Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

tallman1

Gee... I'm kind of surprised that there isn't a board on here about personalized plates.

Or maybe there is but I've never seen it.

nightvzn

Gee... I'm kind of surprised that there isn't a board on here about personalized plates.

Yeah ... we're totally off-topic here, but I love it. Vanity plates are very cute or amusing sometimes.

210delray

There was a topic on bumper stickers and vanity plates, but it got nixed because as you can guess, it descended into the gutter.

fintail

Don't know where else to put this...typical traffic day in California (I am assuming)

I like how the Civic/Supercamry/etc nose their way in there.

kapbot

Here's one that sort of relates...
I am going home from work a couple of days ago. I take the on-ramp from the road that goes to/from my work. As I am trying to merge onto the highway, there are two cars that want to exit, classic cloverleaf interchange. Anyway, I begin to accelerate to get onto the highway, all the time noticing there is oncoming traffic in my lane. At this point, the traffic is light, and the exiting autos have the right of way, so it's no big deal. I move into the right lane of traffic on the highway, using my blinkers, and floor the car in 4th gear. up to 75 mph.
So long story short, the merge into freeway traffic wasn't bad, but it was somewhat irritating. There was a car in the center lane, out of three, and I whizzed past him in short order.
After I passed that car, I used my turn signal and moved into the middle lane because the right lane is mostly exit/entrance ramps, and the overall traffic was quite light.
By this time, I had set the cruise control at 75. The speed limit is 70.
O. K., so by the time I passed the guy in the middle, the person that was in the right lane when I got onto the highway had moved into the far left lane and drove right next to me for about 8 miles until I got off at another exit. He continuously sped up and slowed down, but never outright passed me.
I can't figure out if this person wanted to race me, if he/she had a brain defect, or if someone stuck a sticker on my car pointing out my potential mental defects!

loncray

Just yesterday I saw a Chevy or GMC SUV that was a very odd color - dark blue or purple depending on how the light struck it. The license plate? BLURPLE!

xrunner2

There was a topic on bumper stickers and vanity plates, but it got nixed because as you can guess, it descended into the gutter.

In late 70's, saw an Illinois plate on a small tiny Ford import car that said "FYOPEC". This was after we all experienced 2 gas shortages. Some how, the state dot license plate reviewers missed this one. Saw the car on the freeway and do not recall any inconsiderate action by the driver.

fintail

I remember seeing some plates in a magazine eons ago, like in the late 80s...I think it was C&D...there was an old W123 240D with a Texas plate that read 2(x)NSLO....The (x) shouldn't be difficult

euphonium

On a light brown Taurus, the plate said ISTNBUL.

atlvibe

Several years ago,I spotted this car in the corner of a strip mall one afternoon. The vehicle was a mid 70's pale yellow Chrysler. Every single panel on the car was bent, torn and rusted. The bumpers hung and all the wheel covers were gone. All windows were rolled down and the car looked a mess. The owner had propped a card board sign on the windshield. It read, " This is not an abandoned vehicle."

snakeweasel

I saw a car like that once that had one of those anti theft bars locked on the steering wheel. I figured that that anti theft bar doubled the value of the car.

xwesx

"Once many a year ago walking through a parking lot we saw a car with CA plates that read "ILUV SD". As we passed it my friend pointed it out and exclaimed "Hey the plates read I love South Dakota" right when the driver was getting out of the car."

That is hilarious. I have to know if the driver made any sort of response. I was driving my old '69 C20 in Anchorage many years back, with the plate of "WESNPA" (Wes and 'pa). A driver pulled up next to me and yelled across the vehicles, "Hey! What part of western Pennsylvania are you from?!" Puzzled, I said, "I am not from Pennsylvania at all, though, now that you mention it, my wife is from Meadville/Erie." He said, "Me too! I saw your license plate said "Western Pennyslvania!" With great humor, I responded with, "Good to know I have such a multifunctional license plate!" as the light turned green and we went on our ways.

snakeweasel

That is hilarious. I have to know if the driver made any sort of response.

Yea, she gave us a dirty look.

nightvzn

It felt like the world was out to get me today, as I encountered every red light imaginable on a short stretch of Central Expressway, only to get stopped at a light rail crossing. Okay, it didn't take too long for the small train to pass. But once the gates were up, most of the traffic was off and running, even as the lights remained red for another 10 seconds or so.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's absurd that there's such a delay between gates-up and green-light, unless the system is just so poorly calibrated there's an actual risk of impact if you go too early. But you never know where cops are lurking in that area, and I don't need a ticket for that, thanks.

