Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options

Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

1298299301303304478

Comments

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited August 2010
    How about we get back to the topic of inconsiderate drivers instead of each other. We're all exceptionally considerate and skillful drivers, otherwise we wouldn't be following this discussion. ;)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    It should really boost the number of distracted drivers, too, which will give us something to discuss!

    I love spam! :shades:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • the_big_althe_big_al Member Posts: 1,079
    Saw these winners today. They get an "A" for absolute stupidity and an "F" for fail...

    imageSee more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com

    Okay here's what happened. I drove by and they were trying to jump the truck. 15 minutes later I drove by again and they were changing the battery. IN THE INTERSECTION!!!
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    edited August 2010
    Their thinking: "If nobody offers to help push it out of the intersection, everybody else can endure & we'll share the inconvenience."
  • the_big_althe_big_al Member Posts: 1,079
    had I a tow rope with me, i would have done so...
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    It is the towee's responsibility to have the rope , jumper cables, & tools. ;)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    If the truck's battery died at the intersection, he has more problems than just "needing a jump." ;)

    Al, nice windshield! That reminds me a lot of my own! :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Today I am out for a walk/jog (more of the former) and I see a Odyssey coming towards me on a 4 lane 30mph road, I notice it because it is very dented and neglected looking. The driver, appearing to be a "new resident" (the most PC I will dare to be) is leaning to the right and fooling with something on the dash. As the car gets to about half a block from me, it meanders towards the curb and scrapes it hard, the tire and wheel screeching as the heavy thing straddles the high curb at 25-30mph. I jump away, fearing it could hop the curb, but the operator (can't call it a driver) corrects. No phone in sight.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    edited August 2010
    Beavercreek, Ohio, near Dayton.

    A police car camera patrolling on the I675 freeway in the heavy traffic area near the Wright Patterson AFB has a car pass him into the median. It hits a culvert and then hits a pillar for an overpass.

    The township police officer is probably patrolling at 65 mph in the third lane. The car passes him rapidly into the median at 100 mph?

    The driver is alive. Video:

    http://www.whiotv.com/video/24733474/

    http://www.whiotv.com/news/24725811/detail.html

    Slide show by local paper:

    http://projects.daytondailynews.com/cache/galleries/News/Local/082310crash/

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Insane, almost looks like a suicide attempt

    Not a left lane speeder so much as a dumb kid, or maybe even someone with other issues.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    edited August 2010
    >suicide attempt

    Yes, indeed it does.

    Better video and news clip from another station's site.

    http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/video%3A-i-675-crash-caught-on-tape. They show all the 3 or 4 pieces of the car better than the other station's newsclip.

    It's not clear where the youngster's body ended up. One print story says he ended up on the _right_ berm of the interstate. He's in hospital in critical condition.

    In revisiting the video, I see a large object hitting the left lane of the interstate and sliding over to the right berm. A car pulls over to the berm as the object slides down the highway and onto the breakdown lane!

    He is a lucky guy to be alive.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    I hope that this clown doesn't reproduce.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    I suspect there will be a few months were that won't be happening, even if he survives.

    Seeing the video on larger screen, I surmise the only reason he's alive is that the car actually hit the overpass pillar on the right rear quadrant, so he was slowed backwards by the seat, and the deceleration was minimized.

    Area police had stated a couple years back they were watching for the century folks (over 100 mph) on the interstates, including I75 through downtown. I found it hard to believe anyone would be able to "safely" do that except at 4 am when there's little traffic. I've changed my mind.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Saw a clip of that on Fox this am. Slow-moed the tivo and noticed that driver of red car in far right lane saw the crash or parts flying in their peripheral vision, put on brakes, moved to shoulder as parts were flying forward and to the right. Looks like the red car still hit some scrap that came onto the shoulder.

    Lesson from this is to always monitor the rear view mirror and if police car(s) approaching from rear, get over asap, slow down, let them and speeder get by.

    After driver recovers, jail time of about 25 years would seem appropriate.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Being alive might not be what he wanted.

    Regarding 25 years...insane. No doubt punishment is deserved, but one could get drunk or just drive like an idiot, go out and kill an entire family, and receive a fraction of that. Actual premeditated murderers can serve far less time. In an overcrowded and ineffectual criminal justice system, battles have to be picked and chosen.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,958
    edited August 2010
    No doubt punishment is deserved

    He most likely isn't going to get anything except for a few tickets. He somehow didn't injure anyone but himself thank goodness. I would assume a reckless driving and speeding summons. Of course if he was intoxicated, uninsured, suspended license etc it will be much worse.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    Aw, such a nice old Trans Am, too! :P

    Considering the amount of traffic on the road at the time, I'm very glad that all the other drivers managed to avoid the explosion.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    In revisiting the video, I see a large object hitting the left lane of the interstate and sliding over to the right berm. A car pulls over to the berm as the object slides down the highway and onto the breakdown lane!

