I Hate Bad Drivers - Ya Gotta Get One Car-Length Ahead?!

Do you live in NY? This becomes an everyday thing and you just have to get used to it. Thankfully I’m blessed with a fast car, so when the ricers come around ‘trying’ to drive agressively I give them what I want. Those little ‘one car ahead’ cutters - I love those guys. I open just enough space for them to think is enough to fit in and I close the gap the last minute.

Then we have the shoulder surfers so they can get ahead of traffic. I do the same to them.

Then the tailgaters - I drive a manual. A very expensive manual. A sudden downshift will slow my car down so much that they don’t even see the brake lights turn on. One time some asshole almost rammed my 60k car and I watched in joyful glee as he fishtailed around me and turned pale. He stood back a good 100ft from me from then.

Yea I know.. I’m sick in the head. But deep down, I really am a calm driver who just lets everyone pass by - so long as THEY OBEY RULES. That means no driving on shoulders, use your fucking signals, and if you’re going to go fast, KNOW how to go fast and actually drive fast. And if you wanna go slow, you better be 80 yrs old or have another car on tow.

I absolutely agree with you, John M, except my regular driver is an automatic Jeep. I think, whether you are a “fast” driver or slow, you should have a situational awareness of traffic and adjust to it accordingly. And, yes, I am sick in the head as well.

Opionionated.net author: Hey, we all just met the guy who represents everyone on the road I’ve commented on here (and all the other people have commented on as well here) - get a load of his comments below. This is the archetype person who is such a lame-ass that he JUST HAS to write all his rationalizations for being a gigantic asshole on the road, putting everyone’s life more in danger because of his misguided righteousness. I’m glad he commented below, it has given me a window into the craziness we all have to contend with on the roads. See my comments in italics below.

I think YOU are the jerk. Here’s why:

1. I’m a great driver, I can properly gauge the distance between cars, and how fast the flow is going. I can safely weave in and out of traffic with no danger to anyone, unless somebody else makes a grave mistake, where they’d probably cause an accident whether I was there or not. I won’t use a signal because the pace at which I’m going would make it unsafe to move my attention to it. Don’t worry though, as I say I’m gauging the speed of traffic, so since I’m going faster than the people I’m passing they don’t need notice of my lane changes.
Opionionated.net author: You are ignoring a pivotal point here. You don’t have control over other drivers. It’s as simple as that. If you are driving so fast that you can’t even take your attention away for a second to use your turn signal, then what happens when the lady ahead of you answers her cell phone and mistakingly creeps into the lane your weaving into? You crash, because you are going too fast to avoid it. If you weren’t going so fast and weaving like an idiot, you could avoid these INEVITABLE things. Maybe it’s her fault, but that doesn’t change that fact that YOU could have avoided it if you were driving better. Actually, I wouldn’t even care about this - so the dumb cell phone-user and the idiot speedster crash - I don’t do either of those things - what bothers me is that it could be ME behind you two idiots who also gets into the accident. Not everyone is going to remain driving steady and at the same speed all the time, therefore you’re wrong to assume everything will be alright with your crazy weaving, you’re being unrealistic to assume this, and you’ve missed the point completely.

I should just be like you and putt-putt along the fast lane with all the other lemmings? No thanks, but don’t get mad at me that my driving skills are better than yours.
Opionionated.net author: “putt-putt”? do you play with a lot of toddlers? You’re reading comprehension matches that of one, that’s for sure. I didn’t say I was driving slow in the fast lane dummy!

2. Uh, I’m passing your slow ass so I can get behind the next slow ass and pass HIM. If I could, I’d just get in the next lane and pass all of you, but of course it is full of people driving even SLOWER than you, believe it or not. I want to go FAST, and obviously you’re not driving fast enough.
Opionionated.net author: Right, the whole world is going to move out of your way. You’re right, the world DOES revolve around you. I’m sorry, you are more important than everyone else. I understand, where you’re going is more important that where everyone else on the road is going. My mistake.

