Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

210delray

I had a youngish woman run through a stop sign at 3-way intersection in a mall parking lot. I had started to pull out since it was my turn when I saw her coming.

Of course, she was yakking on a cell phone and driving an SUV!

Did you see the recent IIHS report indicating women are more likely to be on a cell phone when driving than men? A few years back, it was about equal between men and women. It's now increased for both genders, but women have pulled ahead.

Also, big surprise, the youngest drivers are far more likely to be gabbing on a cell phone than the oldest drivers.

imidazol97

I just read the thread about fogging from moisture from snow on the intakes. When the snow is sucked in with the air I assume it settles on the heater internal surfaces. Then as soon as the engine water going through the heater starts warming up above freezing in there, that frozen moisture evaporates and is spewed out onto the windshield which is still cold (and kept cold by outside air over it) and the moisture condenses on the windshield inside as fog because the temperature of the glass is below the condensation temperature.

If fogging happens regularly I'd check the carpets in the car and the trunk for moisture leaking in or staying in spots from leaks. Also I found that when I had showered, shampooed my hair, and headed into the car, that moisture from my morning prep added to the moisture from my breath to increase fogging.

The part about the mirrors fogging may be because in the lower areas the colder air accumulates and driving there has established their temperature at the ambient. Then when you increase altitude you reach a level of warmer air with it's saturation level almost of moisture, and that moisture collects on the mirror because the mirror is colder. Do you notice any haze or fog as you go up the hill?

The same can occur on the windshield.

snakeweasel

So, it's like bringing a cold beer out from the house into a humid Virginia summer night.

I don't have that problem, oh wait the beers I drink are supposed to be drunk warm, oh well.

Did you see the recent IIHS report indicating women are more likely to be on a cell phone when driving than men?

Snakeweasels tip of the day:

Just because the cell phone rings doesn't mean you have to answer it. Thats why God created voice mail.

Actually I love my phone, it has a driving mode which automatically puts it on speaker phone and allows for voice command, you can even give it a phone number to call.

bobw3

I hate the too friendly drivers who have the right away and keep waving you to go ahead. If they would have just gone ahead like they were supposed to the traffic would keep moving. Like at a 4 way stop and they're there first.

Or the too friendly ones that will prevent 20 cars from making a light to let one person out, even though there would be enough time after car 20 for the guy to make the light anyway. Or they stop to let someone out in front of them, but that backs up traffic behind them and blocks an intersection.

Or merging into traffic on the highway. I don't need someone to practically stop and let me in. Just drive the normal speed and I'll be able to merge.

People should just make sure that by being friendly to one driver, you might be inconsiderate to another dozen at the same time.

xwesx

Yep, we have hashed this one out at least a couple times before. It all comes down to timing. If "letting someone in" from a side access impedes the flow of traffic, then it is no longer considerate.

As for the merging.... absolutely. Just keep the flow of traffic, and the other drivers will slip right in. If the other driver is ahead of you, then it goes ahead. If the other driver is behind you, then it falls in behind. Changing speeds only bottles the whole thing up. :sick:

Speaking of "letting [folks] in," I find it very annoying when another driver zips just ahead of me on the roadway (talking two lanes in one direction here), then applies a signal to access my lane to obviously take an approaching exit. The other vehicle is ahead of me, so I make appropriate adjustments to increase the following distance for when that vehicle is there, and then the darned driver in the other lane lets off the fuel to drift in behind me! Argh! If the driver is not willing to follow through with the request, then it should have never made it! :mad:

delray - I would take you up on that if you would settle for a lemonade instead!

Hah! Sure, same thing would work for cold mirrors contacting warmer air. I was thinking about fall/spring mornings here, where the hills are colder than the valleys, but winter and summer mornings are the opposite.

snakeweasel

Yep, we have hashed this one out at least a couple times before. It all comes down to timing. If "letting someone in" from a side access impedes the flow of traffic, then it is no longer considerate.

Well I guess every time we come to a light we should rearrange the order of the cars so the ones with the best acceleration are in front then gradually slower ones behind them so that the slowest is at the rear. then when the light turns green everyone should floor it. Just to be considerate and not impede the flow of traffic.

My point being is everyday driving can "impede" traffic. The guy in the 103HP Aveo driving conservatively will probably impede traffic more than someone letting someone else in.

bobw3

Has to do more with driving style then horsepower. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen an old minivan or pickup flying ahead of a sports car after the light turns green because they have an automatic and the sports car driver is still learning how to use their stick.

snakeweasel

That sounds more like drivers expertise or skill than driver style. Now if it were because the van floored it and the sports car driver was driving conservative then yes it has to do with style. But still be it horsepower, style or skill, if you don't do at least what the person(s) behind you do then you are impeding the flow of traffic. That was my point.

