Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

the_big_al

I felt like a lane dominator the other night, only it was a 2 lane highway and I was trying to go the speed limit. I was on my way home from a town about 12 miles from where I live. It's a 2 lane road signed at 55 MPH with a couple hills and 2 lane passing zones. It's a typical highway, fairly straight and wide with scattered population along the way.

I was going about 55-60 and noticed taillights ahead. I didn't think much of it; traffic usually travels about the same speed I was already doing so I expected the car to stay ahead of me. Then a few seconds later, I noticed that I had roared up on his tail as if I were doing 90 MPH. I glanced down and I was still only doing less than 60. The limit was still 55. I slowed down and had to keep slowing down until I was doing about 40-45. I tried my best to stay off his tail, but I kept creeping up on him. Finally I was able to pass and I "roared" by him. I pulled back in and went back to my 55-60 only to roar upon another vehicle barely a half mile later doing the same speed as the previous vehicle. I slowed down again and this car actually pulled off the road to let me by. Only he pulled off in that lazy, slow manner that by the time he actually pulled off the road he was only going about 15 MPH.

After that I really felt like a lane dominator, but it was ironic that I was trying to only do the speed limit and although it was dark, the road conditions were normal. There was no ice, the road was clear, the sky was clear and no fog or rain or anything that would warrant adjusting travel speed.

xwesx

Fin, have you considered moving to Cashmere and telecommuting to work? :P

xwesx

Sometimes I feel I am at a disadvantage on the road by driving a small car (Ford Escort) as my primary vehicle. This feeling comes through my lack of visibility of the road(s) around me when larger vehicles are in the area or low obstructions rest near the roadway.

For some reason, the grounds crew at my local university decided to pile up snow along one of the main campus roadways this winter - the first time I noticed this behavior. Normally, they are very good about clearing, then pile the snow well away from roadways. Well, at this particular location, the snow was high enough (about 4') that visibility at an adjacent intersection was completely obscured if the driver's frame of reference was lower than the height of the berm.

I usually turn left at this intersection, from the roadway connecting to the main road. Up until now, it was dark by this time of the day, so even if a small car was coming and I could not see it, I could see the glow of lights. Not so yesterday. We are getting enough light now that headlight glow is no longer visible. I pulled up to the intersection, looked, peered, and crept out into the road a bit to see if someone was coming, but could not see anything. So, I went. And, yes, of course, there was a low-slung car (white Subaru Legacy wagon) just beyond the edge of the berm. The driver felt obliged to ride my bumper all the way do the street to emphasize disapproval, but there wasn't much more I could do about it.

I came to work this morning resolved to report the issue to the facilities group, but shockingly enough they had removed the berm sometime during the night. How is that for ironic? They leave it there for four months, but remove it the same night it almost caused a crash. I suppose I should be thankful.

fintail

Driving east of the mountains is so much more pleasant...even the slowpokes mind their manners. The weather is also better, housing is drastically cheaper...sadly, it's not the best job market there unless one inherits a family business or is in the public sector.

xwesx

Driving east of the mountains is so much more pleasant...even the slowpokes mind their manners.

I agree. I do most of my Washington/Oregon driving on the eastern side of the mountains, and it is far more pleasant driving. Not always, but certainly on average.

I hope to convince my wife to move back there (well, me back, her there) once we are financially independent. In this crazy time, however, that may be later rather than sooner!

fintail

Maybe they have a CCTV that caught your near-miss. Driving an Escort in a SUV society must be fun

xwesx

Haha; yeah, it takes a true masochist to do it, but I got the car for $800 about 8 months ago, and it has paid for itself with ease at this point, so the longer I keep it, the easier it is to bank savings.

It is not much fun to drive, being FWD and gutless, but the manual transmission helps a little.

fintail

I am shocked at how people there in the left lane will move right for faster traffic. Something so rarely seen here. I feel odd that I can drive for a few hours and not be strongly annoyed, never happens here. That and "rush hour" in Spokane or Tri-Cities seems to be the same volume as 9PM traffic here.

I spent a bit of my childhood in that part of the region, and I can think of many worse places to retire.

fintail

Back when I was little and I lived in a snowier area, before my dad bought a 1985 S-10 Blazer, he had a Plymouth Horizon he always swore was the best snow car.

