# Driving pet peeves! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 29, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224 "2012-10-29T16:51:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/41 "2012-10-30T14:23:24Z")
Do NOT signal your intention to change lanes anywhere near Indianapolis. DO expect vehicles overtaking in your right rear anywhere in the environs of Atlanta. Just give up and walk or stay home in any of the Florida tourist areas. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/42 "2012-10-30T14:32:17Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > Bangor, Maine has some screwed up ramp designs. [Here](http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=44.810227&lon=-68.792302&z=19.1&r=51&src=msa) is one where, as you can see, the off ramp and on ramp actually criss-cross each other. We have the same problem with ramps on I-270 in Ohio. There’s nothing like slowing to take the off-ramp while avoiding onrushing traffic from the intersecting on-ramp. Ramps can be [tasty](http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/04/recipes-for-ramps.html) though. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/43 "2012-10-30T14:49:47Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > And then next door in Illinois you can be cited for merely driving in the left lane with no one around you. I \<3 Illinois suddenly and with great passion. If you are not passing you should not be in the left lane. Also, I should be allowed to drive a large garbage truck with the forklift front so I can scoop up slow left lane drivers and pitch them and their cars off the side of the highway into the trees. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/44 "2012-10-30T14:59:10Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > OMG I deal with this stupid shit all the fucking time! “YOU DON’T HAVE A STOP-SIGN ASSHOLE!!” Conversely, there are places where the traffic coming off the main road doesn’t have a stop sign at a nearby intersection so as not to cause a backup on the main road, but the crossing road does. I learned long ago not to assume that the morons who have the stop sign will stop. I’m starting to think it’s my car - no one wants to be behind the Scion xA - apparently it’s a badge of dishonor. At least that’s the only reason I can come up with for all the vehicles that insist on passing me or cutting me off. I do find it amusing and gratifying when the idiot who roared past me is the very one I find myself behind at the next stoplight. So how’d that layin’-rubbber work out for you, Skippy?? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/45 "2012-10-30T16:36:38Z")
_[Following behind slow car in middle lane.]_ Hey, fuckface, what the fuck is your problem, you assclown? There are 3 lanes on this fucking highway and you decide to get in the middle lane and go slower than absolutely everyone else on the road? Fuck! You are such a pathetic loser idiot! _[Finally get an opening to get out and pass, and see the little old lady white-knuckling ten and two, barely able to see over the steering wheel.]_ Aww, shit. Now I feel like a total jerk. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/46 "2012-10-30T16:53:47Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > Oh, I fully understand why Mass drivers drive the way they do. I’ve driven through plenty of times and … well… you know what they say, “when in Rome…” > > That’s why I say “affectionately known as…” above, because, when I need to, I can fit right in with them. It helps when you drive beat up jalopies, because in Mass, vehicles in worse shape than your own ALWAYS have the right of way. 😃 > > There are times when I’d rather share the road with Massholes than Maine drivers. > Massholes will cut you off, but gun it and get the hell out of the way afterwards. Maine-iacs will cut you off, do 15-20 mph under the speed limit, and refuse to move over to the right lane when a passing lane appears. Maine drivers do everything in their power to get **in the way.** Being a Mass driver, I admit we are pretty bad…but I can’t tell you how many times I get stuck in the left lane behind either someone with a Maine or Rhode Island (the absolute worst offenders!) plate that is going no where, with nothing in front of them for at least a quarter mile. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/47 "2012-10-30T16:55:56Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > _[Following behind slow car in middle lane.]_ > Hey, fuckface, what the fuck is your problem, you assclown? There are 3 lanes on this fucking highway and you decide to get in the middle lane and go slower than absolutely everyone else on the road? Fuck! You are such a pathetic loser idiot! > > _[Finally get an opening to get out and pass, and see the little old lady white-knuckling ten and two, barely able to see over the steering wheel.]_ > > Aww, shit. Now I feel like a total jerk. lol… when I first got my license, my dad let me drive his old Chevy truck with a V8… but I had to buy the gas. That thing is why I’m actually, in spite of my rant, fairly patient on the road. It got to the point where I’d pass someone, and have the sickening realization that I just burned up $5 worth of gas! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/48 "2012-10-30T17:05:20Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > When it is less than full light outside (twilight, rain, etc.), and other cars on the road are less visible than usual, don’t you think it might be of some help to turn on your headlights so other drivers can see you more easily? I drive a silver Corolla - I **always** drive with my lights on. I call it driving in stealth mode - other cars act like they can’t see me. Especially larger vehicles for some reason - they act like the right-of-way on the road is based on size of vehicle (which is kind of true for semis, but these aren’t the larger vehicles I’m talking about - just SUVs and half-tons). > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > \ > I’m starting to think it’s my car - no one wants to be behind the Scion xA - apparently it’s a badge of dishonor. At least that’s the only reason I can come up with for all the vehicles that insist on passing me or cutting me off. I do find it amusing and gratifying when the idiot who roared past me is the very one I find myself behind at the next stoplight. So how’d that layin’-rubbber work out for you, Skippy?? 