Driving Pet Peeves (Final Updates)

"Long_Voyager94" (yourenotavalidusername)
12/16/2019 at 07:07 • Filed to: Rant

Driving pet peeves:

• People staring into their smart phones while driving. Trust me, there is NOTHING that can’t wait until you pull over or reach your destination!

• People who can’t be bothered to use their signals. Lazy and inconsiderate.

• People who can’t stay in their lane on corners, or turn into the wrong lane on divided turns. Is it really that hard to keep your vehicle in the correct lane or are you just that lazy/stupid?

• People who sit in the left lane. I don’t care how fast I/you are going, if someone comes up behind you, move the F over.

• People who would rather ride on your bumper than pass you.

• People who close the gap if you signal to merge. A little courtesy makes everyone’s lives easier. Likewise, if you’re trying to merge in front of someone, the brake is the wrong pedal.

• People who cut someone off then get pissed when they get honked at.

• People who pull out in front of you (generally when there’s NO ONE behind you for miles) to putz around at 40 mph, then take the next turn.

•People who haul ass through parking lots. People and kids everywhere, let’s haul ass and cut across empty spaces! Very surprised there’s not more crashes/deaths in parking lots.

• People who pass you in the 4 lanes only to slow down to under the speed limit in the 2 lanes.

• People playing on their phones at stoplights. Regardless of what you think, yes you do need to pay attention at stoplights too.

• People who get pissed when you pass them for going under the speed limit, so they tail you for the next 5 miles.

• People who pass you right before an exit, only to cut in front of you to take the exit. These people also have generally been behind you for miles and just decide they need to be in front within a mile or less of the exit.

• People who must be in front of you when you’re towing a 10k+ lb load behind you. They will cut you off, pull out directly in front of you, or merge over and slam on their brakes, all because they can’t be behind a truck and trailer.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I’ll add a specific one - Tesla drivers thinking they don’t have to drive because aUtOpIloT.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I think eating while driving should be illegal.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Driving while on drugs.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Don’t forget the people who drive below the speed limit when there is a double yellow, then speed up during a passing zone, then slow down again for the next double yellow.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Bro-dozer drivers who don’t adjust their headlights to compensate for their compensation. The other morons who can’t be bothered to turn on the headlights in a fog bank.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who drive around in the dark with all their lights off

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who can’t make up their minds at a 4 way stop. I’m like you have the right of way go, and they just sit there, then I’m like okay you are going to let me go? —-and then they start to go and I’m like god damn sumbitch.

Any vehicle with modern ultra bright headlights that shine into my car and blind me. I literally can’t see a fucking thing....

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who don’t know how to use high beams properly. Sure, if you’re on a twisty road known for having natural fauna (e.g., deer, elk) haphazardly cross the road, it’s fine. But if you see someone coming in the opposite direction? Please, for the sake of the other person’s corneas, turn off your high beams. Special mention to those who insist on using their high beams on a well-illuminated 4+ lane highway.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I’ll add driving with no lights on at night which is incredibly common in WA.

People who go slow while passing someone(especially while passing an 18 wheeler) and then speed up 5-10 mph after they complete the pass and the road is clear.

People who don’t properly secure loads.

People riding the brakes around every curve and refuse to use the slow vehicle pullouts.

Elefantenrennen(or Colorado Drag Racing), referring to two people driving side by side at the same speed and blocking all traffic. Elefantenrennen specifically refers to trucks.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! My addition is people who drive up the on ramp at 35 mph and merge before getting up to speed. It’s annoying and unsafe when the right lane is moving at 60.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who don’t turn off their high/beams when approaching oncoming traffic. Even worse are the bro-dozers who have modified their lights so they can run fog-lights and high beams at the same time and don’t turn them off with oncoming traffic.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Here’s another one. People at stop signs in bad weather who you think are going to pull out in front of you, so you slow down, they act like they’re going to let you pass only to gun it out in front of you.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Bumper sticker people.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Making a turn into a multi lane road and not staying in the inside lane. (left turn, left lane/right turn, right lane). That’s not how it works.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! applying makeup while driving

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who don’t bother to turn on their lights when it’s snowing sideways in the winter. They are inevitably driving a white or grey car and/or haven’t bothered to brush the snow off their car, so they are damn near perfectly camouflaged as a snowbank.