3. No argument here.

4. See #2. You get out of the way, then the next guy gets out of the way, and then I can get some decent speeds. You know how you’re complaining about #3? Well, YOU’RE THAT GUY TO ME! GET THE FUCK OUT OF LANE IF YOU SEE SOMEONE IN YOUR MIRROR OBVIOUSLY WANTING TO FASTER THAN YOUR SLOW ASS! How else am I supposed to alert you to this fact? Semaphore?
Opionionated.net author: Right again! I forgot, me going 85 mph really is SLOW. And I also forgot that you own the fast lane. My mistake.

5. I should park my car in the same long line as you? No thanks. I see a shortcut and I take it, and then merge. If you don’t want me to merge in, if you don’t think I belong there, then ram into my car by all means. Lets see you do it. No? Don’t want to damage your car? Don’t want to take the time to swap insurance claims? Then fuck off and take my merging. I ain’t waiting in no long lineup, you I guess have all the time in the world to sit around.
Opionionated.net author: I’m guessing you’re an 18 year old boy, right? If you’re a man and still have this much anger, you’ve got a lot more to worry about then defending your driving. Let me ask you, do you cut people off in line waiting at the drugstore or coffee house? If you see a “shortcut” do you go cut people off at the bank line? Or do you only do that when you’re protected in you’re little anonymous car?

6. Listen, when you’re merging onto the highway, IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ONLY MERGE WHEN THERE’S NO TRAFFIC IN THE MERGING LANE. What, we should all slam on our breaks, getting rammed from behind by upcoming traffic so you can get on the highway? What, you want me to cut off the guy coming up in the next lane so you can merge? Just because you’d like to just sail onto the highway with no obstructions or loss of speed doesn’t mean everyone in that lane should endanger other traffic to let you. Yes, I’m afraid to break it to you that you might have to slow down or even stop to make sure there’s a break in the traffic, but THE WORLD WILL NOT STOP SPINNING ON IT’S AXIS IF YOU HAVE TO BREAK OR STOP TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY!
Opionionated.net author: I actually almost can see your point here. I was just saying people shouldn’t camp out there if there’s room in the other lanes, that’s all. I just wish I could place a large-amount cash bet on you getting onto an accident within the next 2 years, it’s bound to happen. I just hope that when you crash, no one else gets hurt except you.

Think about your own dumb habits or lack of skill before you bitch about everyone else.

For John M

Id hit your dumb ass

I agree with most of what you said except for the last section, Highway Far Right Lane Campers. So on a three or four lane expressway your going to leave 33% or 25% of the road unoccupied. Therefore more cars can be cramped and have more accidents. If the govt didn’t want you to use the lane then they wouldn’t have put it there.
The people who are merging onto the expressway have a yield sign. That means the people already on the road don’t have to move an inch if they don’t want to. I normally do move, but if I can’t, I can’t. The merging car has the option to slowdown, or in 99% of the cases, they speedup to join the train.

has a paramedic and firefighter i have a few things to add to your list
#1 dumb uneducated idiots talking on the cell phone wile manovering a 2000lb auto on the nations hys these people cand chew gum and walk at the same time and hear they are running there cake holes on a cell phone wile driving i have seen over 200 acidents where talking on the cell is involved dam pull over and stop and take your call
#2 idiots who refuse to move over for emergency vehicles lets see the big red fire truck with its lights going has the right of way when its behind you with the screine on move the flip over opps you cand hear it your talking on the phone or you hip hopping thumping radio is drounding out the noise of the anawing fire trucks oh well they might be going to you home or your mothers

Try to stop hating. Just give it a try for a week or so. Your life will change dramatically, and drivers around you will magically all turn courteous. Give it a try…

I have to agree with you on driving slow in the overtaking lane. By all means do 10 to 20 under the speed limit, but do it in the other lane. I live in Australia and it is an offense to drive in the overtaking lane if not overtaking. It’s a simple concept. One other thing that really bothers me is people who don’t indicate. As far as I’m aware, the turn signals are not optional extras so please use them.

