Common Courtesy/Rules of the Road

[BKK Jack]

I have been in VA for a few weeks now, and I am very disturbed. On two occasions, I came upon someone traveling at or below the posted speed limit in the far left lane on I-95. Both times, I gave the driver a little high-beam flash to let him know I was there. The first time, the asshole brake-tested me, and the second one gave me the finger as I was forced to pass him on the right. Whatever happened to slower traffic keeping right?

In Great Britain, these drivers would be cited for their behavior. Apparently in NoVA, if I pull around them in a furtive manner to make them aware how unpleased I am, I might get cited for "aggressive driving." I guess I was overseas too long. When did the inmates take over the asylum?

In order to launch my own Public Service Campaign, I am asking for your assistance. I need to find, or find someone who can make me a static cling windshield sunshade band with the words, "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" mirror printed just like they put on the front of ambulances. I am sure it won't do any good, because most of the offenders are probably illiterate as well as inconsiderate, but at least I will feel better.

[Evo Scooter]

(iagree) (iagree) (iagree)

[tsunami]

i don't drive highway but i have a huge gripe with what i call the "45'ER" you know the type they do 45mph regardless of the speed limit. you pass them when they are doing 10 under but when you slow down for a town at 25mph they come up on your ass and tail gate and get all pissed off flippin you off and what not??? i just don't f-in get it speed limits are there for a reason especially through towns and school zones so having the cruise set at 45mph isn't an end all to having to use the gas pedal!!!

and i deffinatly agree to the slower traffic keep right especially in maine where 95 only has 2 lanes over most of it...

[CTGrey02]

This is pretty much the reason I won't get a gun permit.

[ONRAILS]

haha... its been my biggest issue on highways. I come from Spain, and when someone flashes you because they are going faster, you move over. Pretty much everywhere in the world except the good ole USA.

Back when I was in my early twenties, I had a friend that installed a loud speaker (one of those loud horns that you can speak through). If he got into those situations, he would turn it on and ask the person to move over. lol. Of course, that is probably illegal.

[-pixy-]

ugh. i hate people who do that.

I was on 195 passing in the left lane, doing 70, I got flashed so i scooted over and let the guy pass, he got infront of me and set his cruise at 70. Why the hell would someone do that?

[-pixy-]

Back when I was in my early twenties, I had a friend that installed a loud speaker (one of those loud horns that you can speak through). If he got into those situations, he would turn it on and ask the person to move over. lol. Of course, that is probably illegal.

lol, i had a friend that installed one in an 98 Crown Vic. lol. everyone moved over for that car.

[CTGrey02]

With a crown vic that's not even necessary, you just get on someones ass and they move over. Having everyone instantly slow down the second you get on the highway is a pain in the ass though.

[Bakrauf]

People in NoVA just cant freaking drive its terrible. Thats a good one ---> I love that you move over to let someone by and they pass you then slow down.

Another thing i hate is jerkoffs that come off an on ramp and run you off the road beacue they think they have the right of way just to get on a highway.

[msp35]

I have been in VA for a few weeks now, and I am very disturbed. On two occasions, I came upon someone traveling at or below the posted speed limit in the far left lane on I-95. Both times, I gave the driver a little high-beam flash to let him know I was there. The first time, the asshole brake-tested me, and the second one gave me the finger as I was forced to pass him on the right. Whatever happened to slower traffic keeping right?

In Great Britain, these drivers would be cited for their behavior. Apparently in NoVA, if I pull around them in a furtive manner to make them aware how unpleased I am, I might get cited for "aggressive driving." I guess I was overseas too long. When did the inmates take over the asylum?

In order to launch my own Public Service Campaign, I am asking for your assistance. I need to find, or find someone who can make me a static cling windshield sunshade band with the words, "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" mirror printed just like they put on the front of ambulances. I am sure it won't do any good, because most of the offenders are probably illiterate as well as inconsiderate, but at least I will feel better.

I agree with your complaints fully and would like to add that by passing on the right you run the risk of being labelled an "aggressive driver" and can be cited for careless/wreckless driving despite however slow/fast you're going. It happened to me last year in New Jersey.

[CTGrey02]

People in NoVA just cant freaking drive its terrible. Thats a good one ---> I love that you move over to let someone by and they pass you then slow down.

Another thing i hate is jerkoffs that come off an on ramp and run you off the road beacue they think they have the right of way just to get on a highway.

Worse than that are idiots driving 30 MPH on the on ramp expecting to successfully merge with 65-70 mph traffic. They clusterfuck everything.

[bazooka joe]

in MA you flash your lights at someone, to have them pull over, you'll get cited for "aggressive driving"!(glare)

[shane02pro5]

In many states the left hand lane is for passing only and you will be ticketed just for staying in it for more than what it is intended for. You are not supposed to flash high beams at someone, but flash your lights off and back on. That is just consideration for the old lady you just blinded and lost control.


In Texas most people intentionally slow down and block you in if they know you are trying to get around!!

[Hy8us]

LOL welcome to my world. Even better--> ever notice how people drive twice as fast in the rain as they normally do just because its raining. Also when your in bumper to bumper and someone behind you sees a car sized gap infront of you they risk causeing a 30 car pileup swerving around you just to fill the gap!

[Airmack]

People in this country like to do anything to piss you off and push your buttons while driving... its sad

[desperado-c]

People in NoVA just cant freaking drive its terrible. Thats a good one ---> I love that you move over to let someone by and they pass you then slow down.

Another thing i hate is jerkoffs that come off an on ramp and run you off the road beacue they think they have the right of way just to get on a highway.

Maybe it has always been this way, but I think society as a whole has just gotten to the point where people think being civil is for suckers. I think a lot of people don't even know that there is such a thing as the legal right-of-way. By and large, they seem think it's just a question of who wants to win the game of chicken more.

As far as the left lane, I know it's against the law and etiquette to drive there, but it's usually a lot smoother than the other lanes, easier on the suspension, quieter, etc., especially when you're on a long trip. So, if you want me out of the way, you will have to flash me to let me know you mean business. I'm not about to get over and potentially get stuck in slower traffic for awhile just b/c your cruise is set to 12 mph over and and mine is set to 10. Flame me for that if you want.

Also, I think you can flash your lights without being aggressive. But I guess it depends on the cop's perception. Tailgating and veering around in the lane might be perceived as aggressive by some.(shocked)

[Kansei]

LINK: http://www.driverightpassleft.com/

[exNeon]

LINK: http://www.driverightpassleft.com/

i have decided that Mass has no driving laws. flashing your lights will almost always get you the brake test, so dont even bother, just pass on the right, i have only seen one car ever pulled over for it, though it was probably for speeding too.
with all the traffic here, i think its asking too much for left only passing. its bad enough that you have to watch your ass for people bombing down the breakdown lane on certain highways and times of day.
good thing the big dig will save everyone the trouble by making the state go bankrupt and forcing everyone to move to canada.

[Hikaru9]

Welcome to NoVA! *^_^*

I feel your frustration 100% 'cause I've been living here for 14 years!

I hate the fast lane blocking tards as much as you do, but recently as I started commuting 3+ hours in rush hour traffic everyday to work, I've discovered other annoyances.

Rush hour in NoVA means that cars move at like 5~10mph.
When the road becomes narrower, (say two lanes to one) drivers on both lanes are responsible for merging smoothly. You know... left, right, left, right. Yet some people seem to think that the lane that has to merge have to yield and that the ones staying on the road have the right of way. I was driving my government vehicle back home last night, and this jackass driving a truck almost ran me off the road because he didn't feel like giving me any space even though I already let the guy in front of him go before me. I was so pissed off, and I had to be thankful that I didn't have a gun in the car.

--> this from the DMV manual:
Lane Reduction
The right lane ends soon. Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up. Drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly.

What I fail to understand is... why can't people yield, especially in rush hour traffic? "I can't let someone go in front of me because... that adds .2 seconds to my commute." Is that it? I like yielding whenever I can because that makes me and the other driver happy, but when someone forces their way through risking an accident, I sometimes wish I could beat the crap out of that person. And sadly... it does happen. People do get shot on the road.