Also people who don’t bother to brush off their vehicles in the winter. There is a special place in hell for the ones who don’t even bother to clear the windshield or headlights and maybe have an index card sized hole to look through, but they can’t see since the car hasn’t had a chance to warm up yet and their defroster hasn’t been able to get the 1/4" of frost off the inside of the windshield.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who are aggressive to cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians really upset me.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who drive around without their headlights at night because their DRLs and/or dash lighting have misled them into thinking they have their lights on. Extra points for the ones who don’t realize their lights are off even after you flash yours at them.

People who take their sweet-ass motherfucking time turning left at an intersection when they know goddamn well that it’s a short green arrow signal. Keep it moving so the cars behind you get a chance to make it on this light cycle goddammit!

People who stay in the right lane at an intersection without a right turn lane as the light is changing up ahead, even though you’re right behind them, you have your blinker on, and there’s an open lane to their left. So much for turning right on red when one of these gets in your way.

People who tailgate in a lane other than the left lane, even though the left lane is open. Especially egregious when they tailgate in the right lane on a highway, usually because they’re about to exit and insist on carrying the most possible speed all the way to their exit.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who don’t know how to use turning lanes. They’ll slow down almost to a complete stop in the drive lane, then make their turn when they get to it, as if there isn’t a whole separate lane on the right with plenty of space to slow down gradually instead of holding up traffic.

People who adjust their speed based not the car next to them, and so ride along in your blind spot in the left lane for miles and miles, preventing you from moving over to pass someone.

People who refuse to use their cruise control. You know what I mean - the people who are constantly speeding up and slowing down on the highway for no reason, instead of going at a nice steady speed.

People who overuse their brakes so you can’t tell if they’re actually stopping, or just slowing down slightly, because they don’t understand engine braking.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Okay, as a FedEx driver here are some specific ones.

1. Delivery drivers will get in the way. It’s a fact of life, and completely unavoidable. Believe me... None of us WANT to be blocking a lane, a parking lot exit, sight lines, or what have you, but it is completely unavoidable. I repeat, completely unavoidable. Believe it or not, that town built 70 years ago with 3000 somewhat self-sufficient people MIGHT not have the proper infrastructure in place for the now 100,000 people who depend on same-day delivery to keep from starving. Honking, screaming, flashing the bird, and other acts of dumb rage will not help anyone, and in fact will generally make it worse for you as most of us drivers will slow our pace down to a snails crawl to bait out a bigger reaction that can then be videotaped, and shared among our driving cabal for bragging rights.

2. Parking in loading areas. If I have 300 80lb boxes to unload and my choices are -

A) put three on a handcart, wheel them through a massive store, and repeat one-hundred more times,

B) back up to a receiving bay and slide ‘em off like an Olympic curler on steroids...

With God as my witness if you are blocking the single loading bay retribution will be both swift and brutal. “officer, I’d like to report a stolen car parked behind the local supermarket. I... I think I see a pistol tucked between the seats!”

3. General entitlement/confusion. Let me explain this one. If a 2000 Camry and a 40ft freightliner meet head-on in a parking lot and there’s no room for either to go around the other, what’s the best course of action?

My money is on the small, easily manueverable, perfect visibility, quick acceleration having Camry being the one who should move out of the way. Saves time for everyone, and is much safer. And yet... I’ve had someone stick their head out the window and scream “I’m busy! Back up!”

In that case I’ll just put the ol truck in park, turn the hazards on, and enjoy a nice 500ft walk to my client.

4. This one is something that bugs me about other delivery drivers.

Going the wrong way on narrow one way roads behind warehouses and other businesses. A lot of strip malls will have an alleyway in back with roll up doors at the rear of each business. These alleys generally have well-marked one-way signage. Now if two 40 foot trucks meet in the middle because one of them decides to go the wrong way to save 30 seconds of their day... Well. Now someone has to back up their bigly vehicle through exceedingly tight corridors, and they’re well and truly screwed if another truck comes up behind them.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who take off from a light so slowly that you have to clutch in again.

People who don’t shoulder check.

Pedestrians who walk on the fucking road when there’s a perfectly good sidewalk to use. They’re putting both themselves and motorists in danger for no good reason.

People who don’t use the merge lane to get up to the speed of traffic. If someone merges in front of me doing 80 km/h in a 100 km/h zone they’re getting an earful of VQ ruckus when I pass them at WOT in third.

