Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

andre1969

The moment a pedestrian puts their foot in a crosswalk, it is the law that a motorist must stop.

LOL, I still remember an old episode of "My Three Sons", where after they moved to California, Uncle Charley was at the edge of the crosswalk and a car stopped for him. He hollered at the driver to go, and the driver started hollering back at him to cross. I didn't understand it at the time, because I was a little kid (and I caught it in reruns, not first-run...I'm not THAT old! :P ), but I remember one of my grandparents explaining it to me.

I think it confused me because as a kid I was taught to look both ways before crossing the street, and that cars hurt more than people! :surprise:

As for motorcycles, they're not supposed to cut between the traffic lanes here in Maryland, but they still do it. One of 'em pissed me off one day because he cut between the cars to get up front, and then got over in front of me, in the crosswalk, and then his damn bike cut out when the light turned green! I should have offered to give him a friendly push.

Then ond day, I almost ran over one because as I was coming to a red light and slowing down, he cut in front of me and tried to do some cute trick where he balanced up on the front wheel, and wiped out. Got back up pretty quickly, though.

As for hitting the mirrors, I'd like to think that the mirrors on my truck are big enough that the idiot on the bicycle got a nice bruise on his shoulder when he clipped it. :P I wonder what WOULD happen, if a bicyclist actually DID hit your mirror and hurt himself and wiped out. Most likely, they're going to probably try to say you were moving and hit THEM! So I guess it would be nice to have witnesses, but that's not a sure thing in today's "mind your own business" world. :mad:

keitha3

Thanks for presenting the cyclist's view. I probably cycle almost as much as I drive every year, about 7000 miles. Like you, I'm extremely courteous to cars and pedestrians and seek out bike trails or lightly traveled roads. If I reach a stop sign first, even if it's several seconds, I always wave the car on to go first in that I don't want to hold them up.

It's not cars. It's not bicyclists. It IS rude, inconsiderate operators on both sides. If you visit cycling forums (I do), you'll find a bunch of cyclists who for no reason whatsoever have bottles or spit directed their way. Twice, I've had cars run red lights and come within inches of hitting me. Both times, they stopped and apologized profusely and I responded in a non-hostile way. Many cyclists, like drivers, have been killed through the reckless actions of careless drivers.

On the other hand, cyclists who feel they own the road irk me as well. All I'd ask is that, before judging, you try to assess why they're positioning themselves the way they are. There may be a perfectly valid reason.

Let's face it though, inconsiderate drivers in two-ton vehicles are far more dangerous. I get a lot more burned up when my wife and kids are put in danger by a car driver that thinks they own the road or overestimates their own driving skills in a careless manner.

ruking1

..."It's not cars. It's not bicyclists. It IS rude, inconsiderate operators on both sides"...

Perhaps you are discounting the consequences of behaviors? If you were a biker that was going correctly in the direction of traffic, what would be your take on a car going the WRONG way up the bike lane? SAME ACTION?? WHY YES.

I literally see bikers drive UP the incorrect way EVERY day. Truth is if I hit that biker head on, I will never find out why he was going the incorrect way. It wont matter much and it will be ruled his fault.I might have seen cars do this oh say 5 times in 40 years and over 1.5 M miles of driving. By the way I have been biking for over 46 years.

keitha3

I don't disagree with you whatsoever on your point.

As I said, there are stupid operators on bikes and in cars. Are you arguing with that point?

ruking1

Consequences and awareness/perception. Probably frequency per capita also.

Another for example, in CA is is NOT against the law to split lanes. But if you in a car, split lanes with a motorcycle, (that does this ALL the time) the motorcycle driver gets more than irate!!???

keitha3

Gotcha.

xwesx

Took this road a few years ago and didn't see another car on this road.

Funny that you mention that.... when the aerial photo was taken, there was a car travelling west on that road! Just one that I can see.... :P

euphonium

In most of the northern states, there is a policy of checking on any
stalled vehicle on the highway when the temperatures drop down to the single
digits or below.

About 3 a.m. one very cold morning in March 2004, a state police
officer responded to a call: there was a car off the shoulder of the road on
the outskirts of Casper. He located the car, stuck in deep snow and with the
engine still running. Pulling in behind the car with his emergency lights
on, the officer walked to the driver's door to find an older man passed out
behind the wheel with a nearly empty vodka bottle on the seat beside him.
The driver came awake when the officer tapped on the window.

