Or in line with the same annoyance of people who wait til the last possible second to merge, how about the people who, when a lane merges and is a bit wider than a normal lane, just cruise along side-by-side with traffic until forced onto the shoulder, then act all indignant because they failed to merge and now have to wait to get back in?

There are three of these patches on my daily commute and it never fails that I witness people shouting inside their cars from the shoulder at at least one of them.

 

Towing (race car or tent trailer) has given me an appreciation of how few motorists understand (or care about) the physical dynamics of driving. Towing the race car (where car + trailer are still under 2,500 pounds) means that my stopping distance is far greater than a regular car, yet people routinely cut me off in traffic.

I've left that distance to the car in front for a REASON - that's my stopping distance, and there isn't room for a car there. So now I have to hit my brakes to slow down and re-open that gap. When I tap my brakes, likely the truck behind me will, too, and the truck behind him. If you'd signalled that you wanted the space, I'd have lifted off the gas and let the space open up for you.

But no. Towing is an exercise in patience and frustration.

 

Where's the logic?

litabelle, please try sitting in that line of traffic for a while, leave your two car lengths ahead if you must, and sense the frustration as car after car goes flying down that lane...now think of this...they're now ahead of you and they did not wait...they are standing in line at Starbuck's now for their daily frappacinojavalatte while you're still in your MINI. :impatient

I'm not saying that it's not the smartest move, just the most discourteous, and since we're talking about driving courtesy here...

Peace out!

 

You know what this thread has really done for me?
It's made me REALLY glad that I don't have to drive a daily commute and can pick and choose my times to be on the road. Wow, to put up with all this stuff on a daily basis. What a way to start off your day. I have some irritations but granted, they aren't a daily occurance. I'm amazed you folks are even in a good mood when you get to work.

 

I was once driving on the freeway and I passed a guy who was shaving (while driving). I also once passed a woman who was reading a novel while she was driving. I don't mean that she was reading a map or directions or something. I mean she had an actual NOVEL between her hands at "10 and 2" and she was reading it while driving down the center lane of a three-lane freeway. I couldn't believe it.

 

I'm in an ESL education course this semester, and it's raised a lot of disturbing issues regarding the US mentality towards "foreign" languages, so I'll throw in my 2 cents..

There are a lot of non-English speaking citizens in the US. A driving exam undoubtedly requires much higher English reading skills than our limited set of traffic signs does. How much English is really employed on our signs? Even if you can't read the word "STOP," the sign is pretty identifiable anyway, and so is a speed limit sign, a yield sign, a railroad crossing sign... You don't have to be efficient in academic English to recognize road signs. You do have to be in order to take a test.

Would we rather have these non-English speaking citizens forced to learn traffic laws in a language they don't understand? They are much more likely to know and obey the laws if we tell them what those laws are in a way they can understand and master them, than if we demand that they learn them in a language they do not know.

[end off-topic language rant]

Since most of the pet peeves have already be taken, I'll throw in that I really do like it when people going under the speed limit in a double yellow stretch pull off to let you pass and then wave back when you honk/wave to thank them

 

Ok, tales of commuting horror have made me do it!

Road hazards on my daily commute:
1. Washouts in the sand if it rained last night. (Almost 1/3 of my drive happens before the pavement starts)
2. Waiting for the cows down the road to move from one pasture to the one across the street. (just once you have to give a cow the finger......they make the cutest faces!)
3. Tractors! You wouldn't believe the meadow muffins those big tires can throw through the open top of a cabrio.

and the number one thing I hate about my daily commute:
4. When I miss the traffic light.

I realize my 11 mile commute is shorter than most, but this has reminded me why I left the city.

 

My son-in-law had an interpreter for his driver's test. He tried to take it in English twice (they told him he couldn't have an interpreter because he wasn't Mexican.... augh!).... and when he failed two times because of the phrasing of questions my daughter asked once again if he could have an interpreter since they allow interpreters for those speaking Spanish and Vietnamese here. She spoke to a different person and used the word translator instead of interpreter (they didn't consider them the same thing) and they said yes. Then they found out it was Russian and they said it would be a two week wait until they found someone to interpret. She said she could do it and they let her. He passed with flying colors. All she did was read the questions in Russian to him. He knew the laws (We found a Driver's manual from Washington State in Russian and he studied that... we pointed out any specific Texas laws to him) and can read English, just at that point he was finding it really difficult to put more than four or five words in a row in the right context. He's a very good driver and taking the test in Russian did make a huge difference. I'd rather have him on the road with me than many of the unlicensed illegals we have driving down here. At least he carries insurance!

Now that was an OT ramble.... no wait.... pet peeve.... those who don't carry insurance!!!!!!!!

 

You just don't get it!

You are, in essence, saying "everyone should change their driving habits and endure a little bit of inconvienience so that I don't have to be inconvienienced"

Boo....

Hiss......

Shame on you!

 

Thanks for giving this old ranch girl a laugh.

 

Got it ... my bad interpretation, sorry. People are people everywhere

Hey! Remember someday you too will be

I hope your not pointing that at me. I am pointing out the LAW ... The old fashioned "pass on the left" is just that ... a bit out of date in some states. Time to move on to the new paridigm.

