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Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

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  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Oftentimes, if I DON'T intrude into an intersection, and turn, I'll be turning blind.

    Give me a periscope, and I'll do things right.
  • sockpuppet1969sockpuppet1969 Member Posts: 308
    That's because there is no justification. Why stop at keying his car? Why not slash the tires and break the windows? The guy clearly had it coming. After all, he did park his car in more than one parking space.

    And I think Botgers was the one running people off the road to gain entrance onto the freeway.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Annoyance should only be repaid with annoyance. Like parking right next to the offending car's driver's door... I love that suggestion.

    I know this isn't the exact right place to ask, but is it true you can park more sharply in reverse?
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    "Like parking right next to the offending car's driver's door."

    Not in MY shiny new car. Now when I had my 1987 Honda Civic Wagon I might have parked so close I would have to climb out the hatch.

    As far as justification. Don't need it. Not asking for forgiveness. I did it, and would probably do it again.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >Not in MY shiny new car.

    That's why I loved my 18 year old 3rd car Chevy with some bumps and grinds on it. I could park as close as I wanted, they could bump it with their door all they wanted--just another ding. People even gave me room on the narrow parkway lanes while they would crowd my new cars. Loved that old girl. Shame when the homeowners association asked me to garage her or dispose of her.

    >Why stop at keying his car?
    Anything more obvious would be just too nasty, too aggressive in retaliation for the driver's disregard for others.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    And believe me, I'm not a forgiving person when it comes to auto etiquette. Just not the way to do it.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    You're right. Seminole_kev.

    That's another reason I loved my 61 Chev around Cincinnati parking!!! It had the sharp angle body lines with real metal chrome along them. When someone parked in the narrow space next to you and left room on their driver's side for themselves to get out by crowding on their passenger side up next to you driver's door,... I just opened the thing and let her hit when I didn't have room. Squeezed in.

    Now my older car has those soft padded LeSabre bumper strips along the bottom of the door. They're too soft. LOL.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    had her minivan keyed about a year or so ago. While I don't condone keying a car, if anyone asked for it, it's certainly her!

    This happened at her condo. She parked real sloppy in the front row, taking up two spaces. Someone left a note on her windshield saying something like "maybe this will encourage you to park a little more considerately next time". There was a nice, deep gouge across her hood.

    But before you start to feel sorry for her, here's a little insight on some of her other antics...

    I remember awhile back, a guy down the hall, on a different project, came around asking if we knew anyone who owned either a silver Caravan or a black Mazda (I think it was a Mazda). Well, I looked out the window, and saw the situation. This guy was parallel-parked at the curb, with my co-worker's minivan about 6" off his front bumper, and the Mazda was in back, almost kissing. There was no way in hell he was going to get out of there.

    I went and got my co-worker, and the first thing she did is start complaining, whining about why someone would park so close to her that they couldn't get out. When I said "But you're over the line", which she was, by at least a foot, she just gave me this cold, angry stare, and said that it didn't matter.

    She even went to this guy and griped, saying that you shouldn't park that close behind someone else. He didn't say anything back to her...just too nice of a guy, I guess. Heck, he was really polite the whole time.

    Well, she moaned and huffed and sighed, and finally, taking her time, went out and moved her minivan. Where'd she park it? In the fire lane, right in front of our building!! Where I'm presuming it sat until she left for the evening. I don't know for sure, as I normally leave before she does.

    She rarely parks in these parallel spots anymore, choosing instead to park in the lot. But what she does, instead of parking in a space, she'll park beside the closest car in a row, which actually puts her out in the aisle!

    On the rare occasion that I've gone out to lunch with my office mates, and she'd drive, well, let's just say that most mere mortals would need a change of shorts after about a mile and a half! She rides people's butts, bullies her way through intersections, stop signs, etc. I don't think she understands the concept of "Yield". And then gripes about everybody else on the road!