Seeing the rotating lights in his rear view mirror and the state
policeman standing next to his car, the man panicked, jerked the gearshift
into "drive" and hit the gas. The car's speedometer was showing 20-30-40 and
then 50 mph, but it was still stuck in the snow, wheels spinning. The
policeman, having a sense of humor, began running in place next to the
speeding, but still stationary, car. The driver was totally freaked out
thinking the officer was actually keeping up with him. This goes on for
about 30 seconds when the patrolman yelled at the man ordering him to "pull
over!" The man obeyed, turned his wheel and stopped the engine. Needless to
say, the man from Casper was arrested and is probably still shaking his head
over the state patrolman who could run 50 miles per hour. Who says policemen
don't have a sense of humor?

fintail

Power out here this morning, 4 way stops everywhere, and few people actually knew how to handle it. Not surprising at all. People would either freak out and freeze and not take their turn, or blast through an intersection without slowing. My horn works.

About the cyclists, nice to see that offending car drivers have owned up and apologized for their errors. Have errant cyclists ever done so? Not around here. I think it's a law that they don't have to stop for lights and signs here...as I see so few who do.

nightvzn

This is one of those unfortunate situations where not only do some bad apple cyclists give the rest a bad reputation, but this reputation leads a lot of drivers to behave very inconsiderately towards cyclists because they're expecting the worst. In my undergrad days, I used my bike to get around campus every day, no matter what the weather. I followed traffic rules as though I were in a car, and I often had to be very vigilant to make sure some driver didn't moronically get me killed.

Too bad in the sprawling suburban world I live in now, biking for transportation is all but impractical. But with all the cars on the road here, maybe it's just as well.

nightvzn

It sounds good in theory, but let's face it, a website like that would be abused. And it would probably open up the webmaster of said site to the potential of all sorts of libel/slander/harrassment suits.

And, as we know, when people make mistakes behind the wheel, they often find ways to blame the other drivers. People are experts at reframing what actually happened to make it sound like the others were at fault. The concept of that site is amusing, but I'd take it with a huge chunk of salt. Basically as a "for fun only" thing.

And did you notice how almost every single comment thread on that site breaks out into a verbal fistfight? It's far worse than this forum ever gets, probably because this place is moderated, but it's so predictable I don't know if I want to laugh or cry.

nightvzn

Many people critize GM for including automatic light control on their cars but this morning I wish EVERY car had such a feature.

I greatly preferred auto light control on my previous car to the DRL's I have now. I'm not sure what the root of the criticism would be.

nightvzn

it was probably going about 35 MPH. In a 55 MPH zone. This line of cars had to be at leat 40 cars long.

Reminds me of 79 from Whitney Point to Ithaca. You'd always get some (often older) driver dawdling along, amassing a wagon train of conscripted disciples abaft.

These are the people who either have no concept of how much they're irritating the 5, 10, 20 drivers behind them, or simply don't care. They seem to have a peculiar understanding of physics. Like, as though a gentle breeze would be enough to overpower their tires' lateral grip and send them flying off into the field.

Driving must be a horrendously stressful experience for such paranoids...

nightvzn

In California, pedestrians and bicyclists seem to have a all the rights in the world (which is a good thing).

Good in principle, although it concerns me when they take it a step further and seem to assume legal protection transcends the laws of physics

nightvzn

There is some old wive's tail saying it's better to bike on the "wrong" side because that way you can see traffic coming. I have relieved several people of this strange and incorrect point of view.

ruthiem

I was in a car accident & the other driver was at fault. He was 17, no DL & driving a car his mother had just purchased 5 days earlier at a Tote The Note car lot. According to the officer that worked the scene, driver said he had no insurance. I also had no insurance. My car was totaled & I will be off work a minimum of 5 weeks. I was told by someone who knows the mother of the driver that she does have insurance. My question is "is there any way I can find out if there is any insurance?". Or, does anyone have any helpful advice on what I should do? I appreciate any advice I can get. I'm not looking to fill my pockets, just replace my car. Thanks in advance for your help.

kapbot

I'm sorry for you. I sincerely hope the situation can be resolved. Hopefully no injuries?
This is a classic example of why everyone should carry insurance on their vehicle. I dont know if TN requires it, but there you go. I don't mean to be a jerk, really. I'm sure someone who knows more will see your post and give a more helpful reply.