Your more inconvineced by someone taking 20 seconds to get to 45 MPH than by someone letting someone else in.

xwesx

Your more inconvineced by someone taking 20 seconds to get to 45 MPH than by someone letting someone else in.

Absolutely; unless the person brought the lane of traffic to a stop in order to let the other driver in. Granting access at the appropriate time does not involve stopping the traffic.

Haha.... then there are those times when the person accessing gladly accepts your offer to access the road only to stop in front of you and turn on a left signal and wait to be let into the next lane to make a left turn! Oh.... those grate on the nerves.... that is when the grantee should respectfully decline the invitation to access. :sick:

210delray

Lemonade's fine with me! Maybe one of these days I can make it up to Alaska!

Now that I've done my first cross-country road trip since college, it now actually seems possible to go there as well.

210delray

Do you notice any haze or fog as you go up the hill?

No, it's usually on clear days when this happens. I think xwesx had the correct explanation, meaning it's slightly colder at the top of the hill. But I'll find out for sure when I start driving the '04 Camry to work; this will be the first car in 13+ years of driving the route that will have an outside temp gauge.

xwesx

Road trips are great. I have not done any since my son was born, so it will be interesting to see how that changes my opinion of them... :surprise:

xwesx

Rationally, the warmer temps higher up (to a point) makes sense, so it could definitely be cold glass on warm air (the air cools as it contacts the glass) that causes the fogging. If you want to stop it though, just wipe the mirrors with Rain-x once every couple of weeks. It works wonders....

xwesx

Finally. It is nearly spring here and we have only just received our first verifiably slick roads of the season! I was beginning to think that classic winter had bypassed us. I had fun seeing all the vehicles off in the ditches yesterday, but it looks like the wannabe winter drivers finally wised up today - no problems on the way in to work.

shiphro

Friendly: Stopping short at a red light and letting someone pull out in front of you because they'd been waiting since before you pulled up.

Inconsiderate: Stopping short at a left turn off of a highway and letting someone pull out in front of everyone behind you.

It's friendly to share the roads and play nice. It's inconsiderate to let someone 'cut' into a line that you're no longer waiting in.

xwesx

Stopping short at a left turn off of a highway and letting someone pull out in front of everyone behind you.

Explain this one a little differently for me, will you? I am having trouble conceptualizing it for some reason. :sick:

shiphro

Visualize this...

There's a line of cars driving down a country highway. You're second in line behind a Ford Excessive who's on both sides of the double yellow and 10mph under the 50mph limit.

The SUV comes to a stop (sans signal of course) to make a left onto a tiny road with some MacMansions lining the sides.

There's another SUV (first one's neighbor probably) waiting to make a left onto the winding country road.

Now, the Ford Excessive in front of you stops short and waves for the other behemoth to go first. SUV 2 turns ahead of SUV 1 (and you) and then SUV 1 turns left onto MacMansion Blvd.

Now instead of having clear road (and a clear view), you've now got head-high SUV bumper in front of you... again.

Keep in mind that SUV 1 isn't a generous person. They're not letting someone in ahead of them... they're letting in someone ahead of you.

xwesx

Oh, gotcha! Hah! I've never even considered such a moronic move as plausible, but maybe I just do not live deep enough in decivilization.

You actually see that happen?! I can see that... I can just see people having that much audacity. That is certainly not consideration.... it is self-gratification! :surprise:

docnukem

I was driving home last night on a dark two-lane. This mini-van in front of me starts slowing way down (no signal). As I was expecting a left turn into a drive (and there were oncoming lights, as well), I did not pass. Whoever it was then pulls off slowly onto the right shoulder and nearly stops. He/she is completely out of my lane, so I pass (while under the speed limit) as the oncoming cars are also passing in the opposite lane. Then I get the brights flashed at me from the mini-van. I just don't get it.

Oh yeah, the person did not pull back in behind me as if they were just letting me pass (and I did not have my brights on--my lows are xenons, but very low).

imidazol97

It sounds like your lights were bothering the person. Any chance there's an upward scattered beam that was hitting the van's higher mirrors but doesn't hit the typical car's mirrors?

