I had a friend in graduate school who'd do that very thing (get into the left lane miles ahead of an upcoming left turn). Drove me up the wall to ride with him.
The king though of LLCs was a van and driver that my company hired a couple years back to take the staff on our annual picnic/get-together (to join other staff members from our other location) at a restaurant about 50 miles away. The driver got into the left lane and STAYED THERE the entire way, going about 55 mph until we finally had to make the left turn into the restaurant.
Everybody and his/her proverbial brother was passing us on the right.
We were in town traveling on a curvy 35-mph 2-lane road when someone from the opposing lane crossed about 3/4th of the way into our lane. Luckily the road at this point is wide with a bike lane on the right, so I braked and pulled well over to the right. If necessary, I could have jumped the low curb and gone onto the flat grassy area even farther right, but I didn't have to.
So what do you think?
Cell phone use, turning around to yell at the kids in back, or dropped a cigarette?
A little too early in the day to be drunk, I would think. But who knows?
If you had been driving an 18-wheeler there would have been a nasty accident. I guess both of you are lucky that someone was paying attention to the road.
Had something like that happen to me on a residential street. The lady just crossed the lane to park on the opposite side of the street. For whatever reason she simply did not see me. :mad:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Last night on 405 at about 10pm, I was going about 70 in a 60 and spotted a weird looking vehicle approaching very fast. Before I could move over he got in the carpool lane to pass, and I found out why the rig looked weird. Some inbred in a jacked up Dodge pickup was flying down a highway with just his fog lights and parking lights on - no headlights. He got a bit ahead of me, then got a little weavy. I had cruise on, and was soon coming up beside him, and had to honk a couple times to keep him in his lane. Somehow I wasn't surprised given the rig. He fell further behind me as I drove on, never going 90 like he was before.
Later I spotted a CRV in the middle lane going about 40...as cars flew past on both sides. How could someone drive like that? Being passed on both sides...that would drive me nuts.
I also was passed by a "train" of cars going about 100, maybe more. The train was led by a pimped out early 90s Accord, followed by an 80s Z-car and a trashed looking early 90s Celica. Interesting.
Meth and other drugs: In our area this week we had a woman who crawled, slid, was pushed from a pickup truck in the middle of interstate traffic. Driver didn't stop. They found him later in motel 5 miles up the interstate. Think drugs were involved?
A week or so ago here there was a guy who ran his pickup onto a barrier on Snoqualmie Pass, then proceeded to take off his clothes and run into traffic, and was promptly struck and killed. I am pretty sure some kind of substance was there, too. There are more impairments out there than people might want to think about.
I also was passed by a "train" of cars going about 100, maybe more. The train was led by a pimped out early 90s Accord, followed by an 80s Z-car and a trashed looking early 90s Celica. Interesting.
I got in one of those trains on my last trip across Snoqualmie, but only creeping along at a comfy 85. They started to get some legs & I let 'em go. Last I saw of 'em they were probably at 100. Too fast for my old bones.
Eastern WA is such a better place for that driving. I was on I82 between Yakima and the Tri Cities a few months back, and was in between a Passport (of all things) and a 90s Deville, we all cruised along at about 100 for maybe 5 miles. Such nice smooth open roads over there compared to Seattle metro area.
WA is a nice place, but the meth problem here is one of the worst in the country, so I've heard.
Going I-65 north yesterday,about 7p.m Eastern standard time, so it's fairly dark. I'm going about 60mph in 55 mph zone as we are nearing downtown Louisville. I notice I am being tailgated. As I am already in the slow lane I maintain my speed. The tailgater finally decides to pass. As she is going by I peek over and notice she has a book opened up resting on her steering wheel. Her domelight is off, so apparently she is reading by the overhead highway lamps. Her rear right light is also out. That must have been a pretty good book to risk her life and more importantly other motorists. :sick:
I have seen my share of that on the over crowed expressways here in Chicago during rush hour. People with a newspaper on their steering wheel in stop and go expressway traffic. I am surprised that there are not more accidents during that time.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yesterday, I saw a Corolla with two brakes lights out. The only light that was working was the middle light. But what made it more dangerous, was that you could hardly see it. It was snowing, and he didn't bother to brush his car. I couldn't see his brake light until I went really close to his car!
