# How do you define being "cut off" while driving? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914 "2010-03-18T17:29:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/41 "2010-03-23T21:06:21Z")
No collision, no foul. Just so long as they don’t mind if I zoom around them and slam on my brakes, we’re good. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/42 "2010-03-23T21:11:43Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > It never ceases to amaze me how some experience you have will be the subject of an ongoing thread. Hope nobody starts one on “When were you last murdered?” Well, you’re standing on the corner flagging all the girls you see Now do like EC and let those ladies be You know that’s wrong, man, you know that’s wrong Boy, you better get control – that’s how you got killed before. ---
**Author:** ![Babydonor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Babydonor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babydonor)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/43 "2015-09-04T23:45:37Z")
I was exiting my school campus and there are two lanes there was a Mini Cooper in the far left lane and I was exiting the parking lot and to go I have to enter the right lane, if I saw and made sure that the car was going to stay in the left lane and go into the right lane is that cutting him off because my passenger was yelling at me because she stated that “wow are you just going to cut him off like that” but I was in the right one and he was in the left lane. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/44 "2015-09-05T02:01:38Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Close enough that I have to seriously brake (not just tap) to avoid hitting them or maintain a proper following distance. This - and maybe add having to pray that I don’t get rear-ended by the person behind me and check the mirror quick to see how close it came. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/45 "2015-09-05T02:22:59Z")
I always make to assumption that the other driver just made an accidental mistake. It never has or ever will bother me in the slightest unless I know it is intentional without a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![kjmclark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@kjmclark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjmclark)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/46 "2015-11-16T14:43:48Z")
So what’s an illegal lane change? - no signal, and/or - unsafe distance What’s an unsafe distance? - the same following distance you’re supposed to maintain behind someone - as in several seconds worth of space. So what’s cutting someone off? You either don’t bother to signal, or you cut into their safe following distance. Most people are so clueless about a safe following distance that it’s no surprise they don’t think they’re being arses when they cut someone off. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/47 "2015-11-16T14:49:28Z")
My basic rule of a proper lane change, is that the other driver(s) shouldn’t have to change what they’re doing. So pretty much that, but for me. If I’m leaving the usual following distance and a person rapidly swings into it, that’s cutting off, especially if I have to brake. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/48 "2015-11-16T15:33:56Z")
As long as I can slow down smoothly (reduce throttle or very mild braking), and the person gets out of the way, I don’t mind if they pull out in front. If my passengers lurch forward in their seats because you pulled out in front of me, that’s cutting me off. When I was younger, it seemed like I got cut off a lot. Not that I am older, and actually obey the speed limits like I’m supposed to, it seems to be a rare occurrence. Imagine that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/49 "2015-11-16T16:28:11Z")
‘Cut off’ to me means having to do anything that I wouldn’t have done if the jerk had put on his turn signal and gave me a reasonable amount of time to see that he was going to move into my lane. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/50 "2015-11-16T17:01:30Z")
The problem with route drivers if they’re rude all the time. You know they are a jerk 5 minutes ago when they cut off that other dude. And, just about to do it again. Every time you see a jerk or route driver like that it makes it less safe on the road. No one wants to be unsafe on the road and have to drive around with jerk drivers cutting them off. That’s why this is such a problem. Represents everything about driving. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/51 "2015-11-16T18:28:42Z")
All this time and no one has mentioned something I consider and equally or even more annoying form of cutting off… I am catching up to someone on the highway. I switch lanes to pass. The other driver doesn’t want me to pass and speeds up to stay even with me so I can’t pass. If I give up and drop back behind the other car, it slows down again, and I either try passing again and going through the same crap, or waiting for some other traffic issues to change the situation so I can get by. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/52 "2015-11-16T20:36:52Z")
My rule is, if I’m still pissed off about it five years later, then I was cut off. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > All this time and no one has mentioned something I consider and equally or even more annoying form of cutting off… > > I am catching up to someone on the highway. I switch lanes to pass. The other driver doesn’t want me to pass and speeds up to stay even with me so I can’t pass. If I give up and drop back behind the other car, it slows down again, and I either try passing again and going through the same crap, or waiting for some other traffic issues to change the situation so I can get by. This frequently happens when the person “catching up” rides the bumper of the car in front before eventually pulling out to pass, whereupon the other driver speeds up for “revenge”. If I am being tailgated and passing lane(s) are open, I’ll often gradually slow down until the genius behind me figures out he should pull out to pass. Then he usually proceeds onward at a markedly faster pace and I’m rid of him. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/53 "2015-11-16T21:04:23Z")
If, in another second or two, part of my car would have been the space their car abruptly moved into. If they just reduced my following distance to an uncomfortable level, that’s not being cut off. The point is, I was trying to move past them, and they kept that from happening. If they speed up quickly once they’re in front of me, all is forgiven. But if they were in a lot more of a hurry to get in front of me than they were once they got there, that’s when I have a problem with their driving. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/54 "2015-11-17T13:39:26Z")
For me the definition of “cut off” depends on what I am driving at the moment. If I am driving my Large Work Truck cut off is anything within 3 or 4 of YOUR car lengths when approaching an intersection (which may include a stop) or you pull out in front of me, people do this all the time, not thinking about the fact (it seems) that my Large Work Truck itself weighs around 10,000 pounds, or is roughly Heavy Pounds of Weight more Than a Normal Car and I could be hauling up to that much weight in the back. I really love it when people pull out in front of me and then stop. :(:smack::mad: When I’m in my pov emotional reaction is more “meh” and acceptable distances and actions after you get in front of me are less tightly defined as “acceptable” by me. As long as I don’t have to jam the brakes, you don’t go slower than me, and there is traffic behind me. (I do see red if someone does this and there is no traffic following behind me) ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/55 "2015-11-18T16:09:03Z")
I got cut off last night. One lane each direction state route, speed limit 55. A road intersects it on my side, and a large truck coming the other way. Some dick-bag at the intersecting street didn’t want to get stuck behind the truck and pulled out in front of me. I actually had to lock up the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/56 "2015-11-18T22:25:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > All this time and no one has mentioned something I consider and equally or even more annoying form of cutting off… > > I am catching up to someone on the highway. I switch lanes to pass. The other driver doesn’t want me to pass and speeds up to stay even with me so I can’t pass. If I give up and drop back behind the other car, it slows down again, and I either try passing again and going through the same crap, or waiting for some other traffic issues to change the situation so I can get by. Some times it’s people just being dicks. Other times I think what happens is they don’t realise they’re traveling slower, they see someone overtaking them, look and see that they’re driving below the speed limit, so speed up. The other one is the people who drive slowly when there’s one lane, but speed up when a second lane appears. I can’t imagine that’s not just being dickish. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914/57 "2015-11-19T00:00:42Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > For me the definition of “cut off” depends on what I am driving at the moment. If I am driving my Large Work Truck cut off is anything within 3 or 4 of YOUR car lengths when approaching an intersection (which may include a stop) or you pull out in front of me, people do this all the time, not thinking about the fact (it seems) that my Large Work Truck itself weighs around 10,000 pounds, or is roughly Heavy Pounds of Weight more Than a Normal Car and I could be hauling up to that much weight in the back. I really love it when people pull out in front of me and then stop. :(:smack::mad: You know, when I was 17 I apparently cut in front of a large truck too close for his comfort, and even though nothing bad happened he yelled at me, saying essentially the same thing as you’ve stated about with you did with regards to weight, and that it takes a lot longer to slow down than a car does. I’m glad he did - until that point I never even thought about that. I have ever since, though! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-being-cut-off-while-driving/532914.md?page=2)