And as we know, with police, "everybody else was doing it" doesn't tend to cut it as an excuse.

So I was utterly dumfounded and had no idea how to respond when the cab behind me let out a horn blast, effectively demanding that I run the red light.

I would have rolled down my window and pointed up at the light ("duh! red means stop!"), but by that point it was turning green anyway.

Why must people add additional stress to an already annoying situation?

Sigh...

snakeweasel

Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's absurd that there's such a delay between gates-up and green-light,

The question that I have to ask is how many tracks are at that crossing? It might stay red long enough for the train to move far enough down the line as not to block your view of a possible train coming down the other track. To many times I have heard about someone crossing just after a train clears the crossing just to be hit by another train on a second track.

I could just be for added safety.

nightvzn

In this case, the view to one side is perfectly clear, and you could only get hit by a train coming from the other side. But if the gates failed to operate properly, that could happen at any time. I think it's some kind of blanket application of safety standards that doesn't take the specifics of the situation into account.

It's a really stupid crossing in a lot of ways. If I pass the tracks and the gates close immediately after, I will get stopped at the NEXT red light, simply because the opposing light turns red to prevent traffic on the other side from entering the tracks (which are now behind me). This lets opposing traffic have a left green arrow the whole time. Maybe the people living in that neighborhood to the left have a lot of money and successfully lobbied for special access during train crossings? Who knows.

But I will be stuck there until the train has passed, the gates are up, and all the forward lights are green. Now THAT is a light I'm tempted to run.

Very, very, very poor design, especially for such a heavily traveled road.

snakeweasel

In this case, the view to one side is perfectly clear, and you could only get hit by a train coming from the other side. But if the gates failed to operate properly, that could happen at any time.

Yes but if the first train isn't there you have a better chance of seeing the train coming from the other side.

If I pass the tracks and the gates close immediately after, I will get stopped at the NEXT red light,

Thats odd, every intersection I have seen with a rail road crossing close to it the light coming away from the crossing stays green more than long enough for traffic coming off the tracks to clear the intersection.

nightvzn

Yes but if the first train isn't there you have a better chance of seeing the train coming from the other side.

Yes, but in this case it's red long after the first train has passed. So the crossing looks as clear as it does any other time I'm driving that way.

Thats odd, every intersection I have seen with a rail road crossing close to it the light coming away from the crossing stays green more than long enough for traffic coming off the tracks to clear the intersection.

Yeah. I'm seriously considering trying to contact some municipal authority to let them know about this. It seems like a massive oversight, and there's nothing more inane than sitting stuck at a light to let a train pass that's behind you!!! Lol...

xwesx

There is an intersection like that here as well, except that it is even more inane since the ENTIRE intersection sits on red during the train crossing. I do go. I just treat it as a 4-way stop sign.... Stop, wait until the intersection is clear, then slowly enter such that folks can see I am there and moving, then go. I see no reason to be patronized as though I am incapable of making a safe, rational decision. There is a switching yard and station just beyond this intersection, so often trains can take as much as 5-10 minutes to clear the intersection. Unless I need to cross that train track, threre is no practical reason for me to be waiting for the train to pass.

fintail

When I got behind the big haired blonde in a white Aztek this afternoon, I knew something stupid would happen. And I wasn't let down. After the hideousness of her vehicle seared into my eyes, I saw countless unsignalled lane changes, horrible lane positioning (straddling the fog line or the middle of the road), and varying her speed between 28-45 (in a 35). I am pretty sure she was on the phone, too.

Also, too many white box vans and trucks out there today. Some belching painful amounts of soot into the air, driving either insanely fast or stumbling and dawdling at green lights.

redmaxx

Speaking of red lights, we have ramp metering systems that sit red until you come up to them. On the rare occasion that I'm the only car on the road, or the car in front after a huge empty space, I see no reason to stop. Heck, they don't even make you stop when you approach them slowly (they turn green as you roll up to them) so there is no need to waste my gas slowing down and speeding up.

kapbot

I know that tailgaters are a common irritant. What I can't understand, is why someone will get up on my [non-permissible content removed] and not just go around? I usually drive at SL + 5. So why not just go ahead and make the illegal pass? If you aren't worried about getting the 20 over speeding ticket, why not just pass on the double yellow and go about your merry way?
If you are riding my butt, you are going way too slow anyway, because my reaction is to slow down until you pass.
An all too common occurance on my way to work every single day.

driveright

Your twenty-over comment seems just about right. For while I experimented with tailgaters when conditions seemed safe by accelerated until they were no longer tailgating. I quickly found that tailgater want to be going about SL +20 which was too much for me, so the experiment was short-lived.

nightvzn

From the double-yellow part, I assume you're talking about two-lane highways. I think you can't be faulted for going SL+5 in those cases, although it sucks if somebody wants to pass and there's no safe place to do so for a long time. Good reason to have a car with decent power...