You sound like you are aware that your light can be an irritation depending on the type you have. Thanks for being aware. I personally dislike about 1/2 of them I meet because they are blinding as the car angle moves up and down coming toward me.

docnukem

When I pull into the garage at night, my lights are below my mirror level on the wall in front of me. My lights are so low, that I constantly fear overdriving them at night (and so I do use my brights more often than in prior cars--but only with no traffic). I don't see anything higher (scatter) on the wall in the garage. The beams are tightly collimated (up/down). They do extend way out to the sides, though.

imidazol97

I have seen some cars in haze or fog coming toward me that have a splinter beam going in an upward or sideward direction--but that was the earlier style lights. I hadn't noticed that with Xenons because there are few out commuting that route early in the morning going the other direction.

Maybe the van driver thought you were tailgating or something? could they have been flashing at oncoming traffic?

It Sounds like you are more conscientious with your headlights than many foglight equipped cars owners are. I get tired of the GranPrix or Gm Pickups with the low lights aimed up too much so they're brighter than the headlights comin' at ya'.

xwesx

The only time I find the xenons or new-Subaru-Legacy-style lights (can't think of the term for them)with the focused beams more bothersome than any other lights is when driving over frost-heaved roads. They like to pop up and blind you as the car navigates the dip-doodles. Standard headlights are diffuse enough that it is not as noticable. It is not a car problem though.... it is a road problem!

xwesx

But, all things considered and more often than not, it is better not to ponder it. Heck, I had someone flash me last night on the way home because, I would venture to reason, the driver felt I was going too fast for conditions. After all, I was driving my Subaru 5 to 10 miles per hour faster than that person's Dodge pickup on extremely icy roads. Yeah... any reason is reason enough!

210delray

I took your advice and called in an irresponsibly driving trucker yesterday morning on the way to work. He was going about 65 mph in a 55 zone. That's not unusual, but the problem was that snow was falling and the road had a mixture of snow, slush, and salt on it. If anybody should be driving more cautiously under such conditions, it ought to be 18-wheelers.

I caught up to him at two successive red lights and wrote down the ID numbers on the truck and trailer, plus the company name and location (no phone number listed). When I got to work I Googled the company name and location and instantly got a phone number.

A very pleasant receptionist answered and put me through with little delay to the transportation supervisor. He expressed appreciation for reporting the problem.

Thanks for the suggestion; I think it beats calling the police.

imidazol97

Some truckers just won't slow down for icy road conditions. Recently was on a tour bus returning from near Cleveland and ran into a snowy and icy stretch on I71. The truckers just kept on flying through at about 65. The bus drivers slowed down drastically. This is as we passed 15 cars that were off the road.

Guess those auto drivers thought their Vehicle Stability Systems that help you keep control can defy the laws of physics!!! Grin...

thegraduate

I live in Birmingham, AL, where we have a bad rep for trucks crashing and burning. In the last five years, two different sections of interstate at the major junction in Birmingham (often called "Malfunction Junction", it's where I-65 and I-59 meet) have been destroyed because fuel trucks have gone too fast in the interchange, where one understeered, and the other lost control in an emergency maneuver. They have hit overpasses twice. One section of I-65 was replaced several years ago (5 i think) because the bridge melted in the extreme heat of the fire. The same thing happened to I-59 North about two years later. Both bridges took nearly two months to complete, which really - I mean REALLY - complicates the morning commute.

The suggested "RAMP SPEED" is listed at 45 for trucks, and they said the first accident was caused because the tanker truck was in excess of 65 mph. I don't recall the second crash's speed, but it involved more than the truck, and I believe the driver of a car that caused the initial chain of events was sued criminally since the truck driver died.

xwesx

The problem was more likely that those drivers just did not have the competency to drive the road in those conditions. VSC only makes up for a tiny bit of incompetency, and those folks probably had plenty to spare! :P

I witnessed the same thing in Buffalo, NY back in Dec 2001 when they had that near 7' snowfall over 5 days. I was there on Monday, the first day of the snowfall with a little under 12" of snow on the ground. I was driving a rental FWD car and going about 40 on the interstate. Most other (assumedly local?) drivers were going about 25 and every 3rd driver was off in the ditch. It was bewildering to me; I never even slipped a tire (speeding up or slowing down).

snakeweasel

The problem was more likely that those drivers just did not have the competency to drive the road in those conditions. VSC only makes up for a tiny bit of incompetency, and those folks probably had plenty to spare!

