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Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

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Comments

  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    A couple of points; 1. It would seem in Oregon as well as CA it is legal to pass on the right. I have been doing this for a very long time. 2. If a vehicle is not going to move out of your way while you are legally behind it, it is probably safer to assume that he is not going to move out of your way period. 3. Begin your passing maneuver much much earlier, by inference this would mean you will not be as STUCK as you think. 4. While I really don't know if you were tailgating or not, tailgating actually SLOWS YOU DOWN! So if it were me, I would not tail gate.

    What does this mean on a practical basis? You need to be "one thousand two thousand", seconds as a minimum behind your LLCer. Even if you get back in front of your LLCer 18 inches in front of his nose (I do not reccomend this) , it is the LLCers responsibility NOT TO TAILGATE. Turn around can be fair play? :) Don't let a sense of moral indignation set you up for a dangerous situation!!?? :)
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    When "just following" someone, with no intention of passing I will leave 3-4 (or more) seconds of space. If I wish them to yield to faster traffic, I move up to something more like 1.5 seconds of space. Then my desire to pass is evident (to the attentive driver), without being too pushy.

    -james
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    As you probably figured out, that cop did not see how close you actually were. He was clue less.
     No matter. You didn't get a ticket.
      Interesting that you were counselled about not inciting road rage, and the VW driver is left to go about his left Lane camping.
     What's wrong with this picture ?
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    You picked up on the irony of the situation. It was both funny and kind of sad that the cop picked the wrong target.

    I was stopped once before by a cop in a pickup. That was for blowing a stop sign out in the country, late at night. Another case of "Just be more careful". It was April 15th and I was on my way to mail my tax return. :p He was sympathetic.

    I think the pickup driving troopers are (maybe) Fish & Game Enforcement, and disinclined to write traffic citations.

    -james
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    I do get pretty close to the car in front when I'm passing in tight quarters. Bad, I know, but worse happens to me and I signal in advance.

    Why do I keep hearing about how bad passing on the right is? (Obviously no one told me not to do it. I learned to drive 3-4 years ago, in CA.) It doesn't make sense to me though... people are always going to be changing lanes rightward if just to exit. And unless it's an odd hour, traffic isn't much faster on the left at all, nor slower on the right. If you're in the left lane and move one over, go for a while, and then move left again, is that passing on the right? (Something I do on slight uphill grades, when my Tercel just can't keep left-lane speeds.)

    And if so many people here complain about left lane campers, why doesn't anyone outside of here know about the 'rule'?
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    ....may be legal, but that doesn't make it safer. There's still the visibility problem in the vehicle being passed on the right that makes it a more dangerous situation.

    PF Flyer
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  • vchengvcheng Member Posts: 1,284
    ...ticketing "speeders" yields more revenue than promoting safe driving. Hence the emphasis on the speed limit, not education and proper enforcement of laws that promote safety.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    for a multitude of reasons, other than just the visibility issue. It puts faster traffic in the slower lanes, where you're going to run into conflict with people trying to accelerate onto the highway, and people braking to exit.

    It also breaks up the flow of traffic, and if you have more than two lanes, in each direction, you have a the problem of somebody passing on the right, just as somebody else is passing on the left, both jockeying for that empty spot in the middle.
  • hampsterdamhampsterdam Member Posts: 18
    Carlisimo; The 'rule' should be well known. Most interstates have signs "Keep right except to pass", or the weaker form "Slower traffic keep right".

       For that matter, this same general rule was apparent when I used to run on outdoor and indoor tracks. There were signs stating that the outer lanes were for walking and slower runners, inner lanes for faster running. And there were STILL those #@$% left lane campers on the track! Even walking in the running lane! And it led to the same cluster-____ that happen on the highways.
  • wilcoxwilcox Member Posts: 582
    and he was reading a book!

    I decided not to pas but just to linger behind him and see if he'd screw up. He ran out side the lines several times and speed changed but he managed to drive on...
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    Good to see you're still around here. ;-)
    That book wasn't the driver's manual was it ? Or was it a Martha Stewart's "Stock Tips for the Day trader" ?
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    Isn't the title of Martha's latest book,
    "Federal Prison - Making it Your Home Away from Home?"
  • scotianscotian Member Posts: 1,064
    Sounds like the culprit in the Oregon incident might have ultimately been the cop -- if he wasn't there, the VW van might have actually passed in a reasonable time (even if he remained in the left lane after passing), but was frightened by the presence of the cop, and he froze in place, which is not entirely unreasonable, although he should have moved to the right lane.

