Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

xwesx

Was I? Huh....

redmaxx

(Wonders how long until pf_flyer pulls us over for this discussion...)

gee35coupe

Don't like em. But in a lot of states there has to be "probable cause" for speed monitoring. Like an officer has to be able to prove he was monitoring traffic and found cause to check your speed. Cameras would be against that part of the law. I hope my state's legislators actually drive our roads and won't go that route.

"Speed kills" ...Yeah right... Smoking kills too. But yet it's not illegal. So does drinking and multiple sex partners among other things. All aren't illegal. If we ouitlaw everything that has some level of risk, this country would be sorry shape. Well sorrier shape than we currently are.

Kirstie_H

and so do meth and cocaine. How's that for an end to the argument?

You folk are making my head hurt... badly. That makes you inconsiderate posters :sick: Can we get back to talking about inconsiderate drivers, rather than speed limits/ticketing? I would much appreciate it.

PS - pf_flyer has his hands full with Wagons, Hybrids, and the chats. Host eltonron will be cracking the host whip shortly. Until then, placate & amuse me

imidazol97

Inconsiderate lady driver behind me tailgating, talking on cellphone, on 3 lane road in our city. Stoplight. 4 lane boulevard starts. She passes me, still on her cellphone talking like someone in Guiding Light living her fantasy life. Her right rear tire is making an awful sound like it has chunks of tread missing or something. I couldn't tell what was causing the problem, but she might have a nail or something penetrating the tread as she drives. Completely oblivious.

At the next light a mile up, I could have _tried_ to get her attention to warn her, but since she tailgated me earlier I decided she might hear it when she puts down her cellphone.

I still need info on purchasing cell jammer to get inconsiderate drivers off their cellphones.

fintail

Were you in Bellevue today? I had to dodge a phone yapping hag in a Odyssey going about 30 in a 40, and 3 minutes later almost had her sister in an Altima (on the phone too) come into my lane on a corner...I got to use my horn, yay.

albert6

That's the beauty of the system. It's the satellites that have to be good and for the military they are.

Maybe there are stepper motor speedos, though more frequently are fully electronic displays, but there's still tire size variation, initial cal. And the pulse version speedos have the same problems as cable driven ones, except for needing lube from time to time.

I'd say when the GPS is good, use it for cal. It works for jet airliners, guided missiles, and smart bombs. It works for guided parachute drops. It can work in cars, except for subterranian types. So there's still the little gear needed in there somewhere.

albert6

Slower traffic should exit the road and take some alternate route. Any effort to impede those who are more important is obviously an affront and those doing so should never drive again. Ever.

The SL is, by definition, not on the road the speeder is on. If a reasonable driver is merging from the right at 90 onto a 60, the right lane should be vacated for at least 10 miles. See paragraph one.

If the road is straight and level the speed limit is whatever the engine will do. Anything less is simply a waste. After all, it isn't speed that's a problem, just those who won't go as fast as they could. Anyone not understanding that residential streets are just as safe at 100, as long as the slowpokes stay out of the way, are simpletons who should not be allowed to drive.

So, you ask a good question, but it is easily answered.

210delray

...high speed itself does not increase the likelihood of accident nearly as much as other factors - among them, a differential in speed.

Anytime this speed differential concept is brought up, one overlooks the fact that nearly half of all fatalities are single-vehicle events. On rural interstates, the percentage of fatal single-vehicle crashes is even higher.

There is no question in such crashes that the higher the impact speed, the deadlier the outcome.

210delray

Well, it depends here. If you're going to have to make a left turn, then you need to get into the left lane at some point. The heavier the traffic, the earlier you're going to have to move left. In the process, if you hold up someone who wants to go faster, then he'll consider you an LLC. My answer would be: tough luck, guy!

snakeweasel

I just love how some people try to justify their own inconsiderate (as well as dangerous) activities.

I hope my state's legislators actually drive our roads and won't go that route.

What you hope is that they don't set up a system that catches you being reckless.

black_tulip

Smoking kills too. But yet it's not illegal. So does drinking and multiple sex partners among other things. All aren't illegal.