No car payment plus cheap insurance will be thousands upon thousands saved in a year. And in something like that, aggressive driving pretty much isn't an option :P

xwesx

It's therapeutic.

I have no illusions about the Escort's abilities. It is a horrible snow car, but typically gets me where I want to go, or close enough to make for a pleasant walk, anyway. With a measly 116,000 miles on it, I can likely get many more years out of it.

fintail

Maybe if I had a very slow car I would become irked less often and maybe be a nicer driver. When your car has no potential to pass the slowpokes, you learn to deal with it. But, I am not going to take the plunge into a 1977 240D automatic just yet :P

xwesx

Well, okay.... but think about it. :shades:

hammerhead

We have our share of slo-mo's over here too, fin, perhaps not so ethnically diverse as yours. I think in some areas the traffic volume is beginning to catch up to the speed limits. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 70 limit in the east valley drop someday due to increasing congestion.

I can still make it from my driveway to the parking lot at the ski hill in 75 minutes, though :shades:

Cheers!
Paul

stever

Usually takes me an hour, sometimes 10 minutes less. It's the longest 25 miles in the state I think.

Last week I started up the final 16 mile stretch of one way road and got behind a Legacy older than my Outback at the last stop sign before heading up. The side window was open and a big dog was hanging out and I figured they'd pull over at a bunch of trailheads a mile up the road. When they didn't, I figured they'd use one of the many turnouts.

But after the first two miles I realized that the driver was pulling away from me and they beat me to the lot by a good five minutes or more. He must have had Nokians on that old Subie.

Send us some snow will ya (but just at 6,000 feet or higher. :-)).

hammerhead

We don't have much to spare... lots of stumps showing down low.
It's been bare & wet to bare & dry the last couple trips. 40-mile stretch of posted 75 mph doesn't hurt, either.

Lots of slow (45 or so) runners in the Silver Valley - but usually very considerate right-lane keepers.

Cheers!
Paul

xwesx

Whew. Must be fun.

The last time I was downhill skiing, which was, I think, in late December of 1997, we went to a place called Anthony Lakes in the Blue Mountains of Oregon (off I-84). We were driving a '98 Outback. On our way home going down the small two-laner that snaked down the mountainside from the resort, a group in a Chevy Suburban came barreling down on us just out of the parking lot. They were very close, probably about four, maybe five car lengths behind. The road was covered in packed snow, and it was drizzling - not a good combo. We were going at about 30, and the driver, my Dad's girlfriend at the time, was somewhat uncomfortable at that speed which was made worse by the tailgater. My Dad told her not to worry about it and suggested she speed up going into the next curve.

She was hesitant to do that, but did speed up a little (maybe to 35) as she started the turn. The Suburban kept right up, but lost traction on the corner and slid off the side of the road into the huge snow berm. I think my Dad laughed for a good five minutes after that; his girlfriend slowed down to about 25 the rest of the way to the bottom.

oregonboy

That is TOO funny. :P

hammerhead

Justice is sweet!
Our Suburban tracks pretty well, but not as good as the Subarus. Being top heavy & wearing tires that are not snow-specific contribute as well. Tracks the slippery stuff just fine, just not at quite the same velocity.

I know of Anthony Lakes - my wife grew up in Baker, she's skiied there in the past.
One reason (among many) that I like Lookout so much - no mountain road. Freeway off ramp at the summit, a 180 degree right turn, and you're in the parking lot.

I can remember many a trip to & from Mt. Spokane when I was way younger... a couple switchbacks & other interesting twisties on that road, in my parent's RWD Buicks.

Cheers!
Paul

oldfarmer50

"...he had a Plymouth Horizon he always swore was the best snow car..."

I had the twin Dodge Omni and, I agree, it was a great snow car. I never had to plow the driveway to get out.

It finally got stuck one winter after a 2 foot snowfall. That's when I finally bought a snowblower. Most of the time I just plowed the driveway with the Omni.

stever

Wishes must be horses - Bogus got 8 inches of powder overnight. Anthony Lakes has been on my list for a while but have yet to get over there.