Cunts on e-bikes who disrespect both drivers and pedestrians. 99% of the time they’re drunk or high and are on their way to commit some petty crime.

People who don’t give dogs extra space.

Jetta drivers (anyone in the GTA knows what I’m talking about).

All of Markham.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who blindly follow the car in front of them, assuming that if there’s room for that vehicle to proceed, then there must be room for two vehicles to make it.

Case in point: Approaching a signal-controlled intersection during a green light (there is no green-arrow protected left turn phase), I am intending to go straight through. An oncoming left-turner sees enough of a gap to make his turn before I get there. He goes, but so does the car behind him, forcing me to slam on my brakes to avoid a collision. I swear, it makes me want to install a push bar on my truck...

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! When you’re driving with your cruise on and come up to a car that is going slower. You pull around, and then they speed up.

Actually, anybody who can’t keep a constant speed shouldn’t be allowed to drive.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! You’ve got most of them covered but I’ve got another.

People who turn left on to a divided road but turn into the center/turn lane until traffic opens up and they merge over. Even worse is when they continue to drive in the center lane at nearly the same rate as traffic until they can move over.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People with their hazard lights on for no apparent reason.

People with their hazard lights on when it’s just raining.

People who rest their left foot on the brake, causing their brake lights to be on all the time.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who don’t realize that the bus in front of them is going to stop, and also, that it doesn’t mean they have a god-given right to just merge over a lane without looking when it does.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Everyones going +5 over the limit...Cop ahead? They slow to -5 UNDER the limit.....everyone.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! People who have giant pickups or SUVs (looking at you, Yukon and Escalade drivers, those with fancy-ass GMC Denali pickups also) who slow down to ridiculously low speeds when going over bumps such as potholes, pavement transitions, or turning into driveways/lots with pavement lips or grade changes.

I’ll update the list adding your own personal driving pet peeves/stupidity as we go.

This is getting to be a damn good list, the sad part is the majority of this stuff can be seen every day in my normal commute.

Final Updates Have Been Added.

Thanks to all who added their inputs, we got a lot of bad behavior captured here.

DISCUSSION (100)

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:20

My Pet Pee ves:

People.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:24

• People who get pissed when you pass them for going under the speed limit, so they tail you for the next 5 miles

Iff there is not much traffic around, I just keep slowing down (not braking, just slowing down) and when they change lanes to go around me, I give it the beans. It isnt the most safest nor the most dangerous thing to do....

Captain of the Enterprise > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:31

What keeps everyone safe on the road is predictability. This is why turn signals are crucial.

vondon302 > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:32

The closing the gap one drives me nuts.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:34

These are all fairly accurate. Now the WORST thing I’ve ever seen. . .

A guy chugging whiskey out of the bottle in one hand, holding his cigarette in the other, and driving 60+ mph in an old van.

CalzoneGolem > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
12/13/2019 at 07:43

What a bunch of bastards

Long_Voyager94 > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
12/13/2019 at 07:47

Can’t argue that.

Long_Voyager94 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
12/13/2019 at 07:48

No one was supposed to see that......

Long_Voyager94 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
12/13/2019 at 07:48

Why not just let them go?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 07:52

Because they will do the same thing again down the road

Long_Voyager94 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
12/13/2019 at 07:57

OH THOSE PEOPLE!

Yep, I do the same to THOSE PEOPLE.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
12/13/2019 at 08:11

Kinja'd!!!

Urambo Tauro > Captain of the Enterprise
12/13/2019 at 08:37

Absolutely. And it’s not even a courtesy thing; turn signals are mandatory , period. The only difference between swerving/veering out of one’s lane and actually merging is the use of a signal.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 08:56

I think eating while driving should be illegal.

412GTI > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 09:32

I’ll add a specific one - Tesla drivers thinking they don’t have to drive because aUtOpIloT.

There’s many in my area and last week I saw a guy with an iPad mounted directly in-front of him playing a movie..seriously.

Arrivederci > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 09:36

Kinja'd!!!

Long_Voyager94 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 10:01

When they start enforcing cell phone laws I’ll worry about eating while driving.

I agree, but I feel it’s way down the list.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
12/13/2019 at 10:15

Yeah that’s gonna be a 911 from me dawg.

