Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

xwesx

Whoa! That is a great idea... Amazing that they would actually put something like that in. I imagine, if used appropriately, it must really be a boon to traffic flow at that airport.

xwesx

Al.... thanks for the story. One more reason to reconsider my trip to Oregon in November! Granted, with the rate of inflation right now (due to fuel prices), I will be way below poverty level by November and will not be able to afford such luxuries as trips out of Alaska. :sick:

euphonium

After the tourist season ABC Rentals have been known to pay folks to drive their units back to Seattle to be traded in on fresh ones for the next season. The vehicles range from pickups with campers to Class C motorhomes. Music, heat, and a place to sleep!

smittynyc

If you live anywhere near Lexington and 36th, please don't blame the early-90s Testarossa driver for gunning it at a green light this morning at about 9, laying down a nice swath of rubber, and flying down the street at an obscene rate of speed. Blame me.

You see, I ended up next to that Ferrari in my Subaru, complete with its geeky Thule cargo carrier, at the stoplight. I couldn't resist revving the engine as a joke and giving the driver a thumbs-up and a "you wanna race?" nod toward the road.

He burst out laughing, and as if to show his appreciation, he punched it on the green light and left a few hundred miles' worth of rubber on the street. I think I even heard a little screech when he shifted into second two blocks down the deserted road, too.

I didn't know he was going to do that. Again, my bad.

black_tulip

Blame me.

No, any Ferrari driver that tries to race with a Subaru is to blame, no matter what.

docnukem

That reminds me of the old joke:

"How is a (insert exotic sports car name here) different from a porcupine?"

snakeweasel

Reminds me of a time when I was in high school. We were on this street that was three lanes in each direction. Me in a Boss Mustang and a friend in a Cuda stopped at a light him in the left lane me in the right and some large car between us. Well me and my friend were just kidding each other racing the engines and what not. Well as soon as the light turns green the guy between us floored it as we slowly took off.

fintail

This weekend I took a few hundred mile trip up and down I-5 and on some lesser highways (where the C43 averaged a respectable 22mpg in 70/30 highway/city driving with my less than light foot), and I saw a few winners.

On my way south I didn't see a single speed trap/revenue collection station. On my way back, I saw a few million of them. I don't see the logic. People would freak out too, they'd see the cop ahead, puilled over already having picked a cherry...and they'd stomp on the brakes and go 5 under. Morons.

Around Tacoma both times I noticed too many young military guys flying around in trucks and SUVs...I'd think they'd be more careful. Nothing like some clunky white Expedition weaving in and out of traffic at 90+.

I passed and got passed by this Impala maybe 10 times in a 50 mile stretch. This was a freaky one...the guy wold go slow, then go quite fast...maybe 85 in a 60, passing everyone, weaving in and out...then he'd slow again. I had my cruise set, so I know it wasn't misinterpretation. And he was a HORRIBLE passer, it would take him 5 lane changes to get ahead as he always ended up behind slower cars. He didn't look annoyed or anything either, I just think he wasn't very bright. It was a new Impala that wasn't a rental too, which shocked me...I could see dumb driving in a rental.

On the lesser roads driving is fun...light traffic, and EVERYONE goes so slow. I set the cruise for 5 over and went about 75 miles where I passed every car. The podunk settlements (towns might be too generous) off these roads make for fun driving too. Slow and steady, and people will pull right in front of you from side streets and expect you to slow down. These are the people who have never been more than two counties over, I am sure.

And my parting shot...way too many minivan LLCs....Dodges and Hondas seem to be the prime offenders. Lane discipline is just an exotic and probably "too European" concept to some of these yokels, especially once you get away from the city.

oregonboy

Hey. fin

I know you are in the Puget Sound area... so where did you go down I-5? A few hundred miles south would put you near Eugene, Oregon (home of the Ducks!).

I often make a similar trip as I live in Spanaway and have a daughter in Eugene and a vacation home in the Roseburg area. I find it odd that you saw so many cops this weekend as it is the first weekend of the month.

I know that law-enforcement types will swear that there are no longer ticket quotas, but my personal observation is that there are WAY more "speed traps" being run on the last weekend of the month than on all the remaining weekends combined. Despite the use of my Escort, I even picked up a ticket in the 50 zone of the Tirwillager curves in Portland about 6 months ago.

Cops on I-5 in the Tacoma area don't seem to use radar. I have witnessed them pace and pull over 5 vehicles in the 5 years that I've lived up here. (I've seen more already stopped.... 5 actually paced and pulled over).

