NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8112

In spite of the biased and arrogant attitude of the author, I sincerely hope this becomes a national movement. I have thought for years that these moving obstacles create a more dangerous driving environment than someone going ten over the limit. I narrowly avoided a head-on collision last week when a desperate driver miscalculated while passing a driver such as this.

Your thoughts?

heh, we don't get left (or right in our case) lane hogs in the UK... but we do get damn middle lane drivers :mad:

just sitting there when there's room to pull in on the left lane, causing motorways to be reduced in effect to two lanes. they're fucking dangerous!


not entirely sure if tickets & fines could be implimented over here though - i don't see how it could physically be done. as soon as the police come along they'll just pull back into the left lane where they should be.


though with GPS they're saying that cars will be driving themselves automatically in about 10 - 15 years time, so not too long to put up with it at least

We have similar laws here in Aus (keep left unless overtaking), but the police don't seem to be interested in enforcing them & the governement's obsessed with speed cameras.

Very very good.

According to our laws drivers have to use to right lane all the time. Only when they are passing other cars they are allowed to drive on the left lane. (only in motorways and similar of course, not in towns) On busy hours both lanes are always jammed but usually it works quite well. Of course we have these morons too and they make me see red.

But some morons also think that we have the same laws than Germany and believe that everyone has to move right when they're driving 30km/h over the limit on the left lane. They flash their lights, keep about 2m distance etc. It's quite hard to move right if there's a lorry on the right lane and in some cases there's a lorry in front of you too.

It's about time!

I hate idiots on the highway...they are far more dangerous than any speeder, especially when you consider that the average American driver rarely uses their mirrors, and almost never checks their blind spots.

I also hate idiots who don't use turn lanes. One of the busiest streets in my town was widened from 4 lanes to 5 to allow for a Left-turn only lane for drivers traveling in both directions. It shut down that street, and horribly affected traffic patterns for two consecutive summers...AND NOBODY FUCKING USES THE TURN LANE!!!

They sit in the left lane, forcing fast moving drivers into dangerous lane-changes.

Sorry....I'm done ranting. Dangerous drivers are my BIGGEST pet peeve. :)

Sorry....I'm done ranting. Dangerous drivers are my BIGGEST pet peeve. :)
heh, in an hour I'll be driving to cottage, some 250km away. I'm still relaxed but I know that I will be quite tense after 15km...There are some very annoying motorways ahead...and the rush hours.

Fortunately I can avoid the busiest roads. I'll be in the empty Finnish countryside in now time (and get annoyed by the extremely low speed limits on empty roads...)

Yeah stupid drivers. I hate them very much. The worst are stupid motorcycles and scooters.

Here there's such a thing as a kopi-o-licence. Or coffee licence. You pay the officer Rm1000 (260 USD), and you get your licence without needing to take a driving test.

Most people drive slow, so they don't have to be alert while driving. Thats what I find. Either that or it's talking or sms'ing on the handphone.

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8112

In spite of the biased and arrogant attitude of the author, I sincerely hope this becomes a national movement. I have thought for years that these moving obstacles create a more dangerous driving environment than someone going ten over the limit. I narrowly avoided a head-on collision last week when a desperate driver miscalculated while passing a driver such as this.

Your thoughts?

Virginia state police will enforce it on our highways (it's called "obstructing traffic") if they catch people doing it. IF they want to argue with the trooper, he is pretty glad to show them the 50 or so signs they passed saying "Slower Traffic, Keep Right"....

Same problem here in Germany. And we do have strict rules that you have to stick to the right lane except when overtaking.

To add a positive aspect: Our traffic police is taking a closer look on those folks, they get fined!

An interesting observation, some kind of a mistery - most of the slow left lane drivers on a German Autobahn either drive an old Mercedes, are mid-aged women or wear a hat.

But some morons also think that we have the same laws than Germany and believe that everyone has to move right when they're driving 30km/h over the limit on the left lane. They flash their lights, keep about 2m distance etc. It's quite hard to move right if there's a lorry on the right lane and in some cases there's a lorry in front of you too.

Thats one thing that really pisses me off about German drivers, they NEVER EVER pay attention to the speed limit. On the Autobahn they have stupidly short inrun lanes too, so if your on the right hand lane and you can't pull out because some t**t in a S-class or 5 series is doing 200km on the outside lane and some other p***k is trying to force you across so they can get on the Autobahn. Such morons.

They also don't have to indicate at round abouts, how bloody stupid is that?!?!

heh, we don't get left (or right in our case) lane hogs in the UK... but we do get damn middle lane drivers :mad:

just sitting there when there's room to pull in on the left lane, causing motorways to be reduced in effect to two lanes. they're fucking dangerous!

My gf is a middle lanes driver :( And i can't tell her she is a bad driver for doing it...its just bugs the hell out of me. They should be fined.

Whats also bad are the people who wait til the last minute then pull in at places like road works, not giving a shite about the people behind them :mad:

Here in Connecticut, there are some stretches of highway which are notorious because they post a minimum speed limit -- of 40mph. So it's not too unusual to get somebody in the left lane -- doing the minimum!

Worse, I've seen two cars (and once three!) keeping 42mph on a three lane highway abreast -- basically causing traffic for miles.

If you want to be self riteous, please do it on your own time. If you want to note my license plate and file a grevience, fine. But if I'm trying to get to a bona fide emergency (both my girlfriend and one of my friends are medical doctors), you could be PLAYING WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES.

Never mind you could get yourself or someone killed on the road for your "superiority complex". :rolleyes:

Thats one thing that really pisses me off about German drivers, they NEVER EVER pay attention to the speed limit. On the Autobahn they have stupidly short inrun lanes too, so if your on the right hand lane and you can't pull out because some t**t in a S-class or 5 series is doing 200km on the outside lane and some other p***k is trying to force you across so they can get on the Autobahn. Such morons.

I am a German driver, doing approximately 30000 to 40000 km a year, driving 15 years and never had a single accident - and I am paying attention to speed limits. The fees are hurting if you go 20+ over the speed limit. So I make sure that I don't run 20+ above speed limit, that's what a lot of people do.

