# Driving ranty-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 31, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655 "2011-03-31T18:24:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/41 "2011-04-01T16:58:07Z")
There is nothing in the least polite about not taking your turn at a four-way stop. In less time than it takes for you to motion the car on your left to go first, you AND that car could have been through the intersection, to say nothing of all the people behind both of you, who you were not even trying to be polite to. Same deal when you have the guy coming at you turn left. Also, yielding to the car on the right allows you to start forward while that car is still in the intersection, you really can at least take your foot off the brake before he arrives at the next stop sign. But y’know, the root of the problem is too many damned four-way stops. Build the damn traffic circles and the idiots will eventually either learn how to use them or eliminate themselves from the gene pool. I swear that traffic engineering departments must be staffed by those too brain damaged to drool on themselves properly. And a special place in hell for the moron who actually did design in a traffic circle, but put stop signs at all the entrances, making this the worst of all possible worlds. No, I am not kidding: https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=39.609722,-104.847922&spn=0,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=39.609722,-104.847922&panoid=xjz0B97vMrexeruo9EvXww&cbp=12,11.65,,0,6.91 Note that google street view managed to catch TWO cars stopping for no good reason at all. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/42 "2011-04-01T17:19:01Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > There is nothing in the least polite about not taking your turn at a four-way stop. In less time than it takes for you to motion the car on your left to go first, you AND that car could have been through the intersection, to say nothing of all the people behind both of you, who you were not even trying to be polite to. I’ll agree, with the caveat that driving really fast toward the stop sign so that you’re “technically” the first one to reach it doesn’t count. The first person to _stop_ at the stop sign has the right-of-way, not some douche who _can’t_ actually stop because he’s going so fast, and he tries to do a “slow and go” to take the right-of-way. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/43 "2011-04-01T18:09:14Z")
“When driving, be predictable, not polite”. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/44 "2011-04-01T19:29:24Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > Please get out of the left lane. The operator of the car that is “Camped-Out” in the left lane is either an ignorant driver, or a raging asshole. If you know you shouldn’t be there… if you know you are holding someone up, then you are being an asshole. > > Please just let the faster traffic go by. And, if you _are_ camped in the left lane, and a faster car comes up behind you, and flashes their lights at you, don’t become an even bigger asshat. They’re asking you to **move the frak over** , not impugning your parentage or masculinity. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/45 "2011-04-01T19:41:05Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > And a special place in hell for the moron who actually did design in a traffic circle, but put stop signs at all the entrances, making this the worst of all possible worlds. QFT. All that’s needed is “Yield” or “Give Way” signs. If the roundabout is not safe with those signs, then it should be redesigned. And I wish they’d have a few more roundabouts near where I live: the traffic flow would be greatly improved at some intersections in my neighbourhood where there’s plenty of land for a decent roundabout. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/46 "2011-04-01T19:41:37Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Oh gods yes. Can we move to license large trucks and SUVs for industrial and agricultural use only? You’re in fucking suburbia, get a damn minivan. And what should I do every week when I drive my 6’ diameter table over to my buddies house so we can all play DnD? Rent a U-Haul every week? I’ll do that on two conditions. You buy me a new car and pay for the U-Haul every week. Oh also I go camping about ten times a year so you’ll need to rent me a U-Haul for that too. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/47 "2011-04-01T19:43:57Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > And what should I do every week when I drive my 6’ diameter table over to my buddies house so we can all play DnD? Rent a U-Haul every week? I’ll do that on two conditions. You buy me a new car and pay for the U-Haul every week. Oh also I go camping about ten times a year so you’ll need to rent me a U-Haul for that too. Buy your friend a table? Because I’ve gotten through most of my life without an SUV. I am not saying you don’t use it, I am just saying, one can live their life without it. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/48 "2011-04-01T20:10:39Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Oh, I had one more and couldn’t remember it before. I was, um, reminded :mad: of it this morning: > > - People who don’t SCOOTCH THE FUCK UP in the turn lane. When everyone is standing in line, not moving, safe following distance is NOT _more than a fucking car length._ Scootch the holy bejeesus on up already - leave enough space so you can see the bottom of their tires, fine, but not so much space a pickup could parallel park in the gap, m’kay? Traffic waiting to turn stacks up behind you, spilling into the I’m-going-straight lane, and then _everyone_ misses their turn at the green light. And the people, who when making a left turn feel they have to basically stop in the intersection before completing the turn, I suppose to leave those same 5 car lengths between them and the people in front of them. Same result - fewer people get through than can. At the turn near me they also stop before turning right into the gas station at the corner, making the situation even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/49 "2011-04-01T20:12:35Z")
> [@mischievous](#): > > Nah, the truck in front was maybe a little slow on realizing that the car in front of him had decided to stop in the middle of a freeway to back up to the missed exit, but, really, who does that? The passing truck only ended up to close to the front truck when the front truck had to swerve in front of him (i.e. change lanes), and all of the jacknifing was a result of that. I think the truckers handled it admirably. Back up? On a freeway? In a snowstorm? You should pit the first driver for not giving that asshole the Darwin Award he so richly deserves. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/50 "2011-04-01T21:35:13Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > When you\* syphilitic cock-weasels make a right turn into a parking lot there’s no reason to fucking STOP right before you turn! You’re not going to flip your 1988 Toyota Tercel when you’re already going 10 MPH. > > \*only applies to people who do this. Also, people who come to a dead stop to go over a speed bump. Yeah, they’re there to keep the speeds down, but come on - my Corolla can handle a speed bump at 15 kph (the speed limit in most parking lots) - I’m pretty sure your Behemothmobile can handle it, too. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Oh, I had one more and couldn’t remember it before. I was, um, reminded :mad: of it this morning: > > - People who don’t SCOOTCH THE FUCK UP in the turn lane. When everyone is standing in line, not moving, safe following distance is NOT _more than a fucking car length._ Scootch the holy bejeesus on up already - leave enough space so you can see the bottom of their tires, fine, but not so much space a pickup could parallel park in the gap, m’kay? Traffic waiting to turn stacks up behind you, spilling into the I’m-going-straight lane, and then _everyone_ misses their turn at the green light. > > _pant_ _pant_ > > SCOOOOOTCH! UUUUUPPPP! > > _pant_ _wheeze_ _cough_ Also, when you’re waiting to make a left turn and have an advance green, PAY ATTENTION! If we all start going when the light turns green instead of getting around to noticing, we can get three or four more cars through (and when I’m the one who didn’t get through because you couldn’t get your thumb out of your bum in time, I’m not impressed). > [@acsenray](#): > > If the only consequence of what the guy in front of you is doing is that you have to _wait_, then I have no sympathy for you. > > The thing that drives me crazy are the reckless, aggressive drivers who weave in and out of heavy traffic, tailgate, and do stupid stuff like move to block cars who have signaled a lane change. Those are the ones that are causing accidents. Some of those aggressive drivers weren’t aggressive until they were forced to wait for idiots doing stupid things a million or so times. > [@Sailboat](#): > > I’ll agree, with the caveat that driving really fast toward the stop sign so that you’re “technically” the first one to reach it doesn’t count. The first person to _stop_ at the stop sign has the right-of-way, not some douche who _can’t_ actually stop because he’s going so fast, and he tries to do a “slow and go” to take the right-of-way. Four-way stops drive me crazy; the thing to do here is to not stop, therefore you get right-of-way (people don’t even slow down if they’re making a right turn at a four-way stop these days). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655/51 "2011-04-02T01:26:16Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > And the people, who when making a left turn feel they have to basically stop in the intersection before completing the turn, I suppose to leave those same 5 car lengths between them and the people in front of them. Same result - fewer people get through than can. On an left turn arrow - sure, I agree. On a free left turn, I certainly stop if the van or SUV or truck in front of me has blocked my view of oncoming traffic. You may get as annoyed as your little heart desires; I will still wait until I’m certain it’s safe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-ranty-rants/576655.md?page=2)