Hi I'm a Idiot Driver RANT!

[jezter6]

Plus, that is labelled literally over a mile in advance with signs and now they even plastered the Route #s ON THE ROAD SURFACE in huge red/white/blue symbols, so if you are in the wrong-lane you are an idiot. I drive this interchange almost daily without many issues at all...

It's not the fact that they're labeled incorrectly - it's that left hand exits cause people to "prepare to exit" by hanging out in the left lane well in advance of the need to exit because they are scared they won't be able to get over in time.

If ALL exits were on the right, then the left lane can move freely because the slow guys coming on and the idiots preparing to exit 7 miles early can all go slow in the right lane and not congest traffic for those of us NOT getting on or off that piece of highway any time soon.

 

[RoaringBrewer]

It's not the fact that they're labeled incorrectly - it's that left hand exits cause people to "prepare to exit" by hanging out in the left lane well in advance of the need to exit because they are scared they won't be able to get over in time.

If ALL exits were on the right, then the left lane can move freely because the slow guys coming on and the idiots preparing to exit 7 miles early can all go slow in the right lane and not congest traffic for those of us NOT getting on or off that piece of highway any time soon.

Makes sense now!

I'm all for wide-open-barrel-through left lanes... haha. :rockin:

 

[RoaringBrewer]

The other thing that causes 'lefty hangers' is busy, impending merge zones. I can understand getting over and allowing traffic to merge in when its busy, but you don't need to get over 3 miles too soon!!

There is a specific spot on 322E, where 225 merges on (bringing at least 50% of the traffic from 'the north') that is terrible at this. People literally jam the left lane (going speed limit or under or its so pack you are crawling) b/c they know this merge zone is coming up IN 3 MILES!!!

I've realized (after driving it for years) that even the normal, right driving lane moves much faster than the passing lane due to all the lefty hangers and all the people switching into that lane...

I do what any smart individual would do, ride the right lane (cruising past 100s of cars in the process), until very near the merge point, then find my way over into the left lane where there is an opening between trucks, people not paying attention, etc. It's failproof and saves me at least 5-10 mins per day and a lot of animosity towards the lefty-handers.

 

[kornkob]

I drive truck for a living and this irritates me, I have two big signs on the back of my trailer, one states this vehicle makes wide right turns, however people still try to sneak around beside me when I swing out for a turn. The second signs states If you cant see my mirrors, I cant see you. There are to many people on the road that are very uncourteous to trucks.

I'm the kind of guy who lets truck in or helps them merge by playing 'blocker' when their signal comes on. My grandfather was union steward in Detroit for the Teamsters during some of the Hoffa years. So don't get me wrong as I say this.


The percentage of ****** people who aren't respectful of truckers is about the same as the ****** truckers who tailgate (especially tailgating smaller vehicles), cut people off, drift out of their lane, honk their airhorn unnessicarily, yammer on the cell phone in the middle of rush our traffic, use engine braking in residential areas and otherwise act like jerks on the road.


And it's not 'the trucker's office'--- truckers just happen to get paid to work in a public space. The problem with truckers claiming the road as 'their office' is that it builds a sense of entitlement that engenders the kinds of behaviors described above. It's not yours or mine. It's ours.


The issue is really about courtesy in sharing the space and having a mindset to match the fact that it is a publiclly shared space with dangerous equipment moving at high rate of speed.

 

[RoaringBrewer]

I'm the kind of guy who lets truck in or helps them merge by playing 'blocker' when their signal comes on. My grandfather was union steward in Detroit for the Teamsters during some of the Hoffa years. So don't get me wrong as I say this.


The percentage of ****** people who aren't respectful of truckers is about the same as the ****** truckers who tailgate (especially tailgating smaller vehicles), cut people off, drift out of their lane, honk their airhorn unnessicarily, yammer on the cell phone in the middle of rush our traffic, use engine braking in residential areas and otherwise act like jerks on the road.


And it's not 'the trucker's office'--- truckers just happen to get paid to work in a public space. The problem with truckers claiming the road as 'their office' is that it builds a sense of entitlement that engenders the kinds of behaviors described above. It's not yours or mine. It's ours.


The issue is really about courtesy in sharing the space and having a mindset to match the fact that it is a publiclly shared space with dangerous equipment moving at high rate of speed.

Well stated - although I think RIC had come around a bit before this and admitted that there was a large portion of the 'trucking community' that are d-bags, as well...

And then it obviously evolved into, there are a lot of drivers (period) who are d-bags, whether driving rigs or cars...