On my way home tonight, I'm in the middle lane of I-435 going south just past I-70. I moved into the middle lane because of a lot of I-70 traffic merging. As I am approaching the solid line of merging traffic, some clown moves over, not even at the actual "merge" part of their on-ramp and just moves right into the middle lane! That's the equivalent of 3 lanes! If I hadn't been paying attention, this moron would've totally sideswiped me. If someone had been in the left lane, woulda been for absolutely sure a stupid wreck on the highway.

If I was still driving the Dakota, I probably would have rolled it, it was that close.

About a half mile further, I come up behind a Ford F-150 in the middle lane, going quite a bit slower than me. I signaled,and moved over to the left lane. What does he do? Speeds up of course. He didn't just speed up a little, he was purposely messing with me. Thankfully, there was eventually another car in his lane, and I moved over once I passed it. He slowed down again after that.

I'll never understand the mentality of some people. I really wished I had some 007 type of oil slick to shoot out the back. For both the idiots!

snakeweasel

There in the front of the line was a small sedan, I didn't catch what it was, but it was probably going about 35 MPH. In a 55 MPH zone. This line of cars had to be at leat 40 cars long.

Reminds me of a time that I was going down Rt 47 between Morris and Yorkville in Northern IL. For those unfamiliar with this road its as straight as can be for 6 miles then takes a gentle left curve then a gentle right curve then goes straight as can be for 8.5 miles before a even gentler curve entering the town of Yorkville. The terrain here is pretty flat. In other words in 15 miles there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 11-12 miles of passing zone.

Well one day the air was clear weather warm and I had all the time in the world so I am clipping along at maybe 60 MPH enjoying the day and the ride and I started to get people piling up behind me. No one would pass me. There was very light traffic coming the other way so they had plenty of opportunity to pass.

ruthiem

You're not a jerk, well, at least I don't think you are (ha ha). I appreciate you replying. TN requires you to have insurance, but they only know that you don't have it when you get a ticket or get into an accident. I had insurance up until October, but being a single mother with 2 kids (and with X-Mas around the corner), I was looking for a way to cut out some expenses. My car was paid for, so, assuming that I could do without insurance for a little while, I set my premium notice to the side. That's what I get for assuming.

No one was seriously injured. I got the worst of it, a fractured ankle, but hey, I am still alive!!!

What should I do?!? When I was leaving the hospital the night of the accident, the boys mother apologized and asked me if I was going to sue her. I told her my car was totaled and I was going to have to get another one. Her reply, "my car is totaled too". Later, a friend & I drove by the lady's home. A very nice, new double wide modular home with 3 vehicles sitting out front, 2 on the side & 2 in the garage. Plus, the 99 Mustang her son was driving. Should I write her a letter asking her if she has insurance, or what? I thought that maybe she would contact me, but it's already been 3 weeks. A friend said I should file a civil suit. If I won, & I'm 99.9% positive I would, she would have 10 days to pay, or the court would issue a wage withholding order. Although the accident was in no way my fault, I feel guilty even thinking about suing her!

I'll never understand the mentality of most people myself. I understand what you mean about the 007 type of oil slick to shoot out the back for the idiots, but, if your luck is anything like mine has been, it would miss the idiots & hit an innocent driver!!

Thanks for listening and may you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

kapbot

Thanks for taking my reply in the way I meant it. Seriously, I think there is an insurance thread here on Edmunds, and I am even more sure that that someone will see your post and point you in the right direction.

If my own luck is any guide, the oil slick would malfunction, and I would take myself out in a grand display of ironic stupidity!!

All the best to you, Great holiday wishes, and really, when you are on your death bed, the worst that will come of this is:
"wow, at least that stupid wreck back in '06 didn't do me in..."

Really, good luck, find an expert, heal up, and be thankful.

ruthiem

Thank you. I needed to laugh!

euphonium

The 17 year old is a minor and as such can not own chattel property. The legal owner would have to be his parent or guardian. Most likely his mother's name is on the title.

If she actually and really has auto liability insurance she can take advantage of the 30 day automatic coverage extension clause which provides the same coverages on newly acquired cars as she has on her car and in this case it is at least Liability. As for her son's car, if she has a car with full coverage, then her son's car would, for 30 days from purchase date have full coverage.