    I agree - that "object" very likely was the driver given the shape and pliability of it as it hits and slides across the interstate.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I dunno...one less F-body might be something he can use in his defense :shades:

    He's damn lucky he didn't go into oncoming traffic.
  • jensadjensad Member Posts: 388
    The young driver should be dead. Amazing that he/she is alive especially since the top area of the car is flat as is the reminants of the body. I've seen this several times as a CHP but no one ever lived. The hard part was taking a bag and picking up what was left of the car and of the driver.

    I hope the driver makes a recovey and slows down in the future.

    Good luck to all and stay safe.

    jensad :(
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >I've seen this several times as a CHP but no one ever lived. The

    The driver was going very fast.

    He was NOT running from police. That has not been stated in anything this morning.

    In seeing the FoxNews replay of the video, it appears to be sharper than what I've seen on my computer screen.

    The young man had everything go exactly right to mitigate the high energy his body had initially along with the car. Hitting the culvert used up a lot of kinetic energy as shown by the huge amount of dirt sprayed forward. Lots of energy was used in lifting the car upward toward the overpass.

    When the car hit the overpass pillar, it was spinning. The right rear hit the pillar. That put lots of metal between the driver's seat and the pillar. That metal tore and crushed absorbing lots of energy while not slowing the driver's body as violently as it could have been slowed. My take is that hitting backwards with the car seat behind the driver held him partially during the slowdown at impact with the pillar, somewhat like child safety seats

    Then he dropped about 10 feet in a parabola to the inside lane of the pavement. He slid across with no cars hitting him.

    The good thing is the car's hitting the culvert instead of continuing into oncoming traffic which was heavy going toward the air force base and the many related businesses around it that serve and supply it. There would have been many people killed in the collisions.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    He's damn lucky he didn't go into oncoming traffic.

    Well, damn lucky for the oncoming traffic, anyway!
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I still have to think suicide attempt, or at best under the influence of something. This wasn't your average guy going 10 over and dodging the vehicular pylons in the left lane as usual. I have my doubts he thinks he is lucky today...and indeed, luck was on the side of the other motorists,
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    edited August 2010
    He had been arrested 60 minutes before:

    Beavercreek police said Tuesday that they had arrested Eden at 6:13 a.m. Monday on charges including possession of alcohol, drug paraphernalia and drug abuse after he was found with a 15-year-old Beavercreek girl in the parking lot near the corner of Beaver Vu Drive and North Fairfield Road.

    The officer approached the vehicle because it was in the parking lot of a closed business at such an early hour. The officer found an unopened can of alcohol, a trace of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the car.

    In November 2009, Eden was cited by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for driving 90 mph in an 65 mph zone, according to records filed in the Fairborn Municipal Court.

    http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/crime/police-had-arrested-released-man-befor- e-horrific-i-675-crash-877351.html

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Another reason I decided to retire early.

    A well known local software company loves to hire these "new residents" en masse and for the life of me, I have NO IDEA how a lot of them ever passed their driver's test. I had many a harrowing test drive with them. I had to grab the steering wheel several times and twice, I made the "driver" pull over and I drove back.

    It got so bad that after awhile I wouldn't let them on the freeway.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    " Beaver Vu Drive"

    Now, that part of the story is funny!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    When I was in college, I shared an apartment one year with a foreign student I knew via another friend. He had to take all the tests to get a license here, no reciprocity stuff,and I helped him out a little. Scared the hell out of me, no situational awareness or ability to judge speed. He got his license, after 4 or 5 tries. His family had money and he had more or less a blank check to buy a car (he chose an Accord V6), when going on test drives I was pretty sure a few times that we'd crash, and I could tell the salesman was nervous, but he didn't say anything. Living in this area, I see repeats of those days almost every time I drive. It must be insanely easy to get a license here.
  • the_big_althe_big_al Member Posts: 1,079
    so says every officer that has pulled me over too... no tickets (yet - knock on wood) but just a verbal get it fixed...
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    It must be insanely easy to get a license here.