😛 See my response above. 🙂 > [@Icarus](#): > > In my residential neighborhood I frequently drive on a nearby street and come to a stop sign, where I stop. The cross street does not have a stop sign. A car will be travelling down the cross street and when they near the intersection, they stop and commence to wave me by. Again, they do not have a stop sign. > > I’m sure they think they are being courteous or friendly or something positive. But to me they are being dangerous and unpredictable, because they are not following protocol. > > I am compelled to vigorously wave them by and point to my stop sign. Sometimes this turns into a stand-off of sorts. I end up getting agitated and feeling like a jerk for “correcting” them, but geez - WHO TAUGHT THEM HOW TO DRIVE? The stop signs work differently here - here the rule for four-way stops is, if you don’t stop, you get to go first. Mind you, the cops will still give you $150 ticket for not making a complete stop. You don’t have to stop for any stop signs, actually. Or red lights. Jesus, I don’t know how I manage to not get hit constantly. > [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > _[Following behind slow car in middle lane.]_ > Hey, fuckface, what the fuck is your problem, you assclown? There are 3 lanes on this fucking highway and you decide to get in the middle lane and go slower than absolutely everyone else on the road? Fuck! You are such a pathetic loser idiot! > > _[Finally get an opening to get out and pass, and see the little old lady white-knuckling ten and two, barely able to see over the steering wheel.]_ > > Aww, shit. Now I feel like a total jerk. I disagree - if little old lady can’t handle the highway, she needs to stay off of it. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/49 "2012-10-30T21:50:20Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > I can relate to the bad ramp situation. Bangor, Maine has some screwed up ramp designs. [Here](http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=44.810227&lon=-68.792302&z=19.1&r=51&src=msa) is one where, as you can see, the off ramp and on ramp actually criss-cross each other. Ohio Street and Union Street, right? My first experience there was as a 15-year-old with a shiny new permit (not a license) and maybe 10 total driving hours (most of them in the K-Mart parking lot after hours) under my belt. I was like Stacey Dash in **Clueless** , but badly dressed. > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Stop visiting your in-laws. Excellent advice; the parkway merges are almost calm and relaxing after a couple of days in the in-law pressure cooker. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/50 "2012-10-30T22:08:41Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The long thin pedal on the right is the Accelerator. It makes your car go faster. Please familiarize your self with it’s use. As a guide, the Government has been so incredibly helpful as to post these signs about every 1/2 mile along most roads. These signs instruct you as to the maximum allowable speed. It is extremely rude and inconsiderate to drive more than a few miles over or under this speed. Especially in places where people cannot pass you. When there is more than one lane of traffic going in the same direction, it is generally illegal to position yourself in the leftmost lane at significantly below the this “speed limit”. Although it is true that getting a “ticket” for this is extremely rare, that doesn’t make it any less wrong. Yep. My boyfriend will get into the left lane on the highway and set the cruise control for 5 MPH below the speed limit. Then he wonders why I’m bracing for the rear-end crash that seems inevitable. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/51 "2012-10-30T22:15:45Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > When it is less than full light outside (twilight, rain, etc.), and other cars on the road are less visible than usual, don’t you think it might be of some help to turn on your headlights so other drivers can see you more easily? I made a discovery a few years ago: a certain section of the driving population doesn’t think about headlights in terms of visibility for other drivers. They figure, hey, if I can see during dusk, no headlights, right? It never occurs to them that headlights serve two purposes, not one. When I explained this concept to a former co-worker, she was genuinely stunned. ---
**Author:** ![Toffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/52 "2012-10-30T22:17:54Z")
Eh. I live in Rio de Janeiro. Other countries have people who drink and then drive; I have to deal with people who are drinking and driving at the same time. You have to deal with people who talk on cell phones while driving; I have to deal with people texting while motorcycling on the highway. Other drivers complain about buses slowing down traffic; I have to deal with buses and taxis figuring “lights are for Christmas trees”, to the point where I once saw a bus run a red light across the centre’s main artery just to block traffic for about 20 minutes - while three fire trucks and a pair of ambulances were trying to get to the scene of an accident. I don’t want to know how many people died because of that prick. Crossing my street to get home is a daily threat to my life because nobody respects the red lights and pedestrian crossings. …so my driving pet peeve? Motorists who feel that driving is a right, not a privilege, and a state that doesn’t terminate that privilege for motorists who are dicks. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/53 "2012-10-30T22:31:09Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > Yep. My boyfriend will get into the left lane on the highway and set the cruise control for 5 MPH below the speed limit. Then he wonders why I’m bracing for the rear-end crash that seems inevitable. :mad: Not to be mean or anything, but your boyfriend kind of sounds like a dick. ---
