How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
On Dennis Prager’s radio program yesterday, he devoted the entire third hour to a discussion of the annoying tendencies exhibited by many of the drivers with whom he shares the roads. At the top of his list was the driver who, while waiting to make a left turn at an intersection where there is a left-turn arrow, refuses to proceed with his turn after that arrow goes out. The lesson: unless there is a red signal indicating you have to wait, it is permissible to make your turn even after the green arrow is no longer illuminated; you just have to yield to oncoming traffic as you would at an intersection where there is no left-turn arrow.
Related to this and just as vexing to those unfortunates stuck behind such people is the driver who, when making a left turn, remains at the limit line when the light turns green rather than pulling into the intersection while waiting for traffic to clear as the law and common sense allow, thereby leaving the drivers behind him with no chance to make their turns before the signal changes to red. Mr. Prager said he takes it as a “point of pride” that as many people as possible are able to make their turn behind him, an opinion I wholeheartedly share.
High on my own list of driving frustrations, owing to my profession, are those drivers who refuse to pull the right and stop for approaching emergency vehicles. I’ve seen people here in Los Angeles who seem to think that a police car, ambulance, or fire engine going down the street with its emergency lights ablaze and its siren wailing is there to serve as their escort through heavy traffic. I once even had someone pass me as I drove code-3 down Central Avenue, apparently figuring (correctly) that if I was in such a hurry to get somewhere, I would not take the time to stop and ticket him. The lowest pit of Hell awaits him, whoever he is.
And now I put it to the Ricochet community: What are your pet peeves about your fellow drivers? (As time allows I’ll try to answer any questions you may have about the traffic laws.)
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Comments:
Feb '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
When the first car in line at the light sees it turn green and then says into her phone "The light just turned. I have to hang up. I'll see you later. Make sure you have your room cleaned up before I get home. And no chocolates."
Then she thinks about moving forward.
Edited on March 17, 2012 at 9:13pmDec '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Had to chime in one final time on your highly entertaining thread, Officer Dunphy, to share an experience I have never before had on the road. This very afternoon, a man driving a Vespa on a busy thoroughfare (50 mph speed limit) actually paused at a green light to check his cell. This individual may now need to see an ENT medical professional for hearing aids to offset the damage done to his eardrums.
Feb '12
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
ctlaw
One symptom of this stupidity is the person who insists on leaving 5 or more car lengths of a gap in stop and go traffic. ... a few people like that can be the cause of the stop and go traffic in the first place.
I'm one of those who leaves a large number of car lengths in stop and go traffic, but my observation is that it *help* clear the traffic. Most stopped traffic is caused by bad merging -- the right lane's trying to merge into the left, say, but the left is bumper to bumper. There's no room for the right lane to merge in, so they have to stop. Someone in the left lane takes pity and lets someone in, but they have to stop to do that themselves, so now the left lane's stopped too.
I leave lots of room, so people can actually merge over yet I can keep my lane moving and stick to second or third gear instead of shifting 15 times in ten minutes.
May '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Your maintaining that spacing when someone pulls into the gap will cause chain reaction braking behind you.
For a given amount of traffic flow, there must be a given average separation between vehicles. If somebody (or multiple somebodies) is/are intent on leaving too much, you get jams.
Amy Schley
I'm one of those who leaves a large number of car lengths in stop and go traffic, but my observation is that it *help* clear the traffic. Most stopped traffic is caused by bad merging -- the right lane's trying to merge into the left, say, but the left is bumper to bumper. There's no room for the right lane to merge in, so they have to stop. Someone in the left lane takes pity and lets someone in, but they have to stop to do that themselves, so now the left lane's stopped too.
I leave lots of room, so people can actually merge over yet I can keep my lane moving and stick to second or third gear instead of shifting 15 times in ten minutes. · 5 minutes ago
Aug '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Perhaps another post just for comments on motorcycles, parking lot issues, loud-booming-vibrating cars, and cars who obviously should not be on the road...is in order here.
Feb '12
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
ctlaw: Your maintaining that spacing when someone pulls into the gap will cause chain reaction braking behind you.
For a given amount of traffic flow, there must be a given average separation between vehicles. If somebody (or multiple somebodies) is/are intent on leaving too much, you get jams.
Edited 6 minutes ago
22 minutes ago
Ah, I see the problem -- implied assumptions. I don't brake to maintain that distance; I just don't floor my accelerator as soon as the car ahead of me starts moving. Thus, the car ahead of me bounces between 0 and 20 for a mile of traffic jam while I (and my lane) putter along at around 8 mph (with the space between us growing and shrinking) until we get past the accident or whatever prompted the jam. True, we aren't going very fast -- but we are still moving. ("You can't merge if you're stopped!" is perhaps the single most yelled thing in my car.) This is a far more comfortable way of riding the traffic jam when one is in a stick shift with no AC.
Aug '10
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
How about wimpy motorscooters that work their way up among the cars stopped at a red light (legal in CA), then drive slowly so you have to pass them, then do it again at the next light. And the next. And the next.
As to cars emitting loud music, it's interesting to note here in L.A. that 98% of the time it's hip-hop, and 2% of the time it's mariachi. Never anything else. The windows are always open, even though the cars look like they're probably equipped with air conditioning.
Aug '10
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
I made the opposite complaint about roundabouts earlier, because when they're small, you have to wrench the wheel way around to follow the tight curve. I'd prefer all-way stops, if they allowed the "California roll" at, say, 5mph, if no one was coming the other way. That would be equivalent to treating them as zero-sized roundabouts, and would save time and fuel.