    Basically, one of those "It's MY world, and everybody else needs to figure out how to fit into it" types :-/

    I still feel bad that her minivan was keyed, though, as I don't think that should happen to ANYONE!! And did the keying do any good, or make her a more considerate driver? Hell no!! Evidently, she thinks it's still her world, and the rest of us need to adapt to that fact!
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    I was not the one advocating pushing people out of my way to get on an Interstate.
     Not that it matters.
      Keying a car is still a criminal act.
  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    that I'd "recommend" (No I'm not advocating illegal behavior) but rather than keying somebody's car....

    How about unscrewing the valve stem cap, putting a small rock in there and screwing it back down. It will cause the tire to leak out and go flat. Make sure to do two.

    Again, not wanting people to do this, but rather than have some of you guys keying cars....
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    this may not hold true for everyone, but I've found that I can squeeze more easily into a tight space if I back in than if I try to pull in. I had to learn to do it when I went to the University of MD, and I encountered some of the smalling parking spaces I had ever seen in my life. And not only were the spaces narrow, but so were the aisles. I quickly learned that it was much easier to back my 1980 Malibu, which was about the same size as a modern Accord, Camry, or Altima into the spaces than it was to try pulling in.

    One day I saw this Asian girl in a beautiful emerald green '79 or '80 New Yorker trying to navigate that beast into a spot. My heart went out to her (plus, I've always loved that car!) so I helped direct her in.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    how about this...run off some sticky-back labels that say "Yo $%!-^&*$, thank you for parking 2 inches from my door". Keep 'em in the car, and when you find someone has parked too close, just peel one off and stick it to their driver's side window.

    It's harmless, and will peel off, although the longer it sits on, the harder it will be to get off.

    Years ago, one of my coworkers had a sheet of paper that had a poor imitation of Mickey Mouse flipping the bird, with text that read something similar. She would put them under the windshield wipers of cars that she felt were parked too close. Unfortunately, she was another one of those "the world revolves around me" types, so if she parked too close to the line, and someone else parked more or less properly, but still too close to her, they'd get one of those flyers.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    A grease pencil (sort of like a crayon) would be FAR better than keying someones vehicle). You could write on the windshield and really there is no harm no foul.

    My daughter when she was in high school had a number of bouts with somebody leaving food items on top of the hood of (my)her car. I was able to find that certain somebody. So I showed up on the doorstep and rang the bell. That person turned 14 shades of red when I ID'ed myself as the owner of the car that was vandalized. I really didnt have to say much after that and the antics stopped.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    About anyones approval for my keying that car.... I have an even better idea. I'm gonna start carrying around those insulin needles that diabetics use. That'll cause a REAL annoying slow leak that should keep em ticked for a while.

    As far as illegal behaviour...Half of us have admitted to driving over the speed limit. Some of us have had questionable lane use habits. Just add a nice satisfying scratch down the side of someone who has parked in an offending manner my behaviour that's illegal but I really don't care.

    Oh yeah, my wife reminded me of another good one. I had parked in the long term parking of the airport and came back out to where a car had "kissed" my front end. Yup he got a scratch. On the hood too. Funny thing is he left his car touching mine. Guess who is guilty?
  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    speeding = victimless crime

    Keying car = crime with a victim
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    sure, there are some places where you have no choice but to pull out, so you can see, such as intersections where there are buildings, signs, landscaping, etc that blocks your vision. Or pulling out of a driveway seems to be a common situation where you need to do this.

    In those cases, you have no choice but to pull out. However, there are too many people that stop at a red light and pull out way too far. For instance, the woman in the Monte Carlo I mentioned earlier. She had a red light, and was going to either be going straight or making a left turn. In that case, there was no need for her to pull up to see anything, because she wasn't going to go anywhere until the light turned green, anyway.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Keying car = crime with a victim...who is asking for something done to them.

    speeding = victimless crime...until you hit some innocent who had nothing to do with you at all......

    Depends on how you look at it.
  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    rationalize anyway you want....it ain't right.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Well...keying a car is vandalism, which is a crime, and can lead to much more serious things. For example, if I catch someone keying my car, well a key can be used as a weapon. I.e., I consider that someone to be pulling a weapon on me and endangering my safety and well being. I.e., I'm going to defend myself.