[TheDutchGun]

In many states the left hand lane is for passing only and you will be ticketed just for staying in it for more than what it is intended for. You are not supposed to flash high beams at someone, but flash your lights off and back on. That is just consideration for the old lady you just blinded and lost control.


In Texas most people intentionally slow down and block you in if they know you are trying to get around!!

In Texas they do that because they would consider you a traitor for buying Japanese. Joking of course.

[stdntDrvr]

my wife and i just moved to AL (we both work in GA)...i have to commute about an hour...and the first 20 minutes of my drive to work and the last 20 minutes of my drive home are the most stressful. there is a 4-lane out of AL into GA...from the time it starts until you're 5 miles in GA, people don't understand how to get over. they'll be the ONLY car on the road riding in the left lane...i'll go to pass them in the right lane and they'll pull over in front of me...cool, that's where you should be in the first place...but don't wait until the last damn minute. the speed limit on the 4-lane is 65. i was stuck doing 55-60 because 2 fucking cars were riding side-by-side pacing each other. wtf? i am an aggressive driver. i'm not going do deny that. my wife gets pissed because when there's someone in the left lane going the same speed as the traffic in the right lane, the bumper of my car is on their ass...it does help "push" people out of the way sometimes...or i'll wiggle the front end back and forth (VERY easy to do with the 3-pt strut bar)...it USUALLY works...but there are those that just refuse to get over. i think people in AL in general do not know 1. how to drive and 2. their traffic laws. i'm sure i piss a lot of people off, but if they would learn that they are NOT the only car on the road, we wouldn't have a problem.

[Bakrauf]

Welcome to NoVA! *^_^*

Yet some people seem to think that the lane that has to merge have to yield and that the ones staying on the road have the right of way. I was driving my government vehicle back home last night, and this jackass driving a truck almost ran me off the road because he didn't feel like giving me any space even though I already let the guy in front of him go before me. I was so pissed off, and I had to be thankful that I didn't have a gun in the car.

--> this from the DMV manual:
Lane Reduction
The right lane ends soon. Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up. Drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly.



Dirvers "should" (common courtesy) and must are actually two different terms. Anytime you change lanes or a lane is ending its the driver in the lane thats ending responsabilty to make sure its safe to merge and thats Virgina State code. If you change lanes and hit someone because you think they should let you in then its 100% your fault. I dont let anyone in becuae 99% of the time everyone has a 2-3 mile warning before you have to get over and merge. Yet everyone waits to the last minute to merge because they think they will beat 10 other cars in the NON merge lane. I let them sit. Merge when it tells you too not the last 10 feet.

[BKK Jack]

As far as the left lane, I know it's against the law and etiquette to drive there, but it's usually a lot smoother than the other lanes, easier on the suspension, quieter, etc., especially when you're on a long trip. So, if you want me out of the way, you will have to flash me to let me know you mean business. I'm not about to get over and potentially get stuck in slower traffic for awhile just b/c your cruise is set to 12 mph over and and mine is set to 10. Flame me for that if you want.

Why would I flame you. You said you would be willing to move over, and I can understand your position on road maintenance/comfort/wear and tear.


LINK: http://www.driverightpassleft.com/

Thank you. I already fired-off an email to the VA DOT on this. I wish I would have had this info when I typed that message. I could have quoted the sections the left-lane hogs were violating.

I remember Texas as being very "friendly." I remember once driving at very high speeds on two lane Texas roads in a Mustang 5.0. Whenever I came upon a slower car, they would pull to the shoulder to let me by.

I see I hit a nerve. We need the TGHIR PEEK CIFFART REWOLS (read right to left as though in a mirror, sort of) sunshields (or whatever the hell those things are called). Beyond a grass roots revolution, and some sort of interest by the government in an easy way to make travel on our overtaxed roads less aggravating, I will have to resort to my personal favorite dirty little trick: After finding my way around the offending party, I hit the ol' windshield washers for a good long squirt.

[Az Mazda Driver]

haha u guys shuld all come to scottsdale we re like in the top 5 for everything that has to do with cars and speeding lol. u will almost never see someone going under the speedlimit unless their are cops near by. everyone down here speeds soo much that cops wont pull u over unless ur going like 10+ over. haha

[Hikaru9]

[QUOTE=Hikaru9]Welcome to NoVA! *^_^*

Yet some people seem to think that the lane that has to merge have to yield and that the ones staying on the road have the right of way. I was driving my government vehicle back home last night, and this jackass driving a truck almost ran me off the road because he didn't feel like giving me any space even though I already let the guy in front of him go before me. I was so pissed off, and I had to be thankful that I didn't have a gun in the car.

--> this from the DMV manual:
Lane Reduction
The right lane ends soon. Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up. Drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly.
QUOTE]


Dirvers "should" (common courtesy) and must are actually two different terms. Anytime you change lanes or a lane is ending its the driver in the lane thats ending responsabilty to make sure its safe to merge and thats Virgina State code. If you change lanes and hit someone because you think they should let you in then its 100% your fault. I dont let anyone in becuae 99% of the time everyone has a 2-3 mile warning before you have to get over and merge. Yet everyone waits to the last minute to merge because they think they will beat 10 other cars in the NON merge lane. I let them sit. Merge when it tells you too not the last 10 feet.

I agree. You should merge as early as you can, and I also agree with what you said about the responsibility falling on the person who's changing lanes.
However, I was talking about rush hour traffic where cars are crawling at 3 mph all the way to the last point you can merge. People normally take turns like I mentioned earlier (like left, right, left, right); nevertheless, someone neglected that simple courtesy and almost rammed my car just so that he could save 0.1 second of his commute. Now... if that doesn't make you upset, I think you deserve to be called a saint. *^_^*

[Evo Scooter]

All of this is OH so familiar. Today I picked up the wife from her job and we began our 17 mile "Rush hour" trek home. As I was getting past a merge where this trip starts a Lexus MEGA-SUV got right behind me. I was in the middle lane of three and moving with traffic.

This guy must have changed lanes over 50 times in the first three or four miles of 5-10 MPH traffic. And his driving was so erratic that his SUV looked like a drunk camel lurching it's way through a sandstorm. By the time we got to the end of our travel on US1 (Or Useless one as I like to call it) he had only managed to get ahead of us by 1 car. I would not be surprised at all if he had actually changed lanes over 100 times. I changed lanes once. So where did all that get him?

[Hikaru9]

haha u guys shuld all come to scottsdale we re like in the top 5 for everything that has to do with cars and speeding lol. u will almost never see someone going under the speedlimit unless their are cops near by. everyone down here speeds soo much that cops wont pull u over unless ur going like 10+ over. haha

Do you mean 100+ over maybe? 'cause 10+ is nothing.
Cops here don't bother with 10+. -_-a
I think others in this area can attest to that.

BTW, I'm definitely loving the stealthy look of this car, especially in the dark. *^_^*

[Evo Scooter]

...my wife gets pissed because when there's someone in the left lane going the same speed as the traffic in the right lane, the bumper of my car is on their ass...it does help "push" people out of the way sometimes...

That's not very safe... I can understand your frustration but you may end up killing your wife (I don't really care what happens to you). I lost my left leg because I got crushed between two cars... One that ran a red light and one that was tailgating me and could not stop in time. Crush zones, airbags, passenger cages all mean jack when you are either hit hard enough or have an accident at a high enough speed.

Now I do drive fast, when conditions allow it. But I always cool it when I am in traffic. I am very confident in MY abilities but I cannot guarantee what the other idiots on the road will do, so in traffic, I chill.

BTW if you are ever in the southeast and see a Silver Evo or a Cosmic Blue Mazdaspeed3, keep your disatnce. Tailgate me and I will brake check you HARD.

[Hikaru9]

All of this is OH so familiar. Today I picked up the wife from her job and we began our 17 mile "Rush hour" trek home. As I was getting past a merge where this trip starts a Lexus MEGA-SUV got right behind me. I was in the middle lane of three and moving with traffic.