Although, I do feel the rig-drivers should play a little more nicely considering they are driving something that weighs about 24x what my car weighs. All vehicles are dangerous, but their's are a bit more dangerous. There are many fatal accidents, but the probability of an accident becoming fatal probably increases 10 fold if a rig is involved. It's kind of like the pitbull versus jack russel discussion in the dog thread... (I kid, I kid...)

 

[brauhaus]

Did this happen in N. Carolina? There is a thread on Corvette Forum about a guy who had a truck drag his car. Just wonder if this is one in the same. Was it a Corvette?

Sorry, Pa and it was a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

 

[kornkob]

Well stated - although I think RIC had come around a bit before this and admitted that there was a large portion of the 'trucking community' that are d-bags, as well...

Yep-- i missed that.

Although, I do feel the rig-drivers should play a little more nicely considering they are driving something that weighs about 24x what my car weighs. All vehicles are dangerous, but their's are a bit more dangerous. There are many fatal accidents, but the probability of an accident becoming fatal probably increases 10 fold if a rig is involved. It's kind of like the pitbull versus jack russel discussion in the dog thread... (I kid, I kid...)

There's an added situation here: rig drivers not only pose a greater risk because of the size of their vehicle but also because of the frequency that they are on the road.

Risky driving truckers (as well as otehrprofessional drivers-- taxis, LEO, delivery drivers) should be held to a higher standard and be hit harder when they violate the law not only because of the higher risk they might pose because of the size of the vehicle but because they are driving a lot more than the rest of us. A high risk professional driver exposes more people to that risk than the average joe driving to work every day.

 

[RoaringBrewer]

Risky driving truckers (as well as otehrprofessional drivers-- taxis, LEO, delivery drivers) should be held to a higher standard and be hit harder when they violate the law not only because of the higher risk they might pose because of the size of the vehicle but because they are driving a lot more than the rest of us. A high risk professional driver exposes more people to that risk than the average joe driving to work every day.

Excellent point...

Maybe we need to actually start using those, "how's my driving" numbers on the back of trucks and delivery vans and we could weed out the d-bags?!

I caught up to the truck that cut off 10 cars at the exit on a double line the other day and was soooo tempted, but I didn't. No matter how PO'd I was at him, I wasn't sure it was worth the risk of the guy actually losing his job as opposed to getting a slap on the wrist.

I guess if it were a 3-strikes you are out (3 different incidents) type deal or something, and the trucking services promoted calling them, only then would those call-in #s actually work.

 

[jezter6]

They need to come up with a better system. Trying to read a number and dial or just trying to write a number down for later is as dangerous or more as the guy driving the car.

Of course, I don't have any good ideas, I just think the system isn't great and could be better used.

 

[kornkob]

Excellent point...

Maybe we need to actually start using those, "how's my driving" numbers on the back of trucks and delivery vans and we could weed out the d-bags?!

I caught up to the truck that cut off 10 cars at the exit on a double line the other day and was soooo tempted, but I didn't. No matter how PO'd I was at him, I wasn't sure it was worth the risk of the guy actually losing his job as opposed to getting a slap on the wrist.

I guess if it were a 3-strikes you are out (3 different incidents) type deal or something, and the trucking services promoted calling them, only then would those call-in #s actually work.

While using the numbers is good advice, I really dislike the way all forms of the '3 strikes' or 'zero tolerance' policies have been handed in the past. Casts too wide a net with too little room for taking into account mitigating circumstances.

 

[VatorMan]

Sorry, Pa and it was a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

I was off a bit. It happened in Bowling Green KY.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=2007231

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Please, for the sake of your life and for others, do not tailgate tractor trailers, the signs on the truck that say: "IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY MIRRORS I CAN'T SEE YOU" are there for a reason.

I agree completely, but why stop with truckers? Don't tailgate, period. If you do, you're a ******.

 

[kornkob]

It's hard not to follow too close in traffic sometimes. Just today I was driving home with enough space between me and teh guy in front of me. Someone cut into the space--- they turned on their signal for one blink cut over and slowed down.


So I sighed and backed off to a safe distance again. 3 more times this happens to me. Then I close it up so that it's unsafe to cut in front of me but this means I'm too close to the guy in front of me.

 

[RICLARK]

I dont want to argue with anyone because im too druck and may say something I regret.However I ask why should I be held to more scrutiny then the average joe when he is just as dangerous as I am if not more because of his capability to whip in and out of traffic and excessive speeding?

 

[Schlenkerla]

I get really pissed about illegal aliens driving. I can't tell you how many times I've been in close calls with some of them. Its like they don't know rules of the road.