Now if somebody is puttering along between 35 and 45 on a 55-mph highway (saw this many times back home in upstate NY!), they might want to consider pulling over to let the 1,000 cars accumulated behind them pass. Sadly, they rarely do, in my experience.

imidazol97

Most tailgaters want to go fast but they want someone in front of them. I think they believe that the first person will get the ticket so they want someone else running the trap for them.

In the case of women they are more likely to tailgate and refuse to pass just because they don't want to be in front. This is especially true with any kind of rain, snow, fog, haze, etc., that makes seeing where you're going a little more difficult. They want someone doing the hard part of driving by being on the alert for concrete blocks, deer, dogs, bridges that have fallen in, buckled concrete pavement, etc., in front.

snakeweasel

I had a situation this weekend, coming home from some hiking I decided to take the two lane country roads back. Was doing about 5 or so over the limit and I had some guy get behind me and refused to pass. Now its not like I live in the mountains and passing lanes are few and far between, there are many nice long passing zones here in northern Illinois but somehow this guy didn't know how to pass.

There have been times I have seen long lines behind a car and wonder why people just don't pass.

snakeweasel

Most tailgaters want to go fast but they want someone in front of them. I think they believe that the first person will get the ticket so they want someone else running the trap for them.

My experience is that its the last guy who gets pulled over.

They want someone doing the hard part of driving by being on the alert for concrete blocks, deer, dogs, bridges that have fallen in, buckled concrete pavement, etc., in front.

Thats right, follow the guy in front of you right off the side of the road.

eltonron

Come on, folks! This is a discussion about inconsiderate drivers for considerate members. Please avoid making off-topic posts such as those related to personalized plates, several of which have been removed due to the inappropriate nature of the content.

A thread about personalized plates was previously removed entirely due to the chronic posting of less-than-appropriate material (to put it mildly) and we don't want this thread to follow suit.

We appreciate your help in maintaining a family-friendly environment on the forums by making posts that are respectful towards other members as well as towards the topic at-hand.

Thank you!

Eltonron
Host- Automotive News & Views

imidazol97

I had tailgaters galore on trip up to Ypsilanti Friday night on I-75. I had set cruise at 62 and had a great trip but I kept picking up people who would just sit behind me, often close, often at a 100-200 feet.

On way back Saturday night late had some real winners at 65 mph on I75 and Route 23, interstate equivalent in Michigan. some would tailgate closer when I backed down 1 mph and then 2 mph.

Why do people do that? Especially the ones with the driving lamps aimed up high? Had a Mustang with driving lights in center grill (in place of real headlights on higher-priced model) who roared right up, sat for couple of miles (did he think a crimson red LeSabre was an unmarked police car and didn't want to pass), and then zoomed around when I dropped back to 63. His driving lights were obnoxious and brighter than the factory headlamps.

fintail

You'll know when it is deleted

nightvzn

There have been times I have seen long lines behind a car and wonder why people just don't pass.

Oh, oops. I left out one important detail.

I'm thinking specifically about two-lane highways where it's just hilly, winding, and forested enough to make passing zones few and far-between. And you get the aforementioned 35-45-mph lolligaggers ascribing to the school of thought that "oh my goooooodness, even 0.000000000001 g of lateral acceleration is going to send my car hurtling uncontrollably off the road!!!!"

So in these case, unless you're especially bold, or have a combination of extremely good timing, a really powerful car, and a willingness to cross the double yellow lines, you're out of luck. And huge "wagon trains" accumulate behind those people, who would be far more considerate if they stopped to let the pileup pass.

I think tailgating happens "by accident" sometimes in those cases when somebody is frustrated that the slow person in front refuses to yield, and is hovering, poised for an opportunity to launch the moment a passing zone appears -- since it will probably be short, and Murphy's Law says cars will be coming the other way at that precise moment. It's still not good, but it's a case of one variety of inconsiderate behavior breeding another.

snakeweasel

Oh, oops. I left out one important detail.

I kind of figured. But I have seen a long line of cars following a slower car on the mostly level prairie areas of central Illinois. On those roads passing zones are long and plentiful.