I have to do some ranting :P Today, I nearly hit a pedestrian! I was driving in a residential area. Today, it snowed quite a lot. I was driving and saw someone with a shovel heading towards the main road. I thought to myself, "oh, he is going to stop." But no he didn't, I ended up having to slam the brakes and blasted the horn. He looked at me with an angry face! I told him to look before walking out onto a main road. I don't think he realized that he could have been hit. He was lucky that I slowed down. If I were going at the normal speed, he would have got hit.
Coming home from work, I'm making a left turn onto a 4 lane divided highway. There's 2 left turn lanes, and I'm 2nd in line in the left lane. The genius in front of me cuts into the right lane as he's making his turn, almost sideswiping the car next to him. He then makes a right turn into a car dealer about 1/4 mile down the road. I guess he couldn't be bothered to make the turn properly and then change lanes later.
A few miles later, an Accord and an SUV are weaving in and out of traffic, cutting VERY close to other cars. There's a light every mile or so, and fairly heavy traffic, so of course they only gained a few yards.
Then a couple more miles later there's the rolling road block, 2 cars in each lane going 3 mph under the speed limit. Finally got to pass them when a third lane opened up on the right and I was able to get by.
... I am going down this road, two lanes each direction with only three cars on it. Me in the right lane, Ma & Pa Kettle head of me going real slow in the right lane and s sports car almost a block back maybe doing 2MPH faster than me. Well since I am fast approaching the Kettles and the other car is no where near me I singale a lane change and change lanes. Man if that sports car wasn't immediatly right on my rear end with his brights on. :mad:
For almost a mile this jerk stayed way behind me, now that I move into his lane he guns it :confuse:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Regarding the first situation, my rule of thumb (not that I always follow it), is to use the far left turn lane. I figure it's much less likely for someone in the second-from-left lane to turn too tightly and end up in the far left lane.
Or, while you're trying to get a couple of car lengths on the slower vehicle, the jerk will cut into the right lane and zoom by. Some people create situations like that to have an excuse to act aggressively. Some have hair triggers and when opportunity knocks...
I figure it's much less likely for someone in the second-from-left lane to turn too tightly and end up in the far left lane.
Have you driven in Phoenix? Its rare to find people that follow the markings on a turn around here. They put them so wide, so both lanes cut it closer. Its typical for cars in the right most left turn lane to be straddling the dotted line as they make the turn.
I have a great solution for curbing the "urge" to read while driving.....
My wife will often read aloud when we take long trips - I would return the favor except that I never outgrew my childhood tendency to get carsick if I read while in motion. When we drove from PA back to OR in 2000 after our wedding, she read the entirety of "Tuesdays With Morrie" between IN and SD. It is a great way to pass the time while still keeping attention fixed on driving.
The after-dark solution is audio books, but of course that would not work for the newspaper!
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
Same here.... though the markings on the road are dead on as to how the turn *should* be taken. The problem is that 1. The markings are partially covered with snow so people ignore them, or 2. The markings are fully visible but people ignore them anyway, or 3. the markings are mostly or entirely worn away because people ignore them and drive over them so much (with studs) but the DOT does not bother to repaint them except for every fifth year.
I cannot tell you how many times drivers in the right-left lane just about cream me or do cut me off when I am in the left-left lane. I suppose it would not happen if I just gave in and took my turns as poorly as the majority heathens out there, but I just cannot stomach poor driving habits, and especially not intentional ones. :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
Some people create situations like that to have an excuse to act aggressively. Some have hair triggers and when opportunity knocks...
