Your Driving Habits

[Aeolius]

I play the drums on my steering wheel.

Guilty. My wife screams at me, when I begin to accompany the click-click-click of the turn signal with a drum solo.

The most dangerous part is when you concentrate on teasing the other driver and forget that you two aren't alone in the traffic.

I am not teasing them. I am educating them. Perhaps next time they will better gauge the speed of oncoming traffic, before pulling out in front of it.

 

[yg17]

Simply put, no driver should cause others to take evasive action as a result of their own actions.

Yep, that's what it boils down to. If I have to take evasive action or otherwise change what I'm currently doing because of something another driver did, they screwed up.

 

[Happybunny]

Well all I can say is there are a lot of very 'unhappybunnies' out and about.

I retired 3 years ago, I sold my 4X4 and bought this.

I only drive now for pleasure. This set of wheels turns this 64yr old into a teenager again.

 

[Aeolius]

My biggest irk with the driving habits of others involves how they park.

If you do not have a handicap placard, do NOT park in the handicap-designated parking spaces. Also, the striped zone between said spaces is NOT a neutral zone. If I "accidentally" knock down your moped when the ramp comes out of my van, I am not at fault.

Yes, I have called the cops on dozens of offenders, in these instances, including calling school security on soccer moms who park like idiots dropping their kids off at school.

And yes, that cut-out at the mall is NOT there for you to block with your SUV. If my son's wheelchair leaves a scrape down the side of your car because you are an insensitive moron, take it up with the judge.

 

[yg17]

My biggest irk with the driving habits of others involves how they park.

If you do not have a handicap placard, do NOT park in the handicap-designated parking spaces. Also, the striped zone between said spaces is NOT a neutral zone. If I "accidentally" knock down your moped when the ramp comes out of my van, I am not at fault.

Yes, I have called the cops on dozens of offenders, in these instances, including calling school security on soccer moms who park like idiots dropping their kids off at school.

And yes, that cut-out at the mall is NOT there for you to block with your SUV. If my son's wheelchair leaves a scrape down the side of your car because you are an insensitive moron, take it up with the judge.

People who park in handicapped spots when they don't have a placard piss me off the most. They should be glad they can walk and don't need the handicapped spot. My dad drives around my grandfather a lot (since he doesn't drive) and keeps his handicapped placard in his car, but thankfully would never dream of using it unless he was with my grandfather. Those spaces are for those who need it, not for those who are too ****ing lazy to walk.

People who can't park in general piss me off. There's one lady who lives at my apartment complex who does not know how to park. She's either on the line, or just flat out in the middle of two spots. It's like she don't even try. The worst is when she parks next to me and is right up against my car and leaves me barely any room to get in.

 

[Aeolius]

People who can't park in general piss me off.

As therapy, you can try my favorite Black Friday game.

Go to the mall, walk inside, then walk out slowly, holding your car keys. Walk slowly down a row of parked cars, until you have three or four cars stalking you for your parking space. Then, quickly duck between the parked cars to the next row. Repeat.

Loads of fun!

 

[Hellhammer]

I disagree. If I'm doing 60mph (the speed limit) on the highway and someone pulls in front of me going at a slower speed and requiring me to slow down, that means that they likely pulled out in front of me without even looking to see if I'm there, otherwise I'd probably have enough room to move to the left and pass them. I also do think there is something wrong with going under the speed limit (assuming good weather and road conditions). If you're going too slow and everyone has to pass you, that's increasing the likelihood of accidents. People don't have accidents on the highway when they stay in their lane, accidents usually happen when people are changing lanes and don't see another car. If you're going 60, and everyone else in the same lane is going 60, no one has to pass. But if you're doing 50, you're causing people coming up behind you to slow down or change lanes, and that's what leads to accidents.

Nobody has to change lane, you can slowdown yourself too. The fundamental problem is that people are always in a rush when driving. If you weren't in a rush, then you wouldn't mind if someone drove below the speed limit, you would simply adjust your own speed.

It's your choice and responsibility to change a lane. If you hit the incoming car, then you caused the accident, not the car you decided to overtake.

Hmm. Lots of countries do have a minimum speed limit - and driving way too slow is dangerous. Even in the UK where there's no formal minimum speed, you could get pulled over for driving slowly on a motorway - and the 'Highway Code' encourages drivers to pull over periodically if they're driving a slow vehicle and causing a tailback.