I imagine the illegal alien truck drivers are about the worst it can get. Ignoramus-Maximus!!!

 

[JustDave]

Anyone who's ever driven a loaded Uhaul on the highway should have some idea of how difficult accelerating & decelerating a truck can be, as well as maneuvering with only the side mirrors to guide you. And I'm sure it's a lot more difficult to drive a real truck ...

The moral of the story: give trucks plenty of room, and don't drive like a d-bag.

 

[sause]

What pisses me off is when you are coming up of a car going 2-3mph faster than it and when you move over to pass it they speed up so you can't pass it. Is this a race? Why not let me go? If this happens to me I have to beleave that it happens even more to truck drivers.

Another thing is when some one will catch up to you in the right lane and then will tail gate you when the left lane is wide open only to stay with you for 3-4 miles and move over after they see I'm not going to speed up for them. And ounce they pass me and there are no more cars to pass they SLOW DOWN! So I have to pass them but they do what I said before. This has to be a huge pain for truck drivers.

 

[kornkob]

What pisses me off is when you are coming up of a car going 2-3mph faster than it and when you move over to pass it they speed up so you can't pass it. Is this a race? Why not let me go? If this happens to me I have to beleave that it happens even more to truck drivers.

Another thing is when some one will catch up to you in the right lane and then will tail gate you when the left lane is wide open only to stay with you for 3-4 miles and move over after they see I'm not going to speed up for them. And ounce they pass me and there are no more cars to pass they SLOW DOWN! So I have to pass them but they do what I said before. This has to be a huge pain for truck drivers.

I think those are just unconcious behaviors and the peole aren't even aware of the fact that they are doing it. I've been a passenger in a car, chatting with the my buddy who was driving, and noticed that behavior. When I asked him about it he didn't realize he was pacing the car next to him.

I suspect that most people probably do it, although I am at a loss to explain the mechanism.

 

[MNBugeater]

It's hard not to follow too close in traffic sometimes. Just today I was driving home with enough space between me and teh guy in front of me. Someone cut into the space--- they turned on their signal for one blink cut over and slowed down.

This is so true. When my dad was teaching me how to drive or when I was first driving, my dad would tell me to leave "idiot" space between me and the car in front of me.

I asked why he called it idiot space.

He said, "Two reasons... So you have time to react to the idiot driving in front of you, and only an idiot would pull in that space."

 

[jezter6]

The idiot space thing drives me nuts too. I live in a very high traffic city and rush hour here is in the top 10 in America...it drives me nuts. I leave enough room so that I don't have to slam on my brakes every 30 seconds, and every time I leave that extra car length some ******* jumps into the space, so I slow down and more jackoffs come over and then slam on their brakes.

I miss living in the country...

 

[morrighu]

I personally blame a lot of the issues between trucks and cars on crappy highway design and crappy traffic laws. And from what I 'm reading in this thread, a lot of the issues you guys mention are almost 100% due to either poor highway design or inadequate/improper legislation.

1) Signage could be orders of magnitude better in most places. Here in Texas you usually get ~1/4 mile notice from sign to exit. Sadly, it tends to be on the scanty of side of that. I've seen signs so close to the exit that I could have stood next to the exit sign and pegged cars on the ramp with a baseball. That's often not enough for me to make an exit in my car, much less some giant thing like an 18-wheeler. Adding to the problem, I don't think that the people who put the signs up can read. They don't always affix them to the right places or get indicate which lanes are going where properly. Worse yet, it was a fad for a while for the State Hwy. Dept to put in left lane exits. Yeah, everyone's expecting *that*.

2) Curves shouldn't be steep enough or sharp enough to cause a truck to tip. That's really poor highway design. The company that designed it should have to pay to have it rebuilt properly so that it can be taken at speed without the truck overturning.

3) Big trucks & other slow moving vehicles should have their own lane. It should be reserved for entering and leaving the highway and for vehicles that are towing, having issues, etc. This should be the right most lane. You could pass by pulling into other lanes temporarily but if you get caught not passing and outside your lane, it should be a hefty fine.

4) Exits should be on the right. Period. No exceptions. Ramps should be one way (i.e. no combination, on/off ramps & yes, I've seen this but it was in Arkansas)

5) Ramps should offer sufficient distance for an 18-wheeler to accelerate/decelerate to an appropriate speed for the surrounding traffic.

6) Minimum speed limits should be enforced. I've seen far more wrecks caused by some dork doing 35 or even 45 on the highway than someone doing 90. Usually the dork doing 35 or 45 isn't involved in the wreck, just the guy who swerved to miss him. Seriously, who gets on a highway and tries to drive 35?