If you're not up to driving on a German Autobahn, don't do it. Our traffic is fast and dense but disciplined. Yes there are the morons with 250 km/h on the left lane 2 m behind you - ignore them and let them pass. Shall they kill themselves somewhere down the road.

They also don't have to indicate at round abouts, how bloody stupid is that?!?!

What bullshit is this? Certainly you don't have to indicate when you ENTER a roundabout and that indication would make no sense since there is no other place to go then the roundabout. You sure as hell have to indicate when you LEAVE a roundabout. A lot of people are just to plain damn stupid to do so. imho those are the same ones that jam the left lane.

...or wear a hat.

Those are the worst. And they usually have the self-made TP-hood sitting in the back of their car.

What I hate most while driving on the Autobahn (and Mom's car which I may use is not the fastest...) are those who are sitting for hours behind a truck and then they decide to pull out in front of you when it's clear that they are getting in your way and you'll have to step on the brakes hard.

I sometimes wonder in which lottery they won their driving license!

Oh, I forgot one more thing: Drivers who switch lanes or take a turn without ever using their turn signals. Indicating which way you're going is not only fair, it also makes driving a lot safer (IMHO).

I've been thinking about putting a sign in the back window reading
"Already used your turnsignals today?" (Heute schon geblinkt?).

I am a German driver, doing approximately 30000 to 40000 km a year, driving 15 years and never had a single accident - and I am paying attention to speed limits. The fees are hurting if you go 20+ over the speed limit. So I make sure that I don't run 20+ above speed limit, that's what a lot of people do.

If you're not up to driving on a German Autobahn, don't do it. Our traffic is fast and dense but disciplined. Yes there are the morons with 250 km/h on the left lane 2 m behind you - ignore them and let them pass. Shall they kill themselves somewhere down the road.

I can drive on the Autobahn, thats not the worst bit. Granted the traffic is very disciplined, but when people from the inruns pull out straight infront of you when they have no right of way, its a bit disconcerting.

Its on the single lane roads, Bundesstrasse (?), in the country where its 100km limit and you get people doing 180km thats just dangerous.


What bullshit is this? Certainly you don't have to indicate when you ENTER a roundabout and that indication would make no sense since there is no other place to go then the roundabout. You sure as hell have to indicate when you LEAVE a roundabout. A lot of people are just to plain damn stupid to do so. imho those are the same ones that jam the left lane.

Indicating when you enter a round about does make sense. For example if you have a round about that has 4 exits at North, South, East and West and you come into the roundabout at south you should indicate left if you are going off a the west exit. Its simple common sense letting other people know where you are going, if you don't indicate you have no idea where they are going. Its crazy. Or at least I find it to be stupid. I'm getting used to it but the people who don't indicate who leave the round about are dangerous. Agreed though, i suspect they are the same as those who drive at crazy speeds. oh well.

I've been thinking about putting a sign in the back window reading "Already used your turnsignals today?" (Heute schon geblinkt?).

That would be very very nice to see :D

Please don't get me started on slow people in the left lane.

They're the reason I don't keep my guns in my car. I get so angry that I can't think clearly and I'd definately shoot at one of them.

A left lane douchebag was the reason for my last arrest. Dickhead was driving in the left lane, 5 MPH below the speed limit, right next to another driver so I couldn't even pass on the right. I flashed my brights at him to let him know I wanted to pass. No response. I tried it again. Still nothing. So I started repeatedly flashing my brights while honking my horn and riding about an inch off of this shit licking pig fucker's bumper. After about 4 or 5 miles of this I got pulled over for "improper use of headlights". I had a warrant for my arrest out there and I ended up in handcuffs.

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8112

In spite of the biased and arrogant attitude of the author, I sincerely hope this becomes a national movement. I have thought for years that these moving obstacles create a more dangerous driving environment than someone going ten over the limit. I narrowly avoided a head-on collision last week when a desperate driver miscalculated while passing a driver such as this.

Your thoughts?

:eek:

I agree with B0zzy on something! I think I'll go hid under the covers for the rest of the day. This could be a bad omen. ;) :D

Up here in MA it's legal on much of our highways to drive in the breakdown lane, so all the people that are going 110mph use the breakdown lane. We still get the left lane hogs, but at least the crazy speed demons that would normally get into accidents with them are over in the breakdown lane instead.

You are all lucky.
I live in Hungary, and here there are 2 kinds of drivers. One is old people somewhere betweent their 70s and death, and stupid blonde women. These drive as slow as they can in small or old cars, and of course in the left lane. The other kind is the "macho" guys in hyper-super-giga-extra-mega tuning cars which by the way look ridicoulous, or in huge black Audi's or Passat's, and these do at least 170km/h no matter if they are in a town or out of it. So, also considering condition of most roads, driving is the most dangerous and very very very most annoying thing to do here.

I live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which I would like to nominate for the worst driving conditions on the east coast of the USA. There are many reasons for this:

1. Amish horse & buggy traffic (+ farm equiptment traffic on back roads)
2. A Huge insatiable demand for monstrous SUVs and pickup trucks
3. Traffic lights so poorly timed that you can be stopped at every red along a straight road, and no traffic will go by until their light turns red and it is your turn
4. No traffic lights at all at busy intersections where traffic is nearly constant
4. Double Parkers.
5. Driving twenty miles above the speed limit on a highway left lane and have some $#!t wit pass you on the right going 20-30 mph faster than you
6. People who slow to turn hundreds of feet before the turn BEFORE they turn on there signals to inform you
7. People who never bother to inform you that they are turning at all
8. True story: A @$$**** cuts me off, I have to brake hard to not crash into his SUV, and I "tailgate" him the 50 feet to the (red) traffic light. I get in the left lane, he is going straight. For some reason, this light turns on the left turn signal at the end of the cycle. As his light turns green (but not my lane), he rudely urges me to turn, not noticing the oncoming traffic.
9. Another true story: A guy at an intersection had stopped far enough back that he blocked not only the people going straight, but those who wanted to turn left or right as well. He sat their for a whole light cycle, the cars that were in front of him fading into the horizon, effectively blocking all three lanes, chatting on a cell phone.
10. Cyclists who ride bikes in the middle busy intersections (speed limit 40 mph) swerving across the lanes
11. My dad. He drives SLOWLY. And whenever I am driving, he is always a backseat driver, constantly telling me to brake or slow down or to turn, and whenever I brake, he puts his hand on the dashboard and gasps as if I were in danger of crashing and killing us all.