    Speeding, in and of itself, is not necessarily the bane of all that is evil. Weaving in and out of traffic, blowing through red lights, riding people's bumpers, cutting people off, that's what causes accidents. Driving 5-10 or even 15 mph above the posted speed limit, on a clear stretch of smooth highway is not dangerous.

    All that is is the easy way for the appropriate authorities to make money. It's much easier to ticket someone for exceeding a set speed limit, because you have something to quantify it with. The speed limit is one number and the speed the "guilty" was driving is another, and you can compute how high above the limit they were driving, and fine accordingly.

    However, other more dangerous acts, such as tailgating, cutting people off, not using turn signals, failure to yield right of way, etc., those aren't as easily ticketed, and not nearly as profitable. Usually they only come into play if they actually cause an accident.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    I know it's wrong. But hey...sue me. that's why I usually park MY car as far away from anyone as I can when I have a choice.
  • sockpuppet1969sockpuppet1969 Member Posts: 308
    I know it's wrong. But hey...sue me. that's why I usually park MY car as far away from anyone as I can when I have a choice.

    Wrong and cowardly. I previously asked "why stop at keying his car? why not slash his tires or break his windshield?" as a rhetorical question but I will go ahead and answer it now anyway. You have a greater chance of being caught doing either of those other things. It would cost the guy less to have his windshield replaced than to have the scratch repaired, especially with glass coverage. If you really wanted to let the guy know how you felt you would wait for him to return to his car and confront him.

    I'm not a lawyer but there is clear malicious intent when vandalizing another person's property. This is not the case with simple speeding. Very different. It is interesting that you say you are not trying to justify your actions but then you offer up the speeding analogy as some sort of justification anyhow.

    You have already admitted that you are wrong in your actions. Why not just leave it at that. Hopefully you will see how wrong someday and stop doing it. Would you key another person's car in front of your new child? How would you explain your actions to him?
  • bottgersbottgers Member Posts: 2,030
    I've never forced anyone off the road. I may have strongly suggested that a few drivers move over into an empty lane to allow me on the highway.....something they should've done on their own btw.
  • kdshapirokdshapiro Member Posts: 5,751
    I find it hard to believe that keying a car has been equated to speeding. Vandalism is defined (I believe) by the criminal code, while speeding is defined in the civil code. Might as well say vandalism=insider trading.

    I would never condone physical acts even in the worst of circumstances.
  • andyman73andyman73 Member Posts: 322
    Once while visiting a relative in Norwalk, Los Angeles area, a female driver poked the nose of her car out of a parking lot, to block over half of the right lane. That forced my father to stop, and even tho' he could have gone around, he didn't. Since she could no longer see past the '78 Dodge Royal Sportsman van, she ended up backing back into the parking lot. Only took about 10 minutes for her to get the hint, and we motored on our merry way.

    While in high school there were 2 students who has nearly identical white Honda Accords. Some pranksters targeted the wrong(brand new) car with motor oil, pancake syrup, and sand. Needless to say the parents of the perpetrators were not happy when their students were arrested and prosecuted for this malicious act.

    Different h.s., coach was visiting some friends, just got his freshly repainted '54 Ford P-up truck back. Some knuckle draggers took duct tape and spelled out some less than enlightening words on the paint. This happened on a military base, and the kids were kicked off base, forcing the parents to move off base as well.

    Last one, several years later, I had parked my '85 325e against a planter in the parking lot of a steakhouse. After dinner, I returned to find an unloved early 70s crapillac 2 feet on my side of the line,and a new door ding on the strip. And the crapillac had out of state tags, go figure.

    Andy
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    We've gone far enough down Revenge Road here. Time to get away from the illegal activities and back to the topic of the amazing drivers we see on the roads out there...

