Moving Violations: Ten Things I Hate About Other Drivers

[AF News Desk]

Moving Violations:
Ten Things I Hate About Other Drivers
You're fun to share a movie or dinner with. You're awful to share the road with.

Jonathan Swigart - AutomotiveForums.com
Oct. 23, 2011

I'm not normally an angry person. I try to give most people the benefit of the doubt and want to enjoy the company of most people I find myself around. Even when driving, I want to enjoy my drive and be surrounded by people that make my drive easy.

Unfortunately, that utopian world does not exist.

Instead, I – and very likely many of you – find myself surrounded by people who manage to do things that leave me scratching my head on a daily basis.

That said, I've made a list of ten things I hate about the drivers with which I share the road. These are in no particular order – I hate most of these things equally. And I'm willing to bet you'll see some of the things you hate on this list as well. To the list!


Not Using Your Turn Signal

One of the first things you learn about driving when you begin behind-the-wheel training is driver etiquette. One of the most basic aspects of this concept is using the turn signals on your vehicle to ensure other drivers ahead of you or behind you are aware of your intent to change direction. This includes – but is not limited to – changing lanes and turning.

However, more and more it seems the use these signals (usually activated by a lever on the left of your steering column, for those of you who don't use them) is being ignored. What I don't understand is why. Why not use one? Is it really so difficult to activate the turn signal when you're hands are on or near the steering wheel anyway? The only thing I can think of that would cause this to be a problem is laziness.

The worst part about this – to me – is the potential to impact the drivers around you by not using something so simple as a turn signal. Take interstate driving, for example. There are countless times I've been in the passing lane, only to have someone in the driving lane pull out in front of me with nary a signal to be seen. This usually leads to me having to slow down more aggressively than I would if I had known he was planning to change lanes in front of me.

Approximately 57 percent of American drivers don't use their turn signals when changing lanes. The primary reason they opt not to use them? They don't have enough time (this according to 42 percent of individuals who said they don't use them). That is a problem and I hate that it exists.


The Inability to Use a Four-Way Stop

This one has baffled me for many years. I've never really understood where the difficulty lies when it comes to figuring out who stops first and how long to wait before going through the stop sign. However, it seems many of my fellow drivers can't seem to get past this whole “paying attention to who's turn it is” thing.

It's almost on a daily basis that I spend a ridiculous amount of time stuck behind drivers who aren't paying attention and end up engaging in that awkward “no, you go/ok I'll go/ok now you're going so I'll wait” start and stop motion.

All the while, drivers who know how to sequence are stuck behind these people and eventually, the lines build up because the anticipated flow through these stops is disrupted by stupidity.

If I'm six cars back, it shouldn't take two or three minutes to get through the stop, unless there is an emergency vehicle making it's way through the intersection.


Ignoring Construction Markers/Ending Lanes

If you've ever been through Illinois in the summer time (or the Chicago-land area), you know that road construction is typical. That said, so are the myriad signs that accompany the process of building and maintaining roads.

Unfortunately, also typical of this time of year (construction season, as we call it), are the idiot drivers who apparently cannot see the bright orange signs, or bright construction barrels or yellow vests belonging to the road crews. You know the ones I'm talking about – they speed through the construction zones, through usually tighter-than-normal lanes that wind around areas of active construction or they tailgate you while you're going the speed limit.

These people create a dangerous environment for literally everyone else on the road with their carelessness. They do not belong on the road in any capacity.

Also incredibly annoying about construction season are the drivers who fail to see the bright signs indicating a lane is ending up ahead. You know that really slow traffic that takes an hour to get through over the distance of roughly two miles? I'm willing to bet part of that is because of a lane closure that a great deal of idiots don't pay attention to until they get up to the sign and decide they're going to cut in front of someone real quick.

This, of course, slows the flow of traffic in the lane comprised of individuals who were paying attention. This is also why I never let anyone like that in when they are trying to merge into the lane. I don't believe in rewarding stupidity. If you're a driver who gets a close as possible to the sign that indicates you need to move over, you are stupid.


Using the Interstate On-Ramp Improperly

If there were a list of ranked items that I hate the most, this one would make a strong case for number one.

Ever since I first started driving, I've always hated getting onto the interstate only to be stuck behind someone driving 30 miles per hour as they head towards an interstate traveling at an average speed of 70 miles per hour.

I've honestly tried to think of what excuses could be offered up for this, and aside from poor weather conditions, I can't think of a single one. The fact of the matter is, if you can't get up to speed safely and merge with oncoming traffic safely, you should not be driving on the interstate.