Clearly, Democracian, you have never driven in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. There is no nominating, they win for worst drivers, hands down!

It's about time!

Ever drive on the Autobahn in Germany? You'd better get back in the right lane after you pass, no matter how fast you're going - because people are traveling in the left lane at speeds I don't even want to think about.

And I think that in some states (NY, I believe, is one such state) it already is the law that you must get back to the right after passing - it's just not enforced.

There's nothing quite like the entire flow of traffic, moving at legal speeds of up to 65 mph (as well as...um..."other-than-legal" speeds) having to squeeze over to the right lane to pass some idiot traveling along on a multi-lane highway in the left lane at some speed under the legal limit. And usually these pin-heads are at least 5 -10 mph under the limit.

As to where the worst drivers are - Rome, Italy or Paris, France. Staying on the road seems to be optional - it aint even safe on the sidewalk. Turn signals are considered decorative. Sideview mirrors seem to have been intended as a "buffer" between cars.

Oh, I forgot one more thing: Drivers who switch lanes or take a turn without ever using their turn signals. Indicating which way you're going is not only fair, it also makes driving a lot safer (IMHO).

I agree absolutely.

I can drive on the Autobahn, thats not the worst bit. Granted the traffic is very disciplined, but when people from the inruns pull out straight infront of you when they have no right of way, its a bit disconcerting.

I can see your point. But even so they do not have the right of way the cars travelling on the Autobahn already have to let them enter. Actually they are even supposed to switch to the left lane if possible to let someone enter.
In the end everybody should use common sense and that's unfortunately not always granted.

Its on the single lane roads, Bundesstrasse (?), in the country where its 100km limit and you get people doing 180km thats just dangerous.

I can't argue with that one. (not even with the spelling of the Bundesstrasse ;) )

Its simple common sense letting other people know where you are going, if you don't indicate you have no idea where they are going. Its crazy. Or at least I find it to be stupid. I'm getting used to it but the people who don't indicate who leave the round about are dangerous. Agreed though, i suspect they are the same as those who drive at crazy speeds. oh well.

I agree with you, indicating where you are going is not courtesy but just a plain simple common sense thing to avoid dangerous situations.

Clearly, Democracian, you have never driven in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. There is no nominating, they win for worst drivers, hands down!

Seconded!! (I'm from Connecticut). I think it comes from the lack of space to drive in RI... only 30 minutes in any direction. :D

(PS: I've always loved to yell "WOONSOCKET!!" at the top of my lunch whenever crossing the border to go fishing...)

This is an awesome thread... one of my major pet peeves has been sloooooow left-lane drivers.

two instances I particularly abhor:

a)I'm doing 75 (in a 65 MPH zone) in the left lane. I'm fairly certain that cops won't touch me since i've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for doing less than 10 over the speed limit. And I'm driving well (EG, not zig-zagging all over the place or slamming on my brakes constantly, etc.). I'm whistling, la-dee-da, when all of a sudden a slow car looms on the horizon. There are two lanes going my direction... the car in the right lane and the car now blocking me in the left lane are doing about the same speed. i get right on the guy's bumper, move left to make sure he sees me... i point to the right, hoping he'll see it and hurry up and get over in the right lane where he belongs. of course he doesn't... he's perfectly happy to clog the left lane doing 65. I get pissed... "GET THE F*** OUT OF MY WAY!"

b)I'm in the right lane ... traffic is fairly heavy. Again we're on a two-lane street (two lanes going one direction). I'm doing, say, 30 in a 30, stuck in traffic. I see a space opening up in the left lane but the car in front of me also sees it and darts into the left lane in front of me... and the A**HOLE decides to CONTINUE DOING 30! I'm thinking, "Why the F did you cut me off to get into the left lane and then KEEP GOING THE SAME SPEED? Why did you change lanes at all?"

Rules of the Road in Frangland:

1)Slower traffic keep right. If you're in the left lane and you see someone riding your ass, GET OVER so that he can pass you.

2)If you cut someone off, KEEP YOUR SPEED UP. And if the person stays on your ass after you cut him opff, it's a pretty good sign that you either need to speed up or get over.

3)You may pass on the right, if the person in your way is in the left lane, or if the left lane is unavailable for passing, etc. Otherwise, try to pass people on their left.

4)Fast green/slow red: Punch it when the light turns green, especially when you're at the head of a long line of traffic... every additional second required for you to putter across the intersection means one more car will not be able to make it across before the next red light. Slow on red means that if you see the light turn yellow and you're a hundred feet from the light, try to stop... when you run a red light, you might be making those who now have the green light to wait. Nashville drivers are generally slow on green/fast on red, which is exactly the opposite of what it should be, and this pisses me off.

I can see your point. But even so they do not have the right of way the cars travelling on the Autobahn already have to let them enter. Actually they are even supposed to switch to the left lane if possible to let someone enter. In the end everybody should use common sense and that's unfortunately not always granted.

You see, thats how it works in the UK too, you are alway sreccommended to go into the middle lane so lorries and such can pull on no problem, but with 3 lanes its easier. With two its a bit dangerous sometimes. But glad we agree :)

I can't argue with that one. (not even with the spelling of the Bundesstrasse ;) )

Hehe, well living in Germany helps, but I'm slightly dyslexic so i am never quite sure whether I have spelt it right :D


I agree with you, indicating where you are going is not courtesy but just a plain simple common sense thing to avoid dangerous situations.

:D Sorry i was less than subtle in my first post, just one of my pet hates if you know what i mean. :)

This is an awesome thread... one of my major pet peeves has been sloooooow left-lane drivers.

two instances I particularly abhor:

a)I'm doing 75 (in a 65 MPH zone) in the left lane. I'm fairly certain that cops won't touch me since i've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for doing less than 10 over the speed limit. And I'm driving well (EG, not zig-zagging all over the place or slamming on my brakes constantly, etc.). I'm whistling, la-dee-da, when all of a sudden a slow car looms on the horizon. There are two lanes going my direction... the car in the right lane and the car now blocking me in the left lane are doing about the same speed. i get right on the guy's bumper, move left to make sure he sees me... i point to the right, hoping he'll see it and hurry up and get over in the right lane where he belongs. of course he doesn't... he's perfectly happy to clog the left lane doing 65. I get pissed... "GET THE F*** OUT OF MY WAY!"

b)I'm in the right lane ... traffic is fairly heave. Again we're on a two-lane street (two lanes going one direction). I'm doing, say, 30 in a 30, stuck in traffic. I see a space opening up in the left lane but the car in front of my also sees it and darts into the left lane in front of me... and the A**HOLE decides to CONTINUE DOING 30! I'm thinking, "Why the F did you cut me off to get into the left lane and then KEEP GOING THE SAME SPEED? Why did you change lanes at all?"