Isn't that the truth?! Reminded me of a couple years back when I was driving home on a 4-lane divided "expressway." I was approaching the last intersection before the road opened up a bit and SL increased to 55. This intersection included a RR crossing, and a tanker truck was just leaving the intersection after having stopped at the crossing as required by law. It was going about 25 and *slowly* increasing. I was in the right lane, with a fair bit of traffic in the left but it was all well behind me. I see this tanker and opt to pass around it. As I turn on my signal, the SUV in the front of the "pack" to the left puts the pedal down and starts closing distance real quick. I just said (to myself, but directed at the other driver!), "Eh, you've just created your own aggrivation, fool." I pulled in the lane anyway, though I was probably a good 10 mph slower than the SUV (I was real close to 55). The other driver had to slam the brakes to kill off some momentum, but it would have never happened if the fool had not reacted adversely to my signal in the first place. The funniest part was that it was a woman driver and, not to gender stereotype, if you want to see riled-up-and-can't-let-it-go driver, get a woman angry behind the wheel. Ho doggies! Hahaha.... that gal rode my [non-permissible content removed] for the next two miles and even PAST her turn, even though I immediately pulled back to the right lane after very quickly passing the tanker. Haha. She pulled in right behind me and just gave my Subie one long, sweet kiss - surely offering up every expletive in her vocabulary and probably inventing a few new ones (judging by how quickly her arms were flailing about in the rearview) - before finally getting her wits about her and doing a u-turn at the second intersection after the one with the tanker.
Hahahhahahaha. I had a good laugh about that one. :P
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
The funniest part was that it was a woman driver and, not to gender stereotype, if you want to see riled-up-and-can't-let-it-go driver, get a woman angry behind the wheel. Ho doggies! Hahaha.... that gal rode my [non-permissible content removed] for the next two miles and even PAST her turn, even though I immediately pulled back to the right lane after very quickly passing the tanker. Haha. She pulled in right behind me
Not pro or con on the following, but above gave this thought: Technology available to have microphone in dash (have already for cell, navi) with voice recognition. Device on rear shelf of cars would scroll words across window. What would xwesx say to woman? "Have a nice day" or something else? It could scroll 3-5 times? Would this device tend to calm driver rage (woman in above incident) if widely used or further heat it up? Is this idea stupid, good or somewhere in-between? But then again, state DMVs would never allow it. A safety issue and distraction.
Saw a guy driving what looked like a Neon (it didn't have any badge markings on it) that looked like he bought spay paint at Wal-Mart and painted his car in his driveway. The front of the car was painted red with flames and the rest looked almost like an over used drop cloth. This thing looked simply awful. Now get this he had painted on the side "DRAG ME!" :confuse:
I think it's inconsiderate just to drive that thing around, what an eyesore.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Only if she doesn't jerk the wheel...it's a risk. If she hits you, then you can make her pay in other ways.
Yesterday I was driving on a 40mph 4 lane suburban road...from a side parking lot came an 80s Continental, driven by someones grandparents...pulled blindly out in front of me and got that old nail up to maybe 25. It was like dodging a pylon.
If she hits you, then you can make her pay in other ways.
But do you really want that hassle? Plus if she is acting that aggressive what will happen when the two of you are stopped? Not a good ideal.
It was like dodging a pylon.
Yeah I had the dodging the pylon game more times than I care to remember. You either hit them or run around them, no other choices. Had something like that happen not to long ago. two lanes going in each direction. Me doing 45-50 in a 45 zone in the left lane with someone right next to me. Up the road is Ma and Pa kettle doing 25 in the right lane. Of course just before I start to overtake them they change lanes :surprise:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
...it's a risk. If she hits you, then you can make her pay in other ways.
Hmmm, there is the risk you could end up paying for her damage. We used to receive police reports regularly as part of my work. I remember at least one case where the both drivers were charged in a rear-ender because there was enough evidence in the officer's view that the two drivers were playing games like that.
I never actually brake check. In rare instances when I'm tempted to (I've really mellowed in my "old" age), I just stay on the gas and use my left foot to illuminate the brake lights.
OTOH, as a male, I wouldn't be too worried about a woman trying to attack me if we had to stop and get out of our vehicles (unless she had a gun ... or was well trained in karate ... or ... something that might be unmentionable here). :P
" there was enough evidence in the officer's view that the two drivers were playing games like that. "
I would take something like that to court...not that I don't trust revenue collection officers.
I've never actually really brake-checked anyone...I just slowly slow down /let off the gas for tailgaters. In the fintail sometimes I can hit it right so I can make the car smoke a little too (it needs a valve adjustment I fear), I hope my fumes make them sick. I am usually not the one on the road being tailgated, as drivers in my area seem to be slowing by the day. Both sun and rain are used as excuses for their idiocy.