The website SafeMotorist.com explains the correct method for entering the interstate very well:

Originally Posted by SafeMotorist.com

“Drivers should be advised that highway on-ramps are for entrance to and preparation for highway driving. When entering highways, drivers must no longer travel at the drastically reduced speeds necessary for city driving. Drivers are called upon to increase speeds to that of the highway traffic and use the on-ramp and subsequent merging lanes as a means to flow smoothly into highway traffic. Drivers must signal, increase speed, and merge safely into the flow of traffic.”

If you don't believe you are capable of accomplishing this in a way that allows you to safely entire the highway or interstate, cut up your license.


When You Speed Up While I Pass You

Speaking of driving on the interstate, I seem to be a magnet for drivers who believe I'm competing in a race with them when I go to pass them. I'm not sure why, either.

However, time and time again, as I make my way down the road – cruise control set to 70 – I start to go around someone traveling at a slower speed than I am, only to have them accelerate and prevent me from passing.

Usually, I ignore it the first time, so long as they speed up and leave me enough room to merge back into the driving lane. But after what usually becomes multiple instances of this, I speed up considerably (conditions permitting) to put a good amount of distance between me and the consistency-inept drivers.

A word of advice if you struggle with picking a consistent speed: If your car has cruise control, use it.


Rolling Through Stop Signs

If you read my column last week regarding our inability to read the road signs around us, you'll know that I detest – with a passion – when people breeze through stop signs like they don't matter.

As I indicated in that column, ignoring stop signs for the sake of saving a minute can greatly increase the chances that you or another driver will be seriously injured in an accident caused by you.

Realistically, stop signs are not that big of a deal to wait at if it means maintaining your safety. Do you really need to get through that stop sign as fast as possible to give yourself an extra few seconds to get to McDonald's? Nope. Is breezing through a stop and risking your life and the lives of others around you worth the few seconds you'll save because you're late for work? Absolutely not – you should have left earlier.

Stop signs are one of the most well-known street signs on the planet. They are literally EVERYWHERE. Yet, for some reason, a large majority of drivers believe it's perfectly acceptable to ignore them for the sake of their own needs. I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone roll through a stop sign and nearly cause an accident. There is no excuse for stupidity like that.

Stop Light Latency

Some of you may read this and think I'm being nitpicky, and that's fine. I've been called worse and likely will be called much worse as I progress through life.

However, that doesn't change the fact that I really hate it when I'm sitting at a stop light, a few cars back and the light turns green but I don't get the chance to move forward for what usually amounts to a ridiculous amount of time.

I realize there is a delay in acceleration and that's fine – really – I understand how motion works. But when I'm four cars back and only two people make it through a leading green (green arrow in a left turn lane) because someone is picking his nose? That's ridiculous.

Most of us value our time enough to desire getting through a stop light in a timely manner. Unfortunately, “most” of us is not “all” of us, which leaves plenty of people to take their sweet time covering the short distance between one end of the intersection and the other.

If the light is green, unless you're having a heart attack where you sit or the green light only lasts five seconds, there is no reason why more than a handful of cars shouldn't make it through that intersection.


Waiting for Empty Streets to make a Turn

I don't usually have a problem with someone taking the time to complete a turn safely on a busy road. If you're a timid driver and you prefer a little more space to turn than me, that's fine – I'd rather you make it through the intersection safely than cause an accident.

However, what I simply can't stand are the drivers that ignore multiple opportunities to turn in favor of having NO traffic to impede their action of turning. While I appreciate safety, over-cautiousness is usually unnecessary unless you're getting behind the wheel for the first time in 20 years.

The downside of your cautious action of waiting for road reminiscent of a ghost-town (complete with tumbleweeds) is that it can lead to backed up traffic if the road is a single lane, or it can lead over-aggressive drivers to carelessly make their way around you – and the other drivers – who may be thinking of changing lanes quickly as well.

Please, if you're making a turn, don't make one if you don't feel safe, but don't forget that there are other drivers behind you and a written invitation is not necessary to make a left turn.


Inconsistent Speeds on the Interstate

Similar to the item above regarding drivers speeding up while being passed, this is something I find incredibly frustrating.

The best example I can provide is also a recent one: My wife and I were headed to Indiana (just over an hour away) and I had my cruise control set for 70 miles per hour. I came upon someone driving slower, which prompted me to pass. No problem, right? Well, it turns out, she didn't know what speed she wanted to go and ended up passing me a couple of miles later. Just after she passed me and merged in front of me, she slowed down again, prompting me to pass. Again.