I totally agree with John M and the article. There are people who think they can push in and do whatever they feel like. They are really just 12 year old kids who dont know how to drive and put everyone else in danger *cough* Jerke Wadde *cough*

You need to think about how other people will react not how you are able to weave through, you are a thoughtless hooligan.

If only John M could take you on, but your already probably dead OR you have got your licence suspened for “weaving safely” in front of a cop car.

Either way you are NOT the only person on the road, so get ova your “great” driving skills and start thinking about other people.
Remember the 2 C’s: Care and Courtesy (I think there is a third but I cant remember it)

Drew

My biggest pet peeve is drivers who don’t know what a merge sign means. They try to stay in the lane that is “disappearing” then think you’re a jerk because they run out of road.

Jerke is 100% right in that your first two points contradict each other.

Every day, I’m forced to deal with left lane campers, all going faster than the speed limit (but not much faster - say 68 in a 65) and quite distantly spaced apart from one another (which is entirely safe). There’s a long line of us in back of these campers, and this line wants to go 75 or 80. I have no problems whatsoever waiting for someone to move to the right (as I *always* do if there is someone in back of me going faster than I am). Unfortunately, I’m in the solid minority. So I dart into the right lane, drive by the first guy, and drive back into the left lane. I’d pass all of you on the right if I could, but there are people in the right (or middle) lane going even slower than you.
Opinionated.net author: So you consider “darting” safe driving? I agree with you that these campers ought to move over, but it doesn’t give you the right to drive in a way that puts others in danger. And since you can’t predict what other drivers are going to do, you ARE causing unnecessary risks. Two wrongs don’t make a right

It’s quite frustrating.

Also, what’s the problem with someone jumping up the left lane to cut back into the right lane? I’ve done this occasionally - all depends on the situation, and usually it’s not worth it, but on a (very) few poorly timed lights, this will save me 4 or 5 minutes. Is there some sign out in the intersection that says “all drivers must behave fairly”? I’d love to see that sign, but until someone posts it, you can keep all that pent-up rage.
Opinionated.net author: It seems you live your driving life by the idea that if something is wrong (something you consider wrong), then it’s okay for you to do something wrong too. Just because the lights are timed poorly doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole. Again, two wrongs don’t make a right. You are right however, there are no signs out there that say drivers must behave fairly, but there are signs and laws out there that say LEFT LANE IS FOR LEFT TURNS ONLY you dummy! Follow the law. Do you cut long movie lines citing lamely to everyone in line, “I don’t see any signs that say ‘Moviegoers must behave fairly’”?

The funny thing about this post is that everyone is whining. There are no solutions presented. You’re well aware that the situation can’t be fixed. Well - if it can’t be fixed, why bother thinking about it? Accept it and focus on the positives in life. You’ll be happier that way.
Opinionated.net author: My bitching and ranting (and others’ here) has indeed presented a solution, namely don’t do the things I’m bitching about.

generally agree with the spirit of your post, but not necessarily the content. if you’re really leaving 30 yards in the left lane, you really should let people get past you. especially if there’s a fair amount of traffic. it’s irritating for the person behind you for any number of reasons, including the fact that you’re leaving room for a disproportionate number of cars to cut in front of you, and you’re causing others to have to expend extra effort to accommodate your unusual driving habits (e.g. you are probably braking too early to maintain your cushion). remember, you are not the moral arbiter of the left lane. if you simply left a REASONABLE amount of room in front of you (no one is asking you to tailgate), then you would cut down dramatically on the number of people who get irritated by your driving and feel it necessary to get around you. instead of getting self-righteous and defending your 30 yards, just tighten up the space a little and see everyone relax. if you feel like anything inside 30 yards is dangerously close given your speed, perhaps you should be going slower in the middle lane. yes, not everyone agrees on what a “reasonable” cushion is, but you’ll find that most people have roughly the same range … and it’s probably tighter than yours. you have to remember also that you may think 30 yards is necessary because you have a huge SUV with inadequate brakes, whereas the guy /gal in the little roadster with monster calipers and vented rotors is going to be pulling his/her hair out at your driving habits.

and it’s silly to claim that people should vacate the right lane, unless it’s like the left lane of I-90/94 going through chicago, where cars are merging into that lane at EVERY city block. on a normal freeway, it’s COURTEOUS for a right-lane driver to move left if necessary and if space permits, but otherwise it’s totally the merging driver’s responsibility to merge when it’s safe.