My artificial pylon/senior driver went straight for the left lane...it was a quick zigzag move for me. It happens a bit on that road...I remember the last time, when a minivan did the same trick, pulling blatantly out in front of me and then going a fraction of the limit. It was dark so I flashed him as I passed...and the aging codger behind the wheel gave me a look like I had just kicked his dog. Dude, you're in the wrong, driving like that in other cities could get you shot.
Yes, you could go to court. But in this particular instance, it appeared that the 2 drivers involved really were involved in some kind of duel. I say this because it appeared that both drivers' accounts of what happened got into the police report.
You also reminded me of something. I absolutely hate it when I'm in the right lane of a multlane highway and someone from a side road on the right pulls across my path into the left lane.
Technically, I didn't have to brake or even slow down, but they sure scare the you-know-what out of me. Plus they're still in the wrong, because they didn't really "yield."
If she hits you, then you can make her pay in other ways.
Like what? I get a serious injury/whiplash and the SUV driver gets a ticket/gets increased insurance premiums? And, that too only if it can be proven it was her fault? No, Thanks!
I cannot tell you how many times drivers in the right-left lane just about cream me or do cut me off when I am in the left-left lane. I suppose it would not happen if I just gave in and took my turns as poorly as the majority heathens out there, but I just cannot stomach poor driving habits, and especially not intentional ones.
I don't know how they paint them where you are, but they are extremely wide here. I hate following them as the turn becomes so inefficient.
Absolutely. I would never consider brake checking someone these days.
I did it one time many years ago when I allowed my temper to override my reason one day on some icy roads. There was a taxi (RWD Caprice) that felt I inconvenienced him because I pulled out onto a 50 mph road well ahead of him and put a vehicle between him and the wide open road. He made a point to drive right up on my bumper and sit there. I tolerated him for about a mile, then locked up the wheels (ABS kicked in) for a split second. He nearly wrecked his car trying to keep it on the road (I said it was icy! He should have never been going 60 in a Caprice in those conditions), and I realized right then and there that it was the most selfish, ignorant thing I had ever done behind the wheel. No amount of self-righteousness can make up for causing (or nearly causing) another person harm. I still feel ashamed when I think about it.
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
Oh, and not that it matters, but this was a "compact" or maybe midsize SUV! So, they (as a class) do not necessarily have to be big. I think it was a Hyundai Santa Fe, if people want to get that technical about it.
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
I just slowly slow down /let off the gas for tailgaters.
That has been my standard course of action as well, but in recent months I have made a concerted effort to develop the habit of not reacting to such things, but to choose my response only after considering the situation very carefully. I figure if the other vehicle strikes mine while tailgating for any reason, it was that driver's error and not my own. Sure, I may have done something that was in error to offer the other driver something to light the fuse, but it was THAT person's action to heat up the situation. Any driver on the road should be able to keep control of emotions, or at least regain control once lost, faster if it is obvious that the aggression is not having an impact. It is similar to giving an irrate customer the power to walk all over you or acting defensively. No... all that does is encourage such behavior in the future.
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
Some people out there will only learn through harsh means.
Speaking of the person turning out in front of you...now and then I'll run into someone who doesn't understand the idea of yield to oncoming traffic when turning at a normal intersection. I'll usually just hit the horn if someone makes me slam on my brakes, but once some girl in a Civic (I think) turned in front of me as I approached at about 35 in the fintail...I didn't even slow down as I could tell I wouldn't it her...her eyes were as big as saucers when she saw me not giving way to her. Maybe I saved her from trying that move again when the oncoming car would have been a semi. Maybe that's not completely a good thing.
I will often do the same thing when another driver does a bonehead traffic maneuver and I know (with reasonable certainty) that an accident will not result. I have no problem getting cozy with other vehicles on the road, because I have a very good sense of where my vehicle ends and where their's begins. Most drivers do not and it therefore scares the sense (if any to start) out of them to be that close to another car on the road. My hope is that the other driver will realize the mistake, but that is probably wishful thinking. The other driver is probably just swearing at me and possibly offering up a fruitless gesture. :surprise:
If it looks like an accident will result, then right, wrong, or indifferent, I get OUT of the way. I can lick my proverbial wounds later.
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
Deanna Donald had never heard of tiny Hometown before, making her suspicious of a $100 parking ticket she received from the south suburb last month.