This happened twice more before I finally went around her and made sure to leave her in my rear-view mirror permanently, but not before completely disrupting my speed three or four times.

I honestly don't understand why it's difficult to find a speed and stay there. Maybe you've got no cruise control and weak ankle muscles? Save for that, there's really no reason to play cat and mouse due to poor speed management.


Driving too fast for your location

Finally, this is an item that I've been more irritated by since becoming a father (even though my son can't yet walk): Driving at a speed that is inappropriate for the setting you are in, i.e. residential areas, subdivisions, parking lots, etc.

Most (if not all) car enthusiasts enjoy the feel of speed as they sit behind the wheels of their cars, but there is also a time and a place for this and those places and times are not usually in busy areas like parking lots and neighborhood streets.

It scares me to think about all the idiots out there driving 50 miles per hour through family neighborhoods where children are playing and knowing that my son will be at risk because of these people. Furthermore, I hate the fact that there is very little that I can do to prevent this. What I can do is educate my son to be aware of speeding cars, but that can only go so far.

As far as parking lots and other public places are concerned, only an idiot would drive unnecessarily fast through one. The chances of hitting someone increase when the number of people nearby increases (obviously) and when you're at a crowded store parking lot, that's a lot of collateral damage so you can get your speed fix.

If you engage in this kind of activity, please stop. If you engage in this kind of activity and do it near my family, you better keep driving, because we will have words if I catch up to you.

* * *

Now, keep in mind, these are just a small sample of the things that COULD be on this list. If I made a complete list, you probably wouldn't read it (or maybe you would – shared hatred of things related to driving has always been a good conversation topic with my friends) and I don't want to look like as big of a blowhard as this list of ten probably makes me look like already.

Suffice it to say, there are a number of things a great deal of drivers do that not only drive many of us crazy, but also create inconvenient and even dangerous driving situations for other drivers on the road.

However, that is the nature of the world in which we drive.

All that I ask is this: If you're guilty of anything on this list, please do the rest of us a favor – Stop it. Or stop driving.

-------------------------------

Jonathan Swigart is an award-winning journalist and has been around the automotive world his entire life. "Moving Violations" will explore some of the basic aspects of driving that drivers often overlook, among other topics related to driving and the auto industry. He lives in Champaign, Illinois with his wife and son and works at the University of Illinois.

You can reach Jonathan by emailing [email protected]

[RidingOnRailz]

Well Put, Well Put!

Originally Posted by AF News Desk

I took the liberty of trimming your post and commenting in italics below where I felt comment was nec.

Not Using Your Turn Signal

One of the first things you learn about driving when you begin behind-the-wheel training is driver etiquette. One of the most basic aspects of this concept is using the turn signals on your vehicle to ensure other drivers ahead of you or behind you are aware of your intent to change direction. This includes – but is not limited to – changing lanes and turning.

An increasingly popular theory as to the lack of signalling turns - particularly by law enforcement, vans, and pickup trucks - is that people do not want to publicize their intentions. On the highway for example, someone might just move into your lane unannounced, because they'd been "burned" before: They signaled, checked that the coast was clear, started moving into the desired lane, only to be cut off by the once distant driver they were merging in front of. Police? forget it. Don't want anybody to know where they're going, even at the risk of "public safety"! LMAO None of this, however, justifies lack of signal use. Appropriately you placed this at the top of your list - as it is too my biggest pet peave regarding other "drivers.

The Inability to Use a Four-Way Stop

This one has baffled me for many years. I've never really understood where the difficulty lies when it comes to figuring out who stops first and how long to wait before going through the stop sign. However, it seems many of my fellow drivers can't seem to get past this whole “paying attention to who's turn it is” thing.

It's almost on a daily basis that I spend a ridiculous amount of time stuck behind drivers who aren't paying attention and end up engaging in that awkward “no, you go/ok I'll go/ok now you're going so I'll wait” start and stop motion.

All the while, drivers who know how to sequence are stuck behind these people and eventually, the lines build up because the anticipated flow through these stops is disrupted by stupidity.

If I'm six cars back, it shouldn't take two or three minutes to get through the stop, unless there is an emergency vehicle making it's way through the intersection.

IIRC here in CT there are very convoluted laws regarding intersections with more than two stop signs. It is a combination of who got there first AND to who's side did one arrive. I'm not sure if it's when I arrive at the stop sign, does the person to my RIGHT still have the right to go first even though they arrived just after me, or to my left???

