Another thread got me thinking here, what are your biggest pet peeves as they relate to the rules of the road? I'm not talking about what people are doing IN their cars, like loud stereos, cell phones, eating, etc., but things like the one I hate most--TAILGATING. Others on my list include:


cluelessness at a 4-way stop

not using turn signals

not paying attention to a light turning green (a.k.a. "not knowing where the gas pedal is")

cutting me off (if I wanted to get cut-off, I'd live/drive in Chicago or some other metro area)

somedays, I feel I have a huge, neon sign that says, "PULL OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME"


Okay, that's enough for me, I don't want to have to take blood pressure meds.

Jason

 

I found the best solution for tailgaters is to slow down without hitting the brakes. I have even geared down in my truck. That gets them off your back end quick. Only catch with that is I had a kid run into my hitch on my truck once and took out his grill (in a walmart parkinglot). No damage to my truck but the kid was sure concerned when I got out and Demanded his insurance info and licence information.

 

Old trick for tailgaters, turn your lights on. All they see is your tailights come on.

 

Man, I got lots of pet peeves about other drivers' stupidity.

People stop at a 4 way, fine When people forget their cue, fine. I just give 'em a toot. It's the people that jump the gun (when it's supposed to be my turn) that tick me off.

Tailgaters. Not just the ones behind me. But the ones ahead of me tailgating the guy two cars in front of me. They'll slam on their brakes because they're too close, and I have to wonder is it because they're too close, or is there something else like the car they're following because I can't see the brake lights.

People that drive too slow. Usually not a problem, but it is a problem when I'm trying to get home after working 10 hours and the guy in front of me is lost, slowing down at all the cross streets trying to get their bearings straight.

People that think a cyclist needs a whole lane to pass one. I've had some close calls with a head on because the guy pulled into my lane to pass a cyclist who was riding on the shoulder, 4 feet from the white line. When I was a kid riding on the shoulder, I'd nearly get my head ripped off by passing mirrors, so when did this whole lane thing come about?

Motorists who don't pull all the way off the road to fix a flat. If there isn't enough shoulder to pull over, keep going until there is, or pull off the shoulder into the weeds.

People who brake on the freeway for absolutely no good reason to be seen by anyone else. If you must slow down, lift your foot off the throttle pedal. Don't hit the brakes. It just drives everyone's stress level up a couple notches.

Some people need to learn "throttle pedal modulation." What's with givin' it gas, then lifting, then givin' it gas again, as you're driving down the freeway? Pick a speed and stick with it. Don't figure 100 is good and lift your foot till you get down to 95 and gas it again.

The hammer lane is there for a reason. If you aren't keeping up, you're in the way. Move over.

Car pool lane. I know some places have different requirements, but if the minimum is 2, YOU NEED 2!!! These drivers not only cheat, but they aren't keeping up either. See the hammer lane rant.

I'm sure there's more I can't think of, but someone else will.

 

I have a long list, but will spare everyone of all but two.

1) I am a truck driver. The ones that just kill me are the folks that have to be ahead of me regarless of THEIR own safety. One example is when I am approaching a red light people race me to it, cut me off then they slam on the brakes when they are only within feet of me. I usually get the famed finger even though these peple don't realize they can change lanes quick, but I can't change my stopping distance.
2) People that use the carpool lane just because they are eligible to do so. Lets say traffic is doing 35mph. The carpool lane should be clipping around 50-60mph. There is always someone "carpooling" with the contention of driving 35mph, the same speed as everyone else not in the carpool lane. Please, for the sake of my sanity move to the right.

 

Got a few peeves, and one involves me.

1) People who ride in the left lane and synchronize their speed with a slower moving vehicle in the right lane, when the road is wide open ahead of them.

2) People who are "more important" than the rest of us who ride the shoulder when traffic backs up... at 60 mph no less.

3) People who insist on going 90 through traffic that can barely support 50.

4) People who choose to tailgate me in the right lane because there is a guy in the left lane synchronizing his speed with me.

5) People who pass you, get around you, and slow down, forcing you to pass them.

6) That everyone in the world seems to know when I have set my cruise control, and then they all go 5 mph slower than me, causing me to have to slow down and re-set my cruise control, only to have it happen again.

7) The way everyone mocks me by speeding off after I give up and shut off my cruise control.

8)People who cause major traffic tie ups because they must slow down and gawk at a mild fender bender on the other side of the highway.

9) Cops who'd rather ticket me for 70 in a 55 than ticket the rice rockets weaving through that same 70 mph traffic like it was a filming of "The Fast and the Furious" at 100 plus.

10) That others don't clear the road for me when I leave my house in the morning, even though I clearly instructed everyone to do so.

