driving pet peeves

[silverwhisper]

i'm a new jersey native, so driving is near & dear to my heart. but there's a whole host of pet peeves that come along w/ that territory. there are things that other drivers do that just piss me off and i bet i'm far from alone in that respect. what are some of your big driving pet peeves?

some of mine:

1. failure to signal when turning
2. being cut off by someone who then proceeds to drive no faster (or worse, slower) than me.
3. people driving slowly to [perform other activity] who would be better served and less of a hazard to traffic if they just pulled over.

ed

 

[Ezzy]

1. failure to signal when turning or worse in my book failure to turn when signaling.
2. being cut off by someone who then proceeds to drive no faster (or at worse, slower) than me, when they do it night on a long dark highway it really gets my goat.

 

[Eilan]

I have lots of driving pet peeves, but then, as you all have surely noticed, I'm pretty damn peevish!

In addition to those mentioned in previous posts:

Tailgating. If you're following me too closely, be aware that I DO brake for most anything. As the saying goes, if you're riding my ass, you'd better be pulling my hair. (I'd have that as a bumper sticker if it weren't a little inappropriate for my mom-wagon.)

The SUV mentality--not confined to drivers of SUV's, incidentally

People who don't change lanes or slow down when police/public service vehicles are on the shoulder. In my state it's the law, but people don't always remember to do it. My husband is far more likely to be hit by a car during a traffic stop than he is to be shot in the line of duty.

 

[silverwhisper]

your husband's a cop?

[makes mental note not to honk off eilan]

btw: what do you mean by "SUV mentality"?

ed

 

[Eilan]

your husband's a cop?

Yeah, but just for the next one month and 15 days. Then he's a retired cop.

[makes mental note not to honk off eilan]

Just don't attack my reading comprehension skills and we should be fine.

btw: what do you mean by "SUV mentality"?

The SUV mentality goes beyond defensive driving. It's this sense of status/entitlement/safety (often false) that some people have because they drive a certain type of vehicle. It's merely an excuse for boorish driving behavior. And it's no longer confined to SUV drivers.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Xstatic]

Well, I've had my licence for longer than I care to think about (I would say "been driving for XX years", but that's a horrible joke), and I've got a few that niggle me:

1/ As Ezzy put it, failure to turn when signalling (or not turning their indicators off)

2/ The SUV mentality (I think of it as 'the right of weight mentality' because I've seen semis doing it too )

3/ A fairly new and lethal addition - MOBILE PHONES!!! You get a hands-free cord when you buy the thing, how hard is it to USE?

And, since I've just gotten my motorcycle licence, I should add some of the things they do (just to remind myself not to do them):

A/ Passing stopped traffic by ducking into the emergency lane (yes, it's illegal here, but that doesn't stop some of them)

B/ 'Slalom' riding (racing round cars just to get to the front-it may be legal, but it's a bit of a shock to see a bike come out of nowhere and swing in front of you)

Can't bring any more to mind, but they're out there...

 

[bisexplicit]

Probably none of you have had to deal with it, because its hard to live somewhere as boring as I do...but I hate "cruising."
The whole stupid teenagers blaring their music, yelling suggestive comments, etc.
(Okay, so I'm a teenager, too, technically - but they still piss me off.)

 

[smy3th]

Cell phones. Drunk drivers do better than drivers on cell phones.

People who won't let me into their lane. I need to get into their lane, because I need to go the way that lane is going. One way or another, I'm going to get into it. If they think closing up the distance between them and the car in front of them is going to stop me, they are delusional. I usually just speed up and cut in line ever further in front of them. Then half the time, after they make such a bid deal about trying to keep me out of their lane, it turns out the needed to change lanes also because they were going the other way, and the whole thing was silly.

 

[Eilan]

Probably none of you have had to deal with it, because its hard to live somewhere as boring as I do...but I hate "cruising."
The whole stupid teenagers blaring their music, yelling suggestive comments, etc.
(Okay, so I'm a teenager, too, technically - but they still piss me off.)

This is common in my town, though I never did it when I was a teenager. I tend to avoid downtown when people are cruising. That's one of the problems that comes with living in an area where there's very little to do.

 

[Quoll]

All of the above including the doof doof dudes (cruising).

Morons that overtake in a school zone, yes I am going slow, because they have a reduced speed limit.