Of course we have areas where passing zones are short and rare, but thats not normally the rule.

nightvzn

Wow, I had an unexpected one today. I was about to signal for a rightward lane change, when I was lucky enough to notice a Lexus drifting, unsignaled, into the same lane from the other side. I aborted my lane change and beeped (not a sustained blast, but not a toot either) to notify the driver that he had just nearly caused an accident.

After he had moved forward, I made my lane change, and then I saw him do it again -- no turn signal. Since I was already irritated from the near-miss a few moments before, and I was beginning to gather this was a pattern for this guy, I used the horn again, even though he was now several car lengths in front of me. In those cases, I'm using the horn basically to say "wake up! you're doing something unsafe!"

A few moments later, he changed lanes a third time, this time using his turn signal! Hahaha...

I have to wonder if he was just tired of getting beeped at, and actually made the connection that unsignaled lane changes were the cause. This would definitely renew my faith in the critical thinking ability of drivers.

Of course, while doing his third and signaled lane change, he cut someone off, so maybe he just thought the turn signal would exonerate him from a third attempt at causing an accident in just as many minutes.

xwesx

I think tailgating happens "by accident" sometimes in those cases when somebody is frustrated that the slow person in front refuses to yield, and is hovering, poised for an opportunity to launch the moment a passing zone appears -- since it will probably be short, and Murphy's Law says cars will be coming the other way at that precise moment. It's still not good, but it's a case of one variety of inconsiderate behavior breeding another.

I tend to go the other way in those situations. I hang back a little futher than I normally would so that 1, I can see around the other vehicle easier, and 2, I can anticipate and respond to openings with more precision. If I am running on the other car's bumper and an opening comes up, I have to pull out, accelerate, pass, pull back in. If I hang back further, I can see the opening coming and accelerate. When it is clear, I pull out, pass, and pull back in. Total time in the other lane drops to about 1/4 of the tailgating method, and that seems reasonable to me.

euphonium

I again appreciate you sharing your experience and to Xwesx
for his insight.

xwesx

Hahahhahahahahahahha! Just when you think you are making inroads.....

xwesx

Not to rant much here, but yesterday on the way home I was noticing this new 2007 GMC Yukon Denali (you know, the BIG one, "top of the line") driving next to me on the left of two lanes, and "drifting," if you will, from the center of that lane to about 1 foot into my lane (and about 2-3 feet from me at 60+). At first I was quite annoyed and a little worried, but remembering my own outing in a coworker's 2004 Denali, I had a little sympathy for this driver (but only a little).

Those things have exactly -zero- road feel. I mean.... nothing. It literally feels like you are sitting in a very comfortable living room, watching TV, rather than driving. Who would build a car like that? Who would *want* to drive one? I mean, you would have to have no desire to actually drive a vehicle in order to be induced to purchase one. It is a total 180 from the 1980s versions of this car (the "Suburban" back when Chevy/GMC did not feel obliged to dual-tag them), which were completely utilitarian. These new ones are focused entirely on creature comfort. The steering wheel feels like a toy in your hand, with only deliberate movements creating a noticable effect on the vehicle's travel, and the pedals are like sponges. The accelerator is set up like this: first 1/2" of movement, no response. next 1/2", GO!, the rest of the distance, linear. I drove this rig a total of 28 miles and I was quite happy to go back to my lovely old car.

So, getting back to this new GMC, I had to wonder if it was another "begger cannot be a chooser" driver like my brief experience with one of these things, or if this person chose this *whoa!* (just veered to the right to avoid it colliding with me) vehicle out of a disdain for the driving experience. A quick double-toot on the horn to let the person know there really were two lanes on the road brought the GMC back in to the left, and as it passed me I saw temp tags in the rear window. Ah.... I will give it time and hopefully not have to toot at this driver again. :P

redmaxx

Did you by chance notice if the driver was on a cell phone? I've seen all kinds of cars with poor lane discipline. The lack of road feel only really impacts your ability to drive the car near the limit. I recently drove a 2007 Suburban (just a longer version of the Yukon) had no problems keeping it in my lane. And for the most part, I don't want the car telling me about every little unsealed crack in the road. :P

xwesx

Well, right, I mean, I did not have any trouble keeping the silly thing in my lane, but that has more to do with knowing where your car starts/ends and how your position in it relates to those transition points.

What I was saying is that I am a little more sympathetic to the typical erratic driving I see coming from that type of vehicle (usually not so extreme as this though). The most typical thing I see with them is a random speed up / slow down.

Pfft. Unsealed crack. There is a difference between a good suspension and a complete separation from the experience. It just baffled me a little bit.

