Top Ten Driving Peeves

[Bruce Leroy]

Oh, and I'll have no problem sitting at the stop line at a green light when making a left-hand turn, especially at a busy intersection. That's safer than moving into the intersection, having someone blow a yellow and then you have to make the left-hand turn well after your direction has turned red.

See, this is my problem with most drivers. I'm not calling you out, but to me this is part of the bigger picture. Driving is all about keeping traffic moving. It's the same idea as everybody calming down and driving 45 on the highway when traffic is backed up instead of speeding up to 70 and then slamming on the brakes and bringing traffic to a halt because everyone else panics and brakes when they see brake lights. If you get out in the intersection to turn left on a regular green light, you ensure that the guy behind you can get through too, moving traffic along. If you stay put, that's at least two cars that don't get through and back up traffic even more. Sure, sometimes you have to turn after the light has turned red, but if you get into the intersection in the first place, everyone knows your intentions.

 

[BYH]

1. Everyone else on the road
2. Everyone else on the road
3. Everyone else on the road
4. Everyone else on the road
5. Everyone else on the road
6. Everyone else on the road
7. Everyone else on the road
8. Everyone else on the road
9. Everyone else on the road
10. Everyone else on the road

 

[Sam Mills 51]

1. Everyone else on the road
2. Everyone else on the road
3. Everyone else on the road
4. Everyone else on the road
5. Everyone else on the road
6. Everyone else on the road
7. Everyone else on the road
8. Everyone else on the road
9. Everyone else on the road
10. Everyone else on the road

I don't get it ...

 

[zebracoy]

Oh, and I'll have no problem sitting at the stop line at a green light when making a left-hand turn, especially at a busy intersection. That's safer than moving into the intersection, having someone blow a yellow and then you have to make the left-hand turn well after your direction has turned red.

See, this is my problem with most drivers. I'm not calling you out, but to me this is part of the bigger picture. Driving is all about keeping traffic moving. It's the same idea as everybody calming down and driving 45 on the highway when traffic is backed up instead of speeding up to 70 and then slamming on the brakes and bringing traffic to a halt because everyone else panics and brakes when they see brake lights. If you get out in the intersection to turn left on a regular green light, you ensure that the guy behind you can get through too, moving traffic along. If you stay put, that's at least two cars that don't get through and back up traffic even more. Sure, sometimes you have to turn after the light has turned red, but if you get into the intersection in the first place, everyone knows your intentions.

That's right, and on most occasions I'll pull out to make the turn, but here's the deal: When you see a nice long stream of cars coming in your direction, what's the point of pulling out into the intersection when you know it's a turn you can't make? I'm thinking specifically of a T intersection right by my post office, where the left-hand turn requires going around two oncoming lanes, the green light is above the stop line and the speed limit is 40, but it travels near 50. If I pull out into the intersection, there's a strong chance I have to wait for the oncoming cars to come to a complete stop - and at that point, on that road, not only do I not see what's going on, but the number of people running yellow mean that I'm likely turning on the perpendicular folks' green.

But regardless of the example, your logic is flawed anyway because if I'm out in the intersection, and my light turns red and I make the left-hand turn, the person behind me should most certainly not be entering the intersection after I've turned.

 

[Bruce Leroy]

Oh, and I'll have no problem sitting at the stop line at a green light when making a left-hand turn, especially at a busy intersection. That's safer than moving into the intersection, having someone blow a yellow and then you have to make the left-hand turn well after your direction has turned red.

See, this is my problem with most drivers. I'm not calling you out, but to me this is part of the bigger picture. Driving is all about keeping traffic moving. It's the same idea as everybody calming down and driving 45 on the highway when traffic is backed up instead of speeding up to 70 and then slamming on the brakes and bringing traffic to a halt because everyone else panics and brakes when they see brake lights. If you get out in the intersection to turn left on a regular green light, you ensure that the guy behind you can get through too, moving traffic along. If you stay put, that's at least two cars that don't get through and back up traffic even more. Sure, sometimes you have to turn after the light has turned red, but if you get into the intersection in the first place, everyone knows your intentions.

That's right, and on most occasions I'll pull out to make the turn, but here's the deal: When you see a nice long stream of cars coming in your direction, what's the point of pulling out into the intersection when you know it's a turn you can't make? I'm thinking specifically of a T intersection right by my post office, where the left-hand turn requires going around two oncoming lanes, the green light is above the stop line and the speed limit is 40, but it travels near 50. If I pull out into the intersection, there's a strong chance I have to wait for the oncoming cars to come to a complete stop - and at that point, on that road, not only do I not see what's going on, but the number of people running yellow mean that I'm likely turning on the perpendicular folks' green.

But regardless of the example, your logic is flawed anyway because if I'm out in the intersection, and my light turns red and I make the left-hand turn, the person behind me should most certainly not be entering the intersection after I've turned.