Just got back from running errands and didn't see any drivers doing anything remotely dumb this morning. Plus someone kindly eased out of my way when I was trying to manhandle the minivan out of a parking lot at a weird angle.

snakeweasel

before my dad bought a 1985 S-10 Blazer, he had a Plymouth Horizon he always swore was the best snow car.

I had a couple of 80's Omni and I can tell you that car handled great in show. Hardly ever lost traction and if I couldn't go through it I could go over it. Never got stuck in my Omnis.

jensad

In the early 70s, we owned a manual shift 67 VW and we were driving back from Tahoe, down from the mountain in heavy snow. A big Chev van was tail gating us. Our VW was low to the ground and as we made a turn, looking in my read view mirror, I observed the same thing as the big van slid to the right and right into large snow bank.

I have a suspicion that he/she stayed there until a tow truck pulled him/her out. The funny part to me was the slow motion action of sliding into the snow bank. I.e. the van seemd to slow down and slowly slide into the bank. I guess the driver was trying to steer out of it and maybe by mistake accelerated.

I am envious of you folks in Oregon/Washington having some country left to drive in. In Disneyland, er Ca, much of the country land is golne, and where we currently live, are shopping centers and freeways. The wife retires which may give us mobility.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

fintail

Today here it was a pseudo-holiday with nice weather, which equals slowpoke city.

I had to venture onto 405 today, which locally is an infamous nightmare known to be able to be clogged at anytime from 5am-9pm. Only moderate volumes, but LLCs everywhere, cars in the carpool lane going 50, a woman in a Highlander hybrid going 45, a guy in a Fit who wouldn't get any closer than about 20 car lengths to the car in front of him, and so on. Then on a 4 lane 30mph suburban road, there was a fat mustached guy in a late model Corvette, accompanied by a frumpy woman, in the left lane going maybe 17 mph. I don't understand.

I think lars should move here. Everyone goes so slow so much of the time.

stever

"Urban travel is slow and inefficient, in part because drivers act in self-interested ways.

Closing roads makes it more difficult for individual drivers to choose the best (and most selfish) route....

...selfish drivers typically waste 30 percent more time than they would under
"socially optimal" conditions."

Removing Roads and Traffic Lights Speeds Urban Travel (Scientific American)

snakeweasel

Now wouldn't closing roads put more traffic on the remaining roads clogging them making travel even more inefficient?

stever

Not necessarily per the article.

If people can get to where they need to go by other means, then the roads wouldn't be missed.

After all, building more roads and more lanes hasn't helped congestion, nor has it made drivers more considerate.

snakeweasel

After all, building more roads and more lanes hasn't helped congestion,

Actually it can and has. One example is I-355 here in Chicago. It went from the NW suburbs south but ended at I-55 and south bound traffic had two options. First was to get on I-55 and go miles out of their way to either I-80 or I-294 or get off the interstate onto the regular roads. After they extended I-355 all the way south to I-80 many people traveling the regular roads south of where I-355 used to end stated that traffic decreased dramatically. Trust me congestion in that area has decreased due to that new Interstate.

euphonium

"If people can get to where they need to go by other means, then the roads wouldn't be missed."

"other means" = mass transit facilities and those who advocate MTF want it for all the other folk so they can use the roads and highways.

Building additional lanes on present roads and building new roads is what honors the automobile and independent value drivers. Nobody with a pony wants to ride in the stage coach.

This backward thinking of less roads eminates from the kind of person that believes in combating Global Warming. Build more roads and GW is a myth.

stever

I bet it still won't help the 2009 rankings - for 2008, Chicago was #3 for traffic congestion. Top 10 Congested Metropolitan Areas in the US 2008.

But we digress. :shades:

xwesx

That's right. I think several things would happen - first, there would likely be fewer cars on the remaining roads as people look toward increasing overall efficiency by carpooling or taking other means to arrive at and return from their destinations. Second, those drivers on the remaining routes would, I think, feel less comfortable with the environment and therefore drive with heightened awareness - theoretically, this could lead to more consideration. And, third, it puts a huge kink in the "take" mentality. Creating more capacity accommodates drivers who already have a "me, me, me" attitude, and it simply reinforces their notion of entitlement. If something that was long taken for granted is suddenly taken away, those same people suddenly realize that it is not all about them.