    During the Cold War years, when large numbers of American troops were stationed in West Germany, the German motor vehicle authority devised a driver's license test specifically for American military personnel. Although the test was a substantially watered-down version of the test that West German citizens had to take, something like 75% of Americans who took the test flunked it the 1st time.

    Keep in mind that nearly all of these Americans had been issued licenses by their home states.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    When someone had an International Driver's License, it meant that they didn't know how to drive.

    My stepdad was a Driver's License Examinator in California for 30 years.

    When he was in his 50's he was forced to learn Spanish.

    He never had a bad accident but I don't know for the life of me how he could do that job.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >Now, that part of the story is funny!

    I thought someone would like that part of the story. The township is Beavercreek, an up and coming area, and lots of things in that region of the area have variations on the name.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I wonder if it is easier to get a license in some states vs others. That might explain a lot. I fear my area would be one of the easy spots....I remember my license test was a piece of cake.

    German licenses are insanely difficult, one has to master both driving and theory. "Der Deutsche fährt nicht wie andere Menschen. Er fährt, um recht zu haben."
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I got an IDL traveling abroad, it helps in rental car agencies and for general ID. All one has to do is show a valid license from their place of residence, it requires nothing but a payment. I've never understood the point, I think it comes from some ancient treaty.

    I don't think I would have the nerve to teach driving or give tests...the latter probably also comes with some abuse, and my own driving bugs me enough sometimes :shades:
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    When someone had an International Driver's License, it meant that they didn't know how to drive.

    I had an IDL back in the 1980s. Don't know if this is still true, but at that time the IDL was nothing more than a translation of a real driver's license issued by a U.S. state or foreign jurisdiction. There was no testing involved.

    My IDL was only valid when it was accompanied by my NYS DL. By itself, it had no legal validity.
  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    I wonder if it is easier to get a license in some states vs others.

    The great state of New Jersey licensed me back in the 1960s even after I flunked parallel parking. (I still can't parallel park & I drive a 3-series BMW - not a terribly large car.)

    In the mid-70s, I moved to New York & applied for a NYS license. Because of a reciprocity agreement between NY & NJ, I didn't have to take to take a road test - only a written multiple-choice open-book test that, among other things, required me to identify the shape of a stop sign. A blind, retarded dog could have passed that test.

    Since then, I have only had to undergo a simple eye exam to renew my NYS license. I haven't taken a road test of any kind in well over 40 years.
  • the_big_althe_big_al Member Posts: 1,079
    And that is why there are so many people on the road that probably shouldn't be. I haven't had to take a road test since my initial test 15 years ago. My Az license didn't expire till something like 2039? or some crazy year, LONG after it was first issued. My current Or one expires this year, but I'll bet I just pay money and get a new one. Perhaps I'll have to take a written test? I don't know.

    If more states required frequent driving tests, I would wager that there would be less morons on the road, or at the very least make the roads a bit safer...
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Haven't had this happen in a long time. Was on I90 in Illinois, 2 lanes each way, yesterday. In left lane in a string of cars, suvs passing slow moving semis, 4-wheelers in right lane.

    Then, a Chevy pickup jumps from right lane to left and is directly in front of me. Well this guy then proceeds to just barely go faster then the right lane. After awhile, we get to a gap where no traffic in right lane and fast movers in left lane way, way ahead. Wait a few seconds, decide the pickup will stay in left lane. So, move over into right to overtake and the guy in pickup acclerates. So do I, but I am in a V6 Ody and I caught him but could not overtake. He continues to accelerate, then finally gives up as we approach the traffic ahead. He slows down, I get into left lane. Watching him in mirror, he settle down to a relative crawl in the right lane.

    What is it about people like this?
  • jensadjensad Member Posts: 388
    Maybe these newbies work on putting new drivers into the software? Oh well, at least I tried to sell a joke.

    This guy looks like the ones I had to deal with. I.e. angry, arrogant, not responsiblie for his/her actions,i.e. ownership of the problem.

    But I know several friends of mine that were that way and they went into law enforcement and all survived and retired. I honestly hope this young man gets his act together. Man, a human being melts at 100 mph if their car hits a cement support beam.

    Good luck to all and stay safe.

    jensad :)
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,686
    a human being melts at 100 mph if their car hits a cement support beam.

    Okay, now that's just nasty. That statement conjures up images of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Very good simile for if the driver is hitting 100+ mph he first has to be in a "hot" car & that would be a melting enviornment to say the least.
  • eliaselias Member Posts: 2,209
    xrunner2 - decades ago I labelled drivers like that as "speed magnets".
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Was on I90 in Illinois, 2 lanes each way, yesterday.