Rules of the Road in Frangland:

1)Slower traffic keep right. If you're in the left lane and you see someone riding your ass, GET OVER so that he can pass you.

2)If you cut someone off, KEEP YOUR SPEED UP. And if the person stays on your ass after you cut him opff, it's a pretty good sign that you either need to speed up or get over.

3)You may pass on the right, if the person in your way is in the left lane, or if the left lane is unavailable for passing, etc. Otherwise, try to pass people on their left.

4)Fast green/slow red: Punch it when the light turns green, especially when you're at the head of a long line of traffic... every additional second required for you to putter across the intersection means one more car will not be able to make it across before the next red light. Slow on red means that if you see the light turn yellow and you're a hundred feet from the light, try to stop... when you run a red light, you might be making those who now have the green light to wait. Nashville drivers are generally slow on green/fast on red, which is exactly the opposite of what it should be, and this pisses me off.
In Drunk Commies each car comes equipped with a submachine gun and a video camera. If someone drives like a douchebag you may shoot him. If the video shows him driving in an unacceptable manner you are not prosecuted.

Yes, I can't say how many times I've been pissed off by drivers who have plenty of room to move over yet never care to as I'm coming up on them, they could easily move over and behind the car they're trailing, which consequently is also the car preventing me from passing the asshole in front of me, but most are seemingly oblivious. It's just plain "un"common sense, (I'm sick of calling something so rarely seen exhibited by people in general "common" common sense seems to be one of the rarest traits a person can posses these days), and the bullshit about being pulled over for going 40 on an abandoned street before 8 am is just rediculous. Fuck speeding laws, fuck seat belt laws, they can have their fucking money, I'm not going to become one of those morons that follows pointless laws just because they're laws, they can have their money if that's what it takes for me to be able to drive safely and reasonably. Just because I go on average 10-15 mph above the speed limit doesn't make me an unsafe driver, the old ladies going 5-10 mph below the speed limit, those are unsafe drivers, it's just not good to have 10-20 cars almost bumper to bumper because the front car is being driving by some jackass that can't figure out that they're the problem in such a situation and should apply a bit more pressure to the gas pedal.

I can only hope the nation gets rid of the stupid click it or ticket campaign they're hell bent on enforcing and move on to something like that which will actually help prevent accidents, but I doubt that'll happen, because as the article said, they're just looking for the easy money they can get from fines. It's problems like these that make me dislike America and it's government, it's more concerned about generating money and squandering it than it is about enforcing sensible laws and actually doing the things a government is suppose to be doing. The police should really add to their motto to clarify that when they say "to protect and serve" they're referring to the interests of the government, because I know they haven't done a damn thing for me except hassle me unnecessarily over some law designed solely as an excuse to take more money away from innocent people.


Edit: and seeing the red light/green light thing I agree whole heartedly, I'm almost always the first one off the line when a light turns green, and as I watch everyone else get smaller in my rearview mirror, I can't help but wonder "what the hell, why can I so easily accellerate when a light turns green, the very second it does so, yet manage to leave everyone else behind?" It boggles my mind how they could even be that slow to begin with, I usually have to take my foot off the gas to go as slow as the person in front of me when I'm stuck behind someone at a red light, and tap it on and off just to match their accelleration and not slam into the back of them. It's rather infuriating, and people wonder why road rage is such a problem in this country.

I'm from Mexico and all I have to say is: Lanes? Speed limits?

In Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit ... regardless of which lane you're in.

There is no "fast lane".

In Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit ... regardless of which lane you're in.

There is no "fast lane".
That's how it is in most every state because they're more focused on enforcing rediculous speed limits than they are on making sure traffic is flowing safely and smoothly, which is what is being argued against in the article in case you weren't paying any attention whatsoever to the point of this thread.

You know as much as I would love to see the left-lane hogs be ticketted for doing 55 or 60 in the left lane I don't want more cops on the road patrolling them because then that draws MUCH more attention to my doing 75. Tickets are expensive enough in New York, I don't need speeding ones. Yes I know. I shouldn't speed.

I'm from Mexico and all I have to say is: Lanes? Speed limits?
Borders?
:D ;) :D

That's how it is in most every state because they're more focused on enforcing rediculous speed limits than they are on making sure traffic is flowing safely and smoothly, which is what is being argued against in the article in case you weren't paying any attention whatsoever to the point of this thread.

You'll find very quickly that I never pay attention.

You know as much as I would love to see the left-lane hogs be ticketted for doing 55 or 60 in the left lane I don't want more cops on the road patrolling them because then that draws MUCH more attention to my doing 75. Tickets are expensive enough in New York, I don't need speeding ones. Yes I know. I shouldn't speed.
That's just it, the idea is to phase out speed limit laws and enforce more sensible ones like ticketing left lane hogs.

Yes, I can't say how many times I've been pissed off by drivers who have plenty of room to move over yet never care to as I'm coming up on them, they could easily move over and behind the car they're trailing, which consequently is also the car preventing me from passing the asshole in front of me, but most are seemingly oblivious. It's just plain "un"common sense, (I'm sick of calling something so rarely seen exhibited by people in general "common" common sense seems to be one of the rarest traits a person can posses these days), and the bullshit about being pulled over for going 40 on an abandoned street before 8 am is just rediculous. Fuck speeding laws, fuck seat belt laws, they can have their fucking money, I'm not going to become one of those morons that follows pointless laws just because they're laws, they can have their money if that's what it takes for me to be able to drive safely and reasonably. Just because I go on average 10-15 mph above the speed limit doesn't make me an unsafe driver, the old ladies going 5-10 mph below the speed limit, those are unsafe drivers, it's just not good to have 10-20 cars almost bumper to bumper because the front car is being driving by some jackass that can't figure out that they're the problem in such a situation and should apply a bit more pressure to the gas pedal.