Simply visit the mother and ask if her name is on the title of the newly acquired vehicle and who is her insurance company, policy number, & expiration date.

ruthiem

Thank you so much for the information. I'll try visiting her and see what happens. Merry Christmas!

ruthiem

Thank you for your information. I'll post my question there right now. Merry Christmas to you!

jmonroe

Funny that you mention that.... when the aerial photo was taken, there was a car travelling west on that road! Just one that I can see....

That was 'snake'.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

Actually I was going the other way. On the island of Maui there is a road called the road to Hana. Its a beautiful trip to the town of Hana and a little further (they don't have aria shots of that road thought). Many tourists make a day trip down this road and back again. Its very lovely as it follows the coast through some very spectacular rain forest. Its a very winding road that takes a couple of hours to travel the 40 miles. This ends at some very spectacular waterfalls at which the vast majority of people turn around and go back. Up to this point the road is heavily traveled.

However the road does continue around the island. But from that point on the road becomes quite primitive as it goes from a well kept paved road to a unkept dirt road. Most of this time you cant go more than 10-15 MPH due to the condition of the road. Few people travel that portion and the rental car companies don't want you driving that road.

imidazol97

I assume the State of Tennessee has required documents to be filled out after the accident reporting insurance covererage or selfinsurance. The other person must file those also or be in violation of state law. (I'm paralleling what has happened in Ohio assuming it applies to Tennessee law. It may not. Friends live in Smyrna and have found huge deficiencies in workers comp and other laws compared to their time in Ohio.)

Marsha who posts in the other discussion linked is an attorney in Georgia. She may have understanding of TN law.

I would not let the mother smooze me in any way. Whatever she owns, she will be be transferring title and moving bank accounts if I get a read on her comments. I've been exposed to the smoothies and hate when people get over. This lady needs to meet Judge Judy. She's responsible for her son and his accident. And euphonium is right about the potential of insurance coverage. But you need and ATTORNEY or some free legal aid help in this one or you're going to get taken and not get what you deserve.

I assume the 17 year old is in jail... :mad:

mark156

Marsha7 is a guy. I think he uses his wifes screen name.

Mark

jmonroe

:confuse: Marsha7 is a guy. I think he uses his wifes screen name.

If you can believe the bio, the name says BOB. :confuse:

Ain't that just like an Attorney? They do act like weasels (sorry 'snake') sometimes don't they? :surprise:

jmonroe

jmonroe

Actually I was going the other way.

Are you sure somebody didn't turn the negative around?

It happens a lot, you know.

jmonroe

imidazol97

Thanks for the heads up. I guess the name fooled me.
However I've been impressed by the advice.

fintail

On the radio this morning I heard of fights breaking out here where people have lined up to buy gas, because others cut in line. Now that's inconsiderate.

I am glad I almost always have my car filled to at least 3/4 tank.

ruthiem

I just wanted to say thank you to all who responded to my post. To update, I took a chance and called the car lot where the other vehicle was financed. They had not been notified of the accident and appreciated my calling, so much so, they gave me all the insurance information that I needed!!! Thanks again for your advice & may you all have a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

imidazol97

Remember that the value of your car and your injuries is not limited to the amount of insurance which the responsible person (MOTHER) or the lien holder chose to require. The mother (and child as law permits) is responsible for any and all, whether they like the idea of paying and being responsible or not. I personally would do some checking to see the license plates on cars at the home and who owns them now, and the ownership of trailer house and value on the country records. Be prepared.

jensad

I agree with you as it is very inconsiderate. Indeed, in the early 1970s we had a "gas crisis", i.e. long lines each morning of cars waiting until the gas stations openned.

In California, we could only get gas on certain days. Even license numbers got gas on one day and odd numbers on the other.

Talk about angry, discourteous and inconsiderate people! Several went to jail (directly to jail and did not collect $200 when they passed "Go".)

Last night I observed on tv that a young man up in NW US was charging $ 25 per gallon. Very smart young man. I think he will make a great wheeler-dealer in futuro.

I pray for the people in the rain soaked areas to get through it safely and I wish them well.

Good luck to all and have a peaceful holiday season.

jensad

gogogodzilla

I guess I'm missing something here.

Why would anyone (in the present day) buy gas for $25/gallon when they can go to the gas station and buy all they want at roughly $2.50/gallon?