 

[RodfatherX]

yea!! this is probably my fav thread so far


I hate the jerks that drive in the left lane doing the speed limit or below and just sit there even after I honk my horn at them .......cops really need to enforce the slow traffic keep right rule..



and I agree trucks make the world go around...


Most of the trucks I see are courteous and I try to return the favor to them....but there is always the jerk too that will try to run me off the road to get over even though I can clearly see his face through his mirrors..

 

[DrunkTrucker]

I drive local here in Phoenix and just when I think that I have seen it all something else comes along and surprises me. I think people need to pay attention to what they are doing and be curteous to other drivers. Its amazing what you see driving a big rig. Everyday is a freaking adventure.

 

[enderwig]

This is slightly But I wish that you had to retake the written test everytime that you renew your license, CDL or regular. Do you know how many idiots out there have no idea how a 4 way stop works, or the rules for when you do or do not stop for a school bus! I think that most people haven't reviewed the proper rules of the road since they were 16 and took the written test the first time. Maybe, just maybe having to recite that info every few years might remind some people of the rules.

 

[RICLARK]

This is slightly But I wish that you had to retake the written test everytime that you renew your license, CDL or regular. Do you know how many idiots out there have no idea how a 4 way stop works, or the rules for when you do or do not stop for a school bus! I think that most people haven't reviewed the proper rules of the road since they were 16 and took the written test the first time. Maybe, just maybe having to recite that info every few years might remind some people of the rules.

Nope, they just dont pay attention. It takes to much time out of there life to stop for a school bus or to much common sense to realize that when I was 16 I learned, if the person was there before me or at the same time I yield to the right.

 

[kornkob]

This is slightly But I wish that you had to retake the written test everytime that you renew your license, CDL or regular. Do you know how many idiots out there have no idea how a 4 way stop works, or the rules for when you do or do not stop for a school bus! I think that most people haven't reviewed the proper rules of the road since they were 16 and took the written test the first time. Maybe, just maybe having to recite that info every few years might remind some people of the rules.

Actually I think that people should have to retake the behind the wheel test every 10 years so we can get people who are obviously no longer capable (through development of bad habits or changes in their ability to handle driving) out from behind the wheel.

But hey-- I'm a radical like that.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

This is slightly But I wish that you had to retake the written test everytime that you renew your license, CDL or regular. Do you know how many idiots out there have no idea how a 4 way stop works, or the rules for when you do or do not stop for a school bus! I think that most people haven't reviewed the proper rules of the road since they were 16 and took the written test the first time. Maybe, just maybe having to recite that info every few years might remind some people of the rules.

I've been saying for years that as part of your initial behind-the-wheel test that a person should demonstrate the ability to change a tire or handle other roadside emergencies. I don't know how many times I've gotten calls from my relatives and had to go bail them out because of something that they should be able to handle themselves.
Of course, there are those that would be exempted from this because of various physical ailments, so don't flame me.........

 

[RICLARK]

Im not down for the written retakes, I would have to take 5 tests every 4 years. I wouldn't be opposed to taking the behind the wheel tests every 10 and also a hazerdous weather driving test.

 

[brauhaus]

I'm not sure how the whole CDL process works, but I think you have to get a physical every year, or the year you renew your license.

Did you know that in PA the only motor vehicle that is allowed to disregard all traffic laws is a Fire Engine while responding to a fire? Even tho we have this leeway, I know our company doesn't abuse it, we still "drive to survive", meaning we try to obey all traffic laws while responding to an incident... with flashers that can change traffic lights and loud sirens and flashy lights it makes things easier, but you wouldn't believe the idiots who just don't pay attention and somehow don't see a huge flashy and loud fire engine coming.

By the way, all of our apparatus can only go a max of 70 mph and we've found driving the speed limit vs. speeding to an incident only has a difference of 45 seconds... so, we take our time and ride with the mentality of "arriving alive".

i try to apply this to my everyday driving as well, there is just no need to speed if the difference is only going to be 45s.

 

[jezter6]

Making people re-take tests doesn't prove anything. People study up and/or straighten up when a test proctor is around for either written or wheel tests.

We need police ON THE STREET observing illegal driving behavior and ticketing the crap out of people so that they have to pay fines, get points towards losing their license, and jack up their insurance bills.

I've always hated the shotgun approach. Why punish EVERYONE by retaking tests when there's that select few that needs fixing?

I believe that we should have volunteer undercover semi-police that are properly trained and are able to take down license plate info and call a ticket into the real cops who send out tickets.