But to her husband, Ralph, there was no mystery. The Addison man immediately thought of a run-in he'd had with a woman in late December over a parking space at a packed Northlake Sam's Club--and the threat she had made after scribbling down his license plate number.
"She came up to me and said, `I got a good parking place anyway. You just watch what happens when you [expletive] with the law,'" Donald said.
That Northlake flap happened the same day, Dec. 30, that the Hometown parking citation said the Donalds' Chrysler 300 C was parked illegally in a handicapped spot at a Hometown pawn shop.
Joseph Misuraca, the part-time police officer who wrote that ticket, was fired Tuesday night by the department after a quick investigation, Chief Charles Forsyth said Wednesday.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm new to this forum, but am pretty active on some others, and thought I'd give an example of how stupid drivers don't make the progress they think they do.
Wednesday, I was driving through my hometown on my way to the interstate. The speed limit where I was is 30, and I was doing my usual "5-over." I know it's still speeding, but this generally keeps me from getting run over, and is in the safety net for not getting pulled over. Anyway...I'm cruising along (not too worried about the car tailgating me, she can get over it!)...when a black Civic coupe comes screaming past me on the wrong side of the road (its a double yellow line, near a traffic light, meeting an uphill curve) blowing her horn and yelling out her window...something about "you slow b@$%&*rd"...you get the idea. It is about five miles to the interstate. She probably went about 60-65 until I lost sight of her.
There are three traffic lights from where she passed me to I-59 (Birmingham, AL), where we were headed. I came over a crest once, and saw her stopped at the red light. I ended up right behind her as the light turned green. It ticked her off that I tooted the horn and waved, laughing that I'd caught up with her without trying, and she had to have floored it. She went on to where I lost sight of her around a curve (i'm still in the 35-40 range (50 would be the max a sane person would drive on it in an emergency; narrow two lane). Next traffic light I see is red, and she's stopped there, but before I can get to her, she's running the darn thing! By the time I reached the intersection the light had turned green anyway...haha. The last traffic light by the interstate she HAD to stop, b/c of heavy traffic. I came around the bend in time to see the light change where I never had to touch my brakes. We went up the on ramp and merged ahead of me by several carlengths(she must have still been flooring it, as I could hear her tires chirp from the offset of the green light). A few miles down the freeway, I was in the right lane doing 65, she was stuck in the left lane behind an "Oversize Load" doing about 40 with her blinker on wanting to change lanes. She couldn't get around because of the faster pace of the right lane! I laughed so hard, and then waved out my sunroof at her.
I got the finger, but it was definitely worth it, especially since I never had to accelerate hard or slam on the brakes as she did, and I STILL ended up ahead of that maniac!
That's the kind of drive that makes you feel good inside; the "bad guy" gets their due.
Comments
I had a friend in graduate school who'd do that very thing (get into the left lane miles ahead of an upcoming left turn). Drove me up the wall to ride with him.
The king though of LLCs was a van and driver that my company hired a couple years back to take the staff on our annual picnic/get-together (to join other staff members from our other location) at a restaurant about 50 miles away. The driver got into the left lane and STAYED THERE the entire way, going about 55 mph until we finally had to make the left turn into the restaurant.
Everybody and his/her proverbial brother was passing us on the right.
So what do you think?
Cell phone use, turning around to yell at the kids in back, or dropped a cigarette?
A little too early in the day to be drunk, I would think. But who knows?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Later I spotted a CRV in the middle lane going about 40...as cars flew past on both sides. How could someone drive like that? Being passed on both sides...that would drive me nuts.
I also was passed by a "train" of cars going about 100, maybe more. The train was led by a pimped out early 90s Accord, followed by an 80s Z-car and a trashed looking early 90s Celica. Interesting.
40 in the middle lane: Grannie on her way home from bingo night.
100 MPH train: kids who think their insurance premiums are too low.
james
Today on I90 I saw a little Honda moped...out on the interstate, couldn't have been going more than 40-45. Death wish.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I got in one of those trains on my last trip across Snoqualmie, but only creeping along at a comfy 85. They started to get some legs & I let 'em go. Last I saw of 'em they were probably at 100. Too fast for my old bones.
Cheers!
Paul
Then, I suppose meth is everywhere now. I know it's a big problem in rural Virginia.