Oh I don't know. I know a few people that while they would drive with more than enough caution in a car during snowy and icy weather think the have oh so much, much more control with a 4 wheel drive SUV that the eventually end up in the ditch. Maybe VSC also makes some people feel more confident than they should.

xwesx

Exactly. A vehicle is only as competent as its driver....

xwesx

Hahahah...... I hope the rest of you can "appreciate" this as much as me.....

Humorous article in today's Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

snakeweasel

Yep I liked it. I have seen the raven thing more than once. :P

xwesx

I had a flock of ravens do that to me when I purchased a bag of dog food, put it in the bed, went to another store, and came out to find about 7 of them having at it. I walked to the cab, opened the door, and took out my broomball stick, and those buggers just sat there. I gave one a good thwack and they all took off... stubborn! I later found out that they are "protected" for some moronic reason, so I guess it is good for me that I did not kill it.

ubbermotor

When I was in highshool I knew a guy with a very nice Satellite Sebring Plus with a sticker on the back window;

"I don't care if there are 8 left, one ****'s on my car there will be 7".

snakeweasel

I remember one time when I was a Corpsman up there there came a call over the PA system for the owner of a certain pickup truck to report to the front desk. As it turned out that owner was the patient I was with. Turns out they had just went to the base exchange for groceries and had them in the back of the truck. She had them swarming all over her truck.

xwesx

Yep... I believe it! Oh, I should have said "murder," rather than "flock." Did you know that is the term for a group of ravens? Curious...

We now have ravens around our house. The "developers" that purchased the nearest properties to us put in poorly built duplex rentals and for some reason the people who rent these things have the darnest time cleaning up after themselves.... It used to be that ravens flew over the area, now they live there. I haven't had an issue with them yet, but if they continue to multiply i will first ask the transients to clean up after themselves, then ask the owner to do the same, then start "eliminating" birds. Shame really; I'd be ofting the wrong animal.... :mad:

snakeweasel

OK I am driving down I-55 heading towards Joliet, IL, only a short few miles trip so I am keeping it at just above 65 MPH keeping pace with a truck a few hundred feet ahead of me. When all of a sudden I notice in my rear view mirror s sedan gunning it to pass a pick up truck on the right to weave in front of it to pass me, and the pickup truck gunning it to keep the sedan from passing him. They both pass me at the same time squeezed into the left lane and medium blowing their horns at each other. :confuse:

snakeweasel

Ok coming into work this AM, I am going past a high school at the intersection of two main streets. Just before the light at the intersection right where the left turn lane begins is an entrance to the high school where many turn into. Well this SUV gets into that position like they are going to make the left turn, but instead the passenger side door opens up and a kid jumps out. Mind you they are in the middle of the road with traffic passing them on the right. :confuse:

b3nut

That's scary. The parent should have been yanked from their SUV and caned like they do in Singapore.

I was driving up a residential street this morning in Madison when I notice in my rearview a dilapidated Aerostar coming up the wrong side of the road. They passed me, then pulled in front in time to make the stop sign. I caught up to them at a light. I really should have taken their plate# and phoned the authorities on my cell, but I didn't...oh well.

Todd in Beerbratistan

xwesx

Speaking of school traffic, I sometimes wonder why we have a bus system at all..... Thursday/Friday of last week was P/T conferences, so no school. It is days like those when you really begin to appreciate how much morning traffic the school system generates. This morning, after having a couple days off from the insanity, I could not believe the amount of traffic on the road, and the majority of it was private vehicles taking elementary students to school in outlying areas (I specify this, because this is the INTENT of the school bus! The whole reason for its existence!). Oy.... apparently, those families are above riding on a school bus. So instead, we have just as many busses clogging up the road, but at only 50% or less of capacity and many soccer mom types adding additional traffic to the roadway in the name of self-sufficiency. :sick:

snakeweasel

Oh yes I know what you mean, seems like every kid wants to be driven to school. I think the first time I ever went to school in a car was college. Grade school was only two blocks away, Jr. High was nearly a mile and high school was about a half mile, walked to each every day, rain or shine, warm or cold, clear sidewalks or 2 feet of snow.

Self-sufficiency was walking to school.

oregonboy

What, no bicycle? :surprise:

james

docnukem

What kids nowadays don't realize is that by being driven to school, they won't be able to regale their grandchildren with stories about walking five miles to school uphill (both ways) through seven foot drifts. Heck, they won't even be able to talk about any hazing on the bus (and the term "atomic wedgie" will fade from memory).

bolivar

We live near an elementary school.

What a horror. The usual driver has a huge SUV, cell phone in one hand, coffee in other, speeding in the school zone, blocking my drive, driving thru my circle drive, throwing out trash, not stopping for children in the marked crosswalk, etc etc etc.

