Seriously, there is a law already in place for this type of shit. It’s called “Reckless Driving” or “Careless Driving” and people who are going to be reckless or careless are not going to stop because some ass-munch got a new law passed so he could mark it off his to-do list in the state legislature.
People need to be willing to actually have cops ENFORCE THE LAW, and pay enough tax so it’s possible, and this sort of shit might stop. Until then, I suggest that we form some sort of vigilante force, converging on the reckless and stupid drivers and forcing them off the road, out of their cars for a viscious beatdown.
We can locate the irresponsible driers and then text each other the wherabouts so that the nearest member of the league can hunt the sumbitch down.
When coming up behind someone driving slow in the fast lane I’ve often wanted to do the European thing of flashing my headlights to signal them to move over. Only here in the USA I keep thinking it will get me involved in a road rage incident.
Preach it. Congress needs to pass a law requiring all automobile manufacturers to place signal disruptor or noise generating thingamabobbies in secret and very hard to get to places in every car. Same with theaters.
I have another favourite annoyance: people slowing down when entering and driving through a tunnel. Just last week someone in the left lane slowed to 55kph on a 70 kph road. Since passing on the right is illegal in Sweden, the right lane traffic slowed down accordingly. Before the tunnel traffic was flowing at about 80 in the right lane. Not the first time I’ve seen this, either.
Are they scared of driving in tunnels? Do they just want their own little queue?
I think they really are scared of driving in tunnels. We have tunnels leading to the coastal region of Virginia, and almost invariably traffic is backed up leading into the tunnel. Once you’re almost out of the tunnel traffic loosens up and moves quickly.
Actually as far as the radio goes… While I grew up, we never had a radio in teh car becaue my mom had enough of my dad swerving all over the place while he was turning knobs and punching those buttons. So when it came to be time to buy a new car, my mom put her foot down and refused to agree to any vehicle that had a radio.
And then there is my uncle, who rear-ended someone while fiddling around trying to find his cigarettes and light one.
Alas, the cops can’t be everywhere, and often don’t see the reckless driving. It is easier for them to see the cellphone use. The number of morons on their cells had decreased a lot since the law, so I’m for it. The reckless driving law is still good for the morons reading books or newspapers or doing their makeup when driving.
I got to disagree with the beat down, even an oily one. Putting their cellphone where the sun don’t shine is a far better reward, if you ask me.
May I add to the list of punishable offenses my pet peeve?
Parent who turn and face the little one strapped securely in the back seat to admire or perhaps entertain the kidlet. While driving 65 down the freeway.
You think that since they are so enamored of the wee one, they might want to KEEP IT OUT OF A CAR WRECK???
You misunderstand, sir. If you’re capable of driving while talking on the cell without causing a danger to others, then it’s not reckless driving and not a problem. If you are, as described in this thread, driving at erratic speeds and weaving out of your lane, then you are guilty and will be ticketed appropriately. We don’t need an extra law to get this across.
Almost nobody is capable of talking on a cellphone while driving without being a danger to others. As has been cited, people **think **that they are being safe when they are clearly not. When a behavior (drinking a lot of alcohol, using a cellphone) strongly contributes to the likelihood of a crash, that behavior should not be allowed by the operator of a vehicle.