There's no flaw in the logic; you just presented an extreme example that clearly makes sense. Aside from that extreme, getting into the intersection means you have no option but to turn left because a yellow light means clear the intersection. So if your green arrow turns yellow arrow/regular green, continue into the intersection because getting into the intersection keeps traffic flowing. I figure maybe 8 percent of people with licenses can actually drive worth a ****, but I don't expect the other 92 to be dumb enough to not be able to see that a vehicle fully committed to a left turn isn't going to turn left. And that second guy can get through the intersection too.

 

[trifectarich]

Unless the traffic laws have changed since this came into existence, I believe it's a permissible right turn on red AFTER you come to a stop to make sure it's clear. Most drivers treat this as though they're going into the first turn at Talladega.

 

[EStreetJoe]

 

[EStreetJoe]

I hate people who love to camp out in your blind spot. Everybody knows about where that is. Don't ****ing linger there.

Agreed. When I'm doing 65 in the middle or left lane, sometimes I have to speed up to 75-80 to get those idiots out of my blind spot.

The morons who don't use their turn signals.

The idiots who designed some interchanges where the acceleration lane to feed onto the highway and the exit lane to get off the highway are the same lane!

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" - George Carlin

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Slow drivers in the left lane. I can handle pretty much anything else except for this one. And it's a trait that seems to be way more prevalent down south than up north. In the north, if you're coming up behind someone on the highway, invariably they'll move aside. Down south, the attitude is more along the lines of '**** you, drive around me', even if that's an impossibility because there's someone working the exact same speed in the right hand lane.

Cell phone/texting usage. On the highway, invariably results in the above occurring.

And the blind spot one is a good call. I don't think a lot of people realize how extremely dangerous that is.

 

[zebracoy]

Here's a new one, too, that I usually find when taking a road trip but which happened to me last night when coming home from work: the caravan.

You know, when the person in the left lane, the person in the center lane and the person in the right lane are all going the same speed, without regard to the fact that there are quite a few cars behind them. Nobody wants to make the move to accelerate, and you wonder why in the world those in the leftmost lanes are there in the first place.

The only more upsetting situation than that is when you finally are able to get enough space to move between the cars to break through, only to have the person on the left speed up to a reasonable speed (or in my case last night, damn near 90).

 

[lmcmillan33]

Oh, and I'll have no problem sitting at the stop line at a green light when making a left-hand turn, especially at a busy intersection. That's safer than moving into the intersection, having someone blow a yellow and then you have to make the left-hand turn well after your direction has turned red.

See, this is my problem with most drivers. I'm not calling you out, but to me this is part of the bigger picture. Driving is all about keeping traffic moving. It's the same idea as everybody calming down and driving 45 on the highway when traffic is backed up instead of speeding up to 70 and then slamming on the brakes and bringing traffic to a halt because everyone else panics and brakes when they see brake lights. If you get out in the intersection to turn left on a regular green light, you ensure that the guy behind you can get through too, moving traffic along. If you stay put, that's at least two cars that don't get through and back up traffic even more. Sure, sometimes you have to turn after the light has turned red, but if you get into the intersection in the first place, everyone knows your intentions.

That's right, and on most occasions I'll pull out to make the turn, but here's the deal: When you see a nice long stream of cars coming in your direction, what's the point of pulling out into the intersection when you know it's a turn you can't make? I'm thinking specifically of a T intersection right by my post office, where the left-hand turn requires going around two oncoming lanes, the green light is above the stop line and the speed limit is 40, but it travels near 50. If I pull out into the intersection, there's a strong chance I have to wait for the oncoming cars to come to a complete stop - and at that point, on that road, not only do I not see what's going on, but the number of people running yellow mean that I'm likely turning on the perpendicular folks' green.

But regardless of the example, your logic is flawed anyway because if I'm out in the intersection, and my light turns red and I make the left-hand turn, the person behind me should most certainly not be entering the intersection after I've turned.

Many people do it, but it is wrong and illegal to be in the intersection for a left turn. Yes, not many cars can get through on green arrows, but more could get through if they didn't have to wait to go on green because someone else is out in the intersection. If someone wanted to, they could just smash straight into you and it is without a doubt your fault for a red light violation.

 

[Bamadog]

• Left lane dawdlers - God, I hate those saps intent upon passing some truck at 1/2 mph faster in the left lane as traffic lines up behind them. Pass already!
  
  
• Cutoff artists - I hate the people who see you merging onto the interstate in the right lane, but refuse to move over to the left lane even if the road is empty.
  
  
• Tailgaters - What, 90 mph in the left lane passing a convoy of trucks going 65 mph isn't fast enough for you? Get off my ass!
  
• Street racers - The Fast and Furious came out eight years ago. It was the most unrealistic car movie ever made. Quit trying to live your life a quarter-mile at a time. Nobody wants to race your eight-year old Civic with the fartcan exhaust that sounds like a demented lawn mower.
  
• I also despise anyone with balls hanging from their trailer hitch, stickers with Calvin-like children peeing on anything, loud fartcan exhausts, "sponsor" stickers all over your ride, silly neon lights under and inside the car, spinny rims and dubs, fake ventiports on your fenders like a mongrelized Buick, bass so loud I can feel it shake my car, pop-down flat screen monitors in cars (minivans, I understand why they're there) and old hoopdies with suspension lifts like a monster truck.