Jim Spanfeller > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 10:17

The closest I’ve ever come to getting in an accident was when I was in a parking lot in my 1966 Thunderbird, with big pickup trucks on either side of me. Due to the fact that my car isn’t particularly tall, I couldn’t see very far beyo nd the trucks, but from what I could see, it looked like the coast was clear, so I began cautiously pulling out. Th en, out of nowhere, some kid in an old VW Rabbit came barreling towards me and slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt not two feet from the nose of my car. He then rolled down the window and started yelling random insults at me, because how dare I pull out when I couldn’t see him coming while he was speeding in a parking lot, and then he pulled into a space further along and stared at me, revving the heck out of his engine. When my heart started beating again, I just drove away, wondering why some people are the way they are.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 11:53

Driving while on drugs.

• People who pass you right before an exit, only to cut in front of you to take the exit.

ha! I recognize Wisconsin. You’re triggering me. Also, meditation may help both of us.

Long_Voyager94 > Jim Spanfeller
12/13/2019 at 12:18

After just sitting in parking lots while my wife grabs a few things inside I am seriously surprised there’s not more crashes or people killed in parking lots. The way people drive in them is insane.

Long_Voyager94 > VincentMalamute-Kim
12/13/2019 at 12:18

HAHAHA, is that only a WI thing?

lone_liberal > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:31

Can we add bro-dozer drivers who don’t adjust their headlights to compensate for their compensation? I’m fucking tired of getting blinded by those guys. While we’re on that let’s add the morons who drive around with their fog lights on 24/7 and the other morons who can’t be bothered to turn on the headlights in a fog bank.

dumpsterfire! > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:33

Don't forget the people who drive below the speed limit when there is a double yellow, then speed up during a passing zone, then slow down again for the next double yellow.

Long_Voyager94 > lone_liberal
12/13/2019 at 12:40

Brodozers and not turning lights on I get, what the hell’s wrong with running fogs 24/7?

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:43

Can we please add -

- People who drive around in the dark with all their lights off? Just DRLs with no rear lights is bad enough, but plenty seem to intentionally turn them off too...WHY? and HOW?

I live in Oregon where it’s very rainy and can be foggy on my morning commutes - so so many people doing this in the winter. Also I don’t get all the people just merrily driving along seeing these cars. Yes I’m that crazy person flashing my lights at these idiots.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:48

I’m sorry, I eat when I drive. I'm hungry all the time. I try to be safe about it.

lone_liberal > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:54

Because a lot of them aren’t aimed correctly and shoot too high. It’s not as bad as the doofs who wire their “rally” laser beam s LED lights in to their headlight circuits so they’re blasting every time they turn on their lights, but it’s still annoying.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 12:56

- People who can’t make up their minds at a 4 way stop. I’m like you have the right of way go, and they just sit there, then I’m like okay you are going to let me go? —-and then they start to go and I’m like god damn sumbitch.

-any vehicle with modern ultra bright headlights that shin into my car and blind me. I literally can’t see a fucking thing....

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 12:57

How am I to enjoy my pizza then?

True story, I ate a corn dog while driving home last night. It was delicious .

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > vondon302
12/13/2019 at 12:58

This is like california highway driving 101, you don’t hit your signal until your car is moving.

vondon302 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/13/2019 at 13:03

Then what's the point in even turning it on then.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > vondon302
12/13/2019 at 13:04

It’s a reflex action. Also is a cop is watching you don’t get a ticket.

Josh - the lost soldier > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:05

People who don’t know how to use high beams properly. Sure, if you’re on a twisty road known for having natural fauna (e.g., deer, elk) haphazardly cross the road, it’s fine. But if you see someone coming in the opposite direction? Please, for the sake of the other person’s corneas, turn off your high beams. Special mention to those who insist on using their high beams on a well-illuminated 4+ lane highway.

Maxima Speed > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:05

People who don’t turn off their high/ beams when approaching oncoming traffic . Even worse are the bro-dozers who have modified their lights so they can run fog- lights and high beams at the same time and don’t turn them off with oncoming traffic.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/13/2019 at 13:05

Don’t eat and drive!!!

VincentMalamute-Kim > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:12

It’s a lot better in Colorado than in the Milwaukee area. My theory is it’s related to socioeconomic class. The less money, power (political, economic) you have, the more you feel a need to visibly demonstrate your dominance.

It seemed to me to be more often in Milwaukee than in it’s richer suburbs. More in younger people.

functionoverfashion > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:13

This:

Kinja'd!!!