May I add another couple?
STOP at the stop signs. They are there to save lives. They aren’t there to be slowly run past. Like, if you look left and right and see nobody coming, it’s okay to not stop? If that was the case, there’d be a YIELD sign there. Just yesterday, I was trying to teach my 8-year-old son that drivers must yield to pedestrians in clearly-marked walkways at stop signs. As I was demonstrating this, a stupid driver ran through the crosswalk. I raised my arms in protest and yelled. He had his windows closed and his radio on too loud. However, he did stop, halfway through his turn and he did apologize.
STOP at the red lights. There used to be a time when you were NOT allowed to turn right on a red light and it still applies in some of these United States. You must stop before proceeding. I was hit by a car, over 30 years ago, because the driver thought it was okay to turn through a red light. She didn’t see me WALKING my bike across the street.
YIELD means “yield to the right of way”. Does anyone know what the RIGHT OF WAY means? It doesn’t mean the person on the right. It means the person who has the right to be on that street already. Not the person who is merging onto that street. Yield to the person who was already on that street you’re trying to get on - okay?

I agree with one comment person. If you are courteous and kind, things WILL ease a bit. But there are far too many uncourteous drivers and simply, drivers who were never taught the correct ways of driving, that far outnumber the rest of “us”. I have preached to my son that he will learn the correct way to drive. I fear he may be the only one, when he comes of age in about ten years.

First and firemost, let’s get something straight. The principle of “fast lane” vs. “slow lane” only applies in light to fair traffic flow conditions. No one is accusing anyone for driving slow in the fast lane in 5 o’clock gridlock. BUT, once that is over, it makes sense that the left lane is the passing lane, and if you feel that you are driving faster than the next person you are entitled to drive in that lane. However, if you would be the curteous/safe driver that you pretend to be, then i would not have to suggest that you would check your rearview mirror periodically, just in case (God forbid) someone is behind you with a more pressing deadline than yours. (I love driving thru certain states where State troopers will stop and fine you if you drive in the passing lane). And the person in the 60k manual that thinks he owns the road, i suspect that the day your tactics will end up in a demolition derby against some sane or not quite so sane Slayer blaring cokehead trying to get to Ozzfest in time many of those driving behind you and observing that you actually provoked the accident might have second thoughts calling an ambulance for you. Just a thought. And Mr Firefighter with such a low opinion for “dumb uneducated idiots…” would you please use a spell check? Also, an attempt at using some type of punctuation might put you a notch or so above those whom you despise so…

sven: regarding state troopers that have the opposite agenda: when i first moved to chicago, i had the audacity to pass a state trooper just as rush hour was starting (around 6am). everyone was piling up behind the trooper and tailgating and switching lanes wondering why traffic was jammed up (whereas everyone in front of the trooper was long gone). i figured the trooper was having an unintentional effect on traffic and didn’t actually want to create the mess during rush hour. so i sloooowly passed at 60 mph. i’m sure everyone else was watching me thinking “OMG, he’s crazy!” well they were right: the idiot trooper actually pulled me over and ticketed me for going 62. thankfully, i had the last laugh when i contested it, and the judge rolled her eyes and threw out the ticket, but not before admonishing him about officers who erroneously feel that no one may pass them.

Ha! Get this: I had the not-so-pleasant opportunity to discuss that issue with one of Illinois’ finest, trooper cum laude, shall we call him (in case he’s tracking me) =)? So, dude claims that the state troopers WILL NOT pull anyone over if they’re going as fast as 70mph on our fine Chicago Expressways, due to high traffic volume and the fact that they recognize that up to 70 mph is an agreeable speed. They will, however-he claimed- stop those that weave in and out “recklessly”. All i could think was “I’ll take your word for it numbnuts, I wouldn’t want to try and test the veracity of that there affirmation.