I just believe in the good old honor system - the driver who arrive first goes first, period.


Ignoring Construction Markers/Ending Lanes

If you've ever been through Illinois in the summer time (or the Chicago-land area), you know that road construction is typical. That said, so are the myriad signs that accompany the process of building and maintaining roads.

Unfortunately, also typical of this time of year (construction season, as we call it), are the idiot drivers who apparently cannot see the bright orange signs, or bright construction barrels or yellow vests belonging to the road crews. You know the ones I'm talking about – they speed through the construction zones, through usually tighter-than-normal lanes that wind around areas of active construction or they tailgate you while you're going the speed limit.

These people create a dangerous environment for literally everyone else on the road with their carelessness. They do not belong on the road in any capacity.

Also incredibly annoying about construction season are the drivers who fail to see the bright signs indicating a lane is ending up ahead. You know that really slow traffic that takes an hour to get through over the distance of roughly two miles? I'm willing to bet part of that is because of a lane closure that a great deal of idiots don't pay attention to until they get up to the sign and decide they're going to cut in front of someone real quick.

This, of course, slows the flow of traffic in the lane comprised of individuals who were paying attention. This is also why I never let anyone like that in when they are trying to merge into the lane. I don't believe in rewarding stupidity. If you're a driver who gets a close as possible to the sign that indicates you need to move over, you are stupid.


Using the Interstate On-Ramp Improperly

If there were a list of ranked items that I hate the most, this one would make a strong case for number one.

Ever since I first started driving, I've always hated getting onto the interstate only to be stuck behind someone driving 30 miles per hour as they head towards an interstate traveling at an average speed of 70 miles per hour.

I've honestly tried to think of what excuses could be offered up for this, and aside from poor weather conditions, I can't think of a single one. The fact of the matter is, if you can't get up to speed safely and merge with oncoming traffic safely, you should not be driving on the interstate.

The website SafeMotorist.com explains the correct method for entering the interstate very well:

I would like to add that most passenger sedans and coupes, as well as a good majority of light trucks and SUVs, are capable of attaining at least the posted speed limit well within the length of the on-ramp merge lane. But still, even though I quickly flicker my high beams granting a driver the right to accelerate onto the highway in front of me, they still insist on using up every last centimeter of the frickin' on ramp! Then they get mad at me like I cut them off because ther'es no room and we're side by side. LMAO.

When You Speed Up While I Pass You

Speaking of driving on the interstate, I seem to be a magnet for drivers who believe I'm competing in a race with them when I go to pass them. I'm not sure why, either.

However, time and time again, as I make my way down the road – cruise control set to 70 – I start to go around someone traveling at a slower speed than I am, only to have them accelerate and prevent me from passing.

Usually, I ignore it the first time, so long as they speed up and leave me enough room to merge back into the driving lane. But after what usually becomes multiple instances of this, I speed up considerably (conditions permitting) to put a good amount of distance between me and the consistency-inept drivers.

Some drivers simply can't stand the thought of someone passing them, going faster than they are going. And merging - safely - back in the lane in front of them? That's just plain heartbreak! Their wittle feewings are hurt if anyone is going faster than the speed they dictate.

Rolling Through Stop Signs

If you read my column last week regarding our inability to read the road signs around us, you'll know that I detest – with a passion – when people breeze through stop signs like they don't matter.

As I indicated in that column, ignoring stop signs for the sake of saving a minute can greatly increase the chances that you or another driver will be seriously injured in an accident caused by you.

Realistically, stop signs are not that big of a deal to wait at if it means maintaining your safety. Do you really need to get through that stop sign as fast as possible to give yourself an extra few seconds to get to McDonald's? Nope. Is breezing through a stop and risking your life and the lives of others around you worth the few seconds you'll save because you're late for work? Absolutely not – you should have left earlier.

Stop signs are one of the most well-known street signs on the planet. They are literally EVERYWHERE. Yet, for some reason, a large majority of drivers believe it's perfectly acceptable to ignore them for the sake of their own needs. I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone roll through a stop sign and nearly cause an accident. There is no excuse for stupidity like that.

Stop Light Latency

Some of you may read this and think I'm being nitpicky, and that's fine. I've been called worse and likely will be called much worse as I progress through life.

However, that doesn't change the fact that I really hate it when I'm sitting at a stop light, a few cars back and the light turns green but I don't get the chance to move forward for what usually amounts to a ridiculous amount of time.