THAT was my point ... if its legal, people will do it. Whining about it will not change them from doing it.

Is is courteous? That all depends upon where you live. Sure it can be frustrating if your living in the old paradigm but over time I have found it best to just ignore those cars ... the drivers DO NOT CARE and the have the law on their side.

Rather than get the blood pressure up, I've learned to just let it go and go around them.

Its much easier on the stress levels.

 

i dont even want to get off topic with the language thing, but i will real quick. YOU SHOULD NOT BE A CITIZEN IN THE USA UNLESS YOU SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY. now back on topic.
it is certainly amazing who passes the drivers license test sometimes. at the rotary here some people think its two lanes or something and will try to rade next to you, and then look over at you and give you the finger.
people that shouldnt be aloud a license till they are thirty are ditzy, blonde, cheerleaders. they are my pet peeves.

 

Perhaps before you make a post stating a strong opinion like that you might want to use spelling and grammar check yourself, let alone familiarizing yourself with the use of correct capitalization.

 

naw i dontz botha wit al dat sheeeitz. i speak the language, thats enough for me. and although that is a strong opinion, one of the requirements for citizenship is to be able to read, write, and speak at an 8th grade level, i am just taking it one step further

 

I agree 100% with you. People did that to me all the time when I was driving a truck. I guess they did not study in physics class.

Another post had a problem with trucks just jumping out in front of them. I agree that is a problem but "most" will put a signal on before doing this....and everytime all the cars speed up, very few will let a truck over....they do not have the time to get stuck behind a 18whr.

Just remember "never curse a truck driver with a mouth full of food".

 

Yeah, I'll get old....but I'll NEVER EVER think it's great fun to do ANYTHING early in the morning!!

Rawhyde

 

Chows, I wasn't pointing that at you. Grammatically, I suppose I should have used "one" instead of "you". No offense intended, and I hope none taken.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdv515

YOU SHOULD NOT BE A CITIZEN IN THE USA UNLESS YOU SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY.

I changed my post. This isn't even worth a response.[/hijack]

 

You know what???? How many people have said to themselves while reading this, "Oh, hmmm...you know what? I do that!"

I found myself last night, while driving to pick up my son, starting to do my usual weaving in and out of packed traffic, and I said to myself, "You know what? That's disrespectful. What I'm doing. All these people are trying to get someplace, too. And I'm driving too aggressive."

Really made me think!

 

And I hope that by then I won't be allowed out on the road if I can't properly operate a vehicle and in the process endanger myself and others. And that doesn't just necessarily apply to old people either. Too many idiots can just go get a license without actually having to prove any kind of competency. As the roads become more and more crowded, the lack of driving skills will only make problems worse.

In the case of seniors, I believe that they need to be retested once they reach a certain age to ensure they are still able to safely operate a vehicle. Teenagers need to go through more training and gain experience before they have full driving privileges. As long as our driving skills are lacking in America it will just continue to increase costs on society.

 

Argh Some Maxima was smoking tires heavy to bust around me a few minutes ago. It's real foggy out, so he's probably had an accident by now. I'm hard pressed to clearly explain the situation (three in the median perpendicular to traffic, waiting for clearance to turn left onto the four lane, with me now in the middle), but it serves as a great mental picture of how NOT to drive. He was so incensed when I rolled up behind him at the light.

 

That reminds me of a time when I was driving home and there was this guy that passed me on a busy two lane twisty road (keep in mind there were no passing zones). After he passed me he very dangerously passed several other cars and I lost track of him until I pulled up just 3 cars behind him at a stop light. So he wrecklessly endangered a bunch of people so he could ultimately get ahead 4 cars. People need to not be so hurried, leave earlier if you can and realize that its better to arrive late than to risk hurting yourself and others.

 

We can all take a good look at ourselves when driving.

 

Glad I could help!

 

This is bordering on a political discussion which is not a good idea but I will say one and only one thing about this.

Regardless of what anyone thinks ... entitlements .... whatever ... Having a license in every state is a "privelege", NOT a right. I believe every state will say that.

I assume naturalized US citizens can adequately read/write English. I have no idea if states require people to be US citizens to get licenses ... I suspect each state is different.

HOWEVER, to answer your questions ... Yes, I do too. If you can't read/write English, I do not believe you should be driving.

It is true that some traffic signs follow international customs. Stop signs are eight sides, etc.

However, other signs are clearly in English and if you can't read them, I do not see how you can get around. Examples?

• I think all the warning signs about airbags are in English
• Rectanglular signs ... Directions, Street signs, etc.
• Signs like:
  • Left Lane Must Turn Left
  • No Turns
  • Reduced Speed Ahead\
  • No Parking
• Service Information signs like Gas-Food-Lodging Next Left
• Changeable signs ... Many times now there are message boards displaying traffic information, road closures, even Amber Alerts

IMHO, not being able to read English and driving is dangerous to both the driver and everyone around them.

None taken. I was pointing out the law, that's all. It irritates me as well, especially when they are a mile from an exit!