This guy must have changed lanes over 50 times in the first three or four miles of 5-10 MPH traffic. And his driving was so erratic that his SUV looked like a drunk camel lurching it's way through a sandstorm. By the time we got to the end of our travel on US1 (Or Useless one as I like to call it) he had only managed to get ahead of us by 1 car. I would not be surprised at all if he had actually changed lanes over 100 times. I changed lanes once. So where did all that get him?

Hey, he saved 0.2 second of his commute! w00t! (probably burned way more gas though. lol~ )

[Evo Scooter]

BTW, I'm definitely loving the stealthy look of this car, especially in the dark. *^_^*

Amen to that!!!!!

[Evo Scooter]

Hey, he saved 0.2 second of his commute! w00t! (probably burned way more gas though. lol~ )

As he was getting on another on ramp I passed him, pointed at him and laughed. I didn't get to see his reacction as I was going the other way but I'll bet he was not happy.

[Hikaru9]

As he was getting on another on ramp I passed him, pointed at him and laughed. I didn't get to see his reacction as I was going the other way but I'll bet he was not happy.

Umm... just kidding. He didn't save 0.2 seconds after all. >_<

I hear you though. Just what the heck are these people thinking? Not to bash on SUV drivers (though I personally hate SUVs), but the thought of those maniacs behind the wheels of SUVs weighing 2~3 tons isn't too comforting, either.

[meha11]

someone correct me if i'm wrong but this is my understanding.

i moved here from the UK 6 years ago and was stunned to find out that my wifes younger brother had taken extra theoretical classes at school (Texas)and was given his license with out having ever driven a car.

i was told i had to get a US license so went to the DMV. there i answered most of written test incorrectly as i had no idea what the penalties for minors caught drunk while driving etc or even local speed limits.
we then drove round the block (4 right turns) and the lady said "oh you can drive then" and that was that.

they may as well sell them at wal mart or disney world.

driving is a privilege not a right, privileges can be and should be taken away when abused.

my 2 cents.

[wishingfora ms3]

this is completely true. my cousin who is 22 now but is slightly mentally impaired needs to get to work. he thinks right and all but he is a little slow with the developemental skills. the school gave him a dmv booklet and scheduled him to take his written test where after, if he passed of course, he would recieve his licence.
now i love my cousin, hes my family, but there are some people out there that really should not be on the road.

[Evo Scooter]

...they may as well sell them at wal mart or disney world.

driving is a privilege not a right, privileges can be and should be taken away when abused.

my 2 cents.


Correct! I met my wife in Columbia and when she got here she took the driving test. She circled the parking lot and that convinced the examiner she had the skills to drive a car at 65 mph on the freeway... Even my wife was amazed.

She said: "that's it?"
The instrutor said: "Yes."
My wife said: "You're kidding..."
Instructor: "No."
Wife: "God help us all!"

[SeminoleMan]

Virginia has some of the worst drivers in the country in my opinion. Left-lane hogs, people who merge at the last damn minute, and people who speed up and block your lane change progress when you use your turn signal are among my most common gripes. I really appreciated the courtesy and awareness drivers in Germany displayed when I drove the autobahn a couple years ago - night and day from here. We simply need to make it more difficult for people to get a license.

I tend to be a courteous driver, but there are times when I have to turn on "asshole" mode to get anywhere.

[jeg0024]

Down here in FL its against the law to make someone pass you on the right, wether they are speeding or not. If a cop comes up on you fast and you dont get over you can get a ticket for it. But it also works both ways, if the person who passed you on the right was speeding you both may get a ticket. If the person who passed you on the right was going the legal limit then you will be given the ticket. Its nice that they have this law, now they just need to enforce it. Ive never heard of anyone getting a ticket as a result of this new law. They also started something where if a trooper has someone pulled over you must get atleast a lane over from the side of the road when driving by, if you cant get over you have to go 1/2 the limit. I have seen cops chase down people who dont slow down when driving by a cop with someone pulled over. People down here just suck though, I swear I pass 95% of the time in the right lane, people need to learn that the left is for passing, if your not passing then get the fuck back in the right lane!

[javanc]

Come to the good ol Bay Area of California, you have to turn on asshole mode everytime you get on the road, j/k. I hate other drivers and in all honestly think they should ride their bikes or take the bus if they want to space out, drive slow everywhere. or otherwise congest our motoring pavement.

[Mocoso]

You are leaving out the jerk who floors it as soon as you start passing him on the right after he refuses to move... nothing 400 HP wont cure (ok 270 in the case of the MS3) but annoying nevertheless...

[jeg0024]

I like it when you try to pass someone in a chevy truck and they floor it, but only to hit their governer at 97mph lol

[Bakrauf]

[QUOTE=Bakrauf]

I agree. You should merge as early as you can, and I also agree with what you said about the responsibility falling on the person who's changing lanes.
However, I was talking about rush hour traffic where cars are crawling at 3 mph all the way to the last point you can merge. People normally take turns like I mentioned earlier (like left, right, left, right); nevertheless, someone neglected that simple courtesy and almost rammed my car just so that he could save 0.1 second of his commute. Now... if that doesn't make you upset, I think you deserve to be called a saint. *^_^*


I know what your talking about i have to drive to DC several times a month and its terrible. I am just thankful i dont have to do that every day, (anymore)

I was at Wal-mart the other day and this old bitch pulls at my car trying to get into a parking spot. She damn near hits my car and I sat thier in amazement watching. This lady took 10 minutes to get out of the car. Her friend in that passenger seat, took out a walker to help her. She must have been 100 years old and could barely walk using a walker. WTF is she doing driving a car!!!! I am all for old people have independence but enough is enough. SHe should not even been driving a wheel chair let alone a car.

[-pixy-]

the walmart by me put in parallel parking spaces for the handicapped parking, ugh.

[tsunami]

y??? that has to be one of dumbest ideas... shit just let them drive their car into the store and park it in there if the handicap lots aren't close enough... and honestly half the handicap cars i see are normal people who have a handicap thing hangin from their mirror, this one lady at work uses one b/c she drives her elderly father around but she uses the handicap sign all the time regardless of her father being in the car or not... i would imagine the majority of people do this....

[Rainman]

I strongly believe that it needs to be harder to get your licence than it is currently.

Here in Ontario, Canada there are plenty of people that feel that since they pay their taxes just like you that they have just as much right to be in the left lane as you, even if they are only travelling at 95 kmh (speed limit 100 kmh).

I used to give people their space and would politely flash them with the high beams to let them know I wanted to pass. Few people would ever bother to move over. I used to give people a lot of time before I resorted to passing right and I always felt bad about doing it. Myself, I would stay right except to pass and I would always return to the right lane as soon as I reasonably could.

Now I have grown to jaded and I won't bother to wait before passing right. If I pull up behind someone in the left lane I don't bother to flash since no one pays attention. If they don't move over within the first 5 seconds (if they are able), I pass right and be done with it. I still feel uncomfortable about passing on the right, but I would rather pass quickly on the right than impede the whole flow of traffic.

R

[Az Mazda Driver]

Virginia has some of the worst drivers in the country in my opinion

haha apparently you ve never been to scottsdale umm the kids and adults down here with this SUV's and trucks think their the shit and speed like no other and think they always have the right away..... Scottsdales not ment for Sedans or small cars.

[Olestra]

...Wow. This thread has blown me away. I can't believe there is a single person on this forum that hasn't disagreed with the OP except for Evo Scooter. And for a good reason too, safety.

In Edmonton, hardly anybody flashes their lights to try and move someone out of the way. It's considered rude over here. I'm appalled by this thread b/c you guys drive like huge jerks.