Everyone should drive according to road conditions of course... and that's often slower than the road speed limit.

Sure there is a limit of driving too slow, and I described in in my post above. However, if you drive a bit under the speed limit (e.g. 70 on 80 area), then it's not a problem. People think it's a problem because they are always speeding anyway. Nobody drives 80 in 80 area.

Simply put, no driver should cause others to take evasive action as a result of their own actions.

But that's not possible. If you slowdown to dodge something, it's obvious that the car behind you needs to slowdown as well. That improves the safety of everyone on the road. It would be a lot worse if the car actually hit something and lost control.

I am not teasing them. I am educating them. Perhaps next time they will better gauge the speed of oncoming traffic, before pulling out in front of it.

You are not educating. Do you think students should be "educated" by your way? Would you like that the teacher would use your method to educate your kids?

I know my point of view will change in a few years when I think I'm a "skilled" driver but seriously, remind yourself of the time when you first jumped behind the wheel. You most likely were the person slowing down the traffic, not the one overtaking everyone and "educating" them. Remember that there are people in that situation (or similar) everyday.

 

[yg17]

As therapy, you can try my favorite Black Friday game.

Go to the mall, walk inside, then walk out slowly, holding your car keys. Walk slowly down a row of parked cars, until you have three or four cars stalking you for your parking space. Then, quickly duck between the parked cars to the next row. Repeat.

Loads of fun!

That sounds fun, but how do I get to the mall? I'd have to drive there, and for a while I'd be the dumb schmuck following the guy walking around with his keys

 

[Aeolius]

Would you like that the teacher would use your method to educate your kids?

I'm sure they already do, in a way.

"You are pulling out into an intersection. There is a car coming towards you. You think you will be able to accelerate to the proper speed limit, before the car is too close, but you are not certain. Do you A) Wait for the car to pass, so that the proper distance between two cars is maintained. B) Gun it! It's MY road!

 

[Hellhammer]

I'm sure they already do, in a way.

"You are pulling out into an intersection. There is a car coming towards you. You think you will be able to accelerate to the proper speed limit, before the car is too close, but you are not certain. Do you A) Wait for the car to pass, so that the proper distance between two cars is maintained. B) Gun it! It's MY road!

A, of course.

To add a bit more: I didn't mean by slowing down that you should cause more dangerous moments. If you did the B, then you would be causing a problem and you couldn't justify it by driving at a speed suitable for your skills. You should obviously wait for a proper moment when you can accelerate at your own speed without causing trouble to others.

What ticks me are the drivers who have an urge to overtake me even though I'm driving 80 on 80 zone. Or make other stupid bypasses when I slow down a bit more on the curve than they do.

 

[tigres]

I drive offensively- always.
If I need to switch to defense, I can also do that in an instant. When I drive, I tend to predict other drivers moves, and for the most part my instincts are correct. (I.E. that drivers going to switch 2 lanes at once, and cut off that minivan- stay clear.)

Honestly, a lot of the population in america drives like hell- if I were to bet, I'd say 30% of them should have to go back to school.

 

[Aeolius]

(I.E. that drivers going to switch 2 lanes at once, and cut off that minivan- stay clear.)

I signal, switch lanes, wait a few seconds, signal again, and switch lanes again. I find that obeying the law seems to annoy people. This amuses me greatly.

Another annoyance - people who do not understand that when there are multiple turn lanes, the inner lane stays in the inner lane and is NOT supposed to swerve across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the far right lane. I think I am the only one on the planet that understands this.

Never mind 4-way stops.

 

[steviem]

The ones my wife pulls me up on (renting cars at the minute, but apparently, a christmas present will be a hand me down Focus to get me started out here in the States):

-When I'd rent a Mustang or Challenger (little periodical treat), I accelerate too fast - despite staying within the speed limits and when she's in the car with me, never opening the throttle more than halfway.
-Any car I get into, I NEED to know the function of every single switch and dial.
-Creeping out slightly when I am at a junction with no visibility, she thinks I'm about to just pull straight out with oncoming traffic.
-She hates me drumming on the steering wheel, but will join in sometimes (to her horror when I point it out!)
-I always apply the handbrake (e-brake) when I've finished parking a car, still a habit from learning in a manual and only driving manuals for 6 or 7 years.

