What are your driving pet peeves?

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
Originally Posted By: addyguy
All bicyclists.


Classy..........

You must be the one of the ones who has tried to run me off the road before. Even though I obey traffic laws while bicycling or driving vehicles on the road



He lives near Toronto, largest city of Canada. I have no problems with cyclists in any other city (I've driven a commercial bus everywhere), except for Toronto. I can count on my two hands the number of times I've seen cyclist obey even half the traffic laws.


The other day, I had this stupid c*nt ride up the side of all the traffic, right beside my bus, up to a red light. No biggy, I guess, she should be holding the right-side. We take off - and she promptly cuts in front of me (like a 20k pound bus is nothing to worry about). With the left lane full of traffic, we paced her for a good half-block (and she was obviously in no rush). I finally got a chance to pass her, and promptly cut her off as she delayed my entire lane so much, we caught a red light, and myself being first, not a car made it through the light. What does she proceed to do? COMES RIGHT BACK IN FRONT OF THE BUS AND THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, alongside the ENTIRE line-up of traffic that she just made us miss our light. Needless to say at this point, myself and others are pretty [censored]. I proceed to lay on the air horn for all it's worth, and all she do is turn, look at me, and give me that dumbfounded facial expression.

Courtesy is NOT part of most cyclists in Toronto.

 

[SevenBizzos]

Gosh, there's so many.

People that ride right next to a vehicle on a 2 lane situation for miles holding up traffic. Pass them or move.

People not accelerating on on ramps to expressways. The traffic on the expressway is going 70-75mph so it would be nice to be going that fast by the time we get there.

Vigilante drivers. This is by far my #1. If you don't like what someone is doing, just avoid them. Making some crazy attempt to show them you're the boss or that they are not fully compliant with some minor traffic law creates a very dangerous situation and can easily escalate into more.

Like most of you, I could write a book on this topic.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: timish
24. Here is another one......People who are so [censored] selfish and have entitlement issues to put MY LIFE AT RISK by ACTIVELY BLOCKING my legal lane splitting on my motorcycle by moving their cars into the path of my moving motorcycle because they are stuck in traffic.


That's LEGAL?

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123


You must be the one of the ones who has tried to run me off the road before. Even though I obey traffic laws while bicycling or driving vehicles on the road


You may be an exception. Around here, bikes run red lights and stop signs all the time. Adults, that is, not kids. I can't even count the number of times I've stopped at a residential 4-way stop sign just in time to see a bike whiz by nonstop on the cross street with the rider in full spandex racing gear and helmet. Of all the people who should know better, its these guys.

Or just as bad, are the bikes whom I've passed that then fly by me on the left when I come up to the next stop sign. Idiots! What if I'm turning left; the last thing I'm watching for is the guy passing me from behind in the middle of the intersection.

 

[TooManyWheels]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this - Teenagers (mostly) who cut in or cross in front of you, or behind you, at high speed when there is no space to fit in to. Of all the bad driving possibilities, that is the only one that makes me want to pursue with intent to do harm. I have to actively regulate myself when that happens.

And related to people who don't dim lights in the drive through - People who park at night, with lights on, at the curb in front of restaurants with unshaded or unblackened windows.

 

[brianl703]

People driving vehicles with amber strobe lights who turn them on when they they're having trouble getting from the far left lane to the right exit in 200 feet, thinking that will make people get out of the way.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Folks who BRAKE on highway entrance ramps instead of accelerating to merge, or insist on going much slower than the traffic they are merging with, only to speed up and pass you after you had to slow down or change lanes to let them in.

Folks who think "left/right lane ends, merge right/left" means "hang out here until you have to drive on the shoulder and act completely surprised that the lane ended despite adequate warning and plenty of time to merge".

Folks who ignore signs like "Stop here on red" and "Do not block drive".

Folks with the phone glued to the ear that are looking every different direction EXCEPT watching what's ahead.

Folks who drive with high beams on when traffic is approaching them, or folks who flash their high beams for no apparent reason.