Darling sweet little old ladies who go around roundabouts at 1/3 the posted speed limit. (maybe it`s to do with g forces and oesteoporosis)

People who don`t move over on narrow country roads, if you can`t drive with two wheels in the dirt don`t drive on these roads,

Idiots who pull out in front of you when you are doing highway speeds.

I think there should be a totally seperate indication light just for those people looking for somewhere to park. One that means "Yes I am hugging the side of the road, driving incredibly slowly, I know you cannot get past but that`s fine. I may turn or brake hard at any moment without prior indication."

People who park in loading bays, I will block you in, I will stay there as long as the limit allows and I will make room for another truck or van to ensure there is no possible way for you to leave.

I love driving.

Oh yeah, imbeciles who wait until they blind you before dipping their headlights.

 

[Eilan]

Thanks, quoll. Your reference to the narrow country road just reminded me of something.

I get annoyed by the fucksticks who PARK on our narrow country road so that nobody can get through--and it's a dead end road.

People who are in a hurry to pass me, only to get behind the person in front of me, who happens to be the real reason things are moving slowly. Their impatience accomplishes nothing.

People who think that because the speed limit's 60 mph, it's okay to go that fast ALL the time--even when there are 3 inches of snow on the road and the salt trucks haven't been out yet.

 

[Quoll]

Thanks, quoll. Your reference to the narrow country road just reminded me of something.

Oh shit....running back over to the "So many views ......." thread to edit out the horrible flame I just left there.

 

[Eilan]

Oh shit....running back over to the "So many views ......." thread to edit out the horrible flame I just left there.

Sorry. I just flamed ya back.

 

[EJFan]

i'm surrounded by redneck white trash mother fuckers and i can't stand the way they memorialize their friends on the rear window of their pickup... "in loving memory of jeb -- 1974-2005"

WHAT'S in fucking memory of jeb? the fucking window?

and the god damned pickup is two-tone... one tone being primer, the other rust.

and they've spent a shit-pot full o' money to make the piece o' shit sound loud because it's just so fucking cool... then they spend MORE money on tires because they peel out at every opportunity. on the bright side, this is money they're not spending on the cheap ass beer they drink and toss into the bed when done.

god i hate rednecks.

 

[HybridCrow]

Hmm... I happen to be one of those people who DON'T like driving EVER, but happens to HAVE to drive.

Let's see, let me count the ways:

1. Tailgaters (I'd really love to slam on the brakes, but God knows what'll happen if I did).

2. No signal or signal TOO LATE.

3. People pulling on to the highway, forcing you to brake hard to keep from hitting.

4. People driving slower than the speed limit or driving faster than the speed limit, but driving like crazy.

5. Fucking morons and their stupid cellphones and loud music.... not to mention their improper use of brights.

6. Dumbshits who don't slow down when you've signalled your turn at least half a block BEFORE you turn.

Hmm... there's just so many pet peeves... Oh and my numero one favorite...

COPS... Yes, I said it. Granted, they're doing their job, but sometimes I think they're doing their job the wrong way.

 

[HybridCrow]

i'm surrounded by redneck white trash mother fuckers and i can't stand the way they memorialize their friends on the rear window of their pickup... "in loving memory of jeb -- 1974-2005"

WHAT'S in fucking memory of jeb? the fucking window?

and the god damned pickup is two-tone... one tone being primer, the other rust.

and they've spent a shit-pot full o' money to make the piece o' shit sound loud because it's just so fucking cool... then they spend MORE money on tires because they peel out at every opportunity. on the bright side, this is money they're not spending on the cheap ass beer they drink and toss into the bed when done.

god i hate rednecks.

Lemme give you some tips on redneck, white-trash driving.

First off, it ain't expensive to make your vehicle loud. Just cut off the damn exhaust pipe, or let it break off.

And Secondly, rednecks usually end up doing farm work, construction, machine operating, etc... so therefore, why keep a damn truck looking nice if it's going to get all dirty in the first place?

As far as the rest goes... to each his own.

Granted, I also hate it when people drink and throw their containers in the back, which ends up hitting the car behind them.

I usually don't got problems with rednecks unless they start something with me. Other than that, everybody's fine.

 

[EJFan]

Probably none of you have had to deal with it, because its hard to live somewhere as boring as I do...but I hate "cruising."
The whole stupid teenagers blaring their music, yelling suggestive comments, etc.
(Okay, so I'm a teenager, too, technically - but they still piss me off.)

we have this too... and they do it on bicycles before they're old enough to drive. some mini-twit actually went by my house tonight with a boom box in a fucking milk crate. loser.

