Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

vcheng

...it may be agood idea to add Zoloft to drinking water in addition to fluorine so that people like can be dumbed down to the same level as the majority of other drivers. I would then happily drive behind kinley for mile and miles, wave to all making last minute changes, drive off the road happily when blinded by people with high beams and blue shaded over-wattage illegal headlamps..........

No more road rage, all drivers belonging to one big happy family!

ruking1

#1607

Sort of like if everybody drove drunk, an occassional accident would not necessarily be due to DWI/DUI?

blh7068

Its not real hard...but surpisingly people(at least in my area) dont know how to do it.

Three ways to get on the highway-

1. The "Merge does not equal stop." method(very dangerous, see it all too often)
2. Speed up faster than the right hand lane traffic and slide right in(what I do when possible)
3 Continue to move slower than right hand lane traffic and hope someone slows down enough to let you in(not the way to do it,imo but it's the most common scenario I see).
 
I know, It can be real hard when people in the right lane refuse to cooperate in heavier traffic, and you all but have run out of real estate..

I try to avoid that by switching out of the right hand lane when a pack of cars(# 3 above)is about to come on to the highway. It makes it easier for everyone, imo.

pat84

But what about those already dumbed down. They would become catatonic.I'd rather drink bottled water and give them the obscene gesture of the day.

ruking1

Good point!

Most folks already drive in the state of catatonia already.

kenjabi

...is not cell phones, it's rubbernecking!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41637-2003Mar17.ht- - ml

stickguy

You forgot my favorite. Drive in the merge lane at 40, then stop dead at the end. finally pull out into an undersized opening, and do not, under any circumstances, push down too hard on the gas!!!.

The people in the right lane that have to slam on the brakes can fend for themselves.

Call this the golf hat theorom.

robs328i

Here they don't worry about stopping before the end of the merge lane...drive 40 till the end and if there isn't room yet, drive on the shoulder for awhile.

tboner

I've driven on the shoulder for a while. Of course it was because the on ramp was also an off ramp and some yahoo decided he just HAD to pass a car getting on (mine).

I figure if he is slowing for his 270° turn, then he can duck in behind the car that is accelerating.

So I drove on the shoulder for a while and he had to go down to the next exit and turn around, LOL.

TB

eengstro

A street near my apt has one traffic lane in each direction, separated by a center left-turn lane.

Yesterday, I entered the center turn lane in preparation for a left-hand turn. There were two cars approaching me in the oncoming direction, but they were far enough away that I began my turn. At that moment, the second oncoming car, a Saturn, whipped into the center turn lane and passed the first car!

I stopped and flashed my headlights (the "flash and hooooooooooooooold" type flash) at the bozo as he jerked back into the oncoming lane. And sure enough, the stupid kid let the bird fly as he blew by at more than 50 MPH.

Although I had barely avoided a head-on collision, I burst out laughing at his willful display of stupidity.

Eric

robs328i

I like you guys!

blh7068

"You forgot my favorite. Drive in the merge lane at 40, then stop dead at the end. finally pull out into an undersized opening, and do not, under any circumstances, push down too hard on the gas!!!."

That accurately describes #1 in my post.

Certainly would not want to exercise all that play in the gas pedal, especially for a silly thing like catching up with cars that are going faster than you on the highway...

ruking1

#1618

Yep, I really hate using the brakes if I don't have to!

pat84

Not using the brakes, makes the brake pads last much longer. Not pushing too hard on that long, flat pedal saves gas.

ruking1

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/package.jsp?name=news/drivin- gdistraction/drivingdistraction

pjyoung

I really dislike the "two footed drivers" who, when the light turns green start to accelerate, but keep enough pressure on the brake pedal to keep the brake lights on the whole time.

ruking1

That is an interesting irritation. It would be interesting to see if per capital or whatever, do stick shift drivers or automatic transmission drivers have a higher incidence of rear ending, solely on the difference of transmission.

pat84

Why would anyone do that ?. Do they get their brake pad replacement and rotors free.

pat84

My bet is the automatic has more rear ends. People get distracted and let their foot off the brake, letting the automatic engage and hitting the car ahead of them at a red light.
 I have had many stick shift vehicles. I do not have to look anywhere but straight ahead. The stick keeps you more aware of driving. Keeping your feet moving, keeps you more alert, too.

stretchsje

I wouldn't call the driver inconsiderate to other people, but inconsiderate to the car!!! (Perhaps it's inconsiderate in that everyone else was distracted by the sight...)

I was driving home on Friday. I could see a slow moving Crown-Vic up ahead in the right lane holding up traffic. It's nose was down, which led me to believe some idiot got a flat tire and was trying to drive home on their rim.