I can see both points of view here - I am both kinds of driver - the slow and the fast.
Most of the time, I drive around 10 km/h over the limit just like everyone else in traffic. If someone chooses to drive slowly or at the limit, that's no reason to get up on their bumper and ride it. You're probably only making them nervous and afraid to make the lane change.
The worst is when someone rides my ass and basically puts his SUV headlights in my rear hatch window. I can't even see anything in my mirror. This happened last weekend, was doing 90 on our 80 limit freeway. I didn't even see him coming up from the distance b/c he must have been driving so fast. I look up in my mirror and all of a sudden, his headlights come full on into my window, blinding me. He must have had to slam his brakes to avoid hitting my bumper and I swear he was probably 2 inches from it. I thought what an a*****e, so I proceeded to brake test him several times and then purposely blocked him as there were 2 semi trailers lined up on the right lane. He was getting so mad, he did everything: he flashed his headlights; swerved back and forth; got up on my bumper, fell back, only so he could rev his engine and catch up and brake on my rear end again. He even decided to be really smart by flashing his right signal light. I wasn't really sure but I think he wanted me to move over. Because I wasn't sure, I flashed my left signal light which pointed towards the concrete divider and continued to block.
Why do I do this? B/c SUV's/trucks think they can run my little import off the road. I'm already technically speeding, he shouldn't be speeding more than the 10 km/h tolerance; it's illegal. It's dangerous. And had he given me room behind me like most ppl do, then I probably would have just moved over.

He actually gave me a bit of a scare, b/c I thought for sure he was gonna hit my rear. If I wasn't driving a new car, I would have just slammed my brakes and taken his insurance money, assuming he even had insurance.
To top it off, I was pretty ticked after all that, I dropped it into 3rd and floored it. His headlights turned into a spec in the distance. He eventually caught up and as I was taking my exit, he tried to stare me down only to see me give him the finger all the way up the exit ramp. My a-holeness only comes out when blatant a-holes like that show up.
Don't get me wrong, in most situations, ppl will wait safely behind me until there is an opportunity to pass or just pass me on the right. Most of the time, I will move over before they have to do this.
Sometimes I feel like speeding too, if I'm in a hurry or feel like it. I'll either wait safely behind people until I get the opportunity to pass or I'll just immediately take the open lane, right or left, and pass to avoid any frustration/bitterness (same as rainman, most of the time, there is not point waiting for someone to move over). However, I would never flash my lights, swerve around, turn my signals without the intent of actually changing lanes.

Sorry for the long rant, I just couldn't believe the response after response of "bad drivers". Those "bad drivers" probably simple choose not to speed b/c really, who wants to pay a speeding ticket. If you don't want tickets, don't speed. And they will continue to block you if you ride them or if they know you're about to cut them off.

[mountjonas]

i'll agree that people here in the US can't drive for shit. it's not limited to any state, it's the whole country. i had a chance to drive in the philippines and while it's mostly chaos, the one thing they had going was that if you wanted to pass someone, you lightly tap your horn and they'll move over. simple as that. no one got offended, everyone moved on. here we treat the horn as "get the fuck out of my way" instead of "hey, let me pass you"

what pisses me off the most is when i'm waiting at a red light, the instant it turns green, some asshole behind me is laying on the horn because i'm not moving already. it's happened so many times i'm expect it at every light. no sooner than i take my foot off the brake pedal do i hear someone freaking out because traffic isn't moving.

[jeg0024]

what pisses me off the most is when i'm waiting at a red light, the instant it turns green, some asshole behind me is laying on the horn because i'm not moving already. it's happened so many times i'm expect it at every light. no sooner than i take my foot off the brake pedal do i hear someone freaking out because traffic isn't moving.

sorry...guilty...i do that just to piss people off sometimes lol

[mountjonas]

that's fine. i usually box people like that in so they can't get around me, just to piss them off more.

[jeg0024]

that's fine. i usually box people like that in so they can't get around me, just to piss them off more.


lol, yeah. I read the long post above your just now and i didnt know what to think. Ive been in that situation and done that before in my small ass car, but ive also driven my bro's silverado 2500 and been on the other end of that. Its harder to get around traffic in something that big and would be so much better if slower people just kept to the side of the road. I understand giving someone room if they cant possibly get over. I give people room when there is nothing they can do about the position their in, but if they can speed up or get over or something im gonna ride that ass untill it gets outa my face lol.

[bazooka joe]

...Wow. This thread has blown me away. I can't believe there is a single person on this forum that hasn't disagreed with the OP except for Evo Scooter. And for a good reason too, safety.

In Edmonton, hardly anybody flashes their lights to try and move someone out of the way. It's considered rude over here. I'm appalled by this thread b/c you guys drive like huge jerks.

I can see both points of view here - I am both kinds of driver - the slow and the fast.
Most of the time, I drive around 10 km/h over the limit just like everyone else in traffic. If someone chooses to drive slowly or at the limit, that's no reason to get up on their bumper and ride it. You're probably only making them nervous and afraid to make the lane change.
The worst is when someone rides my ass and basically puts his SUV headlights in my rear hatch window. I can't even see anything in my mirror. This happened last weekend, was doing 90 on our 80 limit freeway. I didn't even see him coming up from the distance b/c he must have been driving so fast. I look up in my mirror and all of a sudden, his headlights come full on into my window, blinding me. He must have had to slam his brakes to avoid hitting my bumper and I swear he was probably 2 inches from it. I thought what an a*****e, so I proceeded to brake test him several times and then purposely blocked him as there were 2 semi trailers lined up on the right lane. He was getting so mad, he did everything: he flashed his headlights; swerved back and forth; got up on my bumper, fell back, only so he could rev his engine and catch up and brake on my rear end again. He even decided to be really smart by flashing his right signal light. I wasn't really sure but I think he wanted me to move over. Because I wasn't sure, I flashed my left signal light which pointed towards the concrete divider and continued to block.
Why do I do this? B/c SUV's/trucks think they can run my little import off the road. I'm already technically speeding, he shouldn't be speeding more than the 10 km/h tolerance; it's illegal. It's dangerous. And had he given me room behind me like most ppl do, then I probably would have just moved over.

He actually gave me a bit of a scare, b/c I thought for sure he was gonna hit my rear. If I wasn't driving a new car, I would have just slammed my brakes and taken his insurance money, assuming he even had insurance.
To top it off, I was pretty ticked after all that, I dropped it into 3rd and floored it. His headlights turned into a spec in the distance. He eventually caught up and as I was taking my exit, he tried to stare me down only to see me give him the finger all the way up the exit ramp. My a-holeness only comes out when blatant a-holes like that show up.
Don't get me wrong, in most situations, ppl will wait safely behind me until there is an opportunity to pass or just pass me on the right. Most of the time, I will move over before they have to do this.
Sometimes I feel like speeding too, if I'm in a hurry or feel like it. I'll either wait safely behind people until I get the opportunity to pass or I'll just immediately take the open lane, right or left, and pass to avoid any frustration/bitterness (same as rainman, most of the time, there is not point waiting for someone to move over). However, I would never flash my lights, swerve around, turn my signals without the intent of actually changing lanes.

Sorry for the long rant, I just couldn't believe the response after response of "bad drivers". Those "bad drivers" probably simple choose not to speed b/c really, who wants to pay a speeding ticket. If you don't want tickets, don't speed. And they will continue to block you if you ride them or if they know you're about to cut them off.

"I'm appalled by
this thread b/c you guys drive like huge jerks."
(poke) and then you proceed to describe how you "brake test" hime and "block" him in??????????????????

[Hikaru9]

sorry...guilty...i do that just to piss people off sometimes lol

lol~ that reminds me of my trips to NYC. I swear the people must all be drag racers with incredible reaction time 'cause if I didn't get going within 50 milliseconds of the light turning green, someone would always honk at me. In my hometown, honking is considered very rude, and people don't honk unless the other driver is being really dumb (not moving for like 8+ seconds).

Back on the topic of bad drivers, I've read everyone's comments thoroughly. I know bad drivers upset us, but quite frankly I don't think it's worth the trouble to block, brake-test, pass them, etc. for the sake of everyone's safety. I mean seriously... what good could come out of it? Would that jerk of a driver change his ways? No! Because if s/he were smart enough to correct their misbehavior, you wouldn't be in such situations in the first place. They "believe" that they are right no matter how wrong they may be in reality, and the majority of us go pretty far for things we believe in. Worst case scenario, someone could get seriously injured or even die as a result of our testosterone-driven actions. It's all fun and games until someone throws a towel, right?