What back roads did you take? I have on occasion taken "old 99" between Albany and Eugene when I had time to kill. I-5 is MUCH faster.

james

fintail

I didn't go as far south as Eugene...my trip was that many miles in total, but not all on 5. I went to the SW WA coast to visit some relatives. I used backroads like 8, 12, and 101. I know these roads can have atrocious casualty/fatality rates, but they can be a nice drive. I wasn't in a real hurry...I don't think I went over 80 the whole drive.

I-5 from Oly or so this morning was speedtrap city, especially north of Tacoma. All the typical overpass/end of onramp stuff. You'd have to be inattentive to be caught. I don't buy the "no quota" fairytale either...I swear I recall something about Seattle media debunking this idea a few years back too. No cops to be seen as that white Expedition insanely weaved through traffic on 5 in south Tacoma, of course.

oregonboy

My experience has been that the "pacing" speedtraps on I-5 in Washington are invariably in the reduced-speed areas near major cities and at night. At night, you can't tell if the headlights behind you are on a police cruiser or a minivan.

Traffic is lighter at night and the road here is well lit, so there is no logical reason to drive the limit (except for the LAW). During the day, due to increase traffic and visibility, the presence of a cop car would create an instant rolling roadblock which would make speeding (and speeding tickets) impossible.

So one night about 11:30 I was driving north on I-5. In the 70 zone, I had been cruising at 78 but when I hit the 60 zone near Olympia, I set the cruise at 67. I was in the center lane.

There was a loose string of traffic in the right lane doing 62-65 and a small SUV (a Kia, I think) was slowly overtaking me in the left lane. A couple more cars overtook us and moved to the left lane, behind the Kia anticipating that the Kia driver would complete the pass and clear the lane.

Alas, there was just the slightest bend in the road and the Kia slowed down. The Kia began to drop behind my vehicle. The car in line behind the Kia changed lanes to be behind me... but the road straightened out and the Kia began to inch forward again.

Now I was aware of all of this, and it crossed my mind to just step on the gas, move ahead of the Kia, and move over to let the following cars pass. But I had seen cops working this area before and it was late and I was tired so I figured, "Heck with it, let them sort it out". (Was I being inconsiderate??)

The Kia continued to inch forward, then fall slightly back. This could go on for miles. But there was a break in the traffic in the right lane coming up and I planned to move over.

I should have signaled my intent as soon as I had cleared the car on the right (again, I was tired). But as I was about to signal and move right, I checked my mirror and saw that the car behind me was closing fast. I figured (correctly) that it was better to stay put than to surprise him, so I held my course and he zipped around on my right, then changed back into my lane. It was some small import coupe.

What surprised me then was the V-8 roar as a Crown-Vic came from the left lane, passed me in the right lane, then cut in front of me. It felt much closer and more dangerous than the coupe driver's maneuver. But maybe it was just louder.

It was a "Protect & Serve" that had been pacing our group just waiting for someone to mess up. (Failure to keep right except to pass doesn't count).

All things considered, in this particular instance, I'm glad that I didn't do the courteous thing for my fellow motorist.

james

tallman1

I live in the Puget Sound area as well and drive between Gig Harbor and Olympia almost every day. There are a fair number of state troopers using radar but 5-10 over doesn't seem to bother them.

BTW, I hate the new lower speed in the Centralia/Chehalis area.

snakeweasel

Here in Chicago we have the 55 MPH limit on the expressways but I wouldn't advise doing that most times. I have been on expressways here doing 80 MPH barely keeping up with traffic, yet you rarely see anyone pulled over.

Now get away from any populated area and the speed limit goes up to 65 MPH. I have had more than one state cop tell me that unless your driving erratically you won't get pulled over untill you exceed 75MPH on the interstates. On the rural interstate here I will set my cruise between 75 and 80 and I will still get passed my 5 people for every one person I pass.

Well one time I am driving down a state highway, nice and open mostly straight no hills and you can see ahead for miles, so there is plenty of passing zones. Well I was going down this road just over 55MPH mainly because I was following a state trooper who just happened to be on a motorcycle. Well a short line of cars ended up following behind me and I noticed one passing the other cars one by one. Finally this guy gets behind me and shortly afterwards blows by me like a bat out of hell. Apparently he either didn't see the trooper or didn't realized he was one, but the trooper started to pace him and had him pulled over a few miles down the road.

redmaxx

Is it always inconsiderate to weave in and out of traffic? Hear me out on this one...I drive a road, two lanes in each direction, SL 65MPH. Now, most of the time I drive it, someone is in the left lane either doing under the speed limit or has a very erratic speed. I typically want to set my cruise and go at 70-75MPH, but I'll get stuck behind someone who varies between 60 and 80MPH. So I'll pass them, go a short distance and come up on someone else in the same situation. I'd say on average, I make lane changes to pass about 5-10 cars on this 15 or so mile stretch of road. Is it inconsiderate? Should I be content to speed up and down with them?

ruking1

Mess with the bull..Surprized to get the horn?

euphonium

Yep, it is.