Is something happening in the Northwest that is cutting off the supply of gasoline?

:confuse:

fintail

In some areas gas stations are closed because of power outages. So some people are going into a panic. The funny thing is that 90% of the time one can drive no more than maybe 5 miles and find an open station, even in hard hit areas. Many more areas have power today, too. I haven't seen this gouging guy, but I don't doubt it. And really, people have other options, so caveat emptor.

jensad

The young man was on Sat nights tv, either CBS or NBC nightly news. He said he would charge $ 25 for a gallon of gas. It was some place in Washington or Oregon where they are having a lot of rain and problems with transportation.

He anticipates getting his price when the gas stations run out of gas due to the inclimate weather and the inability of the stations being resupplied.

I was struck by his fee for a gallon of gas. I hope he doesnot get his price.

jensad

snakeweasel

I hope that the states attorney general looks into this guys business practices.

fintail

Was this gouger a gas station operator or just some guy with gas cans?

jmonroe

I was struck by his fee for a gallon of gas. I hope he doesnot get his price.

I hope the people remember who he is when the weather related problems are over.

That's the best way to handle gougers like that.

jmonroe

redmaxx

I so very much wish that ALC was required. So many people here in AZ are not used to the sun setting between 5:00 and 5:30. And then there are the elderly couple in the newer Odyssey driving around in the dark with parking lamps. :confuse:

redmaxx

Yesterday I'm driving around to a few places on my birthday. So I'm going down a narrow two lane in each direction 35 MPH street that connects two shopping centers I'm going north and the shopping centers are on each side). I come around a bend and see the car a little ways in front of me going about 20 and hitting their brakes. Minivan in the left lane trying to cross between shopping centers. So you'd think that the idiots that thought it was a good idea to nearly ram the car in front of me would stay stopped. Nope, they actually started creeping forward, forcing me to come to a screeching stop. Then, to top it all off, they stopped in my lane. :mad:

fintail

I almost got hit by a woman in a Volvo who decided she wanted the lane I was occupying while driving the ES loaner. That wouldn't have been pretty. I also saw a woman in a dark grey Odyssey about an hour after dark - no lights of course.

Also, I now appreciate xenon lights even more. The plain lights in that ES seemed so weak! I wouldn't even had known they were on without the lit up gauges.

snakeweasel

Wife needed to get something from the store (a local fabric store) she was just going in pick it up and be out, maybe 3-5 minutes. Well I waited outside so to save gas I turned off my headlight (but kept the parking lights on as I was next to passing traffic) and turned off the engine.

Well a few minutes later the wife comes out I start up the car and drive off. Well since the parking lights were on and the area was well lite I forgot the headlights were out until we got into a dark stretch of road.

Opps. :sick:

snakeweasel

I only do that when I am getting off I-55 at Joliet Rd which is a left lane exit. Or when I recognize someone from this forum to give them something to write about. :P

jmonroe

Well since the parking lights were on and the area was well lite I forgot the headlights were out until we got into a dark stretch of road.

Welcome to the club.

I don't think there is anybody that hasn't done this.

The thing I will never understand is when people get out of a well lit area, some continue driving with only there parking lights on!!!

As I have commented to Mrs. jmonroe several times, "some people just like being in the dark (always)". :sick:

jmonroe

fintail

Atrocious commute tonight (according to the car's computer I averaged 6 mph), so in hockey style, I will name the three stars of my drive.

The third star goes to the petite lady in a late model CLK500. She wouldn't get less than maybe 20 seconds behind the car in front of her. At 25 mph (in the left lane of a 40), that's a decent gap. I couln't see what her issue was.

Second star goes to the vehicle in front of the CLK, a woman in a big Lexus SuperLandCruiser. She was going about 25 in a 40, left lane, drinking a big bucket 'o pop.

First star was a guy in a silver Malibu rental. He was also in the left lane, going about 25 in a 35. I thought something was up when I saw car after car passing on the right up ahead. This was a good hour after dark, in the rain, and he had no lights on. He also had his dome light on.

This is a great place.

jmonroe

He also had his dome light on.

Darn...no sooner than I open my mouth, you find a guy who doesn't like to be in the dark. :confuse:

jmonroe

fintail

Just when I thought I had seen it all...

For a moment I thought of calling the cops, as this guy was an obvious road hazard...but, it was raining, so he would have been allowed to proceed.