And while we're on the subject ...
After posting the previous entry (Jan. 8) about turning one's lights on when it's raining, I was informed by several co-workers that one of their biggest pet peeves among all the idiots out there on the road is people who don't use their turn signals. I have to agree that's one of the worst.
How about you, readers? What can you add to the list of driving annoyances? Here are two more of mine:
• Tailgaters, especially guys in big SUVs or pickups, usually jacked up with huge tires. I always feel sorry for them as I pull over to let them pass and they floor it and shoot past me to prove that I was going way too slow to be in their lane (even though I was doing the speed limit). Why do I feel sorry for them? Because it's common knowledge that the bigger the truck, the smaller the ... oh, never mind.
• Smokers who toss their butts out the window: What the hell do you think they put ashtrays in cars for? Find somewhere else for your loose change, you idiots, and start using your ashtrays. Careless smokers are the imbeciles who start brush fires and forest fires. Why is this so hard to comprehend?
Comments
Just a small thing, and not so much a real traffic hazard, but I get annoyed by people that don't know that you can turn left on a red light.
Oh, yes you can.
If you're in the left hand lane of a one- way street, and are turning left on to the left hand lane of another one- way street, you can make the turn on a red light, assuming it's clear of traffic.
Best example is H Street, Eureka and Harris Street. You can turn left on to Harris From H on a red light.
While waiting for some else waiting for the light turn green is a minor inconvenience, the fact they don't know they can turn on a red light there is of concern to me and a lot of people seem to be unaware of that.
What else don't they know?
Posted by: Fred Mangels | January 10, 2008 07:34 AM
On the safety corridor, during rush hour, I'm tired of the driver directly behind me who changes lanes, passes me and then returns to my lane in front of me. Do you feel like you achieved something?
Sorry pal, but when you enter the peloton, it means we're all getting to town at the same time. You can't weave through the 30 cars in front of us.
And when you pull the same maneuver right before your destination offramp and then pull a hard right to make the offramp in time... well, you must be some sort of genius.
Posted by: AJ | January 11, 2008 01:33 AM
AJ wrote, "And when you pull the same maneuver right before your destination offramp and then pull a hard right to make the offramp in time...".
That's a good one. Don't know that I've seem much of that up here but I tend to stay of the freeways up here.
See it down south often enough, though. I'll see someone approaching behind me on my left. He comes screaming past me and then does a quick lane change to the right, right in front of me, and takes the exit off the freeway.
Why the guy (or gal) can't just relax and get into the right lane a half mile or so back is beyond me. I guess they feel they're too important to wast the 10 seconds they'll gain by passing and cutting in front of me.
Posted by: Fred Mangels | January 11, 2008 07:15 AM
You mention smokers tossing their butts but I hate the ones that drive with their cig hanging out the window so THEY don't have to breath the smoke but it blows in my car window when I was hoping for fresh air.
Also, all the commotion about cell phones causing a distractions....why no worries about people with their DOGS in their laps? Can someone really pay proper attention with their poodle or Jack Russell sitting in the window, blocking the rear view and hopping around?
OH, and bumpin tunes SO LOUD that I can't hear my own radio inside my car. I'm not too old, it's just too freakin' LOUD.
Posted by: beachcomber | February 8, 2008 11:57 AM