**Author:** ![C6541](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90db22/32.png) [@C6541](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C6541)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/54 "2012-10-30T22:36:59Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I hate it when drivers talk on their cell phones! I was nearly hit by one such driver. This, I swear those motherfuckers are worse than drunk drivers. Why can’t people wait five minutes to reply to a text message? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/55 "2012-10-30T23:47:32Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > I made a discovery a few years ago: a certain section of the driving population doesn’t think about headlights in terms of visibility for other drivers. They figure, hey, if I can see during dusk, no headlights, right? It never occurs to them that headlights serve two purposes, not one. > > When I explained this concept to a former co-worker, she was genuinely stunned. A certain section of the driving population are oblivious idiots, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/56 "2012-10-30T23:51:54Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > A certain section of the driving population are oblivious idiots, in my experience. I call that section “everyone else”. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/57 "2012-10-31T00:06:37Z")
Bitch, I’m going the speed limit (or maybe slightly faster)… don’t pass me in the left lane, cut in front of me and then slow down! I’m on cruise control here! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/58 "2012-10-31T01:46:06Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I call that section “everyone else”. Makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/59 "2012-10-31T03:36:09Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Not to be mean or anything, but your boyfriend kind of sounds like a dick. Yeah, _ **Dr. Girlfriend** _, if your BF is that inconsiderate of other people, it’s only a matter of time until he starts treating you like that. We’ll understand if you change your screen name to "_ **Dr. FreeAtLast"** _. (if he’s big and scary, do tell him we’re just joking here…) ---
**Author:** ![Jan\_John\_Cobham\_Salad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Jan\_John\_Cobham\_Salad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jan_John_Cobham_Salad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224/60 "2012-10-31T06:16:42Z")
As someone who was born and raised in MA, drives frequently in Maine and currently resides in RI, I have to tell you, no one drives like as much of a head up the ass dipshit as a true Rhode Islander does, and truly, no offense because I know us Massholes aren’t much better at it…but we at least follow _some_ rules. A Rhode Islander will typically go out of their way to say fuck you to any smart, conventional measure of driving. They are absolutely allergic to turn signals, for starters. Get on 95 anywhere from Warwick to Pawtucket and there is simply no concept of speed relative to lane. Left lane’s going 60, ok, next lane is going 70, oh here comes guy going 88 weaving through all lanes, apparently trying to activate his flux capacitor (no such luck!) Theres grandma going 47 (hi grammy!), theres guy constantly hitting his brakes while tailgating instead of simply changing lanes (glutton for punishment, I suppose). I tell ya, shit wouldn’t make less sense if everyone was driving in reverse (I realize this could describe greater Boston area traffic too, but damn it, I live here now). That reminds me, if you’re hitting your brakes on the highway, there’s a 10% chance it’s for a good reason like slowing traffic or something in the road, and there’s a 90% chance you’re just a birdbrain dickface who ought to be pulled over and have your license forcibly removed from your wallet and cut into pieces. There are very few reasons to be brake jacking on the highway. Anyone with a sense of driving pride understands this. DON’T FUCK UP THE FLOW. I see brakelights on the highway, I think the worst. I think, car accident coming up. Traffic jam. Road work. Tire in road. Dead animal. I don’t think, heres a vacuous boob who doesn’t understand that he can’t drive 78 when the car ahead of him is going 73…but now I do. Jesus, what is your god damned malfunction, fella? It’s like someone trying to hammer a nail into a board with checkbook. It’s simply not going to work, find another method. One more thing, off the highway. Please don’t be overly courteous to the point where you are abandoning basic right of way traffic laws so you can Mother Teresa some poor soul across two lanes of traffic (one blind), when you are only setting them up to get t-boned by a White 96’ Ford Windstar who couldn’t see them either. Talking about Mr. Mcgoo who stops dead in the left lane of a 4 lane road to wave someone in who’s waiting to turn. Thats all fine and good until you factor in the 347 other drivers with right of way who don’t really notice or care about your noble deed. The guy you’re waving on is most likely cursing you for blocking his vision and daring him to play chicken with oncoming traffic, so just cut that shit out, well intentioned as you are. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-pet-peeves/639224.md?page=4)