As I got closer to the car, more things came into view. The car was definately leaning forward a lot, and I could see sparks coming from the front-left wheel area.

As I passed the car, I couldn't believe it. The car was driving not on its rims, but (I believe) on the brake rotor. It, of course, was not spinning, and sparks were flying EVERYWHERE, making it almost difficult to see the state the rotor was in. The car was not creeping away on the shoulder- it was doing a good job of staying with traffic on the DC beltway!!! I was going about 50mph, so I estimate it was going about 40mph. I can't imagine the heat this must of been producing, and it may have very well ended up melting parts of her brake and steering linkage together.

Who is SO dumb and SO ignorant to their car that they'd try driving it AT SPEED WITHOUT A WHEEL?! Even the most clueless person has got to realize that a car shouldn't be driven without all four wheels, and if not... wouldn't the shower of sparks give it away? At 40mph and only one wheel to steer, it sounds like a recipe for a Darwin Award.

stretchsje

The Washington, DC area.

We have bad inconsiderate drivers and ignorant inconsiderate drivers. There's two kinds- not like New York, whose drivers are exclusively bad, inconsiderate drivers.

Take the Washington DC beltway. There is always someone in the right lane going 40mph. The speed limit is 55mph. Usually, there is no reason for this person to be going this speed- they just choose to, be it day or night, sun or rain. These are the inconsiderate drivers- they go 15mph below the speed limit, no matter what. Even on secondary roads where there is no way around, they block you like a fat person going up a narrow stairwell. Worst of all, they coast through red lights without a care (perhaps because they realize they could've made it had they been going the speed limit), which leaves you as the first loser stuck at the light.

In the left lane, there is always someone trying to go 90mph. Of course, due to congestion, they can't, but they still ride tails and drive well above the legal speed limit. Worst of all, these people brake around turns, which causes traffic back-ups as the chain of cars behind them all panic and slam on their brakes. These are the bad inconsiderate drivers, who have no respect on the road.

It's crazy, that DC Beltway. There's about a 30-40mph disparity between the leftmost and rightmost lanes, which makes passing an event that must be timed... which most drivers don't bother to do. Nonetheless, the combination of fast and slow drivers is frustrating... though I was particularly proud of myself the other day for going almost 3/4 a mile in neutral... and I passed someone!

Now, I'm glad not everyone is in a rush, and that people treat the left lane as a fast passing lane, but this is rediculous!

pat84

Trust me, Boston drivers are the absolute worst in the U.S. I maintain that NY and DC tie for second worst.
  As far as entire States go, VA has more of the most inconsiderate drivers per capita than any other State. What other State has road signs on Interstates, facing against traffic that read "Wrong Way" Most accidents in VA involving distracted drivers is due to rubbernecking at accidents on the other side of the road.

beachfish

Well now, I learn something new every single day. I thought those Wrong Way signs were put up for safety reasons.

You know, if you don't like Virginia you can stay home.

John

carguy58

Those people don't know how to drive. There is always in an accident on the Beltway. I have been going down to Virgina ever since I was 5 years old to go visit relatives. Me and my parents go from New Jersey to Virgina which takes 6 hours. As far as VA drivers are concerned they are not too bad. Some of them are agressive but mostly not bad. I just think its the speed difference everybody is driving at that makes driving hard on I-95. Some people do 60 mph , other people do 70 mph, and other people do 90mph in the left lane. The people who do 90mph in the left lane are the crazy ones. That section where the beltway(I-495 South) goes to I-95 south to Virgina the ramp is the worst. You got 2 lanes of traffic that are backed up for a few miles. The last time I was there they were doing concrustion. I hope the construction improves traffic flow on that ramp. I remember the snow storm in January 1999 drivers were spinning their SUV's out on I-95. It took me and my Dad 9 hours to get down to VA. That was a long day. The Baltimore Beltway isn't bad with I-695, I-95,, I-83 and all that stuff.

In New Jersey some people drive like maniacs. I would say 90% of the drivers that drive in New Jersey are good drivers. The other 10% are not good.

In New York City(not state) the Taxi cab drivers aren't good drivers. The traffic and parking in NYC is terrible. There just too many people in that City and not enoough road. I will avoid driving in NYC at all costs. I have neve driven in NYC and never want to. I've driven the Garden Stae Parkway. Never driven the New Jersey Turnpike. I always be careful on RT 22 everyday. Anybody going from Garden State Parkway South to RT22 in Union, NJ(Exit 140A)avoid at all costs: traffic jam city.

pat84

OK so how does one get going the wrong way on an Intestate ? Interstates are divided highways with a median strip usually or a guard rail as a minimum. You have to enter an "exit:" or back up down an "entrance" or make a U turn on your side to go the wrong way. It boggles the mind that anyone could do any of those and not have a clue that they are doing it wrong.

ranald

Another possible way to go the wrong way on an interstate involves toll plazas. Some of them are set up such that both traffic directions pass through one set of "variable" booths, with the number of toll lanes going each way adjustable to suit traffic flow.