 

all of the above and:
people who cut you off to exit the freeway/turn down a road/enter a parking lot. i know darn well those people know where they're going so why don't they plan ahead. if my exit is 2 or less miles away, i'm in the slow lane ready for it.

pedestrians who walk slow. i understand the elderly, but the young kids are just rubbing it in your face.

four way stop ignorance; i'm not usually in a hurry so this is how i avoid this: i pretend NOT to be paying attention and look away. the other driver will take the bait and just go, even if i had the right of way.

tailgaters behind me when i'm already going over the speed limit. if it's 65, and i'm going 78, and i'm going too slow for you. TOUGH!

people who pass you when it's not safe. i had a guy pass me doing light speed when i was taking my daughter to work. around the next bend, he got caught by a CHP. i honked and my daughter and i waved at him as we drove by.

drivers who are overly nice: had a dork in front of me on a two lane road slow down from 55MPH to a stop just to let someone cross the highway. even the guy waiting gave the Nice guy a look of disgust. waiting for a break in traffic to cross is a fact of life; your not going to earn a spot in heaven for slowing down holiday traffic for one person.

drivers who do not respect TRUCKS. period.

 

My favorite peeve, While waiting for traffic to clear to enter the roadway or to make a left turn, the last car will stop and let you go.
Another is Mr. or Mrs. Politeman who stops at every opportunity to let someone cross the street, whether they want to or not.

 

it dont matter how fast your going if your in the fast lane and the vehicles behind you want to go faster then you should move right

people who jump over in entering accelleration lanes just to pass a few cars in rush hour traffic

people who drive with both feet so there brake lights are constantly going on and off

people who stop in the merge lane as soon as they get on instead of running it out to the end like they are supposed to but I allways get a good laugh when they finnaly get over and 50 cars ahead of them as the lane starts to merge I do

and as for merging the people who think they must go from the merge lane to the fast lane in one motion even if it is 5 lanes away \

people who are not smart enough to make sure they can clear the intersection at a red light before entering it

and as far as tailgaters are concerned I allways run hard and fast but if you want to go faster and I am in the hammer lane I will be moved left before you get a chance to tailgate me a good rabbit can be beneficial ahead of you to seek out the law but if your tailgating me and you have room to pass on the left just read my bumper sticker I brake for tailgaters oh and that brake dont activate the brake lights first ooops my bad

 

You're in a left turn lane, there's no arrow, there's on-comming traffic and the guy in front of you won't ease into the intersection. The guy waits til the light turns good and red before making his turn, leaving you there to wait-out another light. They're good for this one here in Cincy. Grrrrr.

MR

 

A) People who can't do the speed limit in the fast lane of the freeway.
B) People who think the on ramp is their driveway, and go 20 to merge w/traffic
C) People who need to slow down to 6mph to turn off a road.
Gee, there seems to be a pattern here, low speed.

 

A) Work Zones-Sign indicates lane closure 1 mile ahead, people don't get over and expect to be let into the thru lane right at the point the traffic cones finally stop them.
B) People who "cut" across parking lots. Granted the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but they didn't invent lanes just to keep parking lot painters busy.
C) People who don't get into the middle or left lane when approaching a truck weigh station and then have to shoot over (cutting you off) because a truck is exiting the station.
D) People who have a cell phone "glued" to their ear (while driving) like it is a lifeline.

 

Just because you're in the left lane going 78 in a 65 doesn't make you the owner of that lane. The authorities determined that 65 is the fastest prudent speed in that lane, but you decided that 78 in your '91 F250 was more prudent. Fine by me. But then who are you to determine that 80 in my '98 Mustang GT is not prudent? I'll give you space while you're passing traffic to the right of you, but when that lane clears, you'd better move over or I will park on your bumper.

Bottom line: the left lane isn't for speeders, it's for passers. When you're past the cars to your right, get over. For that matter, on a three-lane country highway, everyone belongs in the right lane (except semis who are avoiding on-ramp situations by being in the center). When you're passing someone in that lane, move to the center, and when you're passing cars in both, move to the left. When you're done passing move as far to the right as you can.

Pet Peeve number 2: Get off the cell phone.

Pet Peeve number 3: Guy in the left lane has the cruise set 1mph faster than the guys in the center. Get into the gas and get it over with.

 

My biggest driving peeve is that I can't figure out how to disable my airbag. Last thing I want is for it to deploy when I'm giving the guy in front of me a "friendly" tap (or push) to remind him he's screwing up (driving slow in the passing lane, fell asleep at the light, rubber necking at the fender bender etc, etc,). Nothing like a good jolt from behind to remind them of the business at hand, namely getting on down the road.

 

Oops I forgot.

cont.
3) People who do not know how to merge causing semis to the left lane.
4) People that cause semis to the left not letting them back to the right.
5) People upset that the semi is in the left lane because they do not realize
some jackars forced them over and won't let him back.
6) People that do not understand why I am in the left lane riding my behind. Trust me
I am not intimidated. Be honest I get a bit of a rise slowing down just to **** you
off.