Oh, and no, this driver was not on a phone, nor did it look like she was doing anything other than aggressively staring ahead (which may have been part of the problem).

xwesx

In general, it is quite obvious to me that a good number of people appear highly underqualified to drive the vehicle they drive. The problem, I think, is that there is a deep-rooted disconnect between the driver and the vehicle. The driver is thinking, "I need to go to X, Y, and Z," without being present to the fact that, currently, a vehicle of certain size and capability is being driven at whatever speed in whatever conditions. The driver's mind is otherwise engaged, and driving itself is an afterthought. So, since the driving is an afterthought, thinking about what is being driven is not a thought at all.

Perhaps a "missed the journey" syndrome. It is the only thing I can reasonably contribute to many drivers being able to drive for years and years... yet still be very bad at it! Even with no instruction, most people can pick up far more taxing activities (in terms of physical/coordination demands) in far shorter time than even the amount of time spent driving in a single year. Okay, enough now.... /end rant :P

snakeweasel

Ok its near sunset and I am going through a parking lot just driving at an ok speed down the aisle. Well out of the corner of my eye I see a car cutting across between parked cars. Of course I stop and the car just crosses in front of me maybe 3 feet or so in front of me.

Now this guy must have not seen me because he just happened to turn and looked as he cut in front of me, saw me and the look of shock on this guys face was priceless.

euphonium

"it is quite obvious to me that a good number of people appear highly underqualified to drive the vehicle they drive

Especially motorhomes. 40' coaches pulling a Jeep totals about 60' in length. The driver often has coke bottle specticles, hearing aids, while attached to an oxygen tank!

His license was qualified renewed after taking his test in a Toyota Corolla five years ago before his stroke.

IMO anybody driving such a rig should have a CDL. :mad:

fintail

I'll agree with that...motorhomes should require special certification and a skill test. Heck, the most bloated SUVs should require the same. Make the cut-off the same one that qualifies them for that amoral tax writeoff.

Today I was out with a friend and we got behind an older guy in an 80s Volvo 240. He was going a little slow - maybe 30 in a 35, but we weren't going far and were in no hurry, so it didn't matter. Well, the guy started going slower and slower, until he almost stopped a few times, and cars were queuing up behind us. My friend tooted the horn, the guy jumped up in his seat, looked right and left like a prairie dog sticking his head out of a hole, and then made an abrupt left turn. I'm glad I share the road with such legitimate people.

tallman1

At least he saw you and you got the reaction. I had the same thing happen to me today and the guy never noticed that I had to hit the brakes. He was talking on a phone, of course. I can't believe he didn't see the front of my car a few feet away from his passenger door as he passed. :confuse:

bobst

Last Friday it was raining and I was driving on one of our local 4-lane suburban roads that has a 40 mph speed limit.

I noticed the guy in back of me was following pretty close. I had to stop when the traffic light turned yellow, and I guess I surprised him because I saw him fishtailing while trying to stop behind me.

I thought this might encourage him to not follow so close, but No. He kept right on my rear bumper. When I stopped for the next yellow light, he quickly changed lanes and charged through the yellow/red light.

I never saw him again. I thought it was pretty funny.

xwesx

Similar thing on my way home last night. I was coming up on the last light of my commute and the light-change warning light (a set of flashing lights prior to a curve that warns you the light is going to (or is) change to red. After driving the roads for so long, you get a feel for when you need to stop based on your position on the roadway when the warning lights begin to flash. The flashers start just a little prior to my designated cut-off point for stopping. So, I drop the throttle and begin the slow in preparation for a red. The driver behind me bore up on me for a moment or two until he realized his aggression would make no difference in my decision, then somewhat cut off another vehicle in the left lane and tore through the light - entering the intersection just as the light turned red. :sick:

Apparently he really needed to get somewhere, but alas... I was in no such hurry.

bobst

I think you did the right thing in just driving the way that feels comfortable and letting the more aggressive driver take care of himself.

You know, these aggressive drivers must have a lot of skill to do the things they do and still be alive.

xwesx

You know, these aggressive drivers must have a lot of skill to do the things they do and still be alive.

Hahaha... sure! I think it is more that the rest of us are just on the lookout for them.

euphonium

But, they leave a trail of crashes behind them.

fintail

An inconsiderate rock put a ding in one of the glass headlight lenses of the C43...I don't know when, but I was looking over the car yesterday and noticed. I am going on a road trip Sunday, and don't have time to source a replacement...so I patched the tiny hole up with super glue to keep the rain from getting in. I swear I've done that before, maybe on the W126 with its pricey Euro lights...I hope it works.