I can only hope the nation gets rid of the stupid click it or ticket campaign they're hell bent on enforcing and move on to something like that which will actually help prevent accidents, but I doubt that'll happen, because as the article said, they're just looking for the easy money they can get from fines. It's problems like these that make me dislike America and it's government, it's more concerned about generating money and squandering it than it is about enforcing sensible laws and actually doing the things a government is suppose to be doing. The police should really add to their motto to clarify that when they say "to protect and serve" they're referring to the interests of the government, because I know they haven't done a damn thing for me except hassle me unnecessarily over some law designed solely as an excuse to take more money away from innocent people.


Edit: and seeing the red light/green light thing I agree whole heartedly, I'm almost always the first one off the line when a light turns green, and as I watch everyone else get smaller in my rearview mirror, I can't help but wonder "what the hell, why can I so easily accellerate when a light turns green, the very second it does so, yet manage to leave everyone else behind?" It boggles my mind how they could even be that slow to begin with, I usually have to take my foot off the gas to go as slow as the person in front of me when I'm stuck behind someone at a red light, and tap it on and off just to match their accelleration and not slam into the back of them. It's rather infuriating, and people wonder why road rage is such a problem in this country.

Omnibenevolent discord, you and i are brothers (unless you're a girl.. lol): i entertain almost exactly the same actions and thought processes as i'm blowing away my competition at the intersection. I think, "What the HELL are they WAITING FOR? Do they REALLY believe the Allstate ads? LMAO! Step on it, people! You're not getting any younger as you putter along in your 300-hp car!"

yeah, don't forget, everyone... SPEED KILLS

(LOL... what a boon for the elderly and other slow drivers for them to justify their road-hog/traffic-pile-up driving).

BAD DRIVING KILLS

----

Drunk Commies
I'm thinking of equipping mine with antimatter rockets that would... if they hit another car... theoretically make that car disappear... so there'd be no huge mess to clean up. hehe

Ahhhh the dreaded Left Lane Locking Losers.... :mad:

Borders?
:D ;) :D

Shhh... he's already made that trek. :D

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=8112

In spite of the biased and arrogant attitude of the author, I sincerely hope this becomes a national movement. I have thought for years that these moving obstacles create a more dangerous driving environment than someone going ten over the limit. I narrowly avoided a head-on collision last week when a desperate driver miscalculated while passing a driver such as this.

Your thoughts?

Bout time...

Like Sammy said, "I can't drive fifty five." And it does bug me when people ignore the "Slower traffic use right lanes" signs.

Borders?
:D ;) :D
Taxes?

Shhh... he's already made that trek. :D
It wasn't my fault. The sign said "No right turns", so of course, I had to turn right :D

first of all i think you all need to calm down while youre driving. that kind of attitude can give you a stroke. the extra 45 seconds you save by forcing some guy to move over with your tailgating and light flashing isnt really worth much now is it?

ive driven many highways in many states and provinces. (ive never driven in europe or mexico). while i do thank god every day that i dont have to drive in california where they have the worst roads in the country (dont bother claiming anything different, ive driven them all) i have found that a few simple things can make your driving smoother. (except in california, nothing can make that better)

stop thinking of yourself as king of the road. you are not special, we dont all need to clear the roads for your benefit.

you will never get through rush hour quickly and smoothly. it cant be done so why get all high-blood-pressured over it? slow down, quit tailgating and just accept it.

pay attention to the other guy. pay attention to when HE is going to have to move into your lane to get around a slower driver. if you either speed up or slow down to accomodate him, it will all go much better. ive found that as i drive somewhere around 80 or 10 miles over the speed limit whichever is slower, i have no big problems as long as i pay attention to what traffic is doing. i let the other guy into my lane to pass the slower driver then speed up again as he gratefully moves back into the other lane.

if the slow bastard in front of you has 3 slow drivers in front of HIM there is no sense flashing your lights at him. stop being a dick, he cant go faster.

dont speed on surface roads. *smack*

when you DO get stuck behind some asshole with a deathwish (how many people get shot for screwing with traffic?) who wont move over or speed up no matter what is going on around him (and really he may just not be paying attention, he is not necessarily trying to piss you off) there is no sense in risking your life, your passengers lives, and the lives of the drivers around you by trying force the issue. BACK OFF for gods sake. just accept that you cant change this situation and wait until things change to resume speeding down the highway.

and be polite, especially when letting the other guy in doesnt really affect you, ESPECIALLY in calfornia where the bad road design has created a state full of rude drivers.

Clearly, Democracian, you have never driven in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. There is no nominating, they win for worst drivers, hands down!

Evidently you havent been to lancaster county. But no, I havent been to RI.
But neither of us have been to Miami, and humor writer Dave Barry has a great deal of convincing evidence that Miami would win a bad driver contest.
I will maintain that Lancaster, while maybe not the worst on the East coast, is the worst in PA.

Evidently you havent been to lancaster county. But no, I havent been to RI.
But neither of us have been to Miami, and humor writer Dave Barry has a great deal of convincing evidence that Miami would win a bad driver contest.
I will maintain that Lancaster, while maybe not the worst on the East coast, is the worst in PA.
the thing that makes miami worse is the mix of young men, people from other countries and the extremely old. the need to worry that they guy stopped on the side street will suddenly pull out in front of you makes for bad drivers.

although i dont think they have any horse and buggy drivers in miami...

first of all i think you all need to calm down while youre driving. that kind of attitude can give you a stroke. the extra 45 seconds you save by forcing some guy to move over with your tailgating and light flashing isnt really worth much now is it?

ive driven many highways in many states and provinces. (ive never driven in europe or mexico). while i do thank god every day that i dont have to drive in california where they have the worst roads in the country (dont bother claiming anything different, ive driven them all) i have found that a few simple things can make your driving smoother. (except in california, nothing can make that better)

stop thinking of yourself as king of the road. you are not special, we dont all need to clear the roads for your benefit.