Folks who make turns from lanes that aren't turn lanes, or drifting into other turn lanes during the turn.

Almost forgot: Folks who make U-turns on the highway with "No U-turns" and "Emergency or authorized vehicles only" signs in their face.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: timish

Old people who forgot how to modulate the brakes or the accelerator pedal. . . . LOL - add people who just stab the brakes or brake for no apparent reason, even when there is nobody behind them or in front of them.

I'm occasionally guilty of this, I guess. There are so many lousy road surfaces here in The Swamp that I often find myself unable to drive at a steady speed. I'm continually braking for a pothole, poor concrete join, or fault block (one concrete slab is tilted above the previous one).

If local drivers don't like it, I'll tell 'em, "Pave the roads and we'll all be able to drive the way we're supposed to."

 

[exranger06]

People who never read any signs, or simply don't care and break the rules anyway. Examples: Turning right on red when there is clearly a "no turn on red" sign. Staying in an "exit only" lane when they're not taking the exit, and merge back at the very last second, even when there are no less than 4 signs that clearly say EXIT ONLY. There's a parking lot at my school which has 2 "do not enter" signs at the entrance. (people are allowed to enter the lot that way, but not allowed to exit the lot) yet people ignore the signs and exit there anyway.

 

[timish]

Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: timish
24. Here is another one......People who are so [censored] selfish and have entitlement issues to put MY LIFE AT RISK by ACTIVELY BLOCKING my legal lane splitting on my motorcycle by moving their cars into the path of my moving motorcycle because they are stuck in traffic.


That's LEGAL?

It sure is and that is one of the benefits of living in California as a motorcyclist.

Read this:

""Lane splitting" is what someone does when he or she rides their motorcycle in between slow-moving cars on a freeway. The article says that this practice goes way back to the days when all motorcycles had air-cooled engines, and needed to keep moving to prevent overheating.

I suppose there's some truth to that, though today, many air-cooled motorcycles don't overheat when stopped on freeways.

The reason why California remains as the only state in the union to allow lane-splitting is because of safety.

Several years ago, lawmakers in Sacramento drafted a bill to make lane-splitting illegal, thinking it would save more lives. However, the California Highway Patrol lobbied against the bill, on grounds that it cause more bikers to die.

That is, if motorcyclists were forced to wait behind slow moving or stopped vehicles, they run the risk of getting rear-ended by other vehicles. This happens all too often on freeways, where drivers fail to pay attention to stopped traffic up ahead. Rear ending a motorcycle is almost always fatal for the biker.

That's why the CHP wants bikers to split lanes, to protect them from drivers not paying attention.

The CHP used accident fatality data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to show that a frequent cause of deaths in motorcycle accidents in other states are car drivers rear-ending motorcycles.

That's why the California State Legislature changed its mind and allowed lane-splitting to remain legal.

I put about 30,000 miles each year on my two motorcycles. I've witnessed many "rear-end" accidents between two cars on the freeway. When a car gets rear-ended, the driver usually survives. But when it happens to a motorcycle, the biker almost always dies. If lane-splitting were legal in all 50 states, a lot more people would be alive today."

Taken from: http://www.menifee247.com/labels/Motorcycles.htm

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69
Originally Posted By: oilboy123
Originally Posted By: addyguy
All bicyclists.


Classy..........

You must be the one of the ones who has tried to run me off the road before. Even though I obey traffic laws while bicycling or driving vehicles on the road



He lives near Toronto, largest city of Canada. I have no problems with cyclists in any other city (I've driven a commercial bus everywhere), except for Toronto. I can count on my two hands the number of times I've seen cyclist obey even half the traffic laws.