We are consistently admonished to keep up with traffic and you are not willing to join the herd by keeping up with traffic.

Your want of setting your cruise up to 75 is not only inconsiderate but arrogant and selfish especially when the posted SL is considerbly less.

Being content to not weave in and out of lanes is being safer for not only you, but others with whom you are sharing the road.

snakeweasel

I would say your being inconsiderate for two reasons. First it seems that you are driving to fast Secondly from your description the roads are to crowded to use cruise control safely.

xwesx

Hmmmm..... I should look into that. I wouldn't even need to be paid to do it, just cover the fuel and a flight back to AK! The only problem is that I have a wife and child who would be coming with me.....

fintail

Your speed isn't too out of line, no matter the thoughts of deferential conservatives of dubious credibilty, but I would think constantly weaving in and out increases the risk of an accident. I don't think occasional lane changes are bad though...American style lane discipline had me passing on the right about 20 times on my latest little trip. Sometimes you have to make a jerky looking pass to get around the most inconsiderate drivers on the road - those who both keep left and keep under the limit.

Today I had the mispleasure of venturing into Seattle proper...on the way back, on the horrible 520 bridge I got behind a woman in a white SRX going about 35-40, keeping a good 20 second following distance between her and the battered Avalon in front of her. When I was finally able to catch a break and pass her, I saw the issue...she was yapping on the phone.

chrisducati

Watch out! Spring is here and so are the Forest Gumps mowing their lawns on their riding lawn mowers. A guy on a lawn tractor about killed me, himself and the lady coming in the opposite direction. He was on the shoulder of the road mowing and just before my car and a Jeep cherokee met he decided to turn and cross the road in front of us. The cherokee did not have anti locks and skidded just missing him and myself! :surprise: You know the old Cosby line about clean underwear. First you say it then you do it!!!

xwesx

Yes, I would have to agree that while passing on the left is preferable, passing on the right can be fine. "Weaving," as was described by fintail regarding the white Expedition, is dangerous, but that is different than changing lanes, passing, changing lanes by a matter of degree and abruptness. I imagine this is coming across very vague.

carlisimo

I'd pass them. In circumstances like that, without any really high speeds, it's safer to pass than to drop your speed by 20mph now and then.

fintail

Exactly. It's a fine line, I think frequency dictates it. Change lanes every 15 seconds, you're weaving. Change lanes every 15 minutes, you're just passing. The Expedition I saw rarely stayed in the same lane for more than 15 seconds.

redmaxx

I suppose it comes down to a definition of weaving then. I would be happy to go 65, if the idiots in front wouldn't speed up and slow down to block traffic in. If I have to pass just a few of these cars, it can easily add up to 4 lane changes, within a mile or so. So then it really becomes, what is weaving? Why should I have to sit behind some control freak that can't let a few cars pass? Sometimes I realize the line is too long and I just wait in it, hold a decent gap and set my cruise near the speed of the people in front. As they slow down the gap closes but then it opens back up. I just hate to be behind such erratic drivers though. :sick:

redmaxx

Exactly. It's a fine line, I think frequency dictates it. Change lanes every 15 seconds, you're weaving. Change lanes every 15 minutes, you're just passing. The Expedition I saw rarely stayed in the same lane for more than 15 seconds.

Based on this I would say I'm not weaving. I have seen some cars though that weave on this road. Those are the ones trying to go 85+ in 65MPH traffic.

redmaxx

Being content to not weave in and out of lanes is being safer for not only you, but others with whom you are sharing the road.

