# Which of these driving errors do you perpetrate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420 "2011-06-05T18:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/21 "2011-06-06T03:51:17Z")
I can’t vote. No option for “none of the above.” ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/22 "2011-06-06T04:05:37Z")
None of the above. I am ashamed to say that I have fallen into the realm of old people who leave their turn signals on. And NO damnit, I can NOT hear them. That’s why they get forgotten if they don’t cancel themselves out. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/23 "2011-06-06T04:16:16Z")
I picked a bunch of them, but only when there’s nobody else on the road. A 4 way stop, half-mile visibility in all directions, middle of the country? Slow down, probably not stop. Improper lane change? Sure, if there’s nobody else on the road. If there is, or if there’s a chance there might be one I don’t see, I signal every single time. Drive left of center? Yeah, if I can be damned sure I can carve a nice line for a curve and be damned sure there’s not even one chance of harming someone. Empty roads. I sold my last car a few years ago, so I haven’t driven for a while, but I’m a stickler for the driving by the books when there’s even a _chance_ of harming or even inconveniencing someone else. Signal, every turn. Every single one of them. You work your life out for the…every signal. Stop, every sign – wheels stop motion for at least a beat, then they can go. Tailgate? Fuck no, ass-ho’. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/24 "2011-06-06T05:21:01Z")
I roll stops; that’s about the extent of my regular driving errors. I absolutely refuse to tailgate. Nothing makes me feel more uncomfortable and unsafe than tailgating or being tailgated. What particularly pisses me off are the assholes who tailgate me when I’m in the left lane maintaining distance and speed from a line of vehicles all going the same speed (and most likely tailgating each other) in front of me. Look, jagoff, there’s no place for me to go, unless you want me to ram my car up the next car’s ass. Listen, if I see you coming up behind me and I’m blocking your way, I’ll move over ASAP. But if I’m keeping the exact speed of the line of traffic in front of me, hold your horses. I am not going to create an unsafe situation for myself so we can both move up a couple car lengths. Or people who tailgate me in the central or right lanes. Why the fuck do you do this? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/25 "2011-06-06T05:29:37Z")
Ten items? I couldn’t keep track of that many things if I was sober. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/26 "2011-06-06T05:32:52Z")
My mom says I don’t use my turn signals enough. I say if I’m in a turn lane or there is no one behind me as I change lanes I don’t need them. She makes up for me by turning them on way early and leaving them on. I hate tailgaters and if they are particularly obnoxious will slow down. If I can tell you want around but you’re not tailgating I move over. I run yellow lights. So does everyone else. I speed most of the time, but I rarely top 75 on the freeway. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/27 "2011-06-06T05:42:26Z")
I speed, but only if the road is wide open. I don’t always turn around to back up either. I’m almost fifty and it hurts to do that. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/28 "2011-06-06T05:43:31Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I will eventually wear you down. It’s not the speed that matters. It is the fact that you are being an asshole. I believe that people should clear the left lane as soon as possible in order to allow faster traffic to pass. I get really annoyed by drivers who sit in the left lane despite the fact that there is room for them to move over, and despite the fact that they could quite easily continue at the same speed by doing so. Thing is, though, that people like you don’t just sit on the asses of people who refuse to move over. You sit on people’s asses even when there is no room to move over. You’ll come flying up in the left-hand lane, and even though every other car on the road is going slower than you (often due to heavy traffic), you’ll still sit 6 inches off the rear bumper of the person in front of you until you intimidate them into moving over. Then you’ll do it to the next person. And the next. Of course, you’ll say that you don’t do this. But you do. I’ve seen you in just about every state i’ve ever driven in, and in some foreign countries. It’s just the sort of person you are. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/29 "2011-06-06T05:48:08Z")
I see improper turns so much when I have to go through downtown and so many times I’m forced to do one myself because the jack off beside me in the right lane does an improper turn into the lane I’m supposed to turn into! I do my best not to tailgate, actually I’ve been told 3 seconds behind min, 4 better by the lady who gave me the advanced test… She docked me for following too close at about 2 seconds… ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/30 "2011-06-06T06:08:28Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Do you camp in the left lane, doing 3 mph under the speed limit, with the left turn signal on for miles, all while wearing a hat? Are you Australian? I though old man with a hat was an Australian thing? ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/31 "2011-06-06T06:15:33Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I believe that people should clear the left lane as soon as possible in order to allow faster traffic to pass. I get really annoyed by drivers who sit in the left lane despite the fact that there is room for them to move over, and despite the fact that they could quite easily continue at the same speed by doing so. > > Thing is, though, that people like you don’t just sit on the asses of people who refuse to move over. You sit on people’s asses even when there is no room to move over. You’ll come flying up in the left-hand lane, and even though every other car on the road is going slower than you (often due to heavy traffic), you’ll still sit 6 inches off the rear bumper of the person in front of you until you intimidate them into moving over. Then you’ll do it to the next person. And the next. > > Of course, you’ll say that you don’t do this. But you do. I’ve seen you in just about every state i’ve ever driven in, and in some foreign countries. It’s just the sort of person you are. Exactly. I’m in the left lane because the speed limit is 55, there’s a bunch of trucks doing 55 in the right line, and I want to go 65. If there’s a large gap I’ll move over to the right so **UncleRojelio** can fly past me at 80, but I don’t feel obligated to choose between 55 and 80. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/32 "2011-06-06T06:29:20Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I believe that people should clear the left lane as soon as possible in order to allow faster traffic to pass. I get really annoyed by drivers who sit in the left lane despite the fact that there is room for them to move over, and despite the fact that they could quite easily continue at the same speed by doing so. > > Thing is, though, that people like you don’t just sit on the asses of people who refuse to move over. You sit on people’s asses even when there is no room to move over. You’ll come flying up in the left-hand lane, and even though every other car on the road is going slower than you (often due to heavy traffic), you’ll still sit 6 inches off the rear bumper of the person in front of you until you intimidate them into moving over. Then you’ll do it to the next person. And the next. > > Of course, you’ll say that you don’t do this. But you do. I’ve seen you in just about every state i’ve ever driven in, and in some foreign countries. It’s just the sort of person you are. Why should he say that? You’ve just used the “people like you” line that indicates your comment is not based in rationality. And you’ve poisoned the well at the end meaning you know you don’t have a good argument and have to rely on a fallacy to prevent counterarguments. And, to top it all off, you are backpedalling from your previous assertion that you intentionally slow down in the left lane because someone behind you is trying to get you to follow the rules of the road. Now you say you leave the left lane as soon as possible. Your argument self-refutes. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/33 "2011-06-06T12:03:28Z")
Another vote for “none of the above.” And yes, I’m an old man. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/34 "2011-06-06T12:33:45Z")
I speed - which I regarded as ‘not obeying road signs’ and I don’t always stop completely at the stop signs if there is nothing around or approaching. One thing I never do is drive too close - I’ve seen the dangers in action and it’s the simplest thing you can do towards never smashing yourself up in a wreck. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/35 "2011-06-06T12:53:31Z")
We live in a very rural area of Ohio. There are a couple stop signs around here that I never stop at. Unless a vehicle is coming, of course. But that doesn’t happen too often. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/36 "2011-06-06T13:29:48Z")
I never tailgate because I hate it so much when someone does that to me. I do tend to drive a little too fast. My drive to and from work everyday is done on curvy mountain roads and I will sometimes make myself queasy from taking the curves a bit faster than I should. But I’m good about all the other stuff. I even use my blinker to exit my own driveway, it’s such a habit. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/37 "2011-06-06T14:19:03Z")
I checked stop sign violations: if I can see what’s coming for a good ways, of _course_ I’ll do a rolling stop - and ditto if I’m making my way through a neighborhood with 4-way stops at every corner, e.g. Georgetown in D.C. If I’m rolling at 5 mph, I can stop easily enough if pulling forward allows me to see that someone’s coming who might not stop for his side of the 4-way stop. I also checked traffic light violations: which is it on the yellow - clear the intersection, or keep going if you can’t stop safely? I regularly drive roads with 50 and 55 mph limits that have stop lights every few miles. I can be several car lengths away, driving at the speed limit, and will be too close to stop safely. If I’m on familiar roads, I’ll be familiar with the timing of the light: I’ll go if I’ve got time to get through comfortably on the yellow, and slow to a stop if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/38 "2011-06-06T14:24:24Z")
I’ll also tailgate briefly and situationally. That is, if some prick is in the fast lane but not passing cars in the slow lane, there might well be a gap to his right that he could comfortably move into, but doesn’t. OTOH, for me to use that gap to get around him, I’ve got to squeeze really close to him in order to get into that gap, and then pull really close to the next car up in the slow lane once I’m there, in order to be able to get back in the fast lane, but ahead of the prick who was clogging up the fast lane. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/39 "2011-06-06T14:26:33Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Are you Australian? I though old man with a hat was an Australian thing? Nah, I live in the American Midwest. I suspect it’s a universal truth. My wife and I have a long-running joke about “Old Man In Hat”; we always seem to get stuck behind such a guy. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420/40 "2011-06-06T14:27:47Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And yes, I’m an old man. But, do you wear a hat? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-driving-errors-do-you-perpetrate/584420.md?page=3)