    The efficient flow of traffic absolutely requires the complete absence of police vehicles in the area.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    The less traveled freeways here have "slower traffic keep right' signs, but they get much less attention than even the speed limit signs.

    I hadn't thought of the visibility issue. With all the old cars that don't have mirrors on the right side, I understand it. I guess I just don't see the left lanes actually going faster than the right lanes all that often. Only at the edges of rush hour, when there are a lot of cars but no congestion. Less or more traffic, and it's a free for all.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Another question about not passing on the right...

    Does it mean that if you're in a middle lane, you shouldn't be overtaking cars to your left? If so, I suddenly understand why people here hate left lane campers so much more than I do (which I do, just not quite so much).
  • scotianscotian Member Posts: 1,064
    I pass on the right without any qualms about it, its danger relative to passing on the left notwithstanding. I would rather not have to, but hey -- it's not my fault everyone else is driving too damn slow.
  • lmp180psulmp180psu Member Posts: 399
    Exactly!!
  • tbonertboner Member Posts: 402
    An audio clip from a bit over a week ago...

    Passing Lane Protocol http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Show/Audio/200335/RA/s10.ram
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    I've been amused by the display of me first attitudes here. The speeders who feel the left lane was laid just for them to dominate someone else who's passing and only going, gasp, the speed limit or a few miles over feel it's their lane and get out of it. Those who drive in the left lane at the speed limit over slightly over or lots over and who feel there are two other lanes on the interstate to use feel I have a right to be here.

    I've read the post from quotes from somewhere about people daring to use the left lane to pass causes bunching; but doesn't the speed up and bumper-gate cause the bunching. IF the 80+ crowd in 65 interstate land would learn to go with the flow and speed dangerously above the limit when there truly is little traffic and noone in the lane in front of them, safety would be greatly increased.

    I use the Michigan (non-Detroit) technique. IF someone comes up rapidly behind and stays back a reasonable distance while I'm passing, I speed up and get around and pull over. IF they run and demand use of the lane their federal taxes or ability to buy an Excursion or expensive German car gives them the right to use, I proceed to complete the pass and allow them to continue to use my lane after I've freed it up for them.

     IOW courtesy is the key.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    a characteristic too many of the LLD (left lane dominators) don't use. They stay in the left lane all the time as if it's theirs, not just theirs when passing. It's all in the body language (okay, it should be "auto language") some use as they run up (always in left lane) right onto a driver's bumper, and use aggressive driver techniques to get the driver to speed up.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    I agree that courtesy is key. Courtesy also cuts both ways. If one is the one in front and for illustration purposes, the "slower but in front" car, courtesy would dictate, first a right hand turn signal, then return to the #2 lane when safe. Most people understand when you signal, you are looking for the nearest and safest opportunity to move right.

    If you are the overtaking car stay behind a minimum of "one thousand Mississippi, two thousand Mississippi", behind.

    I think a major "dis" courtesy is the "slower car" in front IN the passing lane. A whole lot of folks while in the passing lane, in effect/defacto want to debate whether or not he or she should move. The issue being who knows what ie., Being a vigilante, UP YOURS!, I'm in front of YOU, one's rights, one's speed or lack there of, car type, whether one had a bad day, cell phone subscriptions, trying to wack the kids in back, drinking coffee, etc, etc.

    The upshot is STAY RIGHT EXCEPT to PASS !! This seems to be VERY plain English that many many LLC's DO NOT WANT to understand.
  • black_tulipblack_tulip Member Posts: 435
    Yesterday I was driving along in the right lane(4 lane highway-2 in each direction). At an exit, a few motorists were merging and the left lane was clear so I moved over. One of the merging motorists immediately moved over behind me and stayed there possibly six inches within my bumper. Now that is when I wanted to be a LLC but moved over to right when it was safe. Guess what? This guy just stayed there with his front flush with my rear. I will never understand what motivates such actions.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    That rates right up there with those on heavy trafficed two-lane expressways who speed up in left lane to keep you from pulling into lane to pass, then slow down to their desired pace.
    It's all about "control." See post 1946.

    Best driver areas for courtesy were Michigan interstates (non-Detroit) and Philadelphia and the turnpike in Eastern PA. I was amazed at Philly drivers who would let you over to pass in morning traffic.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • carguy58carguy58 Member Posts: 2,303
    It was raining and it was windy because of the hurricane. We didn't get much of the hurricane in New Jersey but we got some rain and wind. I look in my rear view mirror and I see a car gaining ground on me real fast. I was doing like 40-45 moh in a 50 mph zone. I thought it was a BMW or a Mercedes coming up behind me because I can see the blue lights(luxury cars have them.) Anyway It was an Acura TSX that have passed me at like 70 mph and a Ford or Chevy SUV that was followin the TSx closely passed me at 70 mph as well. Now these people aren't driving smart. 70 mph on a wet road! I wish people would use their head a little more.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Heading across I-80 into NJ this morning. I can't WAIT to see what surprises the open road has for me today!