So next time you run into a jerk, ponder that for a moment, and consider moving over so s/he can disappear from your sight quickly. Soon or later, "they" will either collide into something stationary or better yet, our donut loving public servants. *^_^*

[tsunami]

lol i think most people were directing their frustration at people who are driving slower then the posted limit or driving the posted limit in the far left lane and wouldn't move over when some one faster came up on them... at least thats how i was looking at it... i dont' recall anyone complianing about some one doing the speed limit in the correct lane and riding their ass...

[Evo Scooter]

...Wow. This thread has blown me away. I can't believe there is a single person on this forum that hasn't disagreed with the OP except for Evo Scooter. And for a good reason too, safety.............


OK how did I get singled out? I drive on the right, pass on the left, go with the flow when in traffic, only drive fast when alone or on the track. I don't cut people off nor do I tailgate. Do I brake check, yes but if someone flashes me I move over.

I'm confused.

[SeminoleMan]

...Wow. This thread has blown me away. I can't believe there is a single person on this forum that hasn't disagreed with the OP except for Evo Scooter. And for a good reason too, safety.

In Edmonton, hardly anybody flashes their lights to try and move someone out of the way. It's considered rude over here. I'm appalled by this thread b/c you guys drive like huge jerks.

I can see both points of view here - I am both kinds of driver - the slow and the fast.
Most of the time, I drive around 10 km/h over the limit just like everyone else in traffic. If someone chooses to drive slowly or at the limit, that's no reason to get up on their bumper and ride it. You're probably only making them nervous and afraid to make the lane change.
The worst is when someone rides my ass and basically puts his SUV headlights in my rear hatch window. I can't even see anything in my mirror. This happened last weekend, was doing 90 on our 80 limit freeway. I didn't even see him coming up from the distance b/c he must have been driving so fast. I look up in my mirror and all of a sudden, his headlights come full on into my window, blinding me. He must have had to slam his brakes to avoid hitting my bumper and I swear he was probably 2 inches from it. I thought what an a*****e, so I proceeded to brake test him several times and then purposely blocked him as there were 2 semi trailers lined up on the right lane. He was getting so mad, he did everything: he flashed his headlights; swerved back and forth; got up on my bumper, fell back, only so he could rev his engine and catch up and brake on my rear end again. He even decided to be really smart by flashing his right signal light. I wasn't really sure but I think he wanted me to move over. Because I wasn't sure, I flashed my left signal light which pointed towards the concrete divider and continued to block.
Why do I do this? B/c SUV's/trucks think they can run my little import off the road. I'm already technically speeding, he shouldn't be speeding more than the 10 km/h tolerance; it's illegal. It's dangerous. And had he given me room behind me like most ppl do, then I probably would have just moved over.

He actually gave me a bit of a scare, b/c I thought for sure he was gonna hit my rear. If I wasn't driving a new car, I would have just slammed my brakes and taken his insurance money, assuming he even had insurance.
To top it off, I was pretty ticked after all that, I dropped it into 3rd and floored it. His headlights turned into a spec in the distance. He eventually caught up and as I was taking my exit, he tried to stare me down only to see me give him the finger all the way up the exit ramp. My a-holeness only comes out when blatant a-holes like that show up.
Don't get me wrong, in most situations, ppl will wait safely behind me until there is an opportunity to pass or just pass me on the right. Most of the time, I will move over before they have to do this.
Sometimes I feel like speeding too, if I'm in a hurry or feel like it. I'll either wait safely behind people until I get the opportunity to pass or I'll just immediately take the open lane, right or left, and pass to avoid any frustration/bitterness (same as rainman, most of the time, there is not point waiting for someone to move over). However, I would never flash my lights, swerve around, turn my signals without the intent of actually changing lanes.

Sorry for the long rant, I just couldn't believe the response after response of "bad drivers". Those "bad drivers" probably simple choose not to speed b/c really, who wants to pay a speeding ticket. If you don't want tickets, don't speed. And they will continue to block you if you ride them or if they know you're about to cut them off.

The left-lane is a passing lane, so if you're sitting in that lane at barely over the speed limit you are impeding traffic whether you feel they are speeding or not. I think in your situation more awareness is a good idea - you should know who's around you at all times. You aren't doing yourself any favors by engaging a driver who might be speeding or driving aggressively. Blocking and brake checking them makes you no better than he and puts you at risk more than moving over.

The problem with everyone is that they feel a sense of entitlement - some to speed, others to sit in the left-lane doing barely the speed limit. The bottom line is that courtesy and awareness makes traffic flow better - look to the autobahn if you question that.

[Mocoso]

OK how did I get singled out? I drive on the right, pass on the left, go with the flow when in traffic, only drive fast when alone or on the track. I don't cut people off nor do I tailgate. Do I brake check, yes but if someone flashes me I move over.

I'm confused.

Actually being singled out was a good thing... the rest of us got bunched into "you're a bunch of senseless jerks who drive like aholes" :)

To clarify at least my stand: If you are on a 4 or 5 lane hwy as most freeways here in LA are and the traffic is light DO NOT cruise at the speed limit on the frigin fast lane... there are 3-4 other lanes in which you can do so... left lane is for passing...

Having said that: if a car is going 20+ miles over the speed limit on the fast lane and passing dont expect it to get out of your way immediately and start riding his ass....

If I had a dollar for every POS car who was doing the speed limit on the fast lane and floored it as soon as I switched lanes to pass them I would be rich...

and finally: DOnt brake check... you are just putting your life at risk... at 60 MPH if you get rear ended collecting insurance is going to be the last of your worries... either get the hell out of the way or gradually slow down... either way the guy riding your ass will get out of your rear bumper

I agree with Tsunami and Seminole man btw....

[Kansei]

The left-lane is a passing lane, so if you're sitting in that lane at barely over the speed limit you are impeding traffic whether you feel they are speeding or not. I think in your situation more awareness is a good idea - you should know who's around you at all times. You aren't doing yourself any favors by engaging a driver who might be speeding or driving aggressively. Blocking and brake checking them makes you no better than he and puts you at risk more than moving over.

The problem with everyone is that they feel a sense of entitlement - some to speed, others to sit in the left-lane doing barely the speed limit. The bottom line is that courtesy and awareness makes traffic flow better - look to the autobahn if you question that.

precisely. In some states, it's actually illegal to sit in the passing lane blocking faster moving traffic behind you.. whether or not you are speeding. The driver education needs to be made a hell of a lot better to fix these problems. For whatever reason, in CT there are signs all over (pretty much whenever the highway changes from 2-3 or 3-2 (or 3-4, etc) lanes...

They look like this: | PASSING LANE | TRAVEL LANE | SLOW VEHICLE LANE |

Also, either before or after these signs and whenever you cross into the state, there are signs saying "Keep right except to pass". In NY there is nothing of the sort, and I've driven on every mile of every major highway in the state... Yet from what I've read the laws in CT and NY regarding this issue are the same. There is a painful lack of awareness among the drivers here. When I'm going 70 in a 65 zone and you are doing 40 in the left lane because it's cold outside (but the roads are dry.. no snow on them for days.. ), what the hell do you want me to do? Should I pass you on the right (traffic permitting), which would be a very unexpected move since passing on the right is illegal? Should I just patiently wait behind you while every other asshole on the road passes the two of us on the right? Should I give a quick flash of the highbeams (during the day) or flick my headlights off and on (at night)? Should I chirp the horn, which you probably won't here over the 50 Cent you're blasting in your "whip"??

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!? bah.. Why should I go through the trouble to figure out the most courteous way possible to alert you that you are blocking the smooth flow of traffic (illegal in many areas), when you don't have the decency to be courteous to me?