The other day, I had this stupid c*nt ride up the side of all the traffic, right beside my bus, up to a red light. No biggy, I guess, she should be holding the right-side. We take off - and she promptly cuts in front of me (like a 20k pound bus is nothing to worry about). With the left lane full of traffic, we paced her for a good half-block (and she was obviously in no rush). I finally got a chance to pass her, and promptly cut her off as she delayed my entire lane so much, we caught a red light, and myself being first, not a car made it through the light. What does she proceed to do? COMES RIGHT BACK IN FRONT OF THE BUS AND THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, alongside the ENTIRE line-up of traffic that she just made us miss our light. Needless to say at this point, myself and others are pretty [censored]. I proceed to lay on the air horn for all it's worth, and all she do is turn, look at me, and give me that dumbfounded facial expression.

Courtesy is NOT part of most cyclists in Toronto.


I don't live near Toronto, unless yopu count Ottawa as 'near'.

I have yet to see a cyclist that actually obeys the rules of the road and deserves to be on them. All of them think they are above the rules.

 

[opus1]

People who just have to pull out in front of me despite no traffic behind and then slowing down because they forgot why they were in such a hurry 3 seconds ago.

People who poke along 5-10mph below the speed limit for no environmental reason, who suddenly figure out what their gas pedal is for when the light turns yellow -- they make it throught the light as it turns read but thanks to them I'm now hosed.

People who seem to only be able to drive one speed. I live in a semi-rural area and the main roads are 55mph, while the main road into my subdivision drops to 35mph. For some reason a lot of people in the area do 45mph on the main road, and then continue to do 45mph even after they transition to the subdivison.

People who can't be bothered to take 2 minutes to clear the snow off of their cars. Not only can't they see all they need to via the little hole they made in the snow on the windshield, they're also impeding my vision with all of the snow blowing off of their car.

 

[d00df00d]

My pet peeve of the week is people who blame safe, law-abiding motorcyclists for the bad things that happen to them in traffic.

Just yesterday I saw someone swerve suddenly to dive into a parking space. In the process he cut off a motorcyclist and basically plowed him across a whole lane and onto the curb. Then he got out and accused the motorcyclist of riding into his blind spot and hitting his car. His girlfriend started ranting and raving about how the motorcyclist obviously wasn't hurt, and accused him of just trying to screw her boyfriend over by exaggerating the accident. They both hung on to these stories all the way until the police report was made and he drove off.

Regardless of their motives, motorcyclists are putting themselves at risk to ride vehicles that take fewer resources to build, consume less fuel, and occupy less space on the roads. We should be THANKING them, and do everything reasonable to accommodate them.

 

[eljefino]

Interestingly, in most states, bicyclists (and horse riders etc) have a RIGHT to the road, while motor vehicle drivers have a PRIVILEGE. Like obscure maritime laws that say sailboats have the right of way, and aviation laws that say baloons and gliders get extra help... one needs to look out for bicyclists.

For example in my state a cyclist has to ride as far right as practicable. I was on a 4 lane bridge without any breakdown lane or shoulder, and just a guard rail. Didn't feel safe so I took the whole dang right lane. Some yahoo decided to sit behind me and honk instead of passing me in the left lane. When the bridge ended... I resumed riding on the shoulder.

Interactions with the other stuff on roads are in the state driver handbook, and promptly forgotten once someone passes the written driving exam. (70% to pass where I took mine

)

So there's my tirade: People ignorant of the finer points of law.

(Although I will concede there are some crazy, lawless cyclists out there. They are required to follow most rules of the road.)

 

[oilboy123]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Interestingly, in most states, bicyclists (and horse riders etc) have a RIGHT to the road, while motor vehicle drivers have a PRIVILEGE. Like obscure maritime laws that say sailboats have the right of way, and aviation laws that say baloons and gliders get extra help... one needs to look out for bicyclists.

For example in my state a cyclist has to ride as far right as practicable. I was on a 4 lane bridge without any breakdown lane or shoulder, and just a guard rail. Didn't feel safe so I took the whole dang right lane. Some yahoo decided to sit behind me and honk instead of passing me in the left lane. When the bridge ended... I resumed riding on the shoulder.

Interactions with the other stuff on roads are in the state driver handbook, and promptly forgotten once someone passes the written driving exam. (70% to pass where I took mine

)

So there's my tirade: People ignorant of the finer points of law.

