Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

fintail

I can stand up at my desk right now and see your workplace

If you saw a grey Mercedes parked near the corner at the bottom of the hill, it was me. It wasn't there for long though...after I failed at trying to rock it out, I walked down to the grocery store, bought some cat litter, and got myself out.

snakeweasel

This reminds me of the time me and she who must be obeyed went to do our christmas shopping a few years back (I think I told this story before). We managed to get the closest spot near the entrance of the mall. When my wife bought something instead of dragging that thing through the mall I just went out to the car and put the purchase in the car and returned to the mall to rejoin my wife.

You should have seen the looks I got from people waiting for my spot when I shut the trunk and walked away.

snakeweasel

I remember when I was a kid, there were no places for shopping carts in parking lots.

You must be older than me because my first job as a teenager was bring in carts from those "places".

isellhondas

I've gone back into a store even when I didn't need to just to annoy a park waiter sitting, stupidly with their blinker on waiting for my spot with a line of cars tied up.

I've also had them sit behind me so closely that I've had to wave them back.

I even had to get out of my car once and walk back to tell some dumb woman on her cell phone that she would need to back up so that I could get out!

I'm wondering how many park waiters are reading thiis....?

210delray

I heard recently that park waiters are known as "owls." Those who prowl the aisles searching for the ideal parking spot are known as "hawks."

Makes sense when you think about it.

the_big_al

I pull into a lot and park in the first spot available. If it's at the end of the row, fine. If it's at the front no biggie there either. I can't justify the time spent driving around in circles looking for a "closer" spot or the time wasted waiting for someone to finish loading up to pull out.

Now if I happen to be in the right place at the right time, I'll happen upon someone already in the process of backing out of their space and I'll have to wait anyway and then I'll take that spot...

I can usually be parked and in the store in less time than the car in front of me. I'll pay attention and sure enough, more often than not, as I walk into the store the car that pulled in before me is still circling.

isellhondas

If a parking lot is full a park waiter doesn't bother me. What else can they do?

Usually there are a bunch of nearby available spots. This is what I can't understand.

I actually try to park as far away from the crowd. I like the extra exercise and there is less chance of some idiot opening his door into the side of my car.

elias

this discussion of "park waiters" is funny!

Here are things I do to avoid them:

- I avoid walking straight to my car down a row - always cut through the rows so the parking-waiters can't follow/stalk me! Really, it's *on purpose* that I don't walk straight to my car, it's not because I don't remember where it is! REALLY! :shades:

- Intentionally park in faraway spot, to avoid door-dings as well as parking-waiters.

- If I'm just visiting my car, I open passenger door or trunk, not the drivers door.

isellhondas

I do the same thing.

I'll cut through the middle of a line so the park waiter doesn't spot me.

It's almost like a game. I dislike park waiters and I'll do everything I can to annoy them as much as they annoy me.

tjc78

I thought I was the only one to think this way. I usually park in no man's land as I don't want any dents, however, its so funny to watch a car follow me down the line only to realize I am at the end. They usually get frustrated and go up the next aisle to get something closer. Cracks me up!

jensad

Since I give a hoot where I park I also park far away to avoid dents. One night my wife got me to park up close to the drug store entrance one night. I went in and got her prescription and came back out got in the car and was ready to back out. She told me that a lady pulled in next to us, got out and banged our driver's side door. Very tiny dent but at least not the entire door.

The other driver nor my wife said anything, just let it go. At least now my wonderful wife of many years understands why I park out in the unoccupied parking places and go into the store for her prescriptions.

Good luck to all and I hope that our other members who reside in the snow areas, get safely through the tremendous snow back east.

jensad

tjc78

Very tiny dent but at least not the entire door.

That stinks... I would have been furious. I always get yelled at by my girlfriend for parking far away. Now I let her off at the door and park where I want to, or I take my old S10 that I wouldn't be upset if it got a door ding.

As for the weather after 28 inches on Sat and another wet, heavy 18 inches yesterday in Jersey I have had it. On the bright side, though, work closed yesterday and I never lost power.

whahappan

I remember one time some bozo pushes a cart into the empty spot as I was backing into it. Unreal. :mad:

euphonium

After dumping the boat, I headed to a vacant spot only to find a young girl standing in my way. After tooting the horn she said she was saving this spot for her boyfriend. Not wanting to hold up the process of moving our boat away from the dock, I didn't spend the time to straighten her out and went about 300 feet down the lot and parked at the end. I have often seen people save seats in a theater, stadium, or hall, but that was a first for me in the parking lot. :mad: Is saving seats kosher in this country?

stever

Only if you've shoveled out the space. Most inconsiderate.

stickguy

as steve mentioned, saving spots in the city is big business. At least in Philadelphia, where there is a whole unwritten rulebook about it.

basically, on the small side streets, people who dig out there car (since I assume they actually want to use the car, not clear the spot!) feel entitled to "own" that spot at least until all snow is melted (if not longer).

