as some of you are aware, i don’t do the bulk of my travel time to and from work driving—it’s passed on a train, which affords me ample opportunity to write. but it’s also given me the chance to miss driving.
my last job, it took around 20 minutes or so from the time i walked out of my home until i was at my desk. i knew every back road b/n my home and the office, every shortcut, the timing of every traffic light and i even came to recognize some of the cars.
driving in heavy traffic is always an invigorating experience, i find. i like the thrill of finding a break in traffic into which i can maneuver to avoid a delay, such as a driver who’s actually turning but hasn’t bothered to use a turn signal.
i find that in general, it’s preferable—at least for me—to change lanes rather than hit the brakes, especially in traffic. not that i’m a fan of zigzagging my way across traffic or anything—although when navigating a crowded sidewalk, i certainly do—but judicious avoidance of other cars, especially when the driver is behaving erratically, makes my life easier, i find.
there are a few things that other drivers do that i’ll confess leave me scratching my head now & again:
1. let’s say there are 2 lanes of traffic approaching a traffic light. what i’ve observed is that 9 times out of 10, most drivers will stay in their lanes, even if that means there are 6 cars in one lane and none in the other. i’ll confess that this confuses the heck out of me. why would anyone want their speed dictated by the however-many cars are in front? i don’t know about you, but me, i’m always trying to get to my destination relatively quickly and safely. avoiding more cars is a better way to accomplish that goal.
2. failure to signal a turn. this really aggravates me, esp if someone’s in front of me and want to turn while i’m going straight. i mean, that’s just rude, esp on a busy road, b/c now he or she has delayed me and whoever else is behind me. i don’t know if this is merely a function of being selfish or just not paying attention, and i don’t care—i just wish people would stop frelling* doing it![/rant]
3. driving slowly in the passing lane. this irritates the hell out of me. i know what the speed limit sign said just as well as you do, but you know just as well as i do that traffic doesn’t do the speed limit—it does around 5-10 mph more. so if you’re in the passing lane and people are crawling up your butt…move, you annoying bastard!
is it just me? i’m sure i can’t be the only person who doesn’t understand why other drivers do these things. and while i’m perfectly aware they don’t do it in some kind of conspiracy to piss me off, it does sometimes seem like the most logical explanation, some days.
i mean, i love driving. i truly do. zooming along on a nice day, feeling the warmth of the sun and listening to music—sometimes, there’s really nothing better. driving is great.
it’s just that it would be better without so many other drivers! :>
so what other driving pet peeves do you have? is there a classic that i’ve missed? or maybe i’m making too much of some of the ones i’ve listed? or maybe i just haven’t had enough diet coke with lime yet today? comment and let me know.
ed
*that one’s for you, alyss. :>
p.s.: this blog entry was composed while listening to springsteen’s born to run, for my money the best album to drive to. this does not however in any way diminish the stature of golden earring’s radar love as the greatest all-time track to drive to, as i stated yesterday.
silverwhisper posted on Apr 06, 2007
| views: 253
Comments
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raft said on Apr 06, 2007....
1,2 and 3: Ditto.
I don't enjoy driving. Too many people in the way. I find it a necessary evil to get where I want to be. I enjoy the thrill of finding a spot to get ahead by 10-20 cars, but I find the exercise frustrating overall. Too many dweebs in the passing lane.
I was asked once, what a passing lane was? I answered: The empty one. That had nothing to do with me, but the hogs in the way.
My worst pet peeve? Passing lane hogs.
You drive up to them. You know you're going at least 10-20 km/h faster. Since the lane besides is empty, you simply go around (I find the exercise of trying to impress upon someone that it's your right of way when they never got it in the first place, futile at best).
As you attempt to pass, they speed up until you're making 10-20 km/h more than *you* were doing in the first place. If you manage to finally pass them, they will follow you, until the speed is too much for them and they will return to their comfort speed and annoy the following driver.
I've had two such idiots this week. One of them I've encountered a month before and did the exact same thing last time.
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MissMimi said on Apr 06, 2007....
You drive like my husband wants me to, Ed. I am almost never in such a big hurry to get somewhere that I move in and out of lanes to get a car length ahead. Sorry--I just don't get it.
Tailgaters piss me right off. If I'm in the passing lane behind someone, I can only go as fast as the car in front of me. Riding my ass will not get me to go faster.
Not using turn signals, or worse, using turn signals and not freaking turning. I almost got in an accident once because the guy had his turn signal on and didn't turn.
I live in a medium size city so I would be considered an amateur by those of you who live in big cities with very heavy traffic. I remember trying to navigate the streets of Boston. Not a pretty sight. Seems that traffic laws are merely suggestions there.
would you rather share the road with teenage drivers or very elderly drivers? -
muckpar said on Apr 06, 2007....
people pulling out in front of me and then just moving slowlypeople (most) don't know how to properly execute a right hand turn or left hand turn. In the first they swerve to the left before starting to turn right, in the second they turn to quickly into their left turn. I had a good driver ed teacher that showed us how to execute both, too bad others didn't have a good one, or they are just careless. Picky I know, but you asked. -
TinSoldier said on Apr 06, 2007....
I love driving, although I can't say I care much for traffic.
I agree with your pet peeves generally. When coming up to a light I'll usually go to the shorter lane just like in a supermarket checkstand line.
Unless there's a big truck or a bus right there...
