# Fuck courtesy, follow the rules of the road **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816 "2007-09-20T00:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/21 "2007-09-20T13:18:26Z")
One time I picked up this guy, said he needed a ride to the airport in Minnesota. He said he always followed the rules of the road. As well he should: if you don’t follow the rules of the road, you can get some bad press as a Senator! ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/22 "2007-09-20T14:02:03Z")
[QUOTE=Nametag] I’m confused. I’ll make some clarifying assumptions, the first being that you’re in Ft. Bragg, California, and operating under the California Vehicle Code; [/QUOTE] I’m guessing Ft. Bragg NC. It’s a military base. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/23 "2007-09-20T14:32:48Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] I’m guessing Ft. Bragg NC. I [/QUOTE] [Not necessarily.](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fort+Bragg,+CA,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title) ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/24 "2007-09-20T14:53:00Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] [Not necessarily.](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fort+Bragg,+CA,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title) [/QUOTE] Well holy crap, I didn’t even know there was a Fort Bragg, CA. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/25 "2007-09-20T14:55:20Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] [Not necessarily.](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fort+Bragg,+CA,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title) [/QUOTE] I didn’t say there was _not_ a Ft. Bragg CA, and I didn’t say he was _necessarily_ in Ft. Bragg NC. Aside from that, you’re spot on. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/26 "2007-09-20T18:01:37Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] One time I picked up this guy, said he needed a ride to the airport in Minnesota. He said he always followed the rules of the road. As well he should: if you don’t follow the rules of the road, you can get some bad press as a Senator! [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t that be “rules of the _commode?_” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/27 "2007-09-20T18:11:11Z")
I agree. Someone said it well once on the Dope, I think it was Miller. He’s all witty like that. When driving, don’t be polite, be predictable. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/28 "2007-09-20T19:54:47Z")
There was a great scene in an old Laurel and Hardy movie, end of the movie, they were very very rich, and drove along in their car, followed by a dozen other cars they owned, driven by their chauffeurs. When someone in another car did something rude or stupid, they just rammed into him, then got out of their car, brushed themselves off, and got into their next car in line and drove off. One of my fantasies. Just this morning, I was almost hit by a woman who sailed right through a stop-sign (four-way stop, should have been my turn.) It happened that I followed her, and she sailed right through the stop sign at the next block, too. She probably had one of those free-passes for stop signs. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/29 "2007-09-20T20:19:54Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] You live in Swindon? [/QUOTE] Holy crap! You guys aren’t kidding… [http://www.roundabout.net/DIBcounterflow.html](http://www.roundabout.net/DIBcounterflow.html) [http://www.swindonweb.com/life/magi01.jpg](http://www.swindonweb.com/life/magi01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/30 "2007-09-20T20:44:38Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I agree. Someone said it well once on the Dope, I think it was Miller. He’s all witty like that. When driving, don’t be polite, be predictable. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t me. I may be a witty Doper, but I’m a shitty driver. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/31 "2007-09-20T21:21:09Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] Well holy crap, I didn’t even know there was a Fort Bragg, CA. SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] And I didn’t know there was a Ft. Bragg, NC. Nor did I know that Ft. Bragg, CA, is not an active military installation. :smack: My point remains, however; NC law is the same as CA law in this instance: > [@NC code 20-158](#): > > (3) When a flashing red light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the red light shall stop and yield the right‑of‑way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable to making a stop at a stop sign. > > (4) When a flashing yellow light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the yellow flashing light may proceed through the intersection with caution, yielding the right‑of‑way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection. And, **UncleRojelio** , I’m relying on THIS part of the OP: > [@SSG Schwartz](#): > > On to the dumbasses. When you approach the East/West intersection **you have to stop and give right of way. If you are turning right----You have right of way. It doesn’t matter if I got there first, you have right of way.** If you are travelling straight across the intersection, you yield to those turning right, and then you have right of way. Finally, fucktard, if I am turning left, I must yield to you. I must, by law, yield to you. This makes no sense if the dumbass in question is approaching a flashing yellow light. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/32 "2007-09-20T21:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] When driving, don’t be polite, be predictable. [/QUOTE] [C’est moi](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2614832&postcount=56). And yes, I know I owe you a book report. Apologies for the delay. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/33 "2007-09-20T21:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] We have roundabouts here. [/QUOTE] It’s becoming a variant on Mornington Crescent, this, isn’t it? Every time the Merkins complain about intersections, we talk about ours instead 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/34 "2007-09-20T23:04:00Z")