So, they "mark" it, with whatever they can find. This leads to some hysterical pictures of lawn chairs, kids toys, even religous lawn ornaments being plopped in the vacant spot.

And god help you if you move the trash and take the spot. Expect a keying at best, and possible 4 flat tires and some broken windows.

ghulet

We have that here in Chicago, too....big time. Once, about twenty years ago, I had friends visit me in the city right after a snowstorm, and unbeknownst to me, they removed the old chairs and parked in someone's spot. Came out to find the car had been vandalized (broken side window, dented roof and door frame). Very nice.

210delray

Despite its slogan, Philadelphia has to be one of the least friendly cities I have visited in the US.

snakeweasel

..... or is everyone seeing that this thread has 41 million new posts on the "today's top discussions list" on the forums start page?

stever

Some bug - a ticket was filed on it earlier.

snakeweasel

So are you saying the "Toyota halts sales" thread really didn't have

46,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

posts today? Say it ain't so.

xrunner2

I dream of driving a big old Dodge Power Wagon or something...that I could remove vehicles from the road with, and have no evidence left on my vehicle.

Like that army truck Rambo had up in Oregon.

xrunner2

We have that here in Chicago, too....big time. Once, about twenty years ago, I had friends visit me in the city right after a snowstorm, and unbeknownst to me, they removed the old chairs and parked in someone's spot.

Stories circulated for years in Chicago, apparently many, many instances of it happened, whereby someone "stealing" a shoveled out parking space will find their car's wheels (next to curb) ensconced in ice. The "owner" of the parking space connected a hose to house water spigot and flooded the parking spot.

210delray

At least that doesn't do permanent damage, but obviously it's very inconvenient!

fintail

Ice/water could be a good tool for dealing with inconsiderates in cold climates.

I remember we had a big snow event in 1989...I was 12, and was hanging out at my friend's house. His older brother made us mad for a reason I now forget...so we got back at him by encasing his car in ice and snow. I remember, it was a ca. 77 Olds Cutlass coupe...we mixed up slush and water and just slathered the car with it..I remember pressing it into the door locks and encasing the wipers. It did the trick :shades:

ghulet

remind me not to piss you off!! :P

isellhondas

I'm the guy who better not piss fintail off!

I can see where he works from where I'm sitting. It would take him less than 5 minutes to walk to my car!

fintail

If only we had more winter weather events here...I could pay a visit to a local car lot and have some fun ....not to mention how entertaining the local Stepford wives are in the snow...

jensad

Here in No. Ca, we lost power at least four times a year. Big one about four years ago, no power for four days. Entire block slept on lawn and it was nice as we got to know each other and could commiserate together.

Our son and family in Roscoe Ill and when they moved there three yrs. ago, his wife had to learn to drive in the snow as well as he had to also. So we have heat, and earthquakes, and our son encounters snow and with four sons, not so much peace.

And yes I was "unhappy" when the love of my life told me about the ding on the right side. But that's seems to be par for Disneyland, er, Ca. (all of it is Disneyland.) We seems to avoid responsibility in Ca.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

xrunner2

Our son and family in Roscoe Ill

Roscoe, home of Danica Patrick along with jensad jr.

Snow driving here in N Illinois is helped by having snow tires on 4 wheels. It is extra work to have an extra set of rims and do changeovers every Dec 1, then in March. Can get by with all-seasons, but not as good traction.

Understand people don't want to bother with extra set of rims/snow tires, but when you got 4 snows, people that don't have them kind of are inconsiderate when they hold you up in traffic, slippery intersections.

the_big_al

If I lived in an area that saw snow/ice covered roads a majority of the winter, I would definitely see the benefit of a dedicated studded snow tire, or even just a dedicated non-studded snow tire. Where I live there is only snow on the ground a couple times during the winter and so I don't see the benefit, although a lot of people do and all winter you here them going down the road clickity-clickity-click....

elias

seems like people still argue about which is better, studded snows, or "snow+ice" tires with special compounds/designs such as blizzak.

I say blizzaks are way better than studded snows, especially due to their behavior on dry roads. imho, studs destroy the roads and eliminate traction except on ice. for ice-road-truckers, studs would probably be good. for typical USA winter drivers, blizzaks are better!

jwilliams2

Having used both I totally agree. I am amazed at the snow and ice performance Blizzaks give you.

snakeweasel

Not sure about your state but here in IL studded tires are only legal if you're either a rural route postal carrier or if you are disabled and your driveway entrance is more than 100 yards from a paved road.

morin2

Most states regulate if, where & when you can use studded snow tires. I'm in MD and you can only legally use them in the western counties - but where legal, they are legal for anyone here.

jensad

Hey fintail

I think that is a neat idea. Did you take any photos of an iced car. Maybe a strawberry flavor and a dozen straws would have been fun put into the ice before it hardened. Oh well I think like that.