Here's what I usually do in this situation: I come up behind the slow-moving vehicle in the left lane, waiting at a safe following distance for the speed they are traveling. I'll also get off the throttle (or turn off the cruise control) as soon as I realize they are traveling slower than I am so that I don't fly up on them. Then I'll wait 5-10 seconds after the lane to the right is safe to enter (from their point of view), and then I'll do the quick single flash of the high beams. Wait another 5 seconds, --- oh wait crap, by this time 5-10 cars have already passed both of us on the right, and now the passing lane has been routed around us, causing a very erratic flow of traffic when people coming down the onramp get aquainted with a pack of 80mph traffic.

Never in my years of driving in CT did I ever need to take any measure to let someone know they were blocking traffic; I never even had to put any thought into it! A little bit of courtesy and awareness on the roads goes a long way, but people on the highways in NY don't have an ounce of it. I finally realize why they need an Escalade ESV to drive in alone -- no smaller car would have room for their huge sense of road-going entitlement.

Yesterday I was on a 2-lane (with marked shoulders) road following the river on my way to school. The speed limit is 55 mph on the road, although it is in an area with houses (they are always pretty far back from the road). I came upon a car doing TWENTY miles per hour in my lane. Luckily, a passing zone soon opened up and I spooled up the turbo and passed the Suzuki Esteem wagon. I got my car up to 60mph and went on my merry way to a midterm. About a minute later, the Suzuki flies up right on my bumper and starts madly swerving and flashing their high beams at me. I tap the brakes just lightly enough to get the brake lights to come on, they continue their rage. I press the brakes a bit harder, taking my speed down to 40 (still a 55 zone).. they persist. I stop the car (not rapidly.. at a normal rate). They are forced to stop behind me as there is oncoming traffic in the other lane. I put my car in neutral, and pull up the e-brake. I open my door, step out of the car, and turn around toward the suzuki. I yell "Are you mad?! What is the matter??". They give me the finger, and then roll down their window, saying "You flew past me back there!" to which I responded "You were going 20 in a 55, there was a passing zone, I gave safe following distance.. what the hell is wrong with that?". Here's the kicker.. they respond "The roads might be icy, it isn't safe to go any faster". I respond "get some damn snow tires, the roads are FINE".

What a nice little bit of stress right before a midterm. At least I got to see the "omg I'm going to die tonight" look on their face when I stepped out of the car.. not to say that I'm an imposing figure at all, 5'10" 135lbs.. basically look like I'm 14. I guess they expected me to just take their shit. What I think is funny is that they didn't think it was safe to go any faster than 20 in a 55 zone on a DRY road, yet they had to be going at least 70 to catch up to me after I passed them, just to let me know that the roads weren't safe? fucking moron.

there's my rant for the day (poke)

[Hikaru9]

... they respond "The roads might be icy, it isn't safe to go any faster". I respond "get some damn snow tires, the roads are FINE"...

...What I think is funny is that they didn't think it was safe to go any faster than 20 in a 55 zone on a DRY road, yet they had to be going at least 70 to catch up to me after I passed them, just to let me know that the roads weren't safe? ------- moron.

there's my rant for the day (poke)
[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

lol~ I feel your pain. welcome to the United States of m _ r _ _s. *^_^*

[Hy8us]

| PASSING LANE| TRAVEL LANE | SLOW VEHICLE LANE |, where does the HOV lane fit in then? when its not rush hour i mean. Does it become the passing lane? or no...

[BKK Jack]

...Wow. This thread has blown me away. I can't believe there is a single person on this forum that hasn't disagreed with the OP except for Evo Scooter. And for a good reason too, safety.

In Edmonton, hardly anybody flashes their lights to try and move someone out of the way. It's considered rude over here. I'm appalled by this thread b/c you guys drive like huge jerks.

...I thought what an a*****e, so I proceeded to brake test him several times and then purposely blocked him as there were 2 semi trailers lined up on the right lane...

You have got to be kidding!?! Everyone else is an asshole, but you are brake-checking and blocking ???? Who's the asshole in in the situation you described? Don't bother to respond to that, it was rhetorical.

Thanks to Kansei, I was able to read the laws regarding this subject in Virginia. Nowhere does it say anything about the speed limit, as in "should said douche-bag be driving at or above the posted limit, SDB shall not be required to yield.

The bottom line is: No matter what speed you are driving, be it 40, 60, or 160, if you are being overtaken, you should yield and move over.

You are the problem

[TheDutchGun]

Here in Ontario, I believe there is a rarely enforced law that says you have to move over for faster moving traffic. There's also a law requiring you to change lanes in order to let merging traffic on the highway.

[Kansei]

| PASSING LANE| TRAVEL LANE | SLOW VEHICLE LANE |, where does the HOV lane fit in then? when its not rush hour i mean. Does it become the passing lane? or no...

there's no HOV lanes in Rochester.. only a million people here, not big enough to need them I guess.. and those signs are in CT, which I don't think has a city with over 200k people so um yeah.. :P there's usually only three lanes when it's going up over a big hill or a mountain, and then only because a slow vehicle lane is needed.

[Kansei]

Here in Ontario, I believe there is a rarely enforced law that says you have to move over for faster moving traffic. There's also a law requiring you to change lanes in order to let merging traffic on the highway.

and from my experience driving from Rochester to toronto quite a few times and even the occasional Rochester - Toronto - Montreal trip, the traffic tends to move quite swimmingly on the QEW. :) good stuff, I wish CT or NY had a law like that.. not all that many states here are strict about the law :(

[TheDutchGun]

and from my experience driving from Rochester to toronto quite a few times and even the occasional Rochester - Toronto - Montreal trip, the traffic tends to move quite swimmingly on the QEW. :) good stuff, I wish CT or NY had a law like that.. not all that many states here are strict about the law :(

I'm sure you've driven through or near St. Catharines before then. That would be my hometown. Overall on Ontario highways, the traffic is generally really well behaved. Commuter traffic sucks though as I'm sure it does everywhere else.

[Olestra]

edit

[Olestra]

You have got to be kidding!?! Everyone else is an asshole, but you are brake-checking and blocking ???? Who's the asshole in in the situation you described? Don't bother to respond to that, it was rhetorical.

Thanks to Kansei, I was able to read the laws regarding this subject in Virginia. Nowhere does it say anything about the speed limit, as in "should said douche-bag be driving at or above the posted limit, SDB shall not be required to yield.

The bottom line is: No matter what speed you are driving, be it 40, 60, or 160, if you are being overtaken, you should yield and move over.

You are the problem

Hehe. The problem is the guy flooring his SUV only to brake on my bumper. That's what I'm talking about, not everyone but ppl riding right up on your bumper.
I was passing 2 semis, already above the limit, in a matter of seconds, I would have been able to pass and move over. He basically wanted me to out of the way instantly.
I rarely brake check/block. Normally, I'm courteous - I'll maintain my speed or push up a little more just to get over but not this time. Especially if the guy is flashing his lights and swerving like a mad man. Like Kansei, I felt like stopping my car and pulling up the E-brake. As I said in my post, if someone's an A-hole, I'm going to be one back.

Please don't compare the autobahn to a normal highway/freeway. The autobahn has no speed limit. I'm not going to travel up to someone's insane speed just so I can let him pass and risk getting a ticket/impounded.

One of the things mentioned that I hugely agree with is, yes I compromised my safety. I did realize that immediately after. But in the moment I was too pissed off at this guy trying to threaten me with hitting my car off the road.

[Hikaru9]

As I said in my post, if someone's an A-hole, I'm going to be one back.

I won't call anyone an a-hole, but I believe the above statement makes you basically the equal to the others previously described. ^_^;;



One of the things mentioned that I hugely agree with is, yes I compromised my safety. I did realize that immediately after. But in the moment I was too pissed off at this guy trying to threaten me with hitting my car off the road.

Indeed! Feelings of payback won't mean much if someone actually gets hurt. I'm sure I'd be very upset if I were in a similar situation, but self-control is something that takes lots of practice.
*^_^*

[SeminoleMan]

Please don't compare the autobahn to a normal highway/freeway. The autobahn has no speed limit.

