Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

snakeweasel

I think you are wrong since the Sebring (an '08) does not have such an indicator. But then with that car the das lights are not always on.

tjc78

The indicator is only needed on cars that have "always lit" gauges.

stickguy

stopped at Acme this afternoon (always a mistake, but we needed milk). Pull up an early row, past the cars and carts, and start to pull into a spot (toward the middle of the lot). Had to slam on the brakes, because some middle-old aged broad in an Avalon nearly creams into me (hey, hard to see a minivan, right?

She was flying. Had to be doing at least 40+, cutting across the lot (not up a row, across the spots). People often do that because this lot has speed bumps every 20 feet neat the store, and they are very high/sharp. But usually they don't treat the middle like an expressway!

fintail

Today I am out in the fintail, stopped in a turn lane waiting for the light. In the oncoming lane, a middle aged woman in a late model Range Rover comes to a stop in the middle of the road, right beside me, to give me a thumbs up about the car. The gesture was nice, but to stop in the road for it? Not many had to go around her anyway.

Only had to use its blaring loud horn once today, against a dim-witted soul in a CRV with Disney stickers who was too busy yapping or texting to notice a light change. Also had an older woman in an early 00s Buick make a left turn right in front of me...I wonder what my piece of recycled Schwere Panzer material would do to a 10 year old GM car at 30mph.

Yesterday had an apparent non-English speaker visitor in my building take my spot and the adjacent one in a freshly plated Lexus GX - [non-permissible content removed] satellite child I suspect as he was about 20. Person in the neighboring spot said I could park there as they were leaving - as luck would have it, when I came to wipe down my car the driver came to move the posermobile. I sternly advised him park like that again and you will get towed - or worse...but his bewildered expression told me he didn't get it. Sure am glad anyone can just walk in and drive.

backy

Yesterday had an apparent non-English speaker visitor in my building take my spot and the adjacent one in a freshly plated Lexus GX - [non-permissible content removed] satellite child I suspect as he was about 20.

There are more problems here than the inconsiderate parking of the GX driver.

fintail

Not being able to read multiple "reserved", "residents only" and "violators will be towed" signs, and on top of that not adhering to the parking lines once the initial rules were broken? Or the general mentality of a kid driving a new 60K vehicle in the first place?

Or my bad hurried grammar? :shades:

euphonium

There are more problems here than the inconsiderate parking of the GX driver.

We all have been noticing this for a long time.

ruking1

Does your area have towing procedures? Around here, the minimum charge is something like $141. just to get ones' car out of hock. Anymore, the tow trucks have sweeper arms that can literally pluck a car out of the space and to prepare it for either flatbed or dolly transport. I have seen it done in as little as 10 seconds or so. If it is not boxed in in any way, even SHORTER !!!?? Tow truck companies love it in that it is almost like free money and fills the schedule. This happened to a former neighbor once who loved to flaunt the rules. Great for folks who hate being told what to do, etc etc., or... can't read. For some funny reason after one of his got towed, the scofflaw parking ceased. I actually wished I was there to witness the dramatics. I only found out about it when one of the family wanted to know if someone saw the car being "stolen".

fintail

In my building, I just have to call the front desk guy I know, who then calls the contracted tow company. Then it's buh-bye :shades: I have seen several vehicles removed in the several years I have lived here. Jerky parking is as bad as LLCing, puts a smileon my face when the perps pay for it.

backy

Lots of towing companies in my area. They are especially busy during snowstorms.

I hate it when people park in reserved parking spots (especially those for the handicapped) and take up more than one spot. When that happens I always think of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Would be fun to do something like what Kathy Bates did, just once.

snakeweasel

There was a very agressive towing company here in Chicago. If you want to know its reputation click here

fintail

Now here is some inconsiderate parking

tjc78

Wait a minute... that was a Lexus it HAD to be "sudden unintended acceleration" :P

imidazol97

" the driver ... confused the gas for the brake (or her foot slipped off the brake onto the gas). She jammed the accelerator, drove through a planter box & BOOM. My partner & I had a pretty great laugh at the sheer stupidity of the whole situation, as well as a moment of silence for Lemans and '40 Roadster."