    PF Flyer
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    Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
  • pernaperna Member Posts: 521
    Assuming there is nobody behind him, I simply flip my headlights on. Tapping my brakes is dangerous, but turning on my headlights (tailights being the key here) gives him a split second of panic, like, "hey, maybe I am following too close". It almost never fails to work. I take special gratitude when I can use this trick on giant SUVs, since they're almost always the ones who follow the closest.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    The tailgaters with the genetic predisposition react to running lights turned on as a red flag to a bull in this area (SW Ohio). The SUVs driven by women seem to be particularly oblivious to the laws of physics if the car ahead has to slow down or stop quickly.

     I remember one who was putting on makeup tailgating around a cloverleaf. I applied the brakes and she hit hers and the curb on the outside circumference of the roadway. I'd like to see the lipstick mess after that.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    As a woman who drives an SUV (ok, not a big one, but I used to drive a lifted Suburban) I tend to agree.

    I had a woman in an Excursion pass me the other day, in a 55 mph zone, I was doing 60 mph, she went by me and looked over with this smug *I'm bigger and better* look.

    I drive an Explorer these days and sure do miss my lifted Suburban.
  • oldharryoldharry Member Posts: 413
    Illinois is about to help reduce the problems that those who insist on LLCing at the speed limit. They are raising the speed limit from 55 to 65 on expressways in suburban areas.

    Harry
  • black_tulipblack_tulip Member Posts: 435
    That is not going to do a thing. LLCs will now camp at 65mph in the left lane with angry tailgaters wanting to go at 75+ mph...
  • oldharryoldharry Member Posts: 413
    that is true black_tulip, however, they will now be 10 mph closer to the speed of traffic.
  • black_tulipblack_tulip Member Posts: 435
    LLCs are now making my life miserable even when I am cruising in the right lane. Yesterday I was in the right line doing a sedate 72 in a 65 zone. All of a sudden I saw there were what seemed like a hundred cars tailgating me. They all wanted me to go 5mph faster so that they could pass this LLC. So I sped up a little;everybody passed me and the LLC. Ten miles down, another LLC and deja vu all over again. It is so funny, the right lane is becoming the faster lane nowadays.
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    ***2. SUVs driven by women. Often try to equate their driving ability with their husband's pay check. Inattentive, distracted, dangerous. In way over their head when it comes to vehicle size. Can be vindictive.***

    WHOA buster, I think that's a pretty darn unfair stereotype!! I'm a woman and yes, I DO drive an SUV, but I certainly am NOT trying to equate my driving ability with my husband's paycheck. I drive an SUV because, its 1.) practical for me and my family, 2.) I live in Alaska and the 4WD is a nice thing to have, and 3.) I do actually drive my SUV offroad. I can most certainly handle my SUV and have driven bigger vehicles. I can handle a pickup truck AND a horse trailer or 18 foot flatbed trailer.....can you??

    ***3. Pick-up trucks in general. The bigger the truck the worse the driver. Only pickups with camper shells can be trusted to know what they're doing. Often driven by young men who'd rather be in a Mustang.***

    Again, VERY unfair. My husband drives a pickup truck.....a 1 ton for that matter and ya know what, he's a darn good driver, he drives the truck because he NEEDS it for work. It gets worked and darn hard too. He's a logger part time and a firefighter by trade......ya know, he drives the HUGE fire trucks that people like you fail to get the out of the way for.

    So, before you go lumping everyone together get your darn facts straight......BTW, what do YOU drive?
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    "Often driven by young men who'd rather be in a Mustang." - too funny

    May I add: Minivans driven by guys with no women or children on board... compelled to drive 20 over the limit to compensate for the Mommy-mobile image.

    james

    akangl - I think that townha11's post (like mine) was not intended to be taken too seriously. I hope yours was also tongue-in-cheek. :)
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    For the most part yes, however, nothing gets my hackles up more than stereotypes.

    I pride myself in the fact I'm a very good driver and my husband is also an excellent driver.
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    Canadian plates? ha, very cute......nope, we are still part of the good ole US of A.