Or are you talking about ones that are so small you can pretty much drive straight through? I've never seen that.
Edited on March 18, 2012 at 2:54amRe: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
In 1995, I was being driven into Kunsan City, Republic of Korea, to have dinner with a group of doctors who were taking one of my conversational English classes. We were driving through the narrow back streets in the downtown area when I noticed that there were no stop signs or yield signs at the intersections.
Me: Where are the street signs?
Host: They took them down?
Me: Why?
Host: Nobody obeyed them. Besides, they were in the way.
Me: Who goes first at an intersection?
Host: The biggest vehicle.
Apr '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Kansas drivers may refer to the people here that see the turn signals on other vehicles as their cue to get in the way.
I've quit signaling lane changes because, more often than not, the moron in the adjacent lane hits the gas in order to tailgate me. I drive at a good clip and I'm not one of those who moves left and slows down.
And semis that pull into the passing lane going up a steep hill where they can barely hold 60 mph.
And slowpokes who drive with one eye on the rear view mirror, no doubt swelling with pride at the number of drivers stuck behind them.
Bewildered drivers... You know, the ones that are stumped at a green light because they would never have suspected that a red light, sooner or later, turns green.
Biggest peeve: cities that set traffic signals so that traffic never flows; so that we get to stop at every signal in order to burn that $4 gas.
May '10
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Amy Schley
Ah, I see the problem -- implied assumptions. I don't brake to maintain that distance; I just don't floor my accelerator as soon as the car ahead of me starts moving. Thus, the car ahead of me bounces between 0 and 20 for a mile of traffic jam while I (and my lane) putter along at around 8 mph (with the space between us growing and shrinking) until we get past the accident or whatever prompted the jam. True, we aren't going very fast -- but we are still moving. ("You can't merge if you're stopped!" is perhaps the single most yelled thing in my car.) This is a far more comfortable way of riding the traffic jam when one is in a stick shift with no AC. · 3 hours ag
o
Exactly! I do the same thing - try to find the speed that will let me move along without having to start and stop. It's better for me and for everyone behind me. But it does bother some people who think they're better off if they stay as close as possible to the car in front of them.
Dec '10
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Freeway on ramp lights. You don't even have to watch the lights to know when they've been turned on - the instant they kick them on for rush hour, the freeway that the ramps lead on to suddenly slows down by at least 30 mph.
Gee, I wonder why? Couldn't be because they're forcing cars to try and merge into 65 mph traffic when they've only got room to accelerate to 30. Just baffles me. I'm sure the cars don't burn any additional fuel by having to step on it though.
Jul '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Why do some police officers insist on pulling people over during rush hour traffic in places where the roads have no shoulders or emergency lanes thus causing one lane of traffic to be blocked by the stop? Surely there must be a better method for them to capture their prey?
Feb '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
I recall it, Lucy! I wish Dante had lived in automotive times to reserve for tailgaters a circle of hell..
But no one has mentioned the lazy, good-for-nothing drivers who, when turning left, cut across the nose of the intersecting lane of opposing traffic. These people can't pull up far enough into the intersection and then turn, no, they have to come flying across the painted stop in my lane threatening me. I am sorry to say that my own dear husband does this. I have tried to kindly share with him my knowledge and experience, but alas, I find that even my own dear man dislikes backseat (passenger seat?) drivers.
Another peeve is men who think that all females are not as good drivers as men. I experienced this in my post that Lucy mentions -- it was assumed by some that the problem was me, not the harrasing police officer. Howbout we take my Ram 3500 15-passenger van into the city and we see who can parallel park better, me or you?
Edited on March 18, 2012 at 12:58pmMar '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Where was I the year the rule of the highway changed from one where cars in the on-ramp yielded to cars already on the highway to the opposite? I'm still wanting to abide by lessons learned in high school driving class. Can anyone tell me when that rule changed; why it happened? It seemed to work fine the old way. So many drivers think there's magic that happens at the highway end of the on ramp lane that creates a space for them no matter what. There's not always room to move over a lane.
Right of Way! What's that????
I live in Dallas, TX. It has to have some of the most aggressive drivers. (It does lead an official list for drunk driving deaths.) From the above comments, I get the feeling that the rest of you live in more civil areas. I wish my worst gripe were about pokey drivers. I believe my guardian angel works overtime because of where I live. I'd want a bumper sticker that says 'Sorry you're suicidal, but must you take me with you when you go?'
Mar '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Wasn't there at one time some statute about mufflers and noise level? If so, why are motorcycles exempt?
Mar '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Does anyone else here ponder the ethical question of obedience to the speed limit? I tend to go up to only 5 mph more, both city and highway, but wonder if an argument could be made that a true conservative obeys the law when there's no moral reason for breaking it.
Apr '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Tell it! I've come to dread nice weather because of the hellish racket it brings... Middle-age three-year olds demanding to be noticed. I resent it.
Sep '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Love it when a police officer drives down the street holding his cell phone to his ear. (Berkeley, CA.)
Berkeley has this always popular move, though: U turns from a parking space, or sudden U turns across a double yellow into a diagonal parking space. Seen both right in front of police officers with no reaction; likewise the ever popular driving at night with no lights.
May '11
Re: How Would You Like to Educate Your Fellow Drivers?
Matthew Bartle
Exactly! I do the same thing - try to find the speed that will let me move along without having to start and stop. It's better for me and for everyone behind me. But it does bother some people who think they're better off if they stay as close as possible to the car in front of them. · 13 hours ago
Unfortunately, that can be the cause of traffic jams. You leave more room than the traffic flow requires.