Of course it was the driver's fault. There's no such thing as unintended acceleration in toyotas like this one.

andres3

Of course it was the driver's fault. There's no such thing as unintended acceleration in toyotas like this one.

Exactly. It is one of those urban legends that is simply not based in reality, has no truth to back it, and has never been proven.

shrifty

You guys are crazy, it is not the driver's fault these days. Blame the sun, moon, snow, car manufacturers, but never the person. Ok, enough sarcasm for this post.

It is a shame to see nice old cars ruined like this.

shrifty

http://youtu.be/bKOJJzMDHjI

One of the best things to see in NJ. I hope the link works, I'm attempting to type this on my phone (no, I am not driving or near a vehicle).

tallman1

Great link. Maybe that will help LLC's understand that driving in the left lane is not okay.

As for the narration... sigh. The video would be much better without it. My favorite part was when the female tells the driver (who just sped up) to be careful because they don't have stickers. I don't think they ever understood what the cop was doing.

xwesx

I don't think they ever understood what the cop was doing.

I agree.

tjc78

Awesome vid! NJ troopers do not like to be held up in the left lane. Just get out of their way!

shrifty

Agreed, narration was not the best. I've never been a fan of driving in NJ (14K damage to my Grand Prix in a parking lot when some whackjob came in from the highway and ripped the front end off on one trip), but this at least makes it seem a little better.

tjc78

I've never been a fan of driving in NJ

Who is?

shrifty

Good point. Not too many places worse, MD, VA, FL are also on the bottom of my list. Oddly enough, NY is near the top

im_brentwood

I live in Jersey... heck I work right on Route 4 in Paramus (And I do see daily accidents... witnessed one last night as I snuck out for a cigarette) but the worst drivers?

St. Louis and Florida. St. Louis drivers love to merge onto 270, cut across traffic and block the passing lane. That should be a hanging offense.

ruking1

The NHTSA has a "STATE" break out which is part and parcel in compiling the over all product.

The states

stever

I heard you were in town. Welcome back.

tjc78

I live in Jersey... heck I work right on Route 4 in Paramus (And I do see daily accidents... witnessed one last night as I snuck out for a cigarette) but the worst drivers?

I do too, but near Philly. I wouldn't say we have the worst drivers, just lots of them. With the amount of traffic its always going to be a bit chaotic. That 17/4 intersection is a zoo!

backy

Florida!! I just came back from a week in the Daytona Beach area. OMG, never seen so many bad drivers in one week in my life. I don't know if it's all of the older folks there, or people with rental cars who don't give a d***, or people who are dizzy from too much sun or alcohol or whatever, but it was not pleasant on the road. They do have great roads there, though... no frost-heaved, pot-holed pavement, mostly just lots of smooth blacktop.

fintail

Sounds like my views on driving in Atlanta. Wacky insane random incompetency on the road, but nice smooth pavement.

im_brentwood

Thanks!

Been too long since I was on here!

hammerhead

People must be independent from their driving skills already for the holiday weekend...

...old guy in big caddy pulled out from a side street into my arterial lane. Quick hard brake & swerve is the only thing that kept the Subaru out of his rib cage.

... It's 'make a bunch of lane changes all at once' day - 2, even 3 changes in one move, with the extra added bonus of no signal! More than one player in this game as well.

All this, and it's not even 3pm!
I think I'm glad we're staying home this weekend.

andres3

...old guy in big caddy

Although the driver of the Caddy could be a gal rather than a guy, doesn't it go without saying that they were old? :P Being a caddy and all

hammerhead

He was alongside me at the next light, so identity was verified. I changed lanes so he wouldn't possibly rear end me. Absolutely oblivious.
Fireworks? Not nearly as dangerous as the sparklers on the road! :P

euphonium

And what's your plan to prevent aging? Old implies experience, patience, and wisdom. Usually, with a well developed investment portfolio.

shrifty

Old age also implies senility, slower reaction times, and poor vision

fintail

Old implies mistaking the gas for the brake and turning any building into a "drive-thru" ...not to mention the LLCing...