 

[Eilan]

i'm surrounded by redneck white trash mother fuckers and i can't stand the way they memorialize their friends on the rear window of their pickup... "in loving memory of jeb -- 1974-2005"

WHAT'S in fucking memory of jeb? the fucking window?

and the god damned pickup is two-tone... one tone being primer, the other rust.

and they've spent a shit-pot full o' money to make the piece o' shit sound loud because it's just so fucking cool... then they spend MORE money on tires because they peel out at every opportunity. on the bright side, this is money they're not spending on the cheap ass beer they drink and toss into the bed when done.

god i hate rednecks.

Jesus Christ. You've described just about every male in my county. Fortunately, my husband and I don't own a truck.

What's better is the vehicles that have boards as bumpers.

*hums "dueling Banjos"*

COPS... Yes, I said it. Granted, they're doing their job, but sometimes I think they're doing their job the wrong way.

 

[EJFan]

*hums "dueling Banjos"*

LMAO!!! i think this is actually our town song.

 

[HybridCrow]

Quote:

Quote:
COPS... Yes, I said it. Granted, they're doing their job, but sometimes I think they're doing their job the wrong way.

Yes, that response was semi-directed at you, cop-lover.

 

[SweetErika]

Yes. All of the above.

Then there are the people who speed up in the other lane or onramp and then hold up traffic trying to cut in line. I get mad at people who let them in too, when it's obvious they are cutting or aren't holding up traffic (I say let them wait).

This is Western Washington. It rains, is overcast, is foggy, and dark a lot here. Yet very few people drive with their headlights on all of the time, and many have cars that blend well enough with the surroundings and weather that they're hard to see. Lives and limbs are not worth a few bucks for replacement bulbs, guys.

The people who are thoroughly confused by 3 or 4-way stops and signal outages.

 

[borisk]

All of those listed above chap my hide.

Living in Texas you will always get behind someone entering the highway and go directly to the left lane and drive the speed limit not passing anyone. They are in a big hurry to get there but thats it. drives me crazy. Pass and get to the right damn it!

Boris

 

[Lynxie]

Erika's comment about 4-way stops reminds me of when I lived on Martha's Vineyard island...there's only ONE traffic light on the entire island, and it's always green unless the drawbridge over the harbor is up. The rest of the intersections are 4-way (or more) stops. In the off-season, all was well...the islanders were accustomed to them. But when tourist season rolled around, forget it. Nobody else had a clue how to deal with them... add in the fact that the population multiplied by 10 in the summertime, and most people had no idea where they were going, and MV became a driver's worst nightmare. SUV mentality + cell phones + lost on vacation + tiny colonial roads = scary.

Plus nobody on the island obeyed parking signs - there were days when I'd drive to the grocery store, circle the lot and surrounding roads for 45 minutes, and drive home again with no food because there was absolutely no place to park.

But now I'm back on the mainland in the civilized world... it's like tourist season on the island year-round here, only with less of the lost-factor. Here in Massachusetts, we refer to ourselves as Mass-holes, primarily because of our driving habits.

- Only about 40% of the population uses a signal when turning.

- If you're at a light and making a left turn, it's your god-given right to turn left the instant the light turns green, cutting off the oncoming traffic. If you do not exercise this right, you will be honked at and insulted by drivers behind you.

- Tailgating is a fact of life here. When on highways, I deal with it by driving at the exact same speed as cars next to me, so the tailgator has nowhere to go. It gets 'em pretty pissed off.

- I hate it when people don't allow themselves enough time to slow down comfortably. My husband's guilty of this... he slams on his breaks everytime he has to slow down or stop.

- People who are afraid of the highway. They don't know how to merge onto it, they suck at changing lanes, they drive too slow, and heaven help them if there's construction.

I had some other good ones, but my husband interrupted my typing. Overall, I have a LOT of driving pet peeves... and I'd be willing to bet that I'm even more peevish than Eilan.

 

[bisexplicit]

Oh, on a sortof related note...I hate anyone who "pimps out" their car. Thats just stupid.

 

[Eilan]

Yes, that response was semi-directed at you, cop-lover.

Oh, man. That was harsh, coming from someone of your ilk.

I'm so crushed that I may have skulk off to the GB to start a whiny-assed rant thread in which I fail miserably to convince my fellow Litsters that allowances must be made for me due to my massively great greatness.

Or not.



*Apologies to silverwhisper for sullying his fine thread.*