    Thanks

    PF Flyer
    Host
    Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    I would answer...But I'm moving on as requested.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    My friend's car ('93 Legacy) is being totalled. Rear-ended by a girl who was playing with her dog in her lap, and forgot to look up.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    If he was in the car, he should feign injury and hit the airhead where it hurts
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    I hate "lap dogs". And the people that ride around in cars with them in thier laps annoy me to no end. Keep the mutt at home. No more than snake food if you ask me. And I don't like snakes either.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    was the girl's boyfriend really ugly enough to be called a dog? ;-)
  • bottgersbottgers Member Posts: 2,030
    I've got a Standard Schnauzer who'd love to MEAT you! Even though he'd probably consider you snake food, he'd eat you anyway!
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    they're the ultimate low-maintenance pet. You can feed them like once a month, sometimes even longer. They poop about as often as they eat, so you don't have to constantly be cleaning up after them like with a dog or a cat!

    And they can be trained sit, come when called, play dead, speak, fetch, etc ;-)
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Like mice, gerbils, rat-dogs, stray cats. I hate stray cats too even though I own two house cats. And I do mean house cats. They run FROM the door when you open it.
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    Reminds me of that James Bond movie (disputably... it was Never Say Never Again) where an expendable agent of evil gets a snake of some sort thrown in his lap. He was a pretty bad driver once he was handling a pet in his lap.
  • emmanuelchokeemmanuelchoke Member Posts: 97
    I was sitting in my car at a local mall and a woman opened her door into mine so hard that it caused my pen to slip on the check I was filling out. I got out to check for damage and saw that her door was still on my door and I said," You just dented my car!" I at least expected an apology, but she just looked up at me and yelled "I DID NOT",slammed her car door shut and drove off. Maybe I scared her, I don't know.
         Intimidating women is low on my list of priorities so I let it go. Sometimes catching them in the act is no better than not.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Then denied it.
  • andyman73andyman73 Member Posts: 322
    Better yet, should have taken said check writing pen, got her license number, and called the police. And report a hit and run. That will definitely knock her off her high horse, and her insurance agent will be quite interested to know, why she committed a hit and run, with the victim watching the whole thing. I bet that would make her stop and think!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I usually have a digital camera in my car for such things.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    I'm all about instant gratification. Private property too. In my state it's a waste of time to call the police in cases such as that.
  • ANT14ANT14 Member Posts: 2,687
    I had that occur at a gas station... Lady on my driver's side hit my door as she opened it to get out... I made eye contact expecting an apology... yet nothing... SO went on to check if I had a dent... Luckily I didn't but she did shave off the paint on her door rim...

    So I pumped as, as she did... And when I went to open my door "WHAM" right on hers... and I DID dent it... I made eye contact, told her "PayBack's a [non-permissible content removed], and I can be one too" and just drove off.

    Considering she had a new MBenz, you would think she would be a bit more careful...obviously not...
  • carlisimocarlisimo Member Posts: 1,280
    I was thinking about confusing directions and missed a red light today. Someone was turning left into my lane. We weren't too close, but it was embarrassing to say the least. I'm sorry.
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    Out in front of me out of a pull off onto the highway. I was driving the Titan and had the cruise set at 68 mph, ended up having to slam on my brakes (I was close enough to know that they saw me before they pulled out and did it anyway).

    Was behind them for about 1/2 mile before I could pass, they NEVER got above 35 mph. Was an older Airstream pullng a Jeep Wrangler. Way I see it, if you can't do at least 55 mph (speed limit is 65 mph) on the hwy then park it, put a fence around it, and milk the darn thing.

    I passed them, blared the horn, and cut them off close enough so I know he had to hit his brakes. I'm not one to do that normally, but after a summer of these people, I've had it.
  • emmanuelchokeemmanuelchoke Member Posts: 97
    I'm surprised by how some people will go out their way to help. I had a low tire, not flat but close, and was getting ready to put the spare on, when an attractive young woman walked up to me and asked if I needed help. I said no, but thanks anyway. She said she had a portable air compressor in her car and to try that before putting on the spare. She got it out of her car and was getting ready to hook it to the tire, but I said I didn't want her to get dirty and I would do it. She said it was no trouble and proceeded. I have to tell you, she was dressed nicely..... in a low cut sun dress. Unfortunetly the compressor didn't work, but I didn't care at that point. I thanked her for her time and she left.