Enjoy that portfolio as we work to keep the pensions and entitlement schemes afloat...

euphonium

For commercial piloting, Sully Sullenberger , was rather old, but did NOT display any senility, slower reaction times, and poor vision, but he did exercise wisdom, experience, & expertise in saving 155 lives on the Hudson.

And what are you doing to prevent aging???

stever

Only 58 when he crashed into the Hudson.

Sully's saving grace was that his co-pilot helping on the controls was only 49. Couple of spring chickens.

fintail

58 year olds aren't usually the problem out there...it's those 58 year olds in another 20 years that have me worried :shades:

shrifty

For every 1 Sully, there are hundreds/thousands that are just the opposite. Doesn't make much sense to pick an outlier to try and make a point claiming that this is the norm.

Take a look around any nursing home, and you will see that old age = senile, bad vision, etc....

stever

That's a visible population. My mom-in-law still works. She's ~85. Still drives too, but just around our small town now.

imidazol97

Agree that many people are older and perfectly intact.

I notice that many of the deaths on motorcycles and in automobiles are younger people--who think that they are completely capable.

I was at the local quick market for free coffee this morning when a gentleman stopped to chat. He talked about doing major pruning of his large willow tree every two years. Then commented that he is 79!!!

stever

Being capable doesn't always help either.

Motorcyclist in helmet protest hits head, dies... (Yahoo)

fintail

Around here a surprising amount of motorcycle deaths are boomers on their campy Harleys. They aren't called donor-cycles for nothing...

My grandmother, in her mid 80s now I think, still drives to the store etc and does her own yardwork - she had hired a gardener but I guess wasn't pleased with his work. Last time I saw her she boasted that she edged her entire lawn by herself - took a couple days to do it all though. She does know her limitations to some extent, refusing to drive on highways or in very congested areas.

euphonium

and you think you are not a problem now?

fintail

Only to those who can't grasp lane discipline, can't concentrate on driving, and can't at least get close to the speed limit :shades:

Sandman6472

Like so many of my fellow Florida drivers. We took an AARP safe drivers class last week and we were the youngest in the class, 55 & 56. All the others were well into their mid 60's and above. But we take it every three years for the insurance discount and the knowledge that we get, as most forget alot about safe driving within a few years. And Fin, they stressed not staying in the left lane on the highway...pass when one can then get into the right lane...all with signals of course!

Great class with a very witty instructor who was in his 70's!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

ruking1

Unless it is an emergency, (normally this means I have misjudged) I normally do not try to pass another car in the passing lane if someone is slowly to quickly trying to over take me (my speed almost does not matter). I generally try to let them overtake me first then I pass the car that is "impeding" me. As soon as safe and practical I go back to the EXTREME right hand lane or in a 4 lane one way, the #3 lane.

xrunner2

Around here a surprising amount of motorcycle deaths are boomers on their campy Harleys. They aren't called donor-cycles for nothing...

And kawasakis, hondas, etc. I see the wisdom and experience of Sully and how he made snap decisions on landing that aircraft in the Hudson. I remember dopey Katy Curic asking him if he prayed immediately after his engines shut down. He gave a polite response saying that his mind was totally on options for and executing maneuvers to save the lives on the plane.

Compare the wisdom of Sully and experienced aircraft pilots/captains to the young male motorcyle drivers who have their girl friends and/or wives along for a ride in our current summer season. Guys can be seen with shorts, t shirt, sneakers. Their gals have a brief top with shoulders, arms showing and shorts and sneakers. Both are not wearing a helmet. That's smart, real smart.

Now, where the inconsiderate part is when emts scrape them up from the pavement and when emergency room doctors/nurses have to clean out the dirt, gravel from their skins, treat broken bones.

fintail

Sully isn't the scary oldster everyone likes to complain about. He wasn't even 60. Nobody was comparing him to crazy young sportbikers.

I see quite a few silly old boomers on their funny Harleys with no gear other than a helmet too - in fact probably an identical percentage to the younger set who wears nothing but a helmet. I live in a helmet law state though.

The inconsiderate part of both groups is when they come upon misfortune, and we all pay higher insurance to cover their claims made much worse due to lack of both ability and gear.