Freeway driving I usually hog the middle lane. That way I don't have to deal with folks on entry/exit ramps nor do I have to worry about hogging the passing lane. I'll get into the passing lane only when I need to pass. But sometimes that's full too and I'll pass on the right. It's just the way of it.
I hate folks who follow too closely. Tailgaters. Grrr. Two second rule, people! Or more! Leave at least three car lengths between yourself and the next guy if possible. Yeah, sometimes you'll get people constantly sliding into that gap. Then you have to adjust accordingly. Otherwise, play it safe.
Edit: Oh, and I agree with muckpar and I want to add -- people who cut corners on left or right turns. Especially when you have two left turn lanes. I think muck was referring to that, but I hate it too.
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beyondtheveil said on Apr 06, 2007....
Ed- My difference in driving to yours is I'm not constantly attempting to find the quickest way to get anywhere either by route or driving actions. I've found in actuality it saves little time except for planning long trips.To the other pet peeves already mentioned, I'll add people who do not want to make their car go after a red light has changed to green. People who leave three or four car lengths between themselves and the car in front of them at a stop light. People who disregard school zones. And those who get into their car which will free a parking slot and evidently fell the need to read part of a novel before backing out. -
Eilan said on Apr 06, 2007....
Ed, you oughta get my husband started on driving pet peeves! In 27 years of investigating car crashes and enforcing traffic law, he saw and heard it all--and then some!
It's amazing how so many people think the rules--turn signals, for example--don't apply to them. -
uniquely-ironic said on Apr 06, 2007....
I agree with the above and have a couple more to add.People who stay in the exit lane right until it turns off and then they cut you off to get back on the main road. They must be related to the people who change lanes to the left and then go across 3 lanes to the right just to pass one car up before they take an exit. I let them bird watch as they look in the rear view mirror.People who swoop in and take the parking space you've been patiently waiting for with your blinker on. Toowanda!!!People who speed up to the car in front of them just so that you cannot merge onto a main road. Don't I know that they own the road?! Yeah, right.People who are obviously looking for a specific address who lurch and stop every 15 feet instead of pulling to the side to let traffic by.I'm a pretty cranky driver. -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 06, 2007....
This is where the country girl in me shows. I hate driving in city traffic! Few things make me more nervous. I've been flipped off a few times and known I deserved it. Once I learn my way, I'm fine. Until then....oh, boy!
CW
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silverwhisper said on Apr 06, 2007....
raft: i detest those bastards.
mimi: honestly, i find that i understand and can predict kids better than i can older drivers: i know teens are gonna drive hyper-aggressively and can plan for it. other drivers, it's harder to predict. i don't generally weave (unless someone has really pissed me off), but if i can get a few car lengths worth of advantage, that's worth it to me.
muckpar: oo, the "fat turn"--i hate that! and people who cut you off and then have the nerve to go slowly--man but that irritates me, too!
TS: corner cutters irritate me, too. and i tend to like the middle lane--traffic permitting, anyway.
beyond: oo, i resent folks who can't vacate a parking spot efficiently. i try to be understanding--maybe they've got bags or something, but sometimes, esp if the weather's bad, my patience wears kinda thin.
eilan: as ranty as i can get about driving, i got nothin' on a former cop!
u-i: i'm pretty gorrammed cranky myself. :>
CW: heh...i'm sure you do fine, truth be told, CW.
another pet peeve that i'd forgotten: people who can't seem to grasp the concept of taking up only one damned parking space in a parking lot. that irritates me and frankly, in weak moments, i kinda hope someone comes along and hits their cars.
ed -
MissMimi said on Apr 06, 2007....
I see fancy BMWs and Lexis parked diagonally across two spaces every now and then. I'm so tempted... Just so tempted. -
silverwhisper said on Apr 07, 2007....
give in to the dark side, mimi! :D
ed -
livingrisky said on Apr 07, 2007....
Everyday I drive to work and park in the parking garage... I live in the largest city my state.... thinking big aren't you... Hint--the state is the biggest one in the nation...So there is this HUGE double doored big front end Hemi Truck person who parks in the corner spot on the closest floor to the building... They don't back up far enough and they don't get close enough to the wall, and they are NOT between the yellow lines.. I mean they have taken up THREE parking spots... I really WANT to park next to them so they have like 3 inches to get into their car and have to go in the passenger side (which of course they are so far away from the wall they could make it), or park in the corner slot so my truck blocks them from leaving because they stick out so damn far...But I don't... but everyday I see... heck even when I go to work an extra 1/2 hour early they are there (an hour early would kill me and they aren't worth it)so I do have a point... if you want to take up three spots do it far far away from the FRONT of the parking garage... -
silverwhisper said on Apr 08, 2007....
livingrisky: ah yes, the phenomenon i like to call "parking fat". i know that not all SUV owners or truck owners are like this, but it often seems that the most egregious offenders are trucks and SUVs, just b/c they can't be bothered not to park fat. OTOH...have you ever seen a hummer try to fit into a parking spot?
ed -
PassionTraveler said on Jul 14, 2007....
All I have to say about this is ... You should drive in LA during rush hour!!!!!!!!
TORMENT
PT -
silverwhisper said on Jul 16, 2007....
PT: i've head the stories. wouldn't it be more accurate to say we should try parking in LA during rush hour? :>
ed
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