    The Jane Adams Tollway, Must have been between Rockford and Elgin. I avoid that road at all costs as it is heavy with traffic most times. It really should be three lanes. One suggestion, never drive it towards Chicago the last day of a holiday weekend.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    never drive it towards Chicago the last day of a holiday weekend.

    I think that rule applies to all large metro areas. On Sunday evenings, I 5 is a series of parking lots between Portland and Seattle. We usually stay over Sunday night and leave for home on Monday morning.

    Friday afternoons are to be avoided as well. Friday afternoon for leaving Portland is with a few parking lots too.
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    The Jane Adams Tollway, Must have been between Rockford and Elgin. I avoid that road at all costs as it is heavy with traffic most times. It really should be three lanes. One suggestion, never drive it towards Chicago the last day of a holiday weekend.

    No. It was on the Northwest Tollway, I90.

    Cutoff time is about 2 PM on last holiday day. Do not drive east if you can avoid after 2 PM.

    Driven Northwest Tollway (I90) over the years and going east, my opinion is that inconsiderates (tailgaters, fast lane changers, etc) came in around Fox River in the past. Now, these drivers can be seen starting somewhere west of Ill 47.
  • jensadjensad Member Posts: 388
    I have never heard of that description but I like it. Speed magnets makes sense as I drive down the freeway in Ca. Thanks.

    jensad
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    No. It was on the Northwest Tollway, I90.

    It hasn't been named the Northwest Tollway in ages. Its the Jane Adams memorial tollway now. Only the Tri-State has not been renamed.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Saw two winners today. First was a flighty old fart in an Enclave who was in front of me at a major intersection. Light turns green, but the traffic planners here give the turn lanes priority. He's not turning - but he goes first. Oncoming turning car gave him a few words, girl beside me in an Escape pointed and screamed.

    Then a couple blocks later, a real mess. Busy 4 lane 30mph road, double yellow line...brand new unplated LS stops to make an illegal left turn into the dealership parking lot. XC90 behind it fails to stop and smacks it at maybe 25mph. Plastic and fluids everywhere. I drove by maybe a few minutes after impact, no cops on the scene. I wonder if they both get tickets.
  • jensadjensad Member Posts: 388
    I bet the left turn nurd will get a ticketpo and the following too close, (real cause of t/c) may well also for following too close or if the state has such a law, "inattention".

    I hope there were no injuries except maybe pride.

    Good luck to all and stay safe.

    jensad :)
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    edited September 2010
    We were driving back from Crater Lake on Saturday afternoon on Hwy 138. It was a beautiful day. The road was one-lane each direction with occasional passing lanes. We overtook a group of 12-16 Harley riders. There was one car ahead of ours, behind the bikers. While we were content to follow behind, it was clear that the driver of the car ahead sought to get by the bikes.

    The bikers were riding pretty slowly as this is a curvy stretch of road that follows along the river. They would speed up whenever there was a straight stretch, then slow back down to a crawl through the curves. You could tell that the driver behind them was getting antsy to pass.

    Finally a passing lane came up and the car pulled out to pass, but the Harley riders filled both lanes blocking him. The car driver crowded them a little, but they refused to let him by. The passing lane soon ended and it was back to crawling single file through the curves.

    Several minutes later we encountered another, longer passing lane and the ritual was repeated; the car trying to pass in either lane, the bikers positioning themselves to block. I seriously considered calling it in to 911 as a potential road-rage situation. It would be amusing to see the local cops in the next town waiting for the bikers when they rolled in. They could have a little chat about traffic etiquette.

    It was just as well that I didn't, because the bikes all pulled off the highway at a small gas station/ country-store before we reached the next town.

    Amazingly, not 30 seconds after the bikes pulled off the road, the car in front of us, that had been trying to pass, hit his brakes HARD to avoid a group of a dozen or more wild turkeys that were heading across the road. The younger birds took flight and the larger, older birds managed to scuttle across the road. All survived.

    One has to wonder what king of mess could have occurred if the bikers had encountered the birds. :surprise:
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >One has to wonder what king of mess could have occurred if the bikers had encountered the birds.

    We can only dream.

    But their behavior was unexcuseable.

    I place that next to the ones with the search beam headlamps on their bike with a flicker setup so the thing continually goes high/dim/high, etc.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

Sign In or Register to comment.