The ones that annoy me about my driving:

-Sometimes I speed, especially on journeys to Vermont, plus, I'm the only one out of my wife and I with a driving license, so driving along the Taconic State Parkway at 55mph for 2 hours is kind of tedious at night.
-I do drive a little aggressively in the city, but I'd never get anywhere on the Van Wyck or along Jamaica Avenue if I didn't adapt my style.
-I set my wheels to turn across traffic as I pull up to a junction. This is probably a bad habit. e.g., I'm approaching a red light to turn left, no cars in front. I slow down, as I get to <5mph, I turn my steering wheel left slightly.

The ones I like about my driving:
-I need to stay fully focused on everything around me. Sorry, but riding a moped in London made me realize that not everyone in a car or truck are paying attention and you have to keep your head on a swivel to make sure you don't end up sliding along the road chin first... Learnt that the hard way after a car knocked me off at 25mph...
-I like to let people in when on the freeway, but only one person.
-I don't get annoyed at people driving slowly, as long as I can pass them legally and they don't cause me to severely change my speed or course.
-I leave ample braking distance between me and the car in front. I can't stand tailgaters.
-I pretty much adapted to driving on the right (wrong) side of the road very quickly, despite my UK license being non transferable to NY State, I will have to get a learners permit in May and take the tests as my license is only ok here for a year. I'm not too worried about that as I can drive pretty well in most situations here.

 

[smithrh]

Experienced driver here - if I add up all the miles, I'm probably near a million, over all conditions and terrain. Driven in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK.

Nary an accident that was my fault. I have been run into twice, the other drivers got tickets. I've also gotten a couple local government revenue enhancement notices/certificates of achievement, but those I consider those badges of honor more than anything else.

*My* driving is just fine, thank you very much. When I drive, I *drive*. That is, it's an active event, it's not done passively.

The main thing I've learned is that no matter how much people would like to "teach others a lesson" it doesn't work. At least in the US, there are simply far far too many poor drivers - there's always another idiot pulling a bonehead move down the road. On top of that, many of these driver are so poor at driving, they don't even know what they did to earn your ire.

It's not worth it.

Having said that, well of course there are driving habits from the right side of the bell curve that particularly irk:

* Driving without passing in the passing lane. In most states in the US, this is illegal. So, taking Hellhammer's example - if he was on a dual carriageway - if he was going 80 in the passing lane AND NOT PASSING then he would be in violation (apologies to HH if he was talking about just a normal one-lane road, of course).

* After merging onto a highway, IMMEDIATELY getting out of that lane and moving into the next lane over. I see this so so so much. People, if you've just gotten onto an expressway or interstate, pay attention to the merge signs, that's what they're there for.

The combination of the above two points sadly leads to the "slow" lanes being the most uncongested and therefore most suitable for passing.

* Not turning right on red when there's a sign saying "Red Light Camera." For some reason there's a large chunk of the population that thinks that this is equivalent to "no turn on red." Stop for one second at the line, then go = no ticket.

* Not entering the intersection to turn left when the light is green. So many people stop short and sit behind the stop line even though they're supposed to be IN the intersection so they can turn given either a gap in oncoming traffic or the light turns yellow.

The two above are likely a side effect of cameras once again. Those abominations I will leave for another thread...

 

[h1r0ll3r]

Generally a cautious driver. Lots and lots and lots of idiots on the Beltway. Usually cruise in the middle lane and drive at or a little above speed limit. Whenever it does snow around here, The multitude of Prius/Hybrid owners who give me dirty looks for having an SUV get laughed at hysterically as I drive past them in my Pathfinder while they're stuck in 3 inches of snow and have to walk home.

AND

If you do this...

Then I will show you no mercy and leave you in the maintenance/shoulder lane as long as humanly possibly.

 

[Aeolius]

Not turning right on red when there's a sign saying "Red Light Camera."

Technically right on red is an optional observance. You are not required to turn right on red. Where else are folks supposed to update their playlists, post on Facebook, or play Angry Birds, then?

 

[yg17]

* Not entering the intersection to turn left when the light is green. So many people stop short and sit behind the stop line even though they're supposed to be IN the intersection so they can turn given either a gap in oncoming traffic or the light turns yellow.

Actually, I think that might be illegal in Missouri. I don't run into that situation often though, most busy intersections here have protected lefts.