I realize there is a delay in acceleration and that's fine – really – I understand how motion works. But when I'm four cars back and only two people make it through a leading green (green arrow in a left turn lane) because someone is picking his nose? That's ridiculous.

Most of us value our time enough to desire getting through a stop light in a timely manner. Unfortunately, “most” of us is not “all” of us, which leaves plenty of people to take their sweet time covering the short distance between one end of the intersection and the other.

If the light is green, unless you're having a heart attack where you sit or the green light only lasts five seconds, there is no reason why more than a handful of cars shouldn't make it through that intersection.


Waiting for Empty Streets to make a Turn

I don't usually have a problem with someone taking the time to complete a turn safely on a busy road. If you're a timid driver and you prefer a little more space to turn than me, that's fine – I'd rather you make it through the intersection safely than cause an accident.

However, what I simply can't stand are the drivers that ignore multiple opportunities to turn in favor of having NO traffic to impede their action of turning. While I appreciate safety, over-cautiousness is usually unnecessary unless you're getting behind the wheel for the first time in 20 years.

The downside of your cautious action of waiting for road reminiscent of a ghost-town (complete with tumbleweeds) is that it can lead to backed up traffic if the road is a single lane, or it can lead over-aggressive drivers to carelessly make their way around you – and the other drivers – who may be thinking of changing lanes quickly as well.

Please, if you're making a turn, don't make one if you don't feel safe, but don't forget that there are other drivers behind you and a written invitation is not necessary to make a left turn.


Inconsistent Speeds on the Interstate

Similar to the item above regarding drivers speeding up while being passed, this is something I find incredibly frustrating.

The best example I can provide is also a recent one: My wife and I were headed to Indiana (just over an hour away) and I had my cruise control set for 70 miles per hour. I came upon someone driving slower, which prompted me to pass. No problem, right? Well, it turns out, she didn't know what speed she wanted to go and ended up passing me a couple of miles later. Just after she passed me and merged in front of me, she slowed down again, prompting me to pass. Again.

This happened twice more before I finally went around her and made sure to leave her in my rear-view mirror permanently, but not before completely disrupting my speed three or four times.

I honestly don't understand why it's difficult to find a speed and stay there. Maybe you've got no cruise control and weak ankle muscles? Save for that, there's really no reason to play cat and mouse due to poor speed management.

See my comments under "When You Speed Up While I Pass You".

Driving too fast for your location

Finally, this is an item that I've been more irritated by since becoming a father (even though my son can't yet walk): Driving at a speed that is inappropriate for the setting you are in, i.e. residential areas, subdivisions, parking lots, etc.

Most (if not all) car enthusiasts enjoy the feel of speed as they sit behind the wheels of their cars, but there is also a time and a place for this and those places and times are not usually in busy areas like parking lots and neighborhood streets.

It scares me to think about all the idiots out there driving 50 miles per hour through family neighborhoods where children are playing and knowing that my son will be at risk because of these people. Furthermore, I hate the fact that there is very little that I can do to prevent this. What I can do is educate my son to be aware of speeding cars, but that can only go so far.

As far as parking lots and other public places are concerned, only an idiot would drive unnecessarily fast through one. The chances of hitting someone increase when the number of people nearby increases (obviously) and when you're at a crowded store parking lot, that's a lot of collateral damage so you can get your speed fix.

If you engage in this kind of activity, please stop. If you engage in this kind of activity and do it near my family, you better keep driving, because we will have words if I catch up to you.

* * *

Now, keep in mind, these are just a small sample of the things that COULD be on this list. If I made a complete list, you probably wouldn't read it (or maybe you would – shared hatred of things related to driving has always been a good conversation topic with my friends) and I don't want to look like as big of a blowhard as this list of ten probably makes me look like already.

Suffice it to say, there are a number of things a great deal of drivers do that not only drive many of us crazy, but also create inconvenient and even dangerous driving situations for other drivers on the road.

However, that is the nature of the world in which we drive.

All that I ask is this: If you're guilty of anything on this list, please do the rest of us a favor – Stop it. Or stop driving.

-------------------------------

Jonathan Swigart is an award-winning journalist and has been around the automotive world his entire life. "Moving Violations" will explore some of the basic aspects of driving that drivers often overlook, among other topics related to driving and the auto industry. He lives in Champaign, Illinois with his wife and son and works at the University of Illinois.

You can reach Jonathan by emailing [email protected]