If you can’t read them all, here are some highlights:

- Proud Parent of five kids that [sic] are sometimes assholes but that’s ok!

- I have kids. Park to [sic] close and they will DING YOUR SHIT

- Powered by Bitchdust

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 13:17

This is the american way. You can pry my corn dog from my cold dead hands.

Nibby > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:20

also, applying makeup while driving

Captain of the Enterprise > Urambo Tauro
12/13/2019 at 13:52

True!

slipperysallylikespenguins > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 13:53

It’s a combination of lazy/stupid. Most people don’t care about cars or driving so how can you expect them to be proficient at something they have zero interest in. It’s only gonna get worse.

I’ll add driving with no lights on at night which is incredibly common in WA.

People who go slow while passing someone(especially while passing an 18 wheeler) and then speed up 5-10 mph after they complete the pass and the road is clear.

People who don’t properly secure loads.

People riding the brakes around every curve and refuse to use the slow vehicle pullouts.

E lefantenrennen(or Colorado Drag Racing), referring to two people driving side by side at the same speed and blocking all traffic. Elefantenrennen specifically refers to trucks.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 14:09

Here’s another one. People at stop signs in bad weather who you think are going to pull out in front of you, so you slow down, they act like they’re going to let you pass only to gun it out in front of you.

What the hell, people?

Chariotoflove > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 14:53

My addition is people who drive up the on ramp at 35 mph and merge before getting up to speed. It’s annoying and unsafe when the right lane is moving at 60.

People who sit in the left lane. I don’t care how fast I/you are going, if someone comes up behind you, move the F over.

I have to take conditional exception to this. If I am in the left lane and moving substantially faster than the right lane traffic, and someone comes up behind me even faster, I am not moving over for them. I’m already speeding, and I’m not dropping down and getting caught in a sub speed limit train on the right . Their pass is not more important than my pass. Now, if I can move over without dropping my speed, then I will do that.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 15:48

Making a turn into a multi lane road and not staying in the inside lane. (left turn, left lane/right turn, right lane). That’s not how it works.

Long_Voyager94 > VincentMalamute-Kim
12/13/2019 at 15:50

It’s usually a 40-60 yo male in a nice car/truck when I see it.

Long_Voyager94 > Chariotoflove
12/13/2019 at 15:53

Valid exception, I do the same. I’ll move over once the lane next to me is clear, until then, chill out!

And HOLY HELL do those people piss me off. You have a 300+hp vehicle, why is my 150 hp minivan pushing you right now?!?!?

Long_Voyager94 > functionoverfashion
12/13/2019 at 15:57

Bumper Sticker people are the worst!

Although the Free Airbag Test for Tailgaters is funny.

Long_Voyager94 > i86hotdogs
12/13/2019 at 15:59

The number of morons who have almost hit me because they can’t turn legally is insane, I’ve almost made a game of it now!

fintail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 16:04

I’ve seen people (guess the demographic) eating salad while driving. That took the cake.

I never eat and drive - don’t want a mess in my interior. I think you are in the same OCD boat.

Chariotoflove > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:07

It’s the default behavior in Texas. I think they teach it in driver ed.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Chariotoflove
12/13/2019 at 16:08

The other day I was behind the local fire chief when he tried to merge at 40mph into a 60mph lane and almost caused an accident. I wanted to slap him silly and yell “you should know better than that! ”

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:09

Then I’ll lay on the horn and get the *hands up* from them thinking I’m in the wrong.

Roundbadge > i86hotdogs
12/13/2019 at 16:09

God yes, this. Just this week, I’ve nearly had 3 accidents like this.

Chariotoflove > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 16:11

I get my wife to feed me fries while I drive. Why else are you married anyway?

Chariotoflove > slipperysallylikespenguins
12/13/2019 at 16:13

This is my morning commute.

Roundbadge > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:18

I’ve seen a lot of my pet peeves listed already, so I’ll just contribute this story from last weekend.