    My Explorer used to be owned by a woman who fit your stereotype, poor thing thinks it went to hell when it ended up with me. I actually make it, *gasp*, work.

    Our Chevy on the other hand has been beat half to death most of its life by its previous owner(s), probably why its sucking us dry with repairs this week.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    " SUVs driven by women. Often try to equate their driving ability with their husband's pay check.
     Inattentive, distracted, dangerous. In way over their head when it comes to vehicle size. Can be
     vindictive."

    Too funny. It's happened enough it rings true. I've been tailgated by women who think a big vehicle makes them in charge and invulnerable to the laws of physics. I had one tailgating me on the way to work who refused to pass even though I slowed down to 25 on two-lane road in the country. She sat behind me as I got out of the car -- I was on the shoulder. I guess her Excursion was the power-truck in her life. Others have tailgated so closely they would lose control if I had to slow down because they would hit me or lockup their wheels if they were quick enough.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    We have some whacky drivers up here, don't get me started on military, oh my.

    We had one not too long ago pass us on the right hand side of my Explorer......um, that would be on the shoulder, even though the northbound lane (left hand side of my Explorer) was perfectly clear. He was doing in excess of 100 mph, one wrong move, one little twist of fate and he would have killed himself, his passenger and my family. He was a young guy in a new Infinity G20 who thought he was invinsible.

    This is one of the main reasons I drive an SUV, I WANT to be bigger and if I had my way and could afford it I would indeed be driving an Excursion, diesel, with at least a 4 inch lift and 33's for tires.
  • townha11townha11 Member Posts: 13
    Waiting outside a school last night for my daughter's class to finish I got out of my car to rest against the hood and enjoy the warm 70+ degree South Texas night. Immediately, though, an old Suburban pulled into the driveway and proceeded to idle there for the next 20 minutes. He was soon followed by a minivan and a smaller SUV, both of which just sat there idling away as the drivers waited for the students to come out. So much for enjoying a few minutes of fresh air. This has to be repeated millions of times a day in the US alone.

    Anyway, I immediately recalled the German law that says that no vehicle shall be allowed to idle for more than 30 SECONDS! If the lights go on at a railroad crossing in Germany, for example, all the cars stop and turn their engines off - and their trains are fast. What is it with people who sit and just idle their engines? Do they hate fresh air? Is it some kind of civil liberties issue? Or are they just inconsiderate nincompoops? You may remember the old camping adage, "Don't poo where you eat." Maybe we should add, "Don't pollute where you breathe." Anyway, Germany's too far away to go for a breath of fresh air, so turn that sucker OFF.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    is the SUV drivers who speed in snow/ice and tailgate because they can see over you and therefore are invincible and who pass and cut in too closely for safety because, well, just because they can to show you you should be been somewhere else "out of my way."

    I laugh when I see those off the road when it's ice or snow here in Ohio while normal cars are safe and sound. I laugh when I see them rolled over on the interstate on dry pavement because of their high center of gravity rolling them when driven like sports cars -- a common sight at the confluence of two main interstate highways here.

    I laugh when one passes me going 73 because they were going 80+ in the left lane of 3-lane interstate only to be held up 600 feet ahead by the clump of traffic which I was pacing at 73 but at a safe distance back. Oh and that driver cut in nearly clipping my front fender.

    This doesn't apply to _all_ SUV drivers, but some out there use the car as the extension of their ego. Next after them are the pickup truck drivers, a small fraction of whom think they are not prone to losing control.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    I think I remember reading that pick-ups do have a higher accident rate than other vehicles. And from what I've seen commuting, there's some truth to it.

    And women in SUVs... it's a horrible stereotype, but every stereotype is based on experience. And "experiences" involving vehicles that will absolutely cream you stand out more than others. Especially when you've already heard the stereotype, then one incident "confirms" it for you. Especially when it could have killed you.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Now THERE'S a good idea: take a top-heavy, overweight vehicle and jack it up. It wasn't hazardous enough in stock form. Don't forget the brush guard and the misaligned fog lights.
  • jaserbjaserb Member Posts: 820
    don't have the headlights realigned to compensate for the increased height. I had LASIK surgery last month and I'm still pretty sensitive to light, so this has rapidly joined my list of pet peeves.

    Jolie, I don't think anyone has a problem with people who have trucks and SUVs and actually use them. It's the poseur with the jacked up 3/4 ton Superduty quad cab that will never haul anything heavier than the owner's fat behind and will never go farther offroad than through the planter in the grocery store parking lot that bugs me.