This analogy is invalid. All those things you mentioned, only kill the user and not innocent people. Speeding, however, has consequences on others, and that is why your analogy is invalid. Smoking is perhaps the only thing that affects non-users and it is getting outlawed in public places rapidly.

snakeweasel

The keep right except to pass rule only applies to multi lane limited access highways and not to roads with cross traffic and the ability to make left turns onto or off of. In this case it is not being inconsiderate. But driving in such a manner as to impede traffic, like driving slow right next to someone else keeping traffic from passing.

snakeweasel

That's the beauty of the system. It's the satellites that have to be good and for the military they are.

However the receiving system needs to be good too. The ones the military uses are far more accurate than you can get in a car. IIRC the ones the military uses has an accuracy measured in inches, civilian use has an accuracy measured n yards.

tallman1

Some people also think that if you are driving in a city and come to a red light using the right lane to go straight, you are being inconsiderate by not letting the car behind you make the free right turn. I read that somewhere.

This never bothers me unless traffic is very light and there is one car in front of me... in the right lane. I don't think of it as being inconsiderate but if the driver switches to the left lane in order to keep the right lane clear... that's being considerate.

ruking1

..."Anytime this speed differential concept is brought up, one overlooks the fact that nearly half of all fatalities are single-vehicle events. On rural interstates, the percentage of fatal single-vehicle crashes is even higher."...

Also according to the NHSTA, 40% of fatalities and accidents involve (alcohol) DUI.

snakeweasel

If thats the case they would just have to wait. I do think that is taking things to an extreme. I know some people act like anyone else on the road is being inconsiderate for just having the gall to be on the same road as them.

In the situation you mentioned I would be in a no win situation when I go to my bank. The entrance is a right turn right after an intersection. So either I am inconsiderate by being stopped at the red light in the right lane so people cannot make the right turn on red, or I am inconsiderate by cutting into the right lane after the intersection hitting the brakes and making the right turn.

tallman1

lol... I certainly wasn't trying to imply that anyone should be in a no-win situation. I never get angry with anyone about this and I had never even thought about it until I read it as a suggestion. I think it was back in a previous energy crisis and was offered as a way to help others save gas. It suggested that we should try not using the right lane when we go straight so that others who are turning right don't have to sit at idle.

We can carry anything to an extreme... Your situation would obviously call for using the right lane. Thebigal's post reminded me of the right turn idea.

Kirstie_H

I must be typing in invisible e-ink, right? Otherwise, I see no logical reason why my post stating that we need to get OFF the speeding argument would be ignored.

Further off-topic posts will be removed without notice, folks. If you wanna discuss speeding, I can unearth an appropriate topic. You can e-mail me about this.

gasman1

invisible ink... (or should that be shy electrons)

gee35coupe

Yeah....Could we get that topic? That'd be an interesting one.

snakeweasel

I think that topic has been closed simply because it got to the point of repetition and it basically boiled down to "yes it is" Vs "No it isn't".

xwesx

Yes, that is the frustrating thing about laws... they have to account for everyone, not just those with sense. In the end, they end up doing a disservice to everyone except those who are looking to blame someone else for their actions.

gee35coupe

Truer words were never typed.

Kirstie_H

I see your "truer words" comment and raise you one superlative: We're going to create a new traffic laws discussion later and move all of these posts there. Then you can tell me how truest words of all time ever were never typed.

(does that make any sense at all?)

snakeweasel

It is only that for those who think they have more sense than everyone else and wonder why they can't drive as fast as their cars will go.

gee35coupe

I don't think anyone ever said we should travel THAT fast. C@D said my LS400 could 155. I bought T-ratd tires because I didn't even want to tempt myself by trying it out.

xwesx

No, not too much sense. That action would be far more annoying than helpful.

tallman1

It makes perfect sense to me.... scary.

redmaxx

A lady in a Lexus that was stopped slightly in the road. So I put on my turn signal and start moving into that lane, there was still plenty of room for me. Until I'm almost on top of her and she starts rolling.