People don't care. And they are 'teaching' their children the same things.

In addition there is a daily delivery from UPS, Fed Ex, DLS, Coke/Pepsi, buses for who knows what kind of 'special' things, and various food delivery trucks for the cafeteria. These are all 1 ton plus trucks, driving in your neighborhood. I compare the traffic to being near a small industial manufactoring plant....

This is a small school. Probably about 250 students or less in Pre, K, thru 5th grade. I've counted - there are about 50 cars there throughout the day. Who are all these workers?

xrunner2

Grade school was only two blocks away, Jr. High was nearly a mile and high school was about a half mile, walked to each every day, rain or shine, warm or cold, clear sidewalks or 2 feet of snow.

Self-sufficiency was walking to school.

Agreed. Did the same. Parents were not aware about dangers of lightning strikes nor frostbite years ago.

In some cities, kids are bused to achieve racial integration. That aside, kids should walk to school if within reasonable distances and sidewalks are available. Should not walk if lightning storm nearby. Crossing guards are usually posted at busy roads/intersections. In rural areas, distance is too great and there are no sidewalks to safely allow children to walk to school.

On inconsiderate topic, have to say that I have never encountered an inconsiderate school bus driver. Those car drivers who live in rural area with all 2-lane roads can get quite frustrated if you get behind a school bus, in AM or PM, when it is making stops along the way.

redmaxx

What kids nowadays don't realize is that by being driven to school, they won't be able to regale their grandchildren with stories about walking five miles to school uphill (both ways) through seven foot drifts. Heck, they won't even be able to talk about any hazing on the bus (and the term "atomic wedgie" will fade from memory).

Kids today will be able to recall horror stories of their parents driving them to school in the big SUV. "When I was a kid our parents didn't have Vehicle Stability Control. We had to drive uphill both ways and we nearly slid into a car every day!".

redmaxx

Now I realize that there are those times when a semi just can't pick up speed very quickly. But come on! Today I encountered one going down an entrance ramp that was more than a quarter mile long and all he could muster was 45? :mad:

How about those drivers that think that their destinations are so much more important that they have to drive on the shoulder when traffic backs up. Today I blocked an Avalon from passing. So when we get up the off ramp and the thing pulls up next to me and there is an old lady behind the wheel. What is she going to be late for? Bingo?

redmaxx

On inconsiderate topic, have to say that I have never encountered an inconsiderate school bus driver. Those car drivers who live in rural area with all 2-lane roads can get quite frustrated if you get behind a school bus, in AM or PM, when it is making stops along the way.

I have had them catch up to me and tailgate through 15MPH school zones.

shiphro

I've seen 'em.

I had one make a right turn on red directly in front of me. I had to really lean on the brakes. It's illegal for school buses to turn right on red in PA.

There was a narrow country road with a stoplight. Now the road widens up at the intersection. Not quite wide enough for a turning lane, but pretty close. When a car or truck is turning left, there's always room to squeeze around.

Except for the school bus driver who swings way out the right to block the lane and three quarters. Plus the problem is exacerbated by the bus driver's inability to commit to the turn in heavy AM rush traffic. If a single opposing car runs the yellow, the bus driver waits another full cycle. I've seen traffic backed up over a mile d/t this single, horrific, bus driver. I've modified my commute specifically to avoid this person.

Pretty darn inconsiderate.

xwesx

Yep, I come across inconsiderate bus drivers all the time - it is typically when they are driving empty busses, mind you, but the mindset is still there. The "infractions" are usually minor annoyances compared to some of the stuff people pull, but I probably notice them more because it is a school bus that is being driven (the whole "what if my child were on that bus?" thought process). I had this one short bus, in particular, with which I would butt heads nearly every day on the way to work. We have a stretch of three-lane expressway where an on-ramp merges with lane 3, then lane 3 merges with lane 2 about 1/2 mile or so down the road. For some reason, people treat lane 3 as if it does not exist, and prefer instead to merge directly from the ramp all the way to lane 2. Lane 2 is my traveling lane, and this darned bus driver would try to come across two lanes into 2 right at the same time I was already there... at least 2 of 5 days per week this would happen. It was uncanny really. Every day that this would happen, the driver would blow his horn and weave at me as if to sideswipe, but always backed down unless it was decidedly ahead of me (in which case I really did not care). For some reason, this driver expected me not to be there - what should I do.. move over to lane 1 just to accomodate this driver's idiocy? No thanks...