you will never get through rush hour quickly and smoothly. it cant be done so why get all high-blood-pressured over it? slow down, quit tailgating and just accept it.

pay attention to the other guy. pay attention to when HE is going to have to move into your lane to get around a slower driver. if you either speed up or slow down to accomodate him, it will all go much better. ive found that as i drive somewhere around 80 or 10 miles over the speed limit whichever is slower, i have no big problems as long as i pay attention to what traffic is doing. i let the other guy into my lane to pass the slower driver then speed up again as he gratefully moves back into the other lane.

if the slow bastard in front of you has 3 slow drivers in front of HIM there is no sense flashing your lights at him. stop being a dick, he cant go faster.

dont speed on surface roads. *smack*

when you DO get stuck behind some asshole with a deathwish (how many people get shot for screwing with traffic?) who wont move over or speed up no matter what is going on around him (and really he may just not be paying attention, he is not necessarily trying to piss you off) there is no sense in risking your life, your passengers lives, and the lives of the drivers around you by trying force the issue. BACK OFF for gods sake. just accept that you cant change this situation and wait until things change to resume speeding down the highway.

and be polite, especially when letting the other guy in doesnt really affect you, ESPECIALLY in calfornia where the bad road design has created a state full of rude drivers.

Oye yoy where to begin...

It is possible to be an agressive driver, drive over the speed limit, remind people that it isn't their responsibility to force others to behave as they wish, and remain calm while doing it.

If you really believe roads in CA are worse than roads in MI, I've got Oceanside property in Arizona I'd like to talk to you about. CA road may be more crouded, but they are definitely in better repair...

I don't personally recommend tailgating as it can be dangerous, but slower drivers that create a hazard for the rest of us normal folks do need to be made aware of the fact that they are creating said hazard, an occasional tap on the horn or flash of the lights when someone pulls out in front of you is appropriate at times.

That's just it, the idea is to phase out speed limit laws and enforce more sensible ones like ticketing left lane hogs.

Phasing out speed limit laws is a VERY BAD idea. Granted I love doing 75, 80. It's not safe. I may be a good driver but it boils down to it's not safe. If you get rid of limit laws you'll have people doing 120 and that's even more unsafe. Phasing out speed limit laws is not sensible. In fact, to err on the side of good, doing 60 in the left lane, when the limit is 55 forces those people doing 90 to slow the hell down, making it safer for everyone. Albeit I hate lane hogs, they're really not doing anything wrong. The right lane is for getting on, the middle for driving, and the left for passing. 55 applies to all lanes (or 65 in some areas). The left lane is just for getting around cars or trucks doing like 45, 50. Then you are supposed to move back to the middle and resume 55.

Rules of thumb...

If someone approaches behind you on the highway, and flashes their lights. You move into slower traffic to let them pass.

Also, flashing you high-beams is used to signal to other traffic, you are giving them the clear to pass in front of you (works especially well for truckers, who have limited visibility behind them).

All, in all, Slowertraffic needs to keep to the slower laned of travel. They don't call the right or left (depending on locality) the "passing lane" for nothing.

What I hate worse are Asshats who go 20-25 miles over the speed limit & weave around people going from left lane to right lane to left lane. These people need to be shot & cause the majority of accidents. I'm doing 75 in a 65 trying to get back into the right lane after passing a semi & the dolt flying up behind me at almost 100 weaves around me as I have my signal on. Ilove to honk & wave as I pass by those idiots who get pulled over by the fine members of my local police force giving them a big thumbs up for a job well done. Don't frikkin pass on the right!

Actually, most of the time it isn't that they are going "slow" in the left lane.

Most of the time they are going the speed limit. So they are obeying the law.

Now, I will often be going 10 over and be in the fast lane, but that doesn't always seem to be fast enough for some people. Some people just don't care about anyone else but themselves, nor do they understand that they are reckless drivers.

Some of you will probably hate me when I tell you this...but If I see someone weaving in and out like a maniac (in my rearview mirror) I will pull even with someone else and stay there thus blocking their way :D ticks them off soooo much!

If they flash me or honk and I am going over the speed limit, I have no problem with slowing down even further. I brake for tailgaters.

MWAHAHAHA

People who swerve in and out and cut people off without signalling are much more dangerous than that. So I feel no guilt in doing so :)

(I almost always drive faster than the limit, but I'm never in a hurry, I could sit in a traffic jam for 3 hours without losing pacience, I just crank the music and chill)

Some of you will probably hate me when I tell you this...but If I see someone weaving in and out like a maniac (in my rearview mirror) I will pull even with someone else and stay there thus blocking their way :D ticks them off soooo much!

If they flash me or honk and I am going over the speed limit, I have no problem with slowing down even further. I brake for tailgaters.

MWAHAHAHA

People who swerve in and out and cut people off without signalling are much more dangerous than that. So I feel no guilt in doing so :)
Keep in mind that you may one day piss off the wrong person, get your car intentionally rammed, get dragged out of your car and beaten when you stop, or just get shot. You're playing a dangerous and annoying game. People like you are why I can't carry my guns in my car. I'd lose it and shoot you in the head.

hehe, yeah, but I rarely do it when the car has tinted windows, and if they do ever get in the lane next to me I brake and slow down real quick so they pass me in a breeze :)



besides, I have the same right as them to get annoyed at them for flashing me in the first place, and pull out my own gun (no, I don't have one)

The "right" to do so is NONE.

Actually, most of the time it isn't that they are going "slow" in the left lane.

Most of the time they are going the speed limit. So they are obeying the law.

Now, I will often be going 10 over and be in the fast lane, but that doesn't always seem to be fast enough for some people. Some people just don't care about anyone else but themselves, nor do they understand that they are reckless drivers.

Some of you will probably hate me when I tell you this...but If I see someone weaving in and out like a maniac (in my rearview mirror) I will pull even with someone else and stay there thus blocking their way :D ticks them off soooo much!

If they flash me or honk and I am going over the speed limit, I have no problem with slowing down even further. I brake for tailgaters.

MWAHAHAHA

People who swerve in and out and cut people off without signalling are much more dangerous than that. So I feel no guilt in doing so :)

(I almost always drive faster than the limit, but I'm never in a hurry, I could sit in a traffic jam for 3 hours without losing pacience, I just crank the music and chill)
I'm with you on that one. I love to watch their veins pop out of their necks & steam to blow out their ears.