A lady in a CR-V in a parking lot. I'm on one of those roads in the parking lot that connects all the aisles together. The lady is in one of the aisles looking to go straight down the next aisle. I'm stopped waiting for people to cross the road I'm on. They make it across and I start my turn down the aisle she is trying to go down and she guns it. Hello! You have no right of way. But she gets angry at me.

I'm in the middle of a three lane road (with center and two on the other side) and the right lane narrows. A Maxima in my blind spot in the narrowing lane lazily picks up speed and makes a half-hearted attempt at passing me. Still ends up behind me but is now flipping his hands at me.

A motorcycle rides my bumper down 1/2 mile of road towards the highway. My lane is congested but there are places he could fit in line near the front and the other lanes are open. But no, he rides my bumper all the way to the turn. Light turns green and he rides my bumper through the turn and guns it into the 300-400 foot right lane that merges back in. All to get up to the on ramp metering light a few seconds earlier.

Then a 350Z that stays in the left lane all the way up to a 1/2 mile before it's exit. Ends up riding my bumper for 1/4 mile and then blows by me at 20 MPH over on the exit ramp, gets up to the east west split, slams on the brakes and changes from west to east.

Finally, a lady in a 350Z on the last highway home that is riding people's bumpers at about 1/2-1 second behind, while looking down at the passenger seat every few seconds.

It's no wonder we got nearly the top spot for rude drivers.

fintail

Mid 90s model jacked up F350, an overcompensator. I'm heading down a 4 lane suburban 40mph road at around the limit, traffic is tight as it is just after 4pm and there's little use in hurrying. I can see this simp coming from a ways behind, weaving in and out, tailgating. He blows by me in a gap in traffic...by this time the road has been 30mph for about 1/2 mile as traffic gets more dense and there are more lights. I'd estimate he was going 50-60 when he got by me. He then moved over into my lane as his lane was slowing...and promptly planted his overcompensator about an inch from the bumper of a previous-gen Jag XJ driven by an older lady. I was hoping and praying she'd brake check him so he'd go end over end, or rear end her and end up being sued so hard he'd regret being born.

xwesx

:surprise: That seems.... well, *gulp*. Must have felt like a long drive home today.

fintail

It was pretty maddening. This was one of the few times where I've been tempted to call the cops, but I was very afraid to make a call with this guy in front of me - I wanted my hands on the wheel to avoid the shrapnel of the crash he looked certain to cause. Wacked out on meth or something I bet.

xwesx

Well, I felt a little more surly about this 9 hours ago than I do now (with more info), but this morning on the way to work DOT had closed down College Rd. (a fairly major 4-laner w/ 35 mph limit) completely, without any prior notification signage! No, "Hey, don't take this exit," etc., to keep people from wasting two miles of time just to have to turn around and go all the way back, nothing. Just, "Road Closed." Worse, it is an area that has no other outlet, so in order to get around it, you have to go 2 miles back up College to hit the expressway to the other side of town, blah blah. It was annoying.

Well, I get to work and find out that because of a 1.5" rainstorm a couple days ago, a section of road there had completely washed out (underground, the surface looked perfect) and the repair was a literal emergency.

I was relieved I did not get too worked up about it.... emergencies do happen.

albert6

Those are traffic light controllers. Rather than burying a loop they look at the lanes for cars. They are easier to repair and don't ruin the pavement.

They see poorly and don't record anything.

xwesx

No, I'm with you there. I always have mixed "I hope that guy kills himself / I hope that guy doesn't kill somebody" feelings when I see that. It almost always happens in a situation where there is not much you can do except be extra wary to avoid any fallout the driver causes. But, those do make for long drives.... :mad:

xwesx

Oh..... thanks! Makes sense... those intersections are usually pretty good about turning green for you during late night (low traffic) hours. Most of the intersections where we have those (controllers) they are little black boxes mounted atop the center-lane lights that just have a sensor of some kind. These are much larger, grey devices located on the light poles at the intersection corners. I took them for cameras, but sure, they probably are just more sophisticated controllers. The black boxes can be rather hit-and-miss in their reliability.

gogogodzilla

Thank G-d!