 

[MacDaddy]

Oh, and I'll have no problem sitting at the stop line at a green light when making a left-hand turn, especially at a busy intersection. That's safer than moving into the intersection, having someone blow a yellow and then you have to make the left-hand turn well after your direction has turned red.

See, this is my problem with most drivers. I'm not calling you out, but to me this is part of the bigger picture. Driving is all about keeping traffic moving. It's the same idea as everybody calming down and driving 45 on the highway when traffic is backed up instead of speeding up to 70 and then slamming on the brakes and bringing traffic to a halt because everyone else panics and brakes when they see brake lights. If you get out in the intersection to turn left on a regular green light, you ensure that the guy behind you can get through too, moving traffic along. If you stay put, that's at least two cars that don't get through and back up traffic even more. Sure, sometimes you have to turn after the light has turned red, but if you get into the intersection in the first place, everyone knows your intentions.

That's right, and on most occasions I'll pull out to make the turn, but here's the deal: When you see a nice long stream of cars coming in your direction, what's the point of pulling out into the intersection when you know it's a turn you can't make? I'm thinking specifically of a T intersection right by my post office, where the left-hand turn requires going around two oncoming lanes, the green light is above the stop line and the speed limit is 40, but it travels near 50. If I pull out into the intersection, there's a strong chance I have to wait for the oncoming cars to come to a complete stop - and at that point, on that road, not only do I not see what's going on, but the number of people running yellow mean that I'm likely turning on the perpendicular folks' green.

But regardless of the example, your logic is flawed anyway because if I'm out in the intersection, and my light turns red and I make the left-hand turn, the person behind me should most certainly not be entering the intersection after I've turned.

Many people do it, but it is wrong and illegal to be in the intersection for a left turn. Yes, not many cars can get through on green arrows, but more could get through if they didn't have to wait to go on green because someone else is out in the intersection. If someone wanted to, they could just smash straight into you and it is without a doubt your fault for a red light violation.

Only if it's a red arrow; if it's a green arrow that then turns into a flashing yellow or a green light (meaning you can make a left if you're yielding to oncoming traffic) you're supposed to go into the intersection as you await making the turn.

 

[MacDaddy]

• Left lane dawdlers - God, I hate those saps intent upon passing some truck at 1/2 mph faster in the left lane as traffic lines up behind them. Pass already!
  
  
• Cutoff artists - I hate the people who see you merging onto the interstate in the right lane, but refuse to move over to the left lane even if the road is empty.
  
  
• Tailgaters - What, 90 mph in the left lane passing a convoy of trucks going 65 mph isn't fast enough for you? Get off my ass!
  
• Street racers - The Fast and Furious came out eight years ago. It was the most unrealistic car movie ever made. Quit trying to live your life a quarter-mile at a time. Nobody wants to race your eight-year old Civic with the fartcan exhaust that sounds like a demented lawn mower.
  
• I also despise anyone with balls hanging from their trailer hitch, stickers with Calvin-like children peeing on anything, loud fartcan exhausts, "sponsor" stickers all over your ride, silly neon lights under and inside the car, spinny rims and dubs, fake ventiports on your fenders like a mongrelized Buick, bass so loud I can feel it shake my car, pop-down flat screen monitors in cars (minivans, I understand why they're there) and old hoopdies with suspension lifts like a monster truck.

WFW.

I'm always amused at how people accessorize their super-crappy cars. I saw a car the other day that was barely running, yet they spent the money to put the fake ventiports on the fenders. Nice priorities.

Another favorite was a car with monitors in the headrests; it was a two-seater.

 

[trifectarich]

Yield does not mean, "I'm coming onto the highway and you'd better make room for me."

 

[GB-Hack]

The one I struggle with most that isn't on the list are those who don't use an on-ramp to accelerate.

If we're coming off a road where the average rate of a vehicle is 40 mph, and we're getting onto a highway where people are going 60-65 mph and we're going to need to merge in early and safely, we shouldn't still be doing 40 when we reach the beginning of the merge lane.

 

[forever_town]

I'm amazed IJAG did not nail me.

Bet you'd like that.

 

[KevinmH9]

Failing to use one's turn signal and while stopping at nearly ever intersection.

Stupid tourists.

 

[albert77]

• I also despise anyone with balls hanging from their trailer hitch, stickers with Calvin-like children peeing on anything, loud fartcan exhausts, "sponsor" stickers all over your ride, silly neon lights under and inside the car, spinny rims and dubs, fake ventiports on your fenders like a mongrelized Buick, bass so loud I can feel it shake my car, pop-down flat screen monitors in cars (minivans, I understand why they're there) and old hoopdies with suspension lifts like a monster truck.

Bamadog, whatchu doin' readin' my mind? Agree with everything you mentioned, especially the plastic nuts. That is just SO wrong.

 

[finishthehat]

Haven't read the thread or the original story (So of course I feel qualified to comment), but nothing is more annoying to me than rubberneckers.

For the sake of all that is holy, it is just some flashing lights, people. There is no need to stop and gawk and build up a mile-long backup.