistake judging which lane goes fastest in an area with a new interchange approaching I-70.

    Talked to night safety supervisor who explained this was not a truck late to air freight at the airport (Expediting was in its name which here usually meant air freight). Trucker was a danger to everyone on the road.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I did check out the mini this afternoon. While I was impressed with the head room and leg room, the door was pressed against my side.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    "MINI" = most appropriate name for as the mini skirt covers very little of her body, so does the mini cooper cover very little of your body.

    Head on with a Merc vs a Mini, the Merc will penetrate the cabin of the Mini and decapitate the mini occupants.

    What price safety?
  • kdshapirokdshapiro Member Posts: 5,751
    Just like a MAC truck will blow through the cabin of a full size Merc, BMW or Lexus in a head on collision.

    What price safety? We should all be driving trucks.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    What price safety? We should all be driving trucks.

    Thats it!!! Everyone run right out to the nearest International dealer and buy a CXT. :P

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    a CDL license proving I can back up a truck and trailer through the course without knocking pylons over. I have enough to do in backing a 17' boat trailer! :(

    However, if you are in your third decade of receiving Social Security, wear two hearing aids, a patch over one eye and require help in getting behind the wheel since your stroke while being connected to oxygen - you can with the same license that allows you to navigate your Civic - drive a 40' motor home with that Civic chasing you all the way up a curving two lane mountain road at 30 mph with a line of BMW's following and honking their horns which you can't hear. :P
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    Euphonium, that is TOO funny and very true I'm sure! :shades:

    Mark
    2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    Ah, yes.... width! I am a "slim" 6' and the side room was minimal, though not uncomfortable. That's not a negotiable feature though in a car that will be driven long distances or for commuting.

    On to consideration.....

    I knew it would happen! We finally have typical Fairbanks-winter-slick roads here in the interior and the masses have slowed to their typical 45. Oddly, I am almost always having to slip into the right lane to pass some dawdler in the left. Too bad there is not an inter-driver memo system that can relay the message that when you're driving on a limited access highway with all interchanges on the right and going SLOWER than the traffic in the right lane..... you should be in the right lane!!! No specific instances of any driver excessivly inconsiderate though.

    I enjoy the challenges of winter driving. :D
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Yes if it had an inch or two more to the one side and an interior that didn't look like it came off the set of a 1950's B sci-fi movie it looks like it could be a nice little commuter car. Looks like it would be a fun car to drive.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • black_tulipblack_tulip Member Posts: 435
    What price safety? We should all be driving trucks.

    But we could also crash into a freight train or a jetliner ;)
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Look up a few posts, I posted about a jet liner that did hit a car.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    It's raining tonight here in the Seattle area as it is for most of the winter, which means people are reacting to the rain like those Alaskans do to the snow...

    On I90 tonight I saw an 80s Mustang GT convertible going maybe 45, and causing *everyone* to go around, even in the right lane. If you can't go with even that slow flow, stick to a side road. If you're having problems, at least hit your hazards.

    On a suburban 4 lane road posted at 40, I went around an older guy in a RSX going about 35 who was also kicking up an annoying wake. Of course, after I passed he matched my speed. But he stayed back, so it was OK. At a light ahead he moved into the lane beside me, and gunned it when the light turned green. As it was a deserted absolutely straight road...I did the same and passed by him in about 2 seconds...he let up at about 55. Don't play jerk against faster cars.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    "I did the same and passed by him in about 2 seconds...he let up at about 55. Don't play jerk against faster cars."

    By what you wrote it is understood that his CAR lost to your CAR. Because he had the sense to let up at about 55, he was the winning person. It doesn't take any skill or expertise to accelerate a more powerful car, but it does take maturity to know when to let up. Bottom line is you had the best car, but his car had the best driver. :D
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    The best driver would move with the flow of traffic and not play games at lights. Is it less mature to start a war or to end it? When you speed up upon being passed and then play a game...well, people have been shot for such things. And I won't say it breaks my heart.

    There's no difference in "sense" in going 50 vs 55 on a road that is frankly safe for such speeds given competent drivers and vehicles.

    But it was fun no less...he backed WAY off once I was past, too. Maybe he thought I was a little old 4cyl.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Anyone who drives a Jeep Wrangler is inconsiderate (though it's a mild offence). Every single Wrangler I've been in front of had headlights that hurt. And you can tell it's a Wrangler by how close together they are. They're always brighter than every other car that's using its low beams.
  • donzi81donzi81 Member Posts: 59
    I am not sure if this has been addressed, but I get annoyed when people drive with their fog lights when there is no fog. What is that all about? Even more irritating are the people that don't even realize they have a rear fog light on and it isn't even foggy. Sheeesh!!
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    I second both of those.

    The forward "fog" lamps are actually driving lights now. They are aimed up and come on to blind everyone when there's oncoming traffic and the low beams are on. When the high beams are on, I guess those lights go off. Driving lights used to be on only when the brights were on.

    The rear lights are totally unnecessary. Some people are dumb about how their cars are wired and don't even realize their rears are blinding people behind them. I just turn on my bright beams. The little toy Jags have those on certain models. Auroras had them. The real jags of the past had them on certain models.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    The fog lights in the Corolla S turn on with the headlights. It's ok if they're aimed downwards like they should be... but often they're not, even from the factory. And the owners don't care about them (or even know they turn on) so they never adjust them.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Some adjust them out to give better lighting far along the road. But the low angle makes them blind oncoming drivers. Some people just don't know they get out of adjustment and some don't care. Another good reason that I keep my left headlight slightly up and left so that when I put on the brights, the high beam goes to the oncoming car better.

    Maybe when drivers keep getting high beams from oncoming cars, they'll figure out something is wrong.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    The forward "fog" lamps are actually driving lights now.

    I noticed that too and it seems to defeat the purpose of having fog lights.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    I'm not sure about the newer models, but my '96 Subaru Outback has foggers on it and I really appreciate them.... when it's foggy or heavy snow, etc. I just wish I could turn them on without having the low beams on so that I could get full benefit from them in such conditions. I've considered rewiring the car to achieve that result but decided that for the # of times I would use it, the effort is in vain.

    Were I to use them all the time, they'd actually work against me in normal driving because they light up the roadway so well in the 30 or so feet in front of the car that they effectively blind me to the low beams the project beyond that. Every so often I will have someone flash me when I'm using them (when it's foggy, heavy snow, etc) and in those cases I present my DRIVING lights to them. Those are the ones that turn night to day about 1/2 mile in front but are only used in the absence of other traffic ahead, but again, I wired them into the high beams so they can ONLY be operated with the highs (though I can turn them off with a separate switch so the highs can run without the drivers).

    Using fog lights as drivers is a fruitless effort - I'd liken it to using a hammer to drive a screw... good luck!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    I just wish I could turn them on without having the low beams on so that I could get full benefit from them in such conditions.

    Well the whole ideal with fog lights is so that you can easily be seen in the fog. So in theory if condition warrant fog lights the warrant having the low beams on.

    Fog lights were never intended to be for the drives ability to see, but in their ability to be seen. Normal white driving lights tend to get lost in the fog but not an amber or yellow colored ones.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

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