Admittedly, however, I am probably being somewhat of an idealist in this regard. People can be annoyingly dense.

The idea is that the absence of traffic regulation forces drivers to take more responsibility for their actions.

And, that is such a beautiful idea. :shades:

imidazol97

We have a half inch of snow on cold pavement with more coming down and the ambient is warming to 33 and the stuff gets slick.

A Jeef with a canvas type top with windows was driving on a 5 lane street. Near the curbs the street is sloped more. Her Jeep starts twisting as the street has a slight uphill slope. She spins out in front of the inside traffic lane and partly on the dual left turn lane in the middle. She never turned the steering wheel into her skid.

She then proceeds to pull on into the 2nd lane of the traffic in the opposite direction in front of an oncoming car. I waited for the crash, but the other driver apparently steered out of the collision. The Jeep driver never knew she almost caused a collision. She was too busy holding her hands up with the "gee, what happened? I didn't do anything wrong!" look as she was pulling in front of the oncoming car.

fintail

I love SUVs in snow.

snakeweasel

Ok like imidazol we have a half an inch or more on the ground with more coming down except that its staying in the teens to low 20's. First one is a lady in a Hyundai Accent and the road is two lanes in each direction with only one traffic light over three miles. I am patiently driving behind her because only one lane was driveable when we stopped at the one light along this part of the road. She came to a stop at the red light then as traffic was making a left turn onto our road (it was a T-intersection) she then went trough the red light almost hitting a car turning onto the road in front of her. She almost hit one of the turning cars.

Second was later on when we were getting further down the road. We had crossed the county line and this county actually plowed the street so I passed her and kept going on. Well as I am going down the road there is this MB turning right onto the road to go in our direction. Now while its snowing and a bit slippery this Benz was turning onto the road so slow that it looked like he was almost standing still.

Third was further along I am stopped at a red light first in line in the right lane. Light turns green I start going through when some idiot makes a right turn on red right in front of me. And goes real slow.

maybe it was the snow.

oldfarmer50

"...First one is a lady in a Hyundai..."

Those Hyundai drivers are the worst ain't they, with their "My car is so practical" attitude.

"...this MB turning right..."

You should have gotten out of his way. Don't you know, MB owners actually DO own the road. Caddie owners only lease. :shades:

"...some idiot makes a right turn on red right in front of me. And goes real slow..."

That was obviously some Chi-town gang banger "disrespecting" you. You should have pulled out your Tech-9 and taught him some manners. Either that or he was just some poor taxpayer who recognized you as an accountant and was looking for tax tips.

fintail

As I say, I'm in a Mercedes, get the hell out of my way :P

Yesterday I was a couple cars behind an Illinois-plated Toyota Highlander. At a major intersection where the straight lanes had a red light, the right turn lane had a green arrow. The fakey SUV is in the turn lane and comes to a complete stop, instantly clogging a once free-flowing lane and undoubtedly raising some tempers. Nice.

xwesx

I am patiently driving behind her because only one lane was driveable

That is the most frustrating thing about driving my Escort. Where I was once able to use that second lane to pass other vehicles in the right lane, I cannot reasonably do so in the Escort. The snow tosses it around so much that it would be impractical in many situations and downright dangerous in others to attempt it. So, I simply have to sigh, hang back, and ride it out.

snakeweasel

Ok early this AM on the way to work I stopped for gas. Pulled into the pumps closest to the entrance of the station. These pumps are placed so that if you are at the pump near the building there is an area as wide as a traffic lane between your car and the entrance but its blocked for traffic.

Well I pulled up to the pump behind an SUV who started filling up the same time I did but then went into the store. As I was just finishing up some guy pulled up behind me and got out of his car and started to go into the store effectively locking me in. :mad:

Well I did ask him to move since I was done and he was blocking me but he wasn't going to until I mentioned that I would push him out of the way if I had to.

xwesx

Haha! Good for you! It is nice to know that people can still be motivated to be considerate if given the proper incentive.... :shades:

jipster

Well I did ask him to move since I was done and he was blocking me but he wasn't going to until I mentioned that I would push him out of the way if I had to.