I was in a left-turn lane behind another car, with one in the straight lane beside us. When the light turned green, everyone turned left. We were all turning onto a 2-lanes-in-one-direction road, and everyone kept to their lane, so no big...so I thought. Straight-lane-who-turned left proceeded to race in front of the car in front of me, cut left , go through the next light, then race ahead of the next car and cut back into the right lane (all in maybe 100 yards) . After the next light, we’re all under a highway overpass, two lanes going in our direction. Straight-lane and I are both in the right lane. This light turns green, and Straight-lane again makes a left turn from the right lane cutting off the other traffic and races onto the highway on-ramp. I was dumbfounded.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:20

People who don’t bother to turn on their lights when it’s snowing sideways in the winter. They are inevitably driving a white or grey car and/or haven’t bothered to brush the snow off their car, so they are damn near perfectly camou flaged as a snowbank.

Long_Voyager94 > i86hotdogs
12/13/2019 at 16:21

Generally they throw their hands up then proceed to flip me the bird.

Yes, because I’m the moron who couldn’t turn legally.....

Spanfeller is a twat > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:23

People who are aggressive to cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians really upset me.

Textured Soy Protein > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:25

Here in DC there’s a big problem with people who don’t pay attention to traffic ahead of them, realize there’s suddenly a gap in front of them, zoom ahead, then the traffic ahead of them slows down, they jam on their brakes, and you almost rear-end them.

Other general irritants for me:

People who drive around without their headlights at night because their DRLs and/or dash lighting have misled them into thinking they have their lights on. Extra points for the ones who don’t realize their lights are off even after you flash yours at them.

People who stop 3+ car lengths in front of the white line at intersections for no intelligible reason.

Alfalfa > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:29

People with no lights on in heavy rain or snow.

People who don’t clear snow off their roof.

People who don’t know how a 2 way st op works. This one may be regional? I've only noticed it the last few years. Everyone seems to think that right off way is always right to left no matter who stops first.

glemon > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/13/2019 at 16:30

One—I agree, but many modern cars the dash display lights are always on, or the dash display is a light. For us old dudes when the dash lights are on (in my mind) the headlights must be on too.

Two-One is still an excuse, know your car and drive with the lights on when you are supposed to.

Three—No one ever reacts to a flashing of the lights or brights anymore. I have sat through whole long traffic lights at night, car coming the other way doesn’t have their lights on I flash lights, I flash brights, no reaction. 9-10 time other drivers either are looking at their phones, or so clueless they don’t even get a tickle of a feeling of “maybe I should try to figure out why that guy is flashing his lights”. I have pretty much given up even trying, but still do it every now and then to confirm no one is paying the least amount of attention to traffic around them.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > fintail
12/13/2019 at 16:32

I’ve seen 1 person eating ramen with chopsticks and just yesterday another eating hot soup. Guess how many hands on the wheel in each case?

Long_Voyager94 > Textured Soy Protein
12/13/2019 at 16:32

If you are paying attention to traffic yourself how do you almost rear end them? ;)

I stop 1-2 car lengths from the line at intersections, I also leave a car length between me and the vehicle in front of me. It’s for my own safety. Leaving that escape route and watching other traffic when stopped at a light has been the difference between being in a crash and witnessing a crash numerous times. I’m sorry that maybe means you have to wait one more light cycle, imagine how long you’d be waiting had I got rear ended because I had no where to go.

Long_Voyager94 > Alfalfa
12/13/2019 at 16:35

Pretty sure we got these in some form already.

glemon > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/13/2019 at 16:36

Four way stops drive me nuts, despite what some say, car to the right rule doesn’t work, if four cars are at the four way, everybody is to somebodies right.

About a third seem to think the have the right of way or are next as soon as they pull up to the intersection and tap their brakes.

About a third seem to think it is never their turn and just wait for everybody to go.

The rest try to go in order and end up frustrated.

I think the road and mall people like them as people don't generally get killed as they do when blasting down a protected road and having somebody ignore the light or sign, but as a traffic management device they rely way too much on judgement and observation of drivers.

Pickup_man > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:43

You’ve got most of them covered but I’ve got another.

Grindintosecond > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:50

Everyones going +5 over the limit...Cop ahead? They slow to -5 UNDER the limit.....everyone.

Textured Soy Protein > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 16:51

My car is lower than most other cars and I don’t always see the car in front of the zoom-ahead-er in front of me. Also, just generally speaking, here in DC people are constantly being surprised by shit appearing in front of them thanks to their aggressive driving and then slamming on the brakes.