         And then on the way home someone cut me off and things were back to normal.
  • andyman73andyman73 Member Posts: 322
    I hope this isn't too far off topic to get fouled, but here goes... I have changed the flat tires for 2 young women in the past 12 months. One was at the local Rec I belong to, and the other was at work. The rec lady was almost late for work, she works at rec. I pointed out her flat, and offered to change it for her. She tossed me her keys and ran to punch in for work. I was finishing up when she came back out. When she offered to compinsate, I said a smile and a thankyou would do. The second lady was at my work. She was going out to change her flat on her lunch break, and was complaining that noone had offered to help. I did, and did it. There are @ 800 men at my work, out of 1200 employees. Same again, just a smile and a thankyou was all I asked for. Of course it didn't hurt that both were cute. I have also helped push cars out of traffic, once on Christmas day. And gave said owners rides to work or home. Then again, I am one of those "finish last" type of nice guys.

    Back on topic, the people that really bug me, that pull out, are the ones who have that I'm bigger than you, so you will stop mentality. Or the ones who go slow, after cutting you off. When I do that, I nail the gas, and go.
  • bottgersbottgers Member Posts: 2,030
    Funny, the subject of door dings comes up. This has been a pet peeve of mine for years. This is simply a lack of respect for other people's property. For the women who think it's no big deal they slammed their door into the side of my car; do you think they'd get pissed if I cam to their house and stepped all over their flowers? If it was a man, do you think he'd appreciate me coming to his house and smearing peanutbutter all over the screen of his big screen TV? It's the same thing, but these people don't see it. I always hold my door handle when I open the door to make sure the wind doesn't catch the door and take it into the vehicle next to me. I pisses me off that other won't afford me the same curtosy.
  • emmanuelchokeemmanuelchoke Member Posts: 97
    Witnessed this oldie but goodie this morning. A line of cars entering the highway from a side road. All cars turning right. Two cars pull out, one after the other. One takes the slow lane and the other the passing lane. Both seem unconcerned about on coming traffic, which they force to slow down from 65 to about 35.

         I've never understood that maneuver.
  • gambit293gambit293 Member Posts: 406
    WSJ just ran an article (Friday?) about how studies have indicated that traffic could vastly be improved if adaptive cruise-control technology were implemented more widely. And it wouldn't take much to produce effects. I think the article said only about 20% of cars would need it to see substantial improvements. (don't quote me on this). This is largely because the vast majority of traffic congestion is caused by panic braking and late respones. Computers don't panic brake, but they can respond immediately.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    be very afraid. My 80 year old neighbor next door is having a pool party, which is about to break up soon. Just think about it, 50-60 old people hitting the streets all at once!! I think it's time for me to sign off now, and head up to higher ground! ;-)
  • andyman73andyman73 Member Posts: 322
    to stand in the middle of the road, but they seem to ride the center line. Better yet, find the biggest tree around, and stand behind it. Keep a watch for bogies heading your way. Watch your six! Keep alert! Stay Alive!
  • nine51nine51 Member Posts: 77
    Here is Wisconsin, we have several 2 lane roads with passing lanes scattered 10 to 20 miles apart. They are usually about a half mile long. The object of these lanes is for the slower traffic to move to the right on the extra lane and let the line of vehicles behind them pass on the left. I wish the DOT engineers would spend some time observing these pavement wasting ideas and try to come up with something else. (not panning engineers here, I am one).

    The problem with passing lanes is they are supposed to be foolproof and it only takes one or two fools to screw it up. Usually, the first two vehicles in the procession will take both lanes. The one on the left will move past the one on the right at approximately .05 mph faster, and just squeeze by before the passing lane disappears. The other tactic is, they drive 53 mph on the 2 lane, then speed up to 65 or 70 in the passing zone (or whatever it takes so they don't get passed) and then slow back down to 53 mph after the passing lane ends.

    And, what's up with the nerf balls on the interstate that will speed up when you pull out to pass them on the left, then slow back down when you drop back in the right lane?

    Just another variation of the left lane camper mentality.
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