Where do they come from?

[NutmegCT]

Where do these drivers come from?

They tailgate you regardless of your speed.

They race past you, enter your lane, then drive slower than you were driving.

They zip from lane to lane to "get ahead", then enter a fast-food drive thru.

They slow to a crawl at *every* intersection, then speed up.

They start their turn signal *after* they begin to turn.

They speed through a red light, holding a cell phone, and laughing at the distress they cause in other drivers.

They park diagonally across four parking spots at the mall, with audio blaring at ear-popping levels.

Ya know ... at first it's something we joke about. But their irresponsibility will likely cause accidents, or worse, take someone's life. And whose insurance premiums will likely go up? Like local taxes going up after some "extreme sports" participants need a major rescue operation while enjoying their fun.

Yeesh.

Tom

 

[anthony7777]

nutmeg, the come from stamford! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

 

[Brooklands]

But now they are everywhere!!

Yesterday I was following a city police car which stopped in the middle of the street with both curbs free of any cars, to talk to an attractive you lady walking her dog. Probably not in the line of duty either.

George Carlin used to say, and I hope I have this paraphrased correctly, that the worst drivers were blue haired ladies who could not see over the steering wheels of the Cadillacs and old men wearing hats. I make sure I never keep my hat on inside the car for just that reason (But I do wear my hat in the TR due to sun damage on my scalp)

 

[vagt6]

In the past decade, they've spread like viruses. Strangely, I don't notice them in European countries as much, but I don't usually drive when I'm over there. It does seem that U.S. drivers seem to become angrier over traffic scenarios than Europeans. Does anyone agree?

Nutball drivers have even arrived in my small, peaceful City of Charlotteville (pop. 40,000/130,000 metro)! And, I ride a motorcycle to work every day. Trust me, riding a cycle makes you KEENLY aware of nutball, aggressive drivers.

When I see a driver yakking on a cell phone, I get the heck out of their way. If someone tailgates my bike, I try to politely wave them off. If that doesn't work, I get out of the way. I've actually pulled over to the side to avoid them.

I give everyone a very wide cushion between my vehicle and others. At least one car length for every 10 MPH, when possible (often not possible in congested city traffic). Distance can be your best friend if a wreck or problem occurs.

Drive/ride like you're invisible. Pay attention and keep the eyes in back of your head open. Most of all, try to be courteous. Sometimes, it actually works.

There are some real nutballs out there . . . /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[Tinster]

Tom-

For shame on you buddy!!!

You obviously were here in Puerto Rico and shopped at
Plaza Las Americas mall and drove on the expressway
near my house. You should have dropped in to say hi
and see Crypty.

Yupper, our drivers are all crazy as loons. The
only placew worse are Boston and Rome!

d

 

[Bruce Bowker]

George Carlin used to say, and I hope I have this paraphrased correctly, that the worst drivers were blue haired ladies who could not see over the steering wheels of the Cadillacs and old men wearing hats. I make sure I never keep my hat on inside the car for just that reason (But I do wear my hat in the TR due to sun damage on my scalp)

I think he also said, "There are 2 types of drivers, the jerks who drive faster than you and the idiots who drive slower than you."

 

[sparkydave]

Isn't it the truth?

I couldn't agree more that there are a bunch of road morons. They fly by well over the speed limit, they insist on getting ahead of everyone (if only by one car length), and if they see a cop on the other side of the road, then of course they slow down suddenly and go well BELOW the speed limit, only to speed up as soon as he's out of sight. All the time they've got the silly phone glued to their ear, which has the added bonus of making it nearly impossible to use their turn signals, which they probably wouldn't use anyway.

I see more and more numbskulls each day it seems. They will cut through corner parking lots to avoid the traffic light, or they make a right on red, just to make an immediate left into a lot, turn around, and try to go right - all to avoid waiting 10 seconds for a light. I've even had some blast the horn at me because I DIDN'T run the red light when it turned yellow.

I just try to stay out of their way and hope they are so proud of themselves because they got to their destination 2 seconds faster than whoever they just had to get in front of.

 

[YankeeTR]

These folks are just one of the reasons I changed my career from trucking to office work...I figured all of those 'close calls' were a harbinger of things to come...

 

[aerog]

It's incredible. I think a lot of people just don't treat driving with the respect it deserves.

Almost on a daily basis I see people passing on blind curves and double yellow lines. People pull out in front of me on highways where the limit is 55. I have to go from 55 to a stop instantly, or hit them. Funny thing though, usually there's hardly anyone behind me when they do it.

I've seen plenty of red light runners - two days ago I saw a lady actually stop at a red light, then proceed through. The intersection was full of traffic with lots of people waiting. I thought she had a big emergency - but all she did was pull into the drive-through lane at the donut shop on the other side of the intersection. She treated a red light as a stop sign and cut in front of four lanes of moving traffic for a donut. Amazing.

I'm tired of drunk driving too. You cannot be a driver today and not know the risks of drinking and driving. There is no excuse. None. If you're caught drinking and driving you should lose your license and have some kind of heavy penalty. Period. When a highschool senior gets blasted then kills himself and a couple of his friends we need to drag the wreckage to the school and have each student walk by it and see it blood stains and all. The driver might have been a wonderful guy, but he just murdered three of his friends needlessly - and they need to see it first hand.

 

[tony barnhill]

They drive in the left lane of a divided 4-lane highway at 5 miles below the speed limit even though there's no other car within eye sight!