And I did specify 3+ lengths from the line.

fintail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 16:52

I am pretty sure I also once saw a bowl of ice cream being consumed by a “driver”.

i86hotdogs > functionoverfashion
12/13/2019 at 17:14

With a windowless van with a lot of real estate, I populate where the rear windows would be. I think it looks better like that, compared to finessing them around trim and license plates seen above

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 17:17

THIS SO MUCH. Motherfucker I have 136 (circa 1982) pushing 3200lbs up this on ramp, you need to do better than half the posted speed limit of the highway before merging. If I can do it most anyone with a modern car can

Derpwagon > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 17:19

Literally everyone else on the road.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 17:29

People with their hazard lights on for no apparent reason.

People with their hazard lights on when it’s just raining.

People who rest their left foot on the brake, causing their brake lights to be on all the time.

glemon > Chariotoflove
12/13/2019 at 17:32

Dark horse candidate for COTD

TheRealBicycleBuck > i86hotdogs
12/13/2019 at 17:33

People who turn left into the same street as I’m turning into when I’m turning right. Just because we’re both supposed to stay in our respective lanes doesn’t mean it’s legal for them to turn left when I’m turning right.

TheRealBicycleBuck > slipperysallylikespenguins
12/13/2019 at 17:34

It happened to me this morning. Hello! I-10 traffic is moving at 70 mph and you want to merge in at 45?

ranwhenparked > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 17:45

I have several:

People who don’t know how to use turning lanes. They’ll slow down almost to a complete stop in the drive lane, then make their turn when they get to it , as if there isn’t a whole separate lane on the right with plenty of space to slow down gradually instead of holding up traffic.

P eople who adjust their speed based not the car next to them, and so ride along in your blind spot in the left lane for miles and miles, preventing you from moving over to pass someone.

P eople who refuse to use their cruise control. You know what I mean - the people who are constantly speeding up and slowing down on the highway for no reason, instead of going at a nice steady speed.

People who overuse their brakes so you can’t tell if they’re actually stopping, or just slowing down slightly, because they don’t understand engine braking.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 18:10

Hmmm... I wonder if I could eat Pho and drive at the same time?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/13/2019 at 18:11

I limit it to things I can eat with one hand and contain within it’s wrappings. Sometimes even a burger is hard to eat and drive with. Fries are easy as is a standard sandwich.

Urambo Tauro > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 18:43

People who blindly follow the car in front of them, assuming that if there’s room for that vehicle to proceed , then t here must be room for two vehicles to make it.

Case in point: Approaching a signal-controlled intersection during a green light (there is no green-arrow protected left turn phase) , I am intending to go straight through. A n oncoming left-turner sees enough of a gap to make his turn before I get there. He go es, but so does the car behind him, forcing me to slam on my brakes to avoid a collision. I swear, it m akes me want to install a push bar on my truck...

smobgirl > fintail
12/13/2019 at 18:57

I’ll admit to having eaten spaghetti while driving (ah, Fazoli’s) but empty highway plus auto with cruise control wa s way different than my usual drives now.

ttyymmnn > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 19:00

When you’re driving with your cruise on and come up to a car that is going slower. You pull around, and then they speed up.

Actually, anybody who can’t keep a constant speed shouldn’t be allowed to drive.

smobgirl > ranwhenparked
12/13/2019 at 19:08

ALL OF THESE. Holy hell, get out of my head!

smobgirl > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 19:10

People who don’t realize that the bus in front of them is going to stop, and also, that it doesn’t mean they have a god-given right to just merge over a lane without looking when it does.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 19:36

People who take off from a light so slowly that you have to clutch in again.

People who don’t shoulder check.

Pedestrians who walk on the fucking road when there’s a perfectly good sidewalk to use. They’re putting both themselves and motorists in danger for no good reason.

Cunts on e-bikes who disrespect both drivers and pedestrians. 99% of the time they’re drunk or high and are on their way to commit some petty crime .

People who don’t give dogs extra space.

Jetta drivers (anyone in the GTA knows what I’m talking about) .

All of Markham.

fintail > smobgirl
12/13/2019 at 20:11

Hopefully in a takeout box with little risk of spillage.

Empty road, no witnesses, nothing to be ashamed of :)

ranwhenparked > Textured Soy Protein
12/13/2019 at 20:27

What is with the tailgating thing? I don’t understand it. If I’m doing 66 in a 55 in the right lane, and you want to go faster, that’s what the left lane is for - move over. The cops along my commute route are aggressive with speed enforcement, and I happen to know that 10-11 over is the max that they’ll let slide without another reason for stopping.

ranwhenparked > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 20:30

Bumper stickers do serve the purpose of marking which people you absolutely do not want to meet socially.