80% of the autobahn has a speed limit by the way. The same awareness and etiquette required to drive in the unlimited sections is expected in restricted areas as well.

It's actually an excellent comparison because it has a larger disparity in speeds than the U.S and Canada and they don't have these problems. A few simple rules make it possible: Trucks are restricted to the right-lane, faster traffic only in the left lane (flashing and turn signal on means you better move your ass), and you pass as fast as possible before getting back in the travel lane because someone else is likely to be closing in much faster than 20mph on your bumper.

If safe and purposeful travel is what your looking for you'd be hard pressed for a better example.

[Evo Scooter]

Actually being singled out was a good thing... the rest of us got bunched into "you're a bunch of senseless jerks who drive like aholes" :)


Well that's better. Unless that means I'm the only sane guy in the asylum. Now I'm lonely.

PS all tailgaters should be shot, stabbed, hung from a tree and beat like a pinata until they are dead. Yes, I had one of those days.

[tsunami]

my gf tailgates like a mofo... drives me so nuts..we argue about it all the time... she pretty much drives as fast as the person in front of her and if there is no one in front of her she pretty much accelerates until either i yell at her or she gets behind some one else... i have no idea how she doesn't have more speeding tickets then she does.

[Foolish]

You know what bugs me even more than slow left lane drives? Ambiguous drivers.

Last night, coming home from Atlanta, I'm on a 4-lane divided highway (two in each direction) with a 65 MPH speed limit. Conditions are cold but clear, very little traffic. I'm loping along with the cruise control set at 74-ish, and two cars are a ways behind me, gradually catching up. One of them, a big white Lincoln, pulls along side of me in the left lane, and then......nothing! Doesn't pass, doesn't drop back, just sits there, next to me, for like a mile. There are 3 cars in the 1000 yards of dark country road that I can see, and this ASSHOLE has to sit next to me! ARRRRRRGHH!! WTF??? Pass me and get on with your evening or drop back and give me some room. If a deer runs out in to the road, or there's some road debris in my lane, or a car is broken down not quite all the way on the shoulder I can easily switch lanes to safety on such an abandoned road, unless, for example, some nitwit in a Lincoln is sitting there next to me for no reason. He pulled along side, then dropped back 1/4 to 1/2 a length, then forward some, then back, clearly changing speeds at random, since this whole time I'm on cruise at my rock-solid 74MPH. Finally, I got sick of him, got on it, blasted away from him at about 90 until I had a 100 yard lead, then stuck it back on cruise at 74.

I'm just saying people need to "drive like they mean it". While some might think I'm talking about aggressive driving, I'm just talking about making steady, consistant moves, so that others can predict your actions instead of being wishy-washy and making us all wonder what dumb move you're going to pull next. So, drive like you mean it, for all of our sake! :D

[kokemon23]

You know what bugs me even more than slow left lane drives? Ambiguous drivers.

Last night, coming home from Atlanta, I'm on a 4-lane divided highway (two in each direction) with a 65 MPH speed limit. Conditions are cold but clear, very little traffic. I'm loping along with the cruise control set at 74-ish, and two cars are a ways behind me, gradually catching up. One of them, a big white Lincoln, pulls along side of me in the left lane, and then......nothing! Doesn't pass, doesn't drop back, just sits there, next to me, for like a mile. There are 3 cars in the 1000 yards of dark country road that I can see, and this ASSHOLE has to sit next to me! ARRRRRRGHH!! WTF??? Pass me and get on with your evening or drop back and give me some room. If a deer runs out in to the road, or there's some road debris in my lane, or a car is broken down not quite all the way on the shoulder I can easily switch lanes to safety on such an abandoned road, unless, for example, some nitwit in a Lincoln is sitting there next to me for no reason. He pulled along side, then dropped back 1/4 to 1/2 a length, then forward some, then back, clearly changing speeds at random, since this whole time I'm on cruise at my rock-solid 74MPH. Finally, I got sick of him, got on it, blasted away from him at about 90 until I had a 100 yard lead, then stuck it back on cruise at 74.

I'm just saying people need to "drive like they mean it". While some might think I'm talking about aggressive driving, I'm just talking about making steady, consistant moves, so that others can predict your actions instead of being wishy-washy and making us all wonder what dumb move you're going to pull next. So, drive like you mean it, for all of our sake! :D

+1
Haha, I was reading your post and cracking up, I HATE when people do that!! Especially if I'm on cruise and I have to get off because of them!

[BKK Jack]

Hehe. The problem is the guy flooring his SUV only to brake on my bumper. That's what I'm talking about, not everyone but ppl riding right up on your bumper.
I was passing 2 semis, already above the limit, in a matter of seconds, I would have been able to pass and move over. He basically wanted me to out of the way instantly.
I rarely brake check/block. Normally, I'm courteous - I'll maintain my speed or push up a little more just to get over but not this time. Especially if the guy is flashing his lights and swerving like a mad man. Like Kansei, I felt like stopping my car and pulling up the E-brake. As I said in my post, if someone's an A-hole, I'm going to be one back.

Please don't compare the autobahn to a normal highway/freeway. The autobahn has no speed limit. I'm not going to travel up to someone's insane speed just so I can let him pass and risk getting a ticket/impounded.

One of the things mentioned that I hugely agree with is, yes I compromised my safety. I did realize that immediately after. But in the moment I was too pissed off at this guy trying to threaten me with hitting my car off the road.

The autobahn IS a highway/freeway, so why can't you use it in a comparison. We are talking more about drivers and less about the roads on which they drive. The real problems, as I see it are twofold:

1. Poor driver education and lax licensing standards. Just about anyone can get and retain a license in the U.S. Driver's Ed is a joke, and testing is just about as laughable.

2. No enforcement of "slower traffic keep right" laws. It's much easier for Officer Bagadonuts to sit there with a radar/laser and nab speeders than to go after the people causing congestion through inconsiderate/illegal driving habits. A radar/laser ticket is more likely to stick, because it is objective. The officer is not required to testify in court his reasons for citing the offender beyond saying his equipment said the offender was traveling xx in a yy zone. Basically it's a money machine for the municipality.

Consequently more and more people are driving worse, and no one is yanking them off the road. The media likes to sensationalize the resulting frustration as "road rage", and some jurisdictions have adopted "aggressive" driving laws to try to combat the symptom while ignoring the disease. I wouldn't get so frustrated and angry, and wouldn't dream of having twin fixed forward firing M2 machine guns, if that car would just move over and let me by.


I saw on Jeopardy last night that the Mayor of San Francisco authorized summary executions for looters after the earthquake in 1906. Those were the days!

[Hikaru9]

...Consequently more and more people are driving worse, and no one is yanking them off the road. The media likes to sensationalize the resulting frustration as "road rage", and some jurisdictions have adopted "aggressive" driving laws to try to combat the symptom while ignoring the disease. I wouldn't get so frustrated and angry, and wouldn't dream of having twin fixed forward firing M2 machine guns, if that car would just move over and let me by.


Reminds me of one of my favorite game series of all time, Twisted Metal. I'd love to have a homing missile mounted on my car. lol~

Run of the mill aggressive driving that satisfies the elements listed above is punishable as a class II misdemeanor, meaning a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail, a $1000 fine, and a 6 month suspension of your driver's license. Additionally, the court may require that you attend an aggressive driving program. However, if the evidence at trial proves that the aggressive driving was done with the intent to injure another person, the charge becomes punishable as a class I misdemeanor, just like reckless driving, meaning a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail, a $2500 fine and 6 month license suspension.
-> quoted from Virginia Criminal and Traffic Law Blog

I couldn't agree more. They should 1. increase the minimum driving age 2. put more emphasis on road etiquette in driver's ed programs 3. make obtaining a license more difficult like some of the European countries, so that people will hopefully realize that driving an automobile is not a God-given right, but a privilege. Politicians might act on something if more people start shooting guns at each other on the road. (get those bullet-proof windows) -_-;;

[BKK Jack]

I agree, but another element of this problem is, thanks to Eisenhower and the oil and rubber companies in bed with him, mass transit in this country was effectively eliminated in the 50's. Although some major metropolises (metropolii?) are rediscovering it, the car is and probably always will be king. I lived in Thailand for six years, and could have easily done without a car that entire time. I wasn't in the U.S. for twenty-four hours before I was at the dealership.