Good luck to all and stay safe.

jensad

xrunner2

Pet peeve, early left turners. Yesterday, driving on straight 2-lane rural 55 highway, going 55, approaching car has his left turn signal on and is moving, not stopped, and is intending to turn on sideroad that is coming up on my right. He/she cannot wait until I clear intersection and begins turning wheels to his left, moving toward center line. I can view all of that. Rule should be that driver in my position should never see the wheels cocked and car moving toward and/or over the center line until I am totally passed him.her.

Had studded snows years ago when were legal in Illinois and they were far superior to regular snows on ice and snow. But, they were bad in dry, wore out road surfaces. Had Blizaks for mumber of years on Ody. Needed new in 2008/2009 winter, bought 2nd gen Blizak and did not like. Dealer took those back and I then put on Michelin X-Ice2 and liked them much more, have now.

fintail

I sometimes start moving left "early" to scare people who are crawling along well under the limit, I believe often to be a nuisance to other drivers, especially people turning at the ill-sequenced lights here.

isellhondas

Can be very dangerous especially when there are side roads.

euphonium

Source: WSP

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Symptoms:

Mentally condemning or thought of violence toward other drivers.
Verbally expressing condemnation of other drivers to passengers in your vehicle.
Not obeying traffic safety rules because you don't agree with them.
Engage in aggressive and risky driving:
Following too close.
Speeding.
Weaving in and out of traffic.
Speeding up to beat a traffic light.
Cutting between vehicles to change lanes.
Using the horn excessively.
Flashing headlights excessively at oncoming traffic.
Braking to get others to back off your bumper.
Passing another driver, then slowing to teach them a lesson.

fintail

The WSP, there's a credible group....will they go 20 over to have breakfast with their buddies over at Lil Jon's, or just use my tax money to install a bunch of asinine dots on I5 to somehow keep traffic spaced?

Oh yeah, I ran a red light the other day. I sat there for a couple minutes, and it became obvious it was never going to change, as the pedestrian signal never changed from green. Is that bad too?

It's funny that being intolerant of public sector idiocy makes one "aggressive"...the least accountable part of society. If they could get their heads out of their butts long enough to justify their wages and perks, and make traffic move properly, so many of those supposed issues would simply vanish. But that would require work, and you don't take a job with a city/county/state traffic department to work.

Never forget - revenue trumps "safety"...

snakeweasel

Mentally condemning or thought of violence toward other drivers.
Verbally expressing condemnation of other drivers to passengers in your vehicle.

I can see everyone on this forum doing those regularly.

isellhondas

I was at Lil Jon's one morning when a WSP guy dumped his motorcycle.

Very amusing. It took four cops to set it back up.

The only time I flash my lights at oncoming traffic is when a radar cop is sitting there.

They got me five years ago as I emerged from the tunnel that go's under I-90 by the emission testing place.

Ambushed, and nobody flashed me!

fintail

Must have been a big breakfast :shades:

I only flash my lights to wake people up at stoplights, when I don't feel like using my horn to rouse them from their stupor. I've been flashed near the junction of Richards/Lake Hills Connector, where there is often a speed trap where the limit randomly drops. Haven't seen one there lately, maybe they found a new place to cherry pick/ensure safety. I don't go more than 5 over on that road anyway...the lights are ridiculous, no point.

I'll admit I don't warn oncomers of speed traps either.

isellhondas

A cop has been sitting in Group Health lately so be careful when you go up the hill!

xrunner2

I can see everyone on this forum doing those regularly.

Well, the title of this board literally asks for Inconsiderate Drivers to share "their" stories.

euphonium

When you consider how many law enforcement officers have died in uniform in our state in the last several weeks, at least five (5); most intelligent and thinking people appreciate what they do 24/7 for us. They are not to be resented, they are to be honored and respected.

fintail

Indeed, the good ones are awesome. But the organizations are far from infallible. Not everyone in a uniform deserves respect. Sadly, the good ones seem to be claimed while the bastards keep on keepin on. Kind of like life in general, I guess.

I don't see what the recent tragedies have to do with asinine traffic laws or poor ttraffic management.

isellhondas

I couldn't agree more.

I am very pro law enforcement.. The bad guys and their lawyers do NOT want me as a juror.

Still, If I see one hiding with a radar gun I will warn you by flashing my lights and I hope you do the same for me.

210delray

I always warn people of hazards ahead like a crash or other similar reason by flashing my lights, but never for a radar speed enforcement. Everyone has a speedometer, and most experienced drivers should know what the "tolerance" is for speeds above the legal limit. If you get caught driving above this upper tolerance limit, especially if you are exceeding the speed of the flow of traffic, too bad for you!