Kinja'd!!!

AestheticsInMotion > Long_Voyager94
12/13/2019 at 21:30

The no lights at n ight or in stormy weather o ne is my biggest current pet peeve, as it seems to have exponentially increased the past 6 months or so in Washington.

Okay, as a FedEx driver here are some specific ones.

1. Delivery drivers will get in the way. It’s a fact of life, and completely unavoidable. Believe me... None of us WANT to be blocking a lane, a parking lot exit, sight lines , or what have you, but it is completely unavoidable. I repeat, completely unavoidable. Believe it or not, that town built 7 0 years ago with 3000 somewhat self-sufficient people MIGHT not have the proper infrastructure in place for the n ow 1 00,000 people who depend on same-day delivery to keep from starving. Honking, screaming, flashing the bird, and other acts of dumb rage will not help anyone, and in fact will generally make it worse for you as most of us drivers will slow our pace d own to a snails crawl to bait out a bigger reaction that can then be videotaped, and shared among our driving cabal for bragging rights.

2. Parking in loading areas. If I have 300 80lb boxes to unload and my choices are -

A) put three on a handcart, wheel them through a massive store, and repeat one-hundred more times,

B) back up to a receiving bay and slide ‘em off like an Olympic curler on steroids...

My money is on the small, easily manueverable, perfect visibility, quick acceleration having C amry being the one who should move out of the way. Saves time for everyone, and is much safer. And yet... I’ve had someone stick their head out the window and scream “I’m busy! Back up!”

In that case I’ll just put the ol truck i n park, t urn the hazards on, and enjoy a nice 500ft walk to my client.

4 . This one is something that bugs me about other delivery drivers.

Chariotoflove > glemon
12/13/2019 at 23:45

Truth is funnier than fiction.

Long_Voyager94 > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/16/2019 at 06:51

Actually it is, assuming both parties have green lights. It’s exactly the reason you’re supposed to turn into your own lane instead of skipping lanes.

Long_Voyager94 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/16/2019 at 06:52

So you mean the woman eating a bowl of oatmeal, while applying makeup, and talking on her phone shouldn’t have been driving?

Long_Voyager94 > Grindintosecond
12/16/2019 at 07:05

False, I only go 2-3 over the limit.......

I also don’t even kick the cruise off when I see a cop.

;)

I hate the shit, happens all the damn time on the highway.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager94
12/16/2019 at 07:11

that is one helluva list

have this to cheer up

Kinja'd!!!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Long_Voyager94
12/16/2019 at 08:00

I disagree.

Universal Citation: LA Rev Stat § 32:122 (2015)

§122. Vehicle turning left at intersection

The driver of a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

Acts 1962, No. 310, §1.

Two vehicles moving in opposite directions which turn into adjacent lanes is hazardous, especially given the propensity for people to drift outside of the intended turn lane.

Also, vehicles turning left aren’t required to stay in the leftmost lane in Louisiana.

Universal Citation: LA Rev Stat § 32:101

SUBPART C. TURNING, STARTING AND STOPPING

AND SIGNALS THEREFOR

§101. Required position and method of turning at intersections

A. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall proceed as follows:

(3) Left turns on other than two-way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in the safest lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

That “safest lane lawfully available” doesn’t mean you must be in the leftmost lane after completing a left-hand turn. Laws vary by state, of course.

facw > Long_Voyager94
12/16/2019 at 08:05

Hmm this is a good list. It has most of mine. The one that gets me that’s not here (exactly) is driving with fog lights on when it’s not foggy/rainy. I do not need that extra glare, especially when a car is cresting a hill so being aimed down doesn’t help.

Long_Voyager94 > facw
12/16/2019 at 08:10

I run my fogs all the time, mostly because they light the ditches better than headlights alone.

Meeting a car on a hill sucks regardless.

Long_Voyager94 > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/16/2019 at 08:16

I mean technically you’re yielding right of way for them to turn legally since they must turn into the rightmost lane and you are turning into the leftmost lane.....

Unless the laws changed in WI, right turning vehicles MUST turn into the rightmost lane and left turning vehicles MUST turn into the leftmost lane .

In any case, doing so makes everything flow better and keeps us all safer.