Keep in mind that you may one day piss off the wrong person, get your car intentionally rammed, get dragged out of your car and beaten when you stop, or just get shot. You're playing a dangerous and annoying game. People like you are why I can't carry my guns in my car. I'd lose it and shoot you in the head.
Then you don't deserve a license or to be able to purchase a gun. How many innocent people are to putting in danger by ramming someone elses car on the road.
Thats the most irresponsible thing I've ever heard.

hehe, yeah, but I rarely do it when the car has tinted windows, and if they do ever get in the lane next to me I brake and slow down real quick so they pass me in a breeze :)



besides, I have the same right as them to get annoyed at them for flashing me in the first place, and pull out my own gun (no, I don't have one)

The "right" to do so is NONE.
It's not about rights. I have the right to walk up to a gang member and ask how much his mother charges for a blowjob. It would be stupid for me to do so. I'd get shot, even though he has no right to kill me, and it's illegal.

BTW, flashing their lights isn't a ploy to annoy you. It's a polite way of saying "Would you please let me pass? I'm trying to travel at a faster speed than you." If you decide to mess with another driver over that part of me thinks you deserve a good beating.

Then you don't deserve a license or to be able to purchase a gun. How many innocent people are to putting in danger by ramming someone elses car on the road.
Thats the most irresponsible thing I've ever heard.
Did I say I'd do it? No. I intentionally don't keep a gun in my car because of idiots who drive to annoy. I'm being responsible by not having a gun in my possesion in a situation where I might not act rationally.

Some people aren't as responsible as me. He might anger the wrong person someday. It probably won't be me.

But doesn't this mean nobody from Michigan would be allowed to drive?

A left lane douchebag was the reason for my last arrest. Dickhead was driving in the left lane, 5 MPH below the speed limit, right next to another driver so I couldn't even pass on the right. I flashed my brights at him to let him know I wanted to pass. No response. I tried it again. Still nothing. So I started repeatedly flashing my brights while honking my horn and riding about an inch off of this shit licking pig fucker's bumper. After about 4 or 5 miles of this I got pulled over for "improper use of headlights". I had a warrant for my arrest out there and I ended up in handcuffs.

Uh...you got what you deserved there. Tailgating and intimidating other drivers just for being slower than you is far more dangerous than someone doing 5 under the limit in the left lane. People like you cause more accidents than the person in front of you.

Uh...you got what you deserved there. Tailgating and intimidating other drivers just for being slower than you is far more dangerous than someone doing 5 under the limit in the left lane. People like you cause more accidents than the person in front of you.
If the person in front of me had been driving in a courteous fashion there wouldn't have been any problem.

Phasing out speed limit laws is a VERY BAD idea. Granted I love doing 75, 80. It's not safe. I may be a good driver but it boils down to it's not safe. If you get rid of limit laws you'll have people doing 120 and that's even more unsafe. Phasing out speed limit laws is not sensible. In fact, to err on the side of good, doing 60 in the left lane, when the limit is 55 forces those people doing 90 to slow the hell down, making it safer for everyone. Albeit I hate lane hogs, they're really not doing anything wrong. The right lane is for getting on, the middle for driving, and the left for passing. 55 applies to all lanes (or 65 in some areas). The left lane is just for getting around cars or trucks doing like 45, 50. Then you are supposed to move back to the middle and resume 55.
Yes, which is exactly why Germany can have no speed limits on the Autobon yet have less vehicle related fatalities than America... :rolleyes: I can drive 40 in the city no problem, if conditions warrant it, I'll drive slower, but 25 is pretty ridiculous in most cases. Likewise, I can safely drive 120 on an open interstate. The point is, whether the speed you are going is safe or unsafe does not depend on how fast you are going, but the conditions of the road. I can easily tell when someone is going too fast for the driving conditions and police should be able to as well. You do not need to enforce set speed limits to promote safe, responsible driving. Someone going 50 when everyone else is going 60 is going to cause problems, just like someone going 90 weaving in and out of traffic, passing people left and right, is going to cause problems, but there's no reason why it should be considered unsafe to be going 90 on a wide open interstate without another car in sight going your direction in good weather.

In Texas, the speed limit is the speed limit ... regardless of which lane you're in.

There is no "fast lane".

That's a matter of perspective. There is no fast lane because Houston (for example) HAS no real speed limit speed limit (oh, they have signs, but this is Texas) and those maniacs drive bumper to bumper at 85+. I was driving through Houston with my Texan fiancee two years ago on the way to Galveston, and when she saw I was leaving room in front of my car for braking purposes, as we're all taught, she asked me what I was doing as if I were some kind of retard. I thought leaving a two-second safety buffer was standard procedure, but not in Texas. All I could think about while my knuckles were blanching was how ONE car having to stop or losing control would doom ALL of these people, and us, to being crushed in a horrendous chain-reaction pile-up.

You are all lucky.
I live in Hungary, and here there are 2 kinds of drivers. One is old people somewhere betweent their 70s and death, and stupid blonde women. These drive as slow as they can in small or old cars, and of course in the left lane. The other kind is the "macho" guys in hyper-super-giga-extra-mega tuning cars which by the way look ridicoulous, or in huge black Audi's or Passat's, and these do at least 170km/h no matter if they are in a town or out of it. So, also considering condition of most roads, driving is the most dangerous and very very very most annoying thing to do here.

Hungarian paprika is world-renowned.

Just curious:

Do hungarians eat a lot of a dish called chicken paprikash? I've always wanted to try that.

My grandpa makes what *he calls* Hungarian goulash... makes it with hungarian paprika, sausage, okra, etc... it's pretty good.

That's a matter of perspective. There is no fast lane because Houston (for example) HAS no real speed limit speed limit (oh, they have signs, but this is Texas) and those maniacs drive bumper to bumper at 85+. I was driving through Houston with my Texan fiancee two years ago on the way to Galveston, and when she saw I was leaving room in front of my car for braking purposes, as we're all taught, she asked me what I was doing as if I were some kind of retard. I thought leaving a two-second safety buffer was standard procedure, but not in Texas. All I could think about while my knuckles were blanching was how ONE car having to stop or losing control would doom ALL of these people, and us, to being crushed in a horrendous chain-reaction pile-up.

sounds like the expressways in Chicagoland

It doesn't matter if the speed limit is 55 or 65... over half the drivers are doing 80+, and the rest seem to go at least 70. It was so refreshing compared to the i-insist-on-pissing-everyone-off-by-driving-the-speed-limit-in-the-left-lane driving here in nashville.