    -Jason
  • mirthmirth Member Posts: 1,212
    Usually the way it works with stereotypes is someone has one bad experience or hears it from others and thinks something like "Women SUV drivers are bad drivers." Then whenever they see a woman driving an SUV badly they'll remember it, but will not remember incidents where women were driving an SUV well or men were driving an SUV poorly because those don't fit the hypothesis in their head. It's a pretty well known psychological phenomenon.
  • townha11townha11 Member Posts: 13
    I can't quite agree. Actuaries would seem to spend much of their time analysing data to determine patterns. They seem to agree, for example, that young men under 25 are involved in more accidents and should be charged more for insurance. You might call it "stereotypical behavior." Those same Mustang drivers that I go to great lengths to avoid are charged even more for their insurance due to the type of car they drive. Perhaps it's more politically correct to describe to describe these things as "fitting the paradigm" rather than "fitting the stereotype." No matter what you call it, the saying "forewarned is forearmed" applies. The ill feature of stereotypes, of course, is that they are often applied to people who shouldn't be included. That's where the current controversy about profiling comes in. A fellow wearing a turban is certainly not necessarily a terrorist - unless, of course, he's driving a Mustang. :)

    Enough pop psychology; what's with nerds who refuse to use turn signals? Can I make a citizen's arrest or something?
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    A 1990 Suburban that was lifted 4 inches, didn't feel top heavy at all, was a great truck to drive, even on slick roads. I happen to like lifted trucks, not too much of a lift, just 4 inches.

    Having said that I do have a problem with the idiots who lift thier trucks 8 to 12 inches, that's just flat stupid.
  • mirthmirth Member Posts: 1,212
    You're right - real emperical data can't be argued with. I'm talking about theories people make up in their head without any real backup.

    I hate that turn signal thing, too. That and when people don't pull as far to the left as they can when making a left turn.
  • scotianscotian Member Posts: 1,064
    Keep it at all costs. It may block the crosswalk, but if there are no pedestrians, who cares? And if there are, who cares? Just don't hit them, just as you avoid hitting anything else as you drive. Besides, pedestrians know how traffic works -- they know to stay out of the way of cars. And if you say they are too stupid to do so, clearly the evidence is against you, and by that logic we shouldn't allow cars on any roads anywhere because these stupid pedestrians may hurl themselves in front of our cars at any time.

    People -- this ain't rocket science.

    What I hate are those No Turn On Red signs that make no sense. There are intersections that warrant them, but here in the Twin Cities I would say 80% or more of them are completely unjustified. I ignore them regularly.

    Let's say you have two cross streets one block away from each other, each with identical non-obstructive surroundings. One has a light with a No Turn On Red sign, and the other has a Stop sign. What justifies keeping a car that wants to turn right at the red light from turning right after determining it is OK to do so, but allowing the same action a mere one block away?

    Worthless control freaks are running things around here.
  • scotianscotian Member Posts: 1,064
    OK, you're gripe is with vehicles waiting for a chance to turn right on red actually blocking pedestrians that have the right of way. I was thinking of the vast, vast, vast majority of the cases when I turn right on red -- where there simply are no pedestrians present, or they don't have the right of way because the light is red in the direction they intend to walk, and there as absolutely no reason to keep me from turning on red.

    And when there are no pedestrians, or when they have to wait on the corner for the light, I again say, who cares? As long as I don’t hit them, everything works out just fine. Again, this ain’t rocket science.

    Alleviating this problem does not in any way require that we get rid of the ability to lawfully turn right on red, which is my gripe with your statement. All it requires is for drivers to be responsible for their actions and to be respectful of pedestrians.

    And yes, it is classic control freak mentality to solve this problem, such as it is, by a draconian measure like outlawing all turning right on red everywhere for all time.

    I agree that blocking pedestrians is bad, and I occasionally back up out of their way if required when the waiting to turn on red took longer than anticipated, and I stay back if I see that a pedestrian may soon be crossing my path at a red light where I want to turn red. I drive responsibly, and I do not need a No Right On Red law to do so. Nor does anyone else.
  • tornado25tornado25 Member Posts: 267
    I don't think anyone is advocating brazen right on red turns, irrespective of the presence of predestrians. Traffic law CLEARLY states that if the direction the pedestrian is travelling has permission to go (i.e., the ped's "light" is green), then I must yield to said pedestrian, regardless of whether right on red is allowed.

    What you are arguing is taking the concept of right on red vis a vis pedestrian and blowing it out of proportion. No one's arguing for running down grandma, but I don't expect to sit at a deserted intersection waiting to turn right, either.
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