Maybe things will get even crazier tonight, since it looks like the Seahawks are going to lose.
Go Steelers (I'm a native Pittsburgher)!
The war on drugs doesn't work (is that a big surprise to anyone?).
I wonder if some of the crazy driving is drug-induced just like some above suggested.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
WA is a nice place, but the meth problem here is one of the worst in the country, so I've heard.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yesterday, I saw a Corolla with two brakes lights out. The only light that was working was the middle light. But what made it more dangerous, was that you could hardly see it. It was snowing, and he didn't bother to brush his car. I couldn't see his brake light until I went really close to his car!
I have to do some ranting :P
Today, I nearly hit a pedestrian!
I was driving in a residential area. Today, it snowed quite a lot. I was driving and saw someone with a shovel heading towards the main road. I thought to myself, "oh, he is going to stop." But no he didn't, I ended up having to slam the brakes and blasted the horn. He looked at me with an angry face! I told him to look before walking out onto a main road. I don't think he realized that he could have been hit. He was lucky that I slowed down. If I were going at the normal speed, he would have got hit.
A few miles later, an Accord and an SUV are weaving in and out of traffic, cutting VERY close to other cars. There's a light every mile or so, and fairly heavy traffic, so of course they only gained a few yards.
Then a couple more miles later there's the rolling road block, 2 cars in each lane going 3 mph under the speed limit. Finally got to pass them when a third lane opened up on the right and I was able to get by.
Gotta love central Jersey!
For almost a mile this jerk stayed way behind me, now that I move into his lane he guns it :confuse:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Some people create situations like that to have an excuse to act aggressively. Some have hair triggers and when opportunity knocks...
You can write your own redneck joke on that one.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184104,00.html
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Wonder no more, cops here in Phoenix have pulled people over and booked 'em for that.
Have you driven in Phoenix? Its rare to find people that follow the markings on a turn around here. They put them so wide, so both lanes cut it closer. Its typical for cars in the right most left turn lane to be straddling the dotted line as they make the turn.
My wife will often read aloud when we take long trips - I would return the favor except that I never outgrew my childhood tendency to get carsick if I read while in motion. When we drove from PA back to OR in 2000 after our wedding, she read the entirety of "Tuesdays With Morrie" between IN and SD. It is a great way to pass the time while still keeping attention fixed on driving.
The after-dark solution is audio books, but of course that would not work for the newspaper!
Thats why on the eighth day God created news radio (right after he created the root beer float).
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I cannot tell you how many times drivers in the right-left lane just about cream me or do cut me off when I am in the left-left lane. I suppose it would not happen if I just gave in and took my turns as poorly as the majority heathens out there, but I just cannot stomach poor driving habits, and especially not intentional ones. :sick:
Isn't that the truth?! Reminded me of a couple years back when I was driving home on a 4-lane divided "expressway." I was approaching the last intersection before the road opened up a bit and SL increased to 55. This intersection included a RR crossing, and a tanker truck was just leaving the intersection after having stopped at the crossing as required by law. It was going about 25 and *slowly* increasing. I was in the right lane, with a fair bit of traffic in the left but it was all well behind me. I see this tanker and opt to pass around it. As I turn on my signal, the SUV in the front of the "pack" to the left puts the pedal down and starts closing distance real quick. I just said (to myself, but directed at the other driver!), "Eh, you've just created your own aggrivation, fool." I pulled in the lane anyway, though I was probably a good 10 mph slower than the SUV (I was real close to 55). The other driver had to slam the brakes to kill off some momentum, but it would have never happened if the fool had not reacted adversely to my signal in the first place. The funniest part was that it was a woman driver and, not to gender stereotype, if you want to see riled-up-and-can't-let-it-go driver, get a woman angry behind the wheel. Ho doggies! Hahaha.... that gal rode my [non-permissible content removed] for the next two miles and even PAST her turn, even though I immediately pulled back to the right lane after very quickly passing the tanker. Haha. She pulled in right behind me and just gave my Subie one long, sweet kiss - surely offering up every expletive in her vocabulary and probably inventing a few new ones (judging by how quickly her arms were flailing about in the rearview) - before finally getting her wits about her and doing a u-turn at the second intersection after the one with the tanker.