That shit drives me nuts. **Don’t do what’s nice, do what’s expected.** Easier for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/35 "2007-09-21T00:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=Nametag] [snip] My point remains, however; NC law is the same as CA law in this instance: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by NC code 20-158 > (3) When a flashing red light has been erected or installed at an intersection, approaching vehicles facing the red light shall stop and yield the right‑of‑way to vehicles in or approaching the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable to making a stop at a stop sign > .[/snip] [/QUOTE] Let me get this straight, based upon your interpretation of the traffic laws of North Carolina, if I approach an intersection with a flashing red light and I intend to turn left but cannot due to traffic traveling north, a car that approaches the intersection on the opposite side and wants to turn right, southbound, and has no traffic to impede him, must wait for me to complete my left turn before he can enter the intersection. 😕 SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/36 "2007-09-21T02:15:21Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] There was a great scene in an old Laurel and Hardy movie, end of the movie, they were very very rich, and drove along in their car, followed by a dozen other cars they owned, driven by their chauffeurs. When someone in another car did something rude or stupid, they just rammed into him, then got out of their car, brushed themselves off, and got into their next car in line and drove off. One of my fantasies. [/QUOTE] Are you sure that was Laurel and Hardy? I remember that scene being in [If I Had A Million](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023049/maindetails), with W. C. Fields being the man who hated road hogs. I’m not a driver, but I can sympathize with the sentiment. I also liked the segment with resident of an old folks’ home who bought the place and forced all the staff to do nothing but sit in rockers and rock all day, which is all the “inmates” had been allowed to do. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/37 "2007-09-21T02:36:04Z")
**SSG Schwartz** , I read your OP without looking at the poster or location, and was about to reply with something witty like: “Sounds like you’re in North Carolina.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/38 "2007-09-21T05:17:43Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] Let me get this straight, based upon your interpretation of the traffic laws of North Carolina, if I approach an intersection with a flashing red light and I intend to turn left but cannot due to traffic traveling north, a car that approaches the intersection on the opposite side and wants to turn right, southbound, and has no traffic to impede him, must wait for me to complete my left turn before he can enter the intersection. 😕 SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] No. Since you are already yielding to cross traffic, and he has no cross traffic, he should already have entered the intersection by the time you have a clear path. If he hasn’t, he IS a dumbass. However, that’s not exactly the situation I read in your OP. If you arrive first at the intersection, and you have a clear path, you go first; there is nothing in the Code to suggest otherwise. Common sense might dictate that there be some order of precedence for those arriving at the same time, but I don’t see that in the NC Code either. ---
**Author:** ![Point\_No\_Point](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Point\_No\_Point](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Point_No_Point)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/39 "2007-09-21T20:09:20Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] Fuck courtesy, follow the rules of the road [/QUOTE] I agree. Only it isn’t courtesy to wave someone on when it’s really your turn to go. It’s inattention. Those people who wave others on are never being courteous, they are just waking up to the fact that someone else is on the road and they haven’t kept track of who’s turn it was. To prove this, check every time somebody waves you on, or waves a pedestrian on. All the time (100% by my count over several years) they are waving one person right into the path of another. All because they were too inattentive and lost their sense of place. The poor pedestrian will often see the oncoming car in the other lane and simply wait, making the waver confused and upset. But better that then when they believe the waver and have a near miss! ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816/40 "2007-09-21T20:43:04Z")
I’m with the OP on this one. Here in the South, too many people try to be courteous and wave me on a left turn that I am supposed to yield. Following people’s wave-ins causes accidents. And I think the NC code, as quoted, was speaking of flashing lights that flash the same color in all four directions. Specifically, the flashing yellow language seems to be the standard “you can’t hit someone who’s in your way just because you have the light.” kind of language. But when, say, north-south have a yellow and east-west have a red, then north south should proceed through as if they had no signal at all, only hampered by the rule of not plowing into someone if you can avoid them and being cautious that there is a cross road… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-courtesy-follow-the-rules-of-the-road/419816.md?page=3)