 

[Steve]

I have to agree with all of the above, especially Scott's comment about drivers who pull out in front of you and force you to slow right down, despite tha fact that there is an empty road behind me!

My pet peeve however is with the drivers who sit in the middle of their lane, or even worse, pull all the way over to the right side of the road when going to make a left turn. They then proceed to block the road if they have to wait for oncoming traffic to clear, even though there would have been more than enough room for cars behind them to get through on the inside, had they thought to move closer to the crown of the road.

The latter method is how I was taught.

 

[eejay56]

The one that gets me is when I put on my turn signal to change lanes and they speed up to get ahead of me. It seems to be an Oregon specialty. Sometimes 4 or 5 cars will do it before someone lets you in.

 

[Tinster]

And you know what guys?

I swear all these morons on the road must ALL
own jet skis because the very same nonsense
happens on the water.

I'm tied off at the ramp dock, engine off, waiting
my turn to trailer out.

A SkeeDoo jet boat plows into my stern and as I turn
around to see that mess, a girl on the ramp guns her
jet ski throttle, loses control, crashes the dock and
plows under my bow.

$100 bet says neither had a valid boating license.

Yesterday was ruff wind. A total of 12 people, includin
a few toddlers, stuffed themselves into a 2 person jet boat
and off they fly. Not a life vest on a one of them. I can't
begin to tell you how many local laws they broke.

morons are everywhere - a shame they breed.

d

 

[Guest]

that's 'cos with welfare they get an incentive to do so...

 

[aerog]

I have to agree with all of the above, especially Scott's comment about drivers who pull out in front of you and force you to slow right down, despite tha fact that there is an empty road behind me!

I need to add to that thought. When someone (or something) pulls in front of me my natural reaction is to quickly look and make sure nobody is beside me, then move into that lane to avoid the accident (obviously I'd be slamming on the brakes if it was that kind of situation though). But here's the problem: around here it is common - I cannot stress that enough, COMMON for people to pull out and cross in front of you to the far lane. Doesn't matter if they're entering the road from the right or left, they do it.

From their point of view it makes sense. They see the far lane is empty and they see you. They know they can't speed up fast enough in front of you, so they pull into the empty lane - but cutting in front of you in the process. If their car as much as hiccups you're in for a major accident, or if you don't anticipate their bonehead move you're in for a major accident. It makes sense to them, but it's stupid.

 

[aerog]

A total of 12 people, includin
a few toddlers, stuffed themselves into a 2 person jet boat
and off they fly.

Sounds like a 125cc motorcycle to me. Ok, not quite. They probably stop at 4 or 5 there.

Earlier this year I saw a guy on a moped in the DR with a 10ft clothes bar strapped laterally to the bike. It was filled with clothes. It looked like a 10ft wide closet coming down the road with a big puff of blue smoke behind it.

 

[AweMan]

There probagated by the ladies in the ten items or less, cash only checkout lines. You know, the ones that have not only one but two carts HEAPING with merchandise. Not only that, after the cashier has finished tallying up the total, they are the ones that begin searching thier purse for an envalope of cupons so the cashier has to adjust the total once again. Then when all is said and done the "Purse search" for checkbook and pen begins. Once that is complete. Yet another Purse search for the proper I.D. Meanwhile the line is growing exponentialy longer and longer. As I impatiently wait with my four items and a twenty dollar bill in hand.
I`v been known to muttrer rather loudly "SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN`T READ"!!! {There is a huge sign right overhead that reads ten items or less, cash only}
It`s an inconsiderate world out there, seems it`s more about ME ME ME ME each passing day.

 

[tony barnhill]

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif Kerry, that one bugs me also...but I do more than mutter under my breath (wonder why Jerri doesn't like going to store with me)...my stock reply when getting behind such a person is, "Excuse me, while I get past you - I only have 4 items & this lane is for me, not you!"

 

[aerog]

Oh Cripes Kerry... I was behind one in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago. She had all of 12 things, I had 2. After waiting for the complete total (for all of her 12 things) she proceeded to dig through her purse to find the checkbook...then the pen...did she fill out the check? No. She realized she hadn't filled out her check register in the book. She fills out all the info for her last check, tallies up all the numbers, then carries everything over to the next check. Then she starts to fill out the check. Tearing it out was an adventure too.

Ri..ii..ii..ii..ii..ii..ii..ii..p

The whole procedure took an agonizingly long time.

To her credit she looked back at me, and the four people behind me and apologized. She said "when you get to my age you'll be slow too" (I swear she looked to be all of 62 years old, if that).

I wanted to say "Yeah maybe, but I'll probably leave the check balancing routine at home".

We need a "vent" subforum /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[terriphill]

It`s an inconsiderate world out there, seems it`s more about ME ME ME ME each passing day.

I think this is the main point!!!! The golden rule is no longer taught and few people even know what it is. I often talk to my boys about how people go through their day so self absorbed they are not even aware they are being rude and obnoxious.
I went to the mail box store the other day to post a letter, a woman in line in front of me had a little dog she was holding (in the store? whatever) Anyway, the dog was snapping, growling, barking and baring its teeth at the poor little clerk who was trying to check out the woman. I asked her if they often had vicious dogs in their store (and of course got a withering stare from the owner of the vicious mutt) You'd think someone with a vicious dog would leave it at home. It's just self-absorbed stupidity.