Hahahhahahaha. I had a good laugh about that one. :P
That thought crosses my mind all the time with tailgating SUVs.
Not pro or con on the following, but above gave this thought: Technology available to have microphone in dash (have already for cell, navi) with voice recognition. Device on rear shelf of cars would scroll words across window. What would xwesx say to woman? "Have a nice day" or something else? It could scroll 3-5 times? Would this device tend to calm driver rage (woman in above incident) if widely used or further heat it up? Is this idea stupid, good or somewhere in-between? But then again, state DMVs would never allow it. A safety issue and distraction.
Brake checking is never a good idea, especially with a 5000lb+ SUV. It will not roll, it will simply be in your rear passenger seat.
I think it's inconsiderate just to drive that thing around, what an eyesore.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yesterday I was driving on a 40mph 4 lane suburban road...from a side parking lot came an 80s Continental, driven by someones grandparents...pulled blindly out in front of me and got that old nail up to maybe 25. It was like dodging a pylon.
But do you really want that hassle? Plus if she is acting that aggressive what will happen when the two of you are stopped? Not a good ideal.
It was like dodging a pylon.
Yeah I had the dodging the pylon game more times than I care to remember. You either hit them or run around them, no other choices. Had something like that happen not to long ago. two lanes going in each direction. Me doing 45-50 in a 45 zone in the left lane with someone right next to me. Up the road is Ma and Pa kettle doing 25 in the right lane. Of course just before I start to overtake them they change lanes :surprise:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Hmmm, there is the risk you could end up paying for her damage. We used to receive police reports regularly as part of my work. I remember at least one case where the both drivers were charged in a rear-ender because there was enough evidence in the officer's view that the two drivers were playing games like that.
I never actually brake check. In rare instances when I'm tempted to (I've really mellowed in my "old" age), I just stay on the gas and use my left foot to illuminate the brake lights.
OTOH, as a male, I wouldn't be too worried about a woman trying to attack me if we had to stop and get out of our vehicles (unless she had a gun ... or was well trained in karate ... or ... something that might be unmentionable here). :P
I would take something like that to court...not that I don't trust revenue collection officers.
I've never actually really brake-checked anyone...I just slowly slow down /let off the gas for tailgaters. In the fintail sometimes I can hit it right so I can make the car smoke a little too (it needs a valve adjustment I fear), I hope my fumes make them sick. I am usually not the one on the road being tailgated, as drivers in my area seem to be slowing by the day. Both sun and rain are used as excuses for their idiocy.
My artificial pylon/senior driver went straight for the left lane...it was a quick zigzag move for me. It happens a bit on that road...I remember the last time, when a minivan did the same trick, pulling blatantly out in front of me and then going a fraction of the limit. It was dark so I flashed him as I passed...and the aging codger behind the wheel gave me a look like I had just kicked his dog. Dude, you're in the wrong, driving like that in other cities could get you shot.
You also reminded me of something. I absolutely hate it when I'm in the right lane of a multlane highway and someone from a side road on the right pulls across my path into the left lane.
Technically, I didn't have to brake or even slow down, but they sure scare the you-know-what out of me. Plus they're still in the wrong, because they didn't really "yield."
On the metal bumper bar, in large yellow letters, was the word "DESTROYER." I got a good laugh out of that one.
Like what? I get a serious injury/whiplash and the SUV driver gets a ticket/gets increased insurance premiums? And, that too only if it can be proven it was her fault? No, Thanks!
I don't know how they paint them where you are, but they are extremely wide here. I hate following them as the turn becomes so inefficient.
BTW did he at least have the word "DESTROYER" spelled right? I have seen stuff like that misspelled.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I did it one time many years ago when I allowed my temper to override my reason one day on some icy roads. There was a taxi (RWD Caprice) that felt I inconvenienced him because I pulled out onto a 50 mph road well ahead of him and put a vehicle between him and the wide open road. He made a point to drive right up on my bumper and sit there. I tolerated him for about a mile, then locked up the wheels (ABS kicked in) for a split second. He nearly wrecked his car trying to keep it on the road (I said it was icy! He should have never been going 60 in a Caprice in those conditions), and I realized right then and there that it was the most selfish, ignorant thing I had ever done behind the wheel. No amount of self-righteousness can make up for causing (or nearly causing) another person harm. I still feel ashamed when I think about it.