(Although I will concede there are some crazy, lawless cyclists out there. They are required to follow most rules of the road.)


Problem is the scofflaw bicyclist and motorcyclist that give the law abiding ones a bad name. Then car drivers end up hating all. Then we have passive aggressive car drivers trying to kill us with no empathy towards cyclist.

I say most of them have not ever rode a bicycle in traffic. So they don't know how it feels get buzzed by a 3330 lb car.

 

[01rangerxl]

It bothers me when people don't move over for cars to merge on to the interstate when there is plenty of room for them to do so. I guess this is just laziness? I don't think there's any legal obligation to do this, but it's a nice thing to do and it keeps traffic moving.

I also don't like it when police don't signal, tailgate, or do other things that are obvious bad driving habits. If their job is to enforce the law, they need to follow it.

People who just sit at green lights, or who go through a left turn signal very slowly also bother me. It's a problem around here because a lot of drivers are completely absent minded. They will pay attention to anything except for their driving, and when the light turns green they act like it will stay that way forever. Some of the turn lanes here have very short green arrows and long waits on red, so I pay attention to the light and when it's green I go. Again, it's a nice thing to do for other drivers...around here you really might save someone else several minutes of idling just by moving quickly when the light changes.

I try to be nice to cyclists. I give them plenty of room when passing, I don't pass if it's dangerous, and I keep my distance. However, I hate it when cyclists completely disregard basic traffic rules, or when they ride side by side all the time. Riding side by side on a 45 MPH road with lots of trucks on it is STUPID! Don't do it!

 

[timish]

Drivers who don't understand, comprehend or are plain ignorant to "right of way" at a four way stop or a disabled traffic light.

Motorists who make a turn at the last minute in front of me from a stop while I am driving at 35MPH and force me to slam on the brakes because they just couldn't wait to make the turn AFTER I had passed them.

Similar concept....I am in the right lane to get ready and staged for the next exit. There are cars in front of me and we are queued driving speed limit to get off the exit. Jerk in lane next to exit lane just has to LOITER next to me without a blinker for 1/4 of a mile and then signals at the last minute and attempts to cut in front of me to squeeze between my vehicle and the one in front of me, prompting me to have to nail the brakes, INSTEAD of them just braking and getting behind me where there is 15 miles of space.

Jerks who think they are slick by timing traffic lights and "gutterballing" on the right hand turn lane so they can just speed thru the traffic when the light turns green. They speed up thru the right hand lane (which is usually a right turn lane for the light and which more often than not has parked cars in that lane past the intersection, forcing said idiotic motorist to attempt to veer into the left lane cutting off drivers vs. hitting the parked cars.

People who park so close to your bumpers making it virtually impossible to get out of a parking spot. (same concept for those that park so close to your doors you can't open the door to get in your car/truck/whatever)

RV drivers who forget that their vehicle is not a Corvette and it should not be in the passing lane doing 55MPH on an interstate.

 

[Paul56]

I'm *just* in from a 500 mile trip and so some items are fresh in my mind...

-Tailgaters are my biggest peeve.

Basically folks who think I'm driving too slow and want to express their displeasure about that by tailgating. Uhm, that doesn't work... I will continue to drive the same. You drive your car and I will drive my car. When you get a chance to pass... go ahead... in the meantime follow at a safe distance.

-The "gotta be ahead" crowd.

Drivers who bust their [censored] to pass you when a passing lane comes up then drive slower than you once the passing zone is finished.

Also the drivers on multi-lane highways who refuse to pull into your lane to take an exit behind you... oh no... they just have to mash the fuel to the floor so they can pull in front of you to grab that exit at the last minute.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
People who don't know what a stop sign means.
I taught someone the hard way about this back a couple weeks ago. I put the trailer of my big truck right over the front of their little Toyota and squashed it flat. They are lucky to still be alive.

 

[CivicFan]

I don't like when SUV-s tailgate me at night. Not only they tailgate, their lights are high and bright to blind even when the rear view mirror is on night mode.