Tax season must be getting to ya snakie, an accountant resorting to violence... unheard of. :P

ruking1

And they want us to help... as good citizens !!!

link title

jensad

Is it great what people will do if you ask them politely. I was boxed in several years ago. I approached the owner of the car, and poliely asked him to "please relocate" his vehicle. He looked at me like I was crazy, but then I am not wrapped to tight anyway.

I informed him if he did not move his car, I would politely move it for him. He understood and moved his car back enough for me to back out. Oh, I also said, "thank you".

See, even in Disneyland, i.e. No. Calif, there are still alive, polite drivers.

Snakeweasel and the others in the snow, my hat is off to you folks. That must be difficult to traverse the roadway with new snow, ice, ect.

Our son and his family live in Roscoe Ill near Rockford and he said he had his portable snowblower working seemingly overtime.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

jipster

I informed him if he did not move his car, I would politely move it for him.

What exactly does that mean... you had an extra set of his keys?

snakeweasel

Snakeweasel and the others in the snow, my hat is off to you folks. That must be difficult to traverse the roadway with new snow, ice, ect.

Its not to difficult, but then again I learned how to drive in snowstorms.

Our son and his family live in Roscoe Ill near Rockford

I have friends up near there, nice area not to bad.

snakeweasel

What exactly does that mean...

One of two things, either "low gear and push", or "back and ram".

jensad

Dear jipster

What I said I meant. I would have moved it for him/ help him move it, (pretty radical but its been done before), or call a cop, or/and maybe a tow truck, or maybe using another form of persuasion (I won't comment on this option).

Good luck to all and stay safe (and peaceful).

jensad

fintail

Tonight I got behind....let's say a new to the continent driver, in a Camry. She got to a major intersection, with a free right turn that is easy to take due to the long light sequencing - stop and go, no problem. She was scared to take it. Traffic backed up for over 3 blocks.

Then I was on a 4 lane 40mph suburban road...I got behind some dope in a RL crawling along at about 31, so I quickly passed, on the left, and exactly when I did, an airhead in a Corolla maybe 10 car lengths in front of the RL got into the left lane and decided to go about 33. I flashed her a couple times, and then passed on the right. I gave her the evil eye when I passed, and she had that smug vacuous look of the LLC. I had half a mind to brake check her once I completed my pass, but I suspected she lacked ABS, so she'd probably just make my commute a real headache. The motorist gene pool needs chlorine. These people don't have a logical right to be driving.

jensad

I agree with you fintail. EVERY state has pinhead drivers who have no clue about driving skills. I was coming home today on a local freeway. I was in the right lane at a "Y" fork in the road. I was going right, and this pinhead was in the far left.

At that junction of the roadway, there are six lanes. The pinhead did not signal, he just turned right across all six lanes and then slowed down in front of me. I suspected something like this might occur due to traversing this road over the last 30 years. I cooled off after another 1/2 mile and passed him up heading to Antioch up SR 4.

Oh, I have a RL, and this driver you mentioned maybe should be driving a car that maybe does not make him afraid to go fast. Don't know, just an unsubstantianed opinion.

I have no stats, but 30 years ago, there were about 3 million drives in CA w/o licenses and/or incapable due to medical, mental, (fill in here), driving about.

Today I do not know but it HAS to be much greater.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

snakeweasel

and she had that smug vacuous look of the LLC.

Can you really have a LLC on a "suburban" road? Last time I checked "keep right except to pass" applied to limited access highways, not roads where people make left turns onto and off of. The dynamics of driving on a city streets are different than highways and keeping right except to pass can make things more difficult.

fintail

Yeah, I meant no ill will against the RL...that driver would have been better off in something like a Kia Rio or a cushy Buick if he's afraid to hit the 40mph barrier. It's idiotic to buy a car with any performance pretense if you're not even going to touch the speed limit.

fintail

This was a divided road with a tree lined median - left turns only at major intersections, being every half mile or so. No excuse to camp out in the left lane, and no excuse to get into the left lane when a faster car is approaching. Lane discipline should exist on all roads. Slower traffic, or in this case mentally challenged traffic, should stay right.