Hmm...I suppose my question was more of a "what is weaving?" then what I really asked. I am content if there are too many cars. If there are only a few, then I don't think passing on the right is a real problem.

redmaxx

Sometimes it's really tough, to not "look" like you're weaving. There have been a few occasions that I've gone to pass someone and they've sped up, forcing me back behind them, wait for another hole, try again.

xwesx

Inconsistency in driving speed is so incredibly annoying. Whether it be 40 or 70, find your speed and stick with it! Now, if it is a matter of hills, curves, etc., fine, but no random speed up and slow down just for the sake of mixing up the day. Ugh. I would say the worst case is when you're driving something big. Does not really matter what, but what does matter is the maneuverability of the vehicle. So, I will take a motorhome for instance (please refrain from jumping in to tell me that I am under-licensed to drive such a vehicle). Here you are, driving this 38' beast down the roadway with a trailer in tow. It is comfy, responds well to driver input, and pulls hills easily. On a 2-lane interstate you typically occupy the right lane at 65 mph (on cruise).... except for this bozo who insists on passing you in a hurry for you only to catch up another 1/2 mile down the road. Invariably, someone is in the left lane passing you when you get to the point where you must either slow down or change lanes. So, you slow down, then change lanes and pass. No sooner are you back in the right lane with the cruise set then this monkey goes zipping ahead!

vchiu

In China, most drivers are not driving but calling with their mobile phone behind the wheel

it is just uninteresting to share stories of inconsiderate drivers as they are the majority. Better share the very rare stories of considerate drivers we sometimes may find on the road.

There aren't any fast lane so when traffic gets dense, it easily slows down to 40 mph on a 75 mph highway. this happens when 2 trucks decide to crawl at the same speed, blocking two ways.

chrisducati

Good idea. Sounds like China is just like the USA in regard to the drivers. One of the car magazines did an article on driving in China a few years ago. The reporter was shocked that drivers there drove slowly around corners and would slow or stop to look at something on the side of the street. I had to laugh and think he has never been to small town America then because that is the same driving habits that are right here in the USA.

snakeweasel

Saw a car today that definitely was a Camry, but it had no Toyota badging on it. Instead on the back it had the MB three pointed star, yet on the side up front it had the Buick signatory side holes. :confuse:

Yep some teenager was driving this confused who I am mobile.

thegraduate

Sounds like an enigma wrapped in a riddle! A Mercedes-Buickota LeCamry S500?

snakeweasel

I just bundle it with that Dodge Neon Type R that I used to live by.

I wonder what people are actually thinking when they do that.

thegraduate

We may never know...

fintail

Maybe they are related to the Toyota 626 (it was an old Camry coupe) I saw some time ago.

I don't get that.

PF_Flyer

Maybe one of these nights we'll have a "road warrior survival story" night at the chats...LOL

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snakeweasel

School bus stopped on the side of the road, stop sign extended lights flashing picking up kids and not one oncoming vehicle stopped for it. A half dozen or more passed it when it was picking up kids. :mad:

tazereli

was it on a divided road? sometimes on the road i take to work there are school buses stopping on the opposite side. Since this road is a divided 4 lane road with a grass median in the middle, I dont stop and neither does anyone else on my side. Ive been getting myself to work earlier to avoid the yellow menaces. They can add as much as 15-20 minutes to my already 30 minute commute.

Kyle

carlisimo

I hate to say it, but I don't think anyone's clear on that rule. If you come to a stop and people behind you don't understand why, you're in for a lot of road range and possibly someone barreling into your rear.

It should be easy to remember, but apparently it isn't.

snakeweasel

was it on a divided road?

Only by two yellow stripes, no median. The laws does state that if the road is divided or there is an obstruction between the two lanes the on coming traffic need not stop. But that wasn't the case here.

chrisducati

I honestly think most drivers do not learn the rules of the road. They study the handbook just enough to take the test and then forget most of it. I rarely get road rage because of my personality but I have to shake my head at some of the people. I have wanted to get a case of road rule hand books and give them out at stop signs.

fastbutslow

It would be one thing if they were consistent...slow on the main road and slow on the side roads, or fast on both.

efficiency!!!!! too slow and your engine is not in the torque band causing BSFC to worsen. too fast and you encounter wind resistance.

210delray

You know, it really isn't worth the effort to try to "teach" other drivers on the road. If it was just you and her, I'd simply pass on the right and be done with it.

As you found out, she was totally oblivious and likely on the same extended phone conversation.

black_tulip

Last night on I-40, I encountered an LLC. I had to laugh when I saw his plate: "LUV2CAMP"!

imidazol97

Inquiring minds gotta know..., what was 'he' driving?

thegraduate

Oh, please let it have been a camper!

black_tulip

It was a large GM SUV, a Tahoe or Suburban.

euphonium

Having never seen more than seven letters on a Vanity plate, I ask what state has eight?

black_tulip

I would rather not state the state publicly as it would uniquely identify the individual, but if you are curious, send me an email.

1racefan

8 characters are allowed in North Carolina.