I imagine it's like this: you spend most of your driving time in chicagoland doing the bumper-to-bumper stop-and-start thing... so when you get a chance to fly, you take it.

Phasing out speed limit laws is a VERY BAD idea. Granted I love doing 75, 80. It's not safe. I may be a good driver but it boils down to it's not safe. If you get rid of limit laws you'll have people doing 120 and that's even more unsafe. Phasing out speed limit laws is not sensible. In fact, to err on the side of good, doing 60 in the left lane, when the limit is 55 forces those people doing 90 to slow the hell down, making it safer for everyone. Albeit I hate lane hogs, they're really not doing anything wrong. The right lane is for getting on, the middle for driving, and the left for passing. 55 applies to all lanes (or 65 in some areas). The left lane is just for getting around cars or trucks doing like 45, 50. Then you are supposed to move back to the middle and resume 55.

we are at odds

i believe the left lane should be reserved for fast drivers. if you are in the left lane and someone is on your rear bumper... and you can get over... you should feel obligated to get over.

probably half of all road rage cases can be attributed to slow drivers staying where they're not wanted/where they shouldn't be.

What I hate worse are Asshats who go 20-25 miles over the speed limit & weave around people going from left lane to right lane to left lane. These people need to be shot & cause the majority of accidents. I'm doing 75 in a 65 trying to get back into the right lane after passing a semi & the dolt flying up behind me at almost 100 weaves around me as I have my signal on. Ilove to honk & wave as I pass by those idiots who get pulled over by the fine members of my local police force giving them a big thumbs up for a job well done. Don't frikkin pass on the right!

yah, 100 is a bit fast.

and i don't think people should pass on the right unless there's no way to safely pass on the left... of course sometimes you're in the middle lane (or a middle lane) and the left lane(s) is/are jammed... so to get around the guy in front of you, a right-lane-pass is necessary.

Actually, most of the time it isn't that they are going "slow" in the left lane.

Most of the time they are going the speed limit. So they are obeying the law.

Now, I will often be going 10 over and be in the fast lane, but that doesn't always seem to be fast enough for some people. Some people just don't care about anyone else but themselves, nor do they understand that they are reckless drivers.

Some of you will probably hate me when I tell you this...but If I see someone weaving in and out like a maniac (in my rearview mirror) I will pull even with someone else and stay there thus blocking their way :D ticks them off soooo much!

If they flash me or honk and I am going over the speed limit, I have no problem with slowing down even further. I brake for tailgaters.

MWAHAHAHA

People who swerve in and out and cut people off without signalling are much more dangerous than that. So I feel no guilt in doing so :)

(I almost always drive faster than the limit, but I'm never in a hurry, I could sit in a traffic jam for 3 hours without losing pacience, I just crank the music and chill)

just because a person is speeding does not necessarily mean that he is a reckless driver.

this gets back to that whole "speed kills" public address horseshit.

bad driving kills -- poor eyesight, poor ability to anticipate, poor coordination, and poor attention given (EG, on your cell phone...), etc., are contribute far more to bad driving than does speeding.

I've been going roughly 10 over the speed limit since I lived in Chicago (about 7 years ago) and i have never been in a car accident of any kind.

----

as for your stunt of slamming on your brakes in the left lane when someone is on your bumper, that isn't cool imo... they're there because they think you're in their way and they want you to get over... which, really, if you can get over without jeopardizing yourself or others, you should move into another lane. (assuming you're in the left lane... if you're not, then F them, they can get in the left lane.)

doing that, you're just going to piss them off more.

Oye yoy where to begin...

It is possible to be an agressive driver, drive over the speed limit, remind people that it isn't their responsibility to force others to behave as they wish, and remain calm while doing it.

If you really believe roads in CA are worse than roads in MI, I've got Oceanside property in Arizona I'd like to talk to you about. CA road may be more crouded, but they are definitely in better repair...

I don't personally recommend tailgating as it can be dangerous, but slower drivers that create a hazard for the rest of us normal folks do need to be made aware of the fact that they are creating said hazard, an occasional tap on the horn or flash of the lights when someone pulls out in front of you is appropriate at times.
have you driven in california? i was shocked at how incredibly badly their roads are designed and maintained. michigan has NOTHING on california and yes i have driven in MI

yes slow drivers in the left land are a hazard. thats why you should be careful when driving near them and try to not freak them out with your flashing and honking. someone who is enough of an idiot to go under the speed limit in the fast lane isnt a good enough driver to deal with driving under intimidation.

This is good but we really should concentrate on elderly drivers. Getting their licence renewed every couple of years or so. On second thought, retest EVERYBODY! People can really be dangerous. I was once in the car with my mom in the left lane and this big-ass RV came to turn into our lane while we were still occupying the spot. Luckily the shoulder was big enough to accomidate or the jerk would have hit us, not fun when your going 70mph. You could see other drivers backing away as this was happening, getting away from the coming disaster. That idiot should never have been on the road I really don't care if he was senile or just daydreaming.

yeah in order to get social security you should be required to take the drivers test each year after 65 (or whenever you start to collect)

cant be done because its a federal/state mix of jurisditctions but elderly drivers are a hazard. there does come a time when you are just too damned old to drive and only a test will reveal that.

I just found out that Jeb vetoes the legislation in Florida which would have given police the mandate to pull over left-lane vigilantes. Why? because it could possibly punish people who are driving the speed limit.

I'm so mad I could vote liberal.

It have always been know:

The drivers motto (apply to everyone):

"Anybody going slower than me is a biggoted retard, Anybody going faster is a dangerous bastard."

Clearly, Democracian, you have never driven in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. There is no nominating, they win for worst drivers, hands down!
*DING DING DING*

we do indeed have a winner!

according to a survey released today (at least i heard it on tv this morning) rhode island does have the worst drivers in the country!

congratulations.