I'm not wanting to step in to the political sides of the discussion(or start/step into/initiate any type of arguement), but I wanted to respond to a couple of things chows4us mentioned.

I have several acquaintences who are foreign nationals(not citizens) living here in the US and they have drivers licenses.

...and Spanish in several of our cars, and one of our cars also had it in French.

The same way Americans get around in Germany and Italy(for example) where the signs aren't in English.

My brother lives in Europe(and has for the past 8 years). He has a drivers license there, which he obtained with the help of English translations of the drivers manuals and an English-speaking driving instructor(in Germany).

 

Texas allows foreign nationals to obtain driver's licenses BUT they are supposed to make sure they are in the country legally. Unfortunately they do not and recently an illegal immigrant, that was granted a Texas driver's license (after having been deported once for child molestation charges and several other charges in 1999 - yet he came back once again illegally....) killed a Houston police officer. This incident brought to the forefront the requirement that foreigners that do obtain a license should provide proof of legal residency. People here are quite upset at the officials lack of following legal procedure. My son-in-law has jumped through a thousand hoops to be here legally. It's not too much to ask that everyone adhere to the law.... including the dirver's license bureau's and officials.

 

As we all should be. The one accident I was in was caused by an illegal alien with no insurance. It isn't racism, it's just common sense. Why should we be forced to tolerate that?

 

Ha! Spoken like a true member of BikeForums.net . I concur .

 

Slightly off-topic, but funny and somewhat germane to discussion:
A few weeks ago, I was driving the S/O's car home from work. I turned right at a red light (quite courteously and legally, I might add), into the rightmost lane. I was puttering along happily for a few seconds when a brand new black Mustang blew by me (about 25 mph over the legal limit) honking and giving his most emphatic one-fingered salute through his sunroof. It goes without saying that he beat me to the next red light where he sat behind one or two cars waiting to turn right. I puttered up to his left, into the rightmost straight-destined lane (where, incidentally, I was again in front of him despite having driven completely legally, safely and more efficently) The one or two cars in front of him turned right, placing his car right next to mine where he resumed his display of childishness. I ignored him, as I didn't want him to get out of his car and start something. After a few seconds of no response he decided to continue on home, so he performed the same right-turn-on-red maneuver I had just seconds before. Not nearly as conscientiously as I, however, he turned immediately in front of an SUV. He got creamed.

After the light turned green, I turned around and returned back to the scene of the wreck where the police had already arrived. Two airbags had gone off in the SUV and one in the Mustang, so all were safe (including two excited kids in the back of the SUV). I talked to one of the officers and he told me the guy in the Mustang blamed the whole thing on me because I'd, "cut him off at the last intersection and made him unbelievably angry!"

Based on my testimony and that of a couple other witnesses, fault was firmly assigned to Mustang Guy. Also, the officer to whom I'd given my statement told me that since the guy, in telling his side of things, had owned up to the fact that he'd been honking and screaming at me, was cited for something along the lines of "misuse of horn."

I dig irony.

 

You know what else I hate ??

I hate it when you're going down the road about 50 mph and you have to slowly ease off the accelarator to slow down to about 45 mph due to the cars ahead of you slowing down, only the car behind you doesn't slow down and rear-ends you.

Yep, that happened to me this morning. Guy said, "I only glanced down for a second.... or two".

My MINI isn't even 4 months old. Needs at least a new bumper. We'll see what else they find when it goes into the shop. :impatient

 

A rather unique annoyance (although it probably happens a lot in DC): When the president comes to your town and the secret service shuts down every road within several miles for several hours. VERY annoying! By the way, this is not a political comment...I'd be POed whether I liked the guy (gal someday?) or not!

 

OH NO!!!! Are you hurt at all? I think maybe you have a stiff neck

Do you need a whole new bumper, or just bumper cover?

 

Thank you, Wanna, but no, I was not injured. I have a chronic neck problem and I think this may have made it worse.