If the "divider", often a line of traffic cones, isn't set up properly, and traffic is light, I can easily imagine a confused person managing to find themselves on the wrong side after the toll plaza.

I'm pretty sure that's what was responsible for one of my favorite highway experiences. I was driving down a 2 lane stretch of highway (one way, the 2 lanes going the other way were off to the left on the far side of a wooded rise) toward a toll plaza when I saw a car ahead of me that didn't seem right- looked like I was overtaking him too quickly. Yup, he was going the wrong way, headed right for me. And he was LLC too, so he was in my lane. Fortunately he moved right before I had to dive onto the shoulder and we passed left-to-left just like normal. Not sure what he did after that, but I did honk and gesture- maybe he caught on that he was going the wrong way before he came across heavier traffic.

pat84

There are no such toll plazas in VA that I have encountered. The only toll plaza I see on a sort of regular basis in VA is on VA 168 right before it goes into NC. The toll booths are separated by the median and are on both sides of the route. So VA gets you coming and going to NC .I tell the person in the toll booth as I exit VA, that I gladly pay the $2 to leave VA.
I used to drive I-95 through VA when they had toll booths in Richmond. They took quarters. The last one was $.15 as I recall. Then they built I-295 that bypassed Richmond. .
You have to do something stupid to get on the wrong way on an Interstate in VA.

idletask

going the wrong way because you've missed your exit and want to catch it! I've heard quite a few reports of such a situation but have actually never encountered one. Fortunately enough...

pjyoung

Has rest areas that are between the lanes (left exit). Getting on one going the RIGHT direction means merging into the left lane and looking over your right shoulder. Getting turned around (not all that difficult to do) has you merging into what you THINK is the right lane, but in reality is the oncoming left lane.

pat84

I have seen people backing up, going the wrong way, on the shoulder of the road to get back to a mixed exit. I see it maybe once a year.

pat84

I think one of the exits on I-95 in Md, north of Baltimore, and some service areas on the NJ turnpike are left exits. It is possible to get turned around, but you can only go back the way you came. You will be on the correct side of the road, just going the wrong way. If you wanted to continue North for example, you can get confused and get on going South. Now, there is one argument for a NAV system.

loncray

The big Maryland House and Chesapeake House rest stops in MD (and maybe the one I've always called Delaware House up in DE) are left exits as well - you can certainly get back on I95 going the wrong direction.

pat84

So what about the "Do Not Enter" signs at the toll plaza's entrances to the parking lots. The "Exit" to the parking area is clearly marked as well. If one can't read and follow those signs, why would that person be able to read and obey the "Wrong Way" sign ? If someone doesn't know the difference between "exit" and "entrance" signs they should not be driving.

pjyoung

I can't help but think of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" where JOhn Candy and Steve Martin are driving the wrong way down the interstate. A car in the other lane tries to tell them that they are going the wrong way, and John Candy says something like "Aw, they're drunk...how do they know where we're going anyway".

andre1969

...I remember on a few occasions, my Granddad going the wrong way up a one way street. If you said something to him, like "it's a one-way road", he'd always responds "Well I'm only going one way!"

pat84

Filmed on location in VA. No "extras" were needed .

gambit293

Don't you love those people who are going the wrong way, and when you honk, flash your lights or otherwise try to tell them, they give you a nasty look and flick you off?

pat84

LOL I can see it happening.

scooter71

I moved here from upstate NY, where there's a fast fluidity, all-weather ability, and defensiveness about the driving style, which I like. You do your own thing, and if someone needs to merge they need to feather their speed appropriately to slip between cars.

Seattle has the worst drivers I've encountered in the US- often 3 lanes of cars going under 65 on a 65 MPH freeway, no sense for accelerating off an on ramp and fluidly merging into traffic, and way too much concern for merging traffic and the potential of pedestrians crossing at will. Too passive and clueless all the way around. I still can't believe that cars on the freeway will come to a near stop to let someone merge.

kinley

"I still can't believe that cars on the freeway will come to a near stop to let someone merge."

We let each other in as someone before us let us in as well. You will also notice all lanes are full on I5, I90, I405, 520,99, and the far left lane is just as full as other lanes which is why there are no "Passing Lanes".

We stop for animals, children, and other foreign items on our freeways and take a dislike to "frequent lane changing precision drivers".

Have a Starbuck latte and adjust.