I've been wondering why a speed limit discussion had started up on a "Inconsiderate Driver" thread.

:surprise:

gogogodzilla

I've been noticing a lot of trucks driving around on the highways here in Maryland... with their tailgate's down and with their truck beds loaded with garden equipment (not fastened down, either).

If there is another here who owns a truck and does the same... I'd like to know the rationale for doing so.

:mad:

euphonium

The natives are very courteous and the most considerate drivers in North America. The Canadians don't race from light to light as done in Santa Monica. Their speed limits are rarely violated although the top limit on the island is 110 KPH. The further North the more compliant they are and very nice to the Yankee tourist. They pay 1.20 / liter for gas or $4.42 a gallon. Could that be the reason for their reasonable driving?

Red light cameras are to intersections as parking meters are to parking spaces. Get used to it.

Keep Right applies only to those going less than the SL.
Why, because nobody has the right, standing, position, or importance to go faster than the SL and the SL is "The Limit". You want to go faster? Go around the "within the speed limit" driver. Keep Right Except to Pass just enables others to go faster than they are capable or qualified to drive.

imidazol97

Not only are the mowers and other equipment not fastened down well, but the trailers and total weight are more than the braking on the tow vehicle can handle. When they try to stop, the driver finds it is not like having a pick-em-up alone. One rolled through an intersection behind me because he couldn't stop when the light turned red. He hit the car making a left turn legally in front of him.

Maybe they need a braking-capability camera to look for these overloaded trucks and trailers.

gee35coupe

"Keep Right Except to Pass just enables others to go faster than they are capable or qualified to drive."

I can buy the "speed limit is the limit you should go" schpele. But telling me that the speed limit is the height of the average drivers capability is downright scary. That's like saying all cars get the same MPG or have the same level of safety at that speed. That statement demonstrates why this discussion really can't go further than the "yes you can/no you can't" that it usually devolves to.

Kirstie_H

Traffic Laws & Enforcement Tactics

fintail

I take it you've never driven on highway 1 east of Van, or on any decent highway around Toronto or Mtl at non-peak hours. I remember once in the fintail, near Abbotsford I was going about 85-90mph, and many cars were passing. Of course, I wasn't in the left lane, as I did not belong there...

Heck, I've experienced similar on I5 between Everett and Bellingham, even in that ridiculous spot where it changes to 60 10 miles before any kind of built up area...

It's funny how "keep right" works so well in cultures that have superior driving skills. It's just as inconsiderate and selfish to deem yourself a law enforcer and camp out in the left lane as it is to weave and tailgate around others.

"Why, because nobody has the right, standing, position, or importance to go faster than the SL "

Unless you have a badge, or a FOP badge...right?

I have no problem passing on the right. Sometimes it's fun to go around some bloated Town Car so fast that it almost falls over in my wake :P

gee35coupe

I'm gonna have to disagree with that last sentence.

fintail

It's amusing...you're on a 60, the geezer is going 45 in the left lane, you pass on the right going 65....zoom!

xrunner2

It's amusing...you're on a 60, the geezer is going 45 in the left lane, you pass on the right going 65....zoom!

Tsk, tsk, tsk...Is the zoomer inconsiderate? What if the geezer is startled?

Know that all we posters on this board are immortal and will be young forever. But, what if that is not true and we are all geezers someday? Do any geezers go zoom, zoom today or are they mostly considerate? Will future geezers on this board be passing on the right in their golf carts on roads in a senior community?

gee35coupe

What is the most "considerate" thing to do in THAT case. Does it startle them to pass on the right when they are in the left lane at the minimum speed. If it does, do they need to be on the highway in the first place? And why are they doing the minimum speed in the left lane? That's a toughie.

tallman1

Keep Right applies only to those going less than the SL.

Absolutely false... and very dangerous. Keep to the right unless you have to pass. Suck it up even if you are going the speed limit.

fintail

I don't think it startles them to zip past as they try to do an impression of vehicular cholesterol. They are usually so oblivious to the world around them that they likely wouldn't even catch a glimpse. That's why they are camped out where they don't belong to begin with.