The impact was hard enough that I envisioned the rear end looking like an accordion. I'm fairly certain the inside of the bumper is ruined (not sure about the MINI, but most of them are constructed of high-density foam that cracks when impacted).

I took a good look under the car. Doesn't appear to be anything wrong under there. Checked the tailpipe and muffler. Looked for leaks and such. The boot door opens and closes fine. So I'm hopeful that it's just the bumper, but I'm not a mechanical genius by any means, so we'll see.

Thanks again for your concern !

 

And thats fine if your visiting. And leaving. I do not think its fine if your here ... and not a permanent resident (so to speak).

That was my point I didn't get across strong enough. If your legally here, fine ... or visiting.

Another really annoying thing is when people STOP when "merging" on a high speed highway on-ramp. Instead of getting up to 60 MPH and MERGING ... They simply stop

 

Funny you should mention that. I work a few blocks from the White House and I was sitting outside eating lunch one day and the Presidential motorcade came by. It's amazing the ruckus that they have to cause just to get the President around. I guess it's necessary, but I can't imagine how much it must cost taxpayers everytime he even drives across town. I actually know someone that used to coordinate travel for a former President and it usually includes trips by the Secret Service and other officials in advance of the President's travels to scope out the area, plan routes, etc.

But around here it isn't even the President, one time I got stuck in a traffic jam because of some really small motorcade of sorts. I think its about time I get one considering that I consider myself a very important low-level government employee motorcades and police escorts seem to be all the rage these days. Do you think they'd build me an armored MINI?

 

lol! That, and also someone who's taken one too many pickup truck side-view mirrors to the left shoulder.

 

I am going to take a wild guess here and you can correct me. I don't want to stereotype generations but I'm betting Gen Y, Whats in it for me? I deserve it now. No need to wait to earn it.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong but that is how I read between the lines.

Your statement is about the most selfish statement I've read in a long time. You dont want to wait in line with everyone else ... Poor you.

Instead, you want to CUT IN FRONT of someone else waiting 10 minutes or 2 hours? And then you may "whine" because no one will let you in?:impatient

I do not mean any disrespect by this because I do not know you at all ... but my observation of this is that is about as selfish as it gets. Its kind of sad

This is only my opinion on an observation. Feel free to ignore it as all opinions are pretty useless

 

** Talking on the phone while driving (only drummers should possibly be allowed to do this because we are capable of doing multiple things at once, with coordination!)

** Seemingly driving a tractor trailer to make a turn; i.e., swerving left out and away from a right hand turn before turning into it. Amazing.

** No turn signals (if they're all alone on the road, sure, don't signal)

** High beams stuck on (usually the old folks, bless 'em)

** Stuck in the left lane going slowly (this is why I so often pass people on the right when they don't get the left turn signal flashing on and off behind them tells them to MOVE OVER, I'M MOVING FASTER THAN YOU)

 

the people in there big SUVs that actually get on the shoulder of the Grand Central Pkwy and fly by me at 45 on dirt throwing dust all over my baby

 

Pet Peeves: #1 (Drivers)??? Who think I can mind-read their next move :impatient (Refer to #2)!!
#2 No signels of any kind!!
#3 No clue that the petal next to the accelerator is know as a BRAKE!
#4 Tailgating while in an apparent daze OR maybe they're just mesmerized by our MINIS!

 

My point is, as far as I know, there is no law stating that others who are "waiting" in line cannot use the other lane. They choose to stay there. As far as I know, there is no law that tells them they have to stay put. There is a stretch on the freeway where is about a two-mile stretch of freeway that very few people choose to use. Why? In non-rush-hour traffic, people use the lane all the time, and merge in the adjacent lane when it is safe to do so. So, in higher traffic volume times (aka rush-hour) when the speed goes from 65 to about 35, all of the sudden, I can't use that lane anymore? Where is the logic? I'm not saying I drive off the road onto the shoulder, that's just silly, but I use the whole length of road (that is maintained for the use of myself and others) no matter what time of day and merge safely in.