Kirstie_H

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scooter71

Sounds like somebody inherited the NW passive-aggressiveness before retiring in the south.

blh7068

between letting cars in when they are merging on a highway and those cars that are trying to merge at an unsafe(slow)speed. Especially when that forces the hands of the other drivers that cant otherwise switch lanes due to traffic.

Ive commented on this before...it amazes me how many drivers DO NOT know how(and sometimes in a very unsafe manner)to merge in a light traffic situation.

ruking1

Yesterday (Sunday) I was cruising in the number two lane of two, north bound 101 from Santa Barbara CA (toward San Jose) at app 80 mph in a driving rain. Joe pick up truck with family comes roaring up the number one lane and just as he gets alone side of me he suddenly sees in his rear view mirror the CA Highway Patrol that is on his six.( that I had been tracking this CHP for the better part of three miles). Now he decides that he he should speed up, pass me move to the number two or slow lane in front of me and slow down!!! So Joe pick up truck passes me, of course with massive water spray and gets in front of me 2 feet off my front nose!!!

pat84

My wife drives like you suggest. I tell her to wait until Detroit builds another car, so she can wait to let that one in front of her, too. No way, I would stop for any animal smaller than a moose on an Interstate. East Coast driving is much more hectic than West Coast.
 I would put Seattle in the top 10 worst cities to drive in. Volume of traffic and no parking.
Boston, NYC, DC, LA are the worst to drive in. NYC and DC are tied for second behind Boston as the worst. Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis-St Paul, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia are the top 10..
I have driven in all of them. I may have missed some that I have not driven in. For sheer volume of traffic, I-5 from LA to Long Beach in rush hour has the honors

blh7068

"We let each other in as someone before us let us in as well"

You say lanes are full, but is traffic still flowing well or is it stop and go?

Stop and go usually requires some one letting you in. That's fine.

What makes me crazy is the merging drivers who fail to accelerate up to a speed that will equal or exceed traffic flow in situations where lighter/progressive traffic flow prevails. I usually have enough room ahead of me that I can accelerate up to faster speed than the cars in the right hand lane are traveling at. The flow of traffic will not be disrupted in that case.

PF_Flyer

Heading into town today on the two-lane, one-way street that you take to travel east, fair amount of traffic. As you come to the fire station and where the street crosses the main north-south road, the road widens to three lanes and some emergency parking spaces for police and fire department use appear on the right side of the street. A police car was sitting in the spot closest to the traffic light. A woman who had made an unexpected, unsignaled, lane change and cut me off about a half mile earlier, flips on her turn signal (so she DOES know she has them) and move into the parking area behind the police car as if it's a right turn lane. But she's not going anywhere as I pull up behind the traffic stopped at the red light right beside her. Too late, she realizes that she's trapped herself!! LOL



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PF_Flyer

We went away for the holiday weekend, a round trip of about 400 miles, and certainly saw our share of ordinary everyday driving surprises. But two episodes on our return trip, both of which happened to be motorcyclists, stuck out. Now before anyone goes off, I LIKE motorcycles and don't think that everyone who rides one is an outlaw biker...

Coming up Rt. 309 from Doylestown to I-78 on a stretch of 45 MPH 4 lane road with businesses on each side of the road. Fairly heavy traffic, and a "racy-looking" bike comes up in the right lane beside me, blocked in by traffic. As the traffic starts to speed up and stretch out, the rider pops the bike up into a wheelie and holds it there for about a quarter mile in the traffic. This road surface had enough pot holes and rough spots that I'd be worried if was on one whell with no other cars on the road!
About an hour later on US 322 west, 4 lane divided highway, 65 MPH limit. I see a bike coming the other way moving a bit faster than the cars nearby, so I assume he's going somewhere between 65-75mph... and he's sitting sideways on the bike, both feet on the left side of the bike, one hand on the handlebars, left hand on his hip.

A couple of greasespots on the road waiting to happen!!

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eharri3

After having to once again park far from the entrance to work because a few snobs in expensive cars felt like they needed to take up more than one space: BUYING AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY CAR OR SUV DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GET YOU TWO SPOTS IN EVERY PARKING LOT YOU PULL IN TO! One big fat Hummer H2 has been taking the same two spots for 3 straight days now. (I work in an airport, and share spaces with long long term parkers.) If you think you're saving yourself from some scratches because you're making it impossible for anybody to park next to you, think again. As I wrote on my note to Mr. Humvee, he's lucky all I did was stick one wiper straight up in the air and leave a note. Someone with less respect for vehicles would have personally autographed that big fat pig of a vehicle.

kinley

She later returned to find a couple of beaters flanking her car so close she couldn't walk beside her Benz. After that she used only one space - at the end of the line.