If you do this...
Image
Then I will show you no mercy and leave you in the maintenance/shoulder lane as long as humanly possibly.

Ditto. Words can't describe how much I ****ing hate people who do that. I will make every effort possible to keep them where they are. Those *******s who like to merge in at the last possible second are why there are accidents and traffic jams.

 

[Hellhammer]

Driving without passing in the passing lane. In most states in the US, this is illegal. So, taking Hellhammer's example - if he was on a dual carriageway - if he was going 80 in the passing lane AND NOT PASSING then he would be in violation (apologies to HH if he was talking about just a normal one-lane road, of course).

Passing line is for passing, that I agree with At least in Finland, they teach you to drive on the right. I.e. the passing line (left in here) is only for passing. Can't say that it works in the real life though.

Ditto. Words can't describe how much I ****ing hate people who do that. I will make every effort possible to keep them where they are. Those *******s who like to merge in at the last possible second are why there are accidents and traffic jams.

Now I can agree. You can also leave them there because they must dodge you

 

[smithrh]

If you do this...
Image
Then I will show you no mercy and leave you in the maintenance/shoulder lane as long as humanly possibly.

If it's legal to drive there, then it's legal to drive there. You might not like it, but there you go.

Minnesota DOT actually puts up signs telling drivers to merge at (surprisingly) the merge point for construction zones, not miles before.

Far too many people think that a sign saying "left lane closed 2 miles" is a directive to merge immediately. This is not the case.

 

[yg17]

Passing line is for passing, that I agree with At least in Finland, they teach you to drive on the right. I.e. the passing line (left in here) is only for passing. Can't say that it works in the real life though.

If I'm going faster than everyone else and thereby "passing" people, can I stay in the passing lane? Or am I supposed to stay in, assuming a 3 lane highway, the middle lane, and when I come up behind a car, move over to the passing lane, pass them, and move back?

I think the latter would lead to more accidents. You're a lot less likely to crash if you're staying put in your lane.

Far too many people think that a sign saying "left lane closed 2 miles" is a directive to merge immediately. This is not the case.

Why not? Over a 2 mile stretch of road, you're more likely to find an opening where you can safely merge without having to slow down or cut off another driver. It's when people get to the end, realize "Oh **** the lane is ending!" that they have to slam on their brakes and cut somebody in the other lane off to squeeze in.

When I know a lane is ending, I merge as soon as I have an opportunity to do so safely, not at the end of the lane.

 

[macquariumguy]

I drive real f*king fast, so keep up. I get my car back any differently than when I gave it, Monster Joe's gonna be disposing of two bodies.

 

[Hellhammer]

If I'm going faster than everyone else and thereby "passing" people, can I stay in the passing lane? Or am I supposed to stay in, assuming a 3 lane highway, the middle lane, and when I come up behind a car, move over to the passing lane, pass them, and move back?

I think the latter would lead to more accidents. You're a lot less likely to crash if you're staying put in your lane.

According to the Finnish book, you should always drive on the right. I agree that it's way more dangerous to constantly keep changing the lane and you could easily be stopped for zigzagging. So using common sense is the way, I guess.

IMO the driving school teachers emphasize the "drive right" rule a bit too much. If there is more than one lane, why not actually use them?

 

[smithrh]

If I'm going faster than everyone else and thereby "passing" people, can I stay in the passing lane?

No.

Or am I supposed to stay in, assuming a 3 lane highway, the middle lane, and when I come up behind a car, move over to the passing lane, pass them, and move back?

Yes, this is exactly right.

I think the latter would lead to more accidents. You're a lot less likely to crash if you're staying put in your lane.

Making faster traffic bob and weave through you is not good.

 

[yg17]

Making faster traffic bob and weave through you is not good.

Oh, I make sure to move over if I see someone coming up behind me (unless they're being a real ******* and flashing their brights and tailgating me before I get a chance to move)

 

[acidfast7]

According to the Finnish book, you should always drive on the right. I agree that it's way more dangerous to constantly keep changing the lane and you could easily be stopped for zigzagging. IMO the driving school teachers emphasize the "drive right" rule a bit too much. If there is more than one lane, why not actually use them?

in germany, you'll get a fine/points, if you travel more than 400m NOT in the rightmost lane, unless there is a car occupying that lane.