With the sense of entitlement most people here have, the distinction between "right" and "privilege" has been blurred to virtual extinction.

[Rainman]

I agree, but another element of this problem is, thanks to Eisenhower and the oil and rubber companies in bed with him, mass transit in this country was effectively eliminated in the 50's. Although some major metropolises (metropolii?) are rediscovering it, the car is and probably always will be king. I lived in Thailand for six years, and could have easily done without a car that entire time. I wasn't in the U.S. for twenty-four hours before I was at the dealership.

With the sense of entitlement most people here have, the distinction between "right" and "privilege" has been blurred to virtual extinction.

Two very good points. It is amazing that people can't see this.

R

[meha11]

I agree, but another element of this problem is, thanks to Eisenhower and the oil and rubber companies in bed with him, mass transit in this country was effectively eliminated in the 50's. Although some major metropolises (metropolii?) are rediscovering it, the car is and probably always will be king. I lived in Thailand for six years, and could have easily done without a car that entire time. I wasn't in the U.S. for twenty-four hours before I was at the dealership.

With the sense of entitlement most people here have, the distinction between "right" and "privilege" has been blurred to virtual extinction.


Excellent point.

Here's something else i’ve been thinking about. I live in Houston and the population here is over 2 million, I think its fair to say that there would be about 1 million cars, probably more.
We are all bitching about other drivers (me included) and i’m sure they bitch about us too. Here’s why.
We all have a bad day from time to time, let’s say that everyone has 1 bad day on the road every 6 months. 1,000,000 cars divided by (365/2) days is 5479 bad drivers on the road at any one time in Houston alone.

Some people should have their license taken away because they just can’t drive, but I like to think most people can most of the time and maybe they are just having a bad day.

Yes, i’m at work now and i got bored but there may be just a little truth to this.

EDIT. forget all that. i think all 5000 of those no driving S.O.B's were by me today. i'm waiting to turn left and all the traffic stops at a red light blocking the road, not one of those wankers thought to leave a gap for me to go through. thats just F.ing rude for no reason, i would happily shot everyone of them if i thought i could get away with it.

[Jaysanooch]

I'll share my experience but I need to confess that I have an extreme case of road rage which has gotten a little better as I get older. Plus, I chose to work nights now cause there's less people on the road which helps situation also.

Many years ago, there was these 3 cars cruising below 55mph in the left lane. I tried to fight my road rage but when I saw they weren't going to move.....I just flipped!!

They were all at about a 3 car distance from each other so I floor my Iroc Z and I passed them like a slalom cones. This stupid move involved me going on the left shoulder once, inches from the wall, dust flying everywhere.

Really really dumb I know, I haven't done anything stupid like that ever again. Let's just say I looked in my rear view mirror and they all moved to the middle lane.

It's common sense, common courtesy....whatever, MOVE THE F&#% OVER!!

[Jaysanooch]

Here in Ontario, I believe there is a rarely enforced law that says you have to move over for faster moving traffic. There's also a law requiring you to change lanes in order to let merging traffic on the highway.

Those 3 cars had Ontario plates!!!!!!!!!!

[TheDutchGun]

Those 3 cars had Ontario plates!!!!!!!!!!

Hey I didn't say everyone was perfect. Besides, Montreal is literally hell on earth to drive in.

[Olestra]

Lol I thought Toronto's 401 was 10 times worse than Montreal.
I visited for a week and I think I saw a rear ender at least 3-4 times on the 401. Montreal - ppl used the right lanes, left lanes properly.

[Rainman]

Lol I thought Toronto's 401 was 10 times worse than Montreal.
I visited for a week and I think I saw a rear ender at least 3-4 times on the 401. Montreal - ppl used the right lanes, left lanes properly.

The 401 is by far the worst of the highways that I drive for driver etiquette.

R

[TheDutchGun]

I've never had a problem with the 401, but the 40 through montreal is like chaos to me.

[Rainman]

I've never had a problem with the 401, but the 40 through montreal is like chaos to me.

True enough. The 40 is fairly bad, but then no worse than the 427 or the Gardnener Expressway in T.O.

R

[Adam02es]

Interesting how driving habits change from road to road. In Massachusetts, drivers seem to be much better about driving right and passing left in the western part of the state. Inside of rt 128, that seems to be the exception to the rule. Especially on rt 128.

For example, on my way home from work tonight, not only did the car impeding progress in the left lane not speed up or get the f@#k out of my way, it actually accelerated to block me from passing when I finally gave up and tried to go around it. It was very sad, as this car was actually a Mazda3 ...

In some ways I am fortunate that I commute in the opposite direction of the flow of rush hour traffic and it actually matters when people block the left lane. On the other hand, it can be strangely peaceful when there is enough traffic that it doesn't matter whether they move or not. It's great that it doesn't take me an hour to travel 10 miles, but I think I actually have more road rage than I did in real traffic thanks to the driving habits on rt 128.

[bazooka joe]

Interesting how driving habits change from road to road. In Massachusetts, drivers seem to be much better about driving right and passing left in the western part of the state. Inside of rt 128, that seems to be the exception to the rule. Especially on rt 128.

For example, on my way home from work tonight, not only did the car impeding progress in the left lane not speed up or get the f@#k out of my way, it actually accelerated to block me from passing when I finally gave up and tried to go around it. It was very sad, as this car was actually a Mazda3 ...

In some ways I am fortunate that I commute in the opposite direction of the flow of rush hour traffic and it actually matters when people block the left lane. On the other hand, it can be strangely peaceful when there is enough traffic that it doesn't matter whether they move or not. It's great that it doesn't take me an hour to travel 10 miles, but I think I actually have more road rage than I did in real traffic thanks to the driving habits on rt 128.

128 is a race track! it's one of the worst out there...of course MA drivers are really bad...it's an art form to speed up when some is try to pass...no one cuts in front of anyone...it's kinda like you don't want to "lose your spot in line"

[tsunami]

128 sucks i avoid it like the plague if i have to travel south... it always scares the hell out of me when some big ass diesel contractor truck goes flying by in the shoulder when everyone else is at a standstill cause at certian hours the shoulder is a lane i never remember what hours its open or not..

[Adam02es]

128 sucks i avoid it like the plague if i have to travel south... it always scares the hell out of me when some big ass diesel contractor truck goes flying by in the shoulder when everyone else is at a standstill cause at certian hours the shoulder is a lane i never remember what hours its open or not..

Between 6:00am and 10:00am, and 3:00pm to 7:00pm, but only between rt 9 and rt 24. People that commute on this road have no idea either. It is especially bad near an exit where the shoulder actually turns into a normal lane for about 50 yards due to the construction. And despite the giant sign warning everyone about this 3 miles in advance, this is where at least a dozen cars realize they aren't far enough to the right and dive for the exit in this last 50 yards. This is the exit I take to get to work, and I fear for my life every morning. (hand) It's amazing the risks people take to not miss an exit. I'm ready to take side streets, even if it means doubling my commute and trading in easy highway miles for abusive stoplight traffic.

[bazooka joe]

Between 6:00am and 10:00am, and 3:00pm to 7:00pm, but only between rt 9 and rt 24. People that commute on this road have no idea either. It is especially bad near an exit where the shoulder actually turns into a normal lane for about 50 yards due to the construction. And despite the giant sign warning everyone about this 3 miles in advance, this is where at least a dozen cars realize they aren't far enough to the right and dive for the exit in this last 50 yards. This is the exit I take to get to work, and I fear for my life every morning. (hand) It's amazing the risks people take to not miss an exit. I'm ready to take side streets, even if it means doubling my commute and trading in easy highway miles for abusive stoplight traffic.

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