That has been my standard course of action as well, but in recent months I have made a concerted effort to develop the habit of not reacting to such things, but to choose my response only after considering the situation very carefully. I figure if the other vehicle strikes mine while tailgating for any reason, it was that driver's error and not my own. Sure, I may have done something that was in error to offer the other driver something to light the fuse, but it was THAT person's action to heat up the situation. Any driver on the road should be able to keep control of emotions, or at least regain control once lost, faster if it is obvious that the aggression is not having an impact. It is similar to giving an irrate customer the power to walk all over you or acting defensively. No... all that does is encourage such behavior in the future.
Only if you get hit...
Some people out there will only learn through harsh means.
Speaking of the person turning out in front of you...now and then I'll run into someone who doesn't understand the idea of yield to oncoming traffic when turning at a normal intersection. I'll usually just hit the horn if someone makes me slam on my brakes, but once some girl in a Civic (I think) turned in front of me as I approached at about 35 in the fintail...I didn't even slow down as I could tell I wouldn't it her...her eyes were as big as saucers when she saw me not giving way to her. Maybe I saved her from trying that move again when the oncoming car would have been a semi. Maybe that's not completely a good thing.
If it looks like an accident will result, then right, wrong, or indifferent, I get OUT of the way. I can lick my proverbial wounds later.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Could you just post salient parts?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Deanna Donald had never heard of tiny Hometown before, making her suspicious of a $100 parking ticket she received from the south suburb last month.
But to her husband, Ralph, there was no mystery. The Addison man immediately thought of a run-in he'd had with a woman in late December over a parking space at a packed Northlake Sam's Club--and the threat she had made after scribbling down his license plate number.
"She came up to me and said, `I got a good parking place anyway. You just watch what happens when you [expletive] with the law,'" Donald said.
That Northlake flap happened the same day, Dec. 30, that the Hometown parking citation said the Donalds' Chrysler 300 C was parked illegally in a handicapped spot at a Hometown pawn shop.
Joseph Misuraca, the part-time police officer who wrote that ticket, was fired Tuesday night by the department after a quick investigation, Chief Charles Forsyth said Wednesday.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Wednesday, I was driving through my hometown on my way to the interstate. The speed limit where I was is 30, and I was doing my usual "5-over." I know it's still speeding, but this generally keeps me from getting run over, and is in the safety net for not getting pulled over. Anyway...I'm cruising along (not too worried about the car tailgating me, she can get over it!)...when a black Civic coupe comes screaming past me on the wrong side of the road (its a double yellow line, near a traffic light, meeting an uphill curve) blowing her horn and yelling out her window...something about "you slow b@$%&*rd"...you get the idea. It is about five miles to the interstate. She probably went about 60-65 until I lost sight of her.
There are three traffic lights from where she passed me to I-59 (Birmingham, AL), where we were headed. I came over a crest once, and saw her stopped at the red light. I ended up right behind her as the light turned green. It ticked her off that I tooted the horn and waved, laughing that I'd caught up with her without trying, and she had to have floored it. She went on to where I lost sight of her around a curve (i'm still in the 35-40 range (50 would be the max a sane person would drive on it in an emergency; narrow two lane). Next traffic light I see is red, and she's stopped there, but before I can get to her, she's running the darn thing! By the time I reached the intersection the light had turned green anyway...haha. The last traffic light by the interstate she HAD to stop, b/c of heavy traffic. I came around the bend in time to see the light change where I never had to touch my brakes. We went up the on ramp and merged ahead of me by several carlengths(she must have still been flooring it, as I could hear her tires chirp from the offset of the green light). A few miles down the freeway, I was in the right lane doing 65, she was stuck in the left lane behind an "Oversize Load" doing about 40 with her blinker on wanting to change lanes. She couldn't get around because of the faster pace of the right lane! I laughed so hard, and then waved out my sunroof at her.
I got the finger, but it was definitely worth it, especially since I never had to accelerate hard or slam on the brakes as she did, and I STILL ended up ahead of that maniac!
That's the kind of drive that makes you feel good inside; the "bad guy" gets their due.
Thank you for letting me vent, folks!
thegrad