 

My dad taught me to always use turn signals. His logic was that the time you THINK you are alone is the time the other guy has snuck up into your blind spot. Sometimes I feel silly using turn signals in turn lanes and parking lots, but at least no one can say my intentions aren't clear. And besides, how much trouble is it to press that little lever. I just wish the effort burned more calories than it does.

 

Don't feel silly, you are not alone. My father taught me the same thing. Actually, when I am in a car with someone who doesn't do this, I feel a little dirty.

 

You keep talking about laws and what you can legally do. Read through the thread again, please. This is about COURTESIES. There's a huge difference between what you CAN do and what you SHOULD do.

I think you're playing coy now. You know we're not talking about slow downs on interstates where one lane is wide open and the others are just moving slower. You know we are talking about traffic jams where the lanes are stop and go and an obvious merge is ahead.

Perhaps when you're re-reading the thread you can count the posts in support of your position. That might give you a clue on how rude and inconsiderate drivers like you are being in this situation.

 

There is no law that says a gentleman should open a door for lady either ... its call "common courtesy". duh:impatient

I'm still guessing ... Gen Y. "Poor me". "I deserve it now". "No need for me to earn it" .... Instant gratification

Think Karma ... what goes around comes around, a little respect goes a long way.

Maybe its just a life lesson thing. A little courtesy goes a long way in life.

Feel free to correct me if I got the generation stereotyping wrong.

 

OK, it looks as if bluntness is the the way to go here, litabelle...you are jumping the queue. It's no different in traffic than the line at the bank, the line at the petrol station or the lines at Disneyland...you are avoiding the early merge so that you can get ahead and that's just rude. All of us waiting in line behind you now, can see it no other way.

During high congestion, three lanes will never go smoothly into two, so if your logic is to try to jam three into two at the 'absolute' merge point, those that you have just passed are having to wait longer now because you jumped ahead in your free extra lane and clogged the flow ahead of those that are already waiting in the through lanes...

Remember that there is also no law that states that we have to allow you to merge into our lane whenever you want...good luck and good day to you.

 

Yank, very well said. I think litabelles discourtesy is so revolting to so many people simply because it displays an attitude of the common courtesy does not apply to him/her. In other words ... its all back to "instant gratification"

Years ago, we were cruising on a Interstate up in Wisconsin/MN or something like that, came upon a HUGE traffic jam because of construction ... two lanes down to one. Now being on vacation, I wanted to HAUL butt ... after all WE were on vacation!

A bunch of ppl started to run down the breakdown lane, which IS illegal. The backup was HOURS long. Suddenly, a big 18 wheeler started to weave back and forth between the one open inside lane and the breakdown lane royally pisssing off those trying to pass in the breakdown lane. At first, I though wow is that guy rude. After a bit, I realize he was sending them a message ... don't break the law ... we are all sitting here together. While he had no right to impede the break down lane, it made one ponder

Sure I was getting to my destination two hour late but so what?

Life is too full of stress anyway ... why create more? Chill out and enjoy the flowers.

BTW, when I see ppl do as litabelle tries to do, I would NEVER let you in the line. Is that being selfish to say I waited, get in the back of line? I've seen ppl trying to do that waiting for tickets, just cut in line. Guess again.

Its NOT all about you.

 

Very entertaining read, this thread.
Re: the litabelles of the world; if you try that around me, you will be forced onto the shoulder. I will absolutely NOT let such people merge. You had at least a half-mile advance warning and you chose to ignore it, for your own gain. Too bad for you. </rant>
Someone else already mentioned this one, but folks who cut diagonally across parking lots, and don't even look as they cross traffic lanes really frost my shorts. Then if they do cause an accident, the cops won't do anything because it's on "private property".

Armchairman, thanks for the laugh! Flipping off cows? I nearly fell out of my chair.

 

I just won't let anyone over when I can, I loathe line jumpers, although it is hard in the Mini, since a lot of cars do not give us the respect we deserve (size wise). In my 94 Jeep wrangler it is a lot easier to throw my weight around and not let a car in, the big brush guard and 35"ers help