3/4-3/10
I decided to use my post as a way to vent my frustrations with other drivers. Lately I have noticed people failing to use their blinkers! It may only be a 4-way stop on a quiet street, but that is no reason to neglect the blinker. Even when there are no other cars in sight, I still use my blinker. It's just habit. How is it not a habit for other drivers? I have recently been in a car accident (yes, it was my fault so I probably fall in the "bad driver" category) so I find myself being overly observant now of other drivers and I am so surprised at the lack of blinker usage. I was always taught to just use it no matter what. It can't be that people are too lazy to just flip it on... because, I mean, it's not difficult and does not take much effort. It's hardly a movement. I just don't understand why someone would just choose not to put on a blinker when they're turning. I'd like to think I don't have road rage, but I get mad when I see someone turn without letting me know first! What are some other annoying driving habits people notice???
Contributors
Cool Links
Blog Archive
14 comments:
I hear you on the not using your blinker thing. But worse than not using a blinker, is not remembering to TURN IT OFF! My hugest pet peeve is someone who turns on his/her blinker only to forget to turn it off. I see some people going on the highway for miles and miles without noticing that it’s still on. It frustrates me because, if I want to pass them, I don’t know if I can for lack of knowing if they might smash into my side as I’m passing. And technically, since their blinker was on, I would be at fault!
I’m also very annoyed by people that will stop in the right lane when waiting for a green light to go straight. I’m sorry, that would be the RIGHT TURN lane. When it’s a red light, and I want to turn right, but can’t because you’re using my lane (when there is one right to your left for people planning on going straight), that annoys me.
Another annoy thing that drivers do is pull out RIGHT in front of you only to slow down and almost immediately turn at the next block. I’m sorry, you could see me coming. Could you just wait another five seconds so I can pass and drive on happily at the same speed that I was going? You pulling out in front of me, makes me have to slow down once…and then when you turn on the next block, I have to slow down again. I just think it’s rude and inconsiderate. Do people even follow driving etiquette? Common sense guys, common sense.
ARGH! The blinker issue bothers me as well. Not so much at a stop sign, but especially in the last couple weeks when the roads have been super slippery and dangerous...slowing down to make a turn without using your signal is simply dangerous. I usually vent my frustration immediately by honking at them as I pass. Most of the time though, I encounter bad driving while biking. Bikes aren't allowed on sidewalks (for plenty of good reasons) but people sure don't think they belong in the streets either. I've hit three cars that have pulled out in front of me. Luckily I've never been hurt (cause I'm tough) but it does get annoying. I think we would all be a lot happier and less stressed out if we lowered the pace of life by abandoning cars. Someday perhaps...
I'll end with two quotes:
"Gasoline...taking us there faster than we ever wanted to go!" (not sure who said this)
and
"Oddly, we require more of prospective auto drivers than we do of our presidents. The former at least must pass a test about the rules of the road, but presidents' understanding of leadership is untested until they are already in the driver's seat." ~David Orr
I think you'll be happy to know that I definitely overuse my blinker. Even if I'm in an empty parking lot, I still do it as a force of habit, as embarrassing as it is. But I totally hate it when someone cuts in front of you just to drive extremely slowly in front of you! It’s so annoying! But the thing I hate most about driving, is when other people ask you to drive and then from the passenger or back seat tell you what to do, even when you don’t ask them. Like when there’s an opportunity to cross a street and you feel like it’s risky to cross at a certain point but your passenger will tell you “GO!” If you ask me to drive, then let me actually drive! I can’t stand that.
I don't drive much. Ever. But this weekend I was at QDoba on Prospect and a woman came in who had locked herself out of her car. I told her to go to the Kenilworth Square residence hall, and that the desk could call the campus police for her to let her into her car. When I went back to Kenilworth after my nachos, I asked at the desk if the woman found them and everything, and it turns out that this woman was the mom of the drummer from Smash Mouth and told the desk she'd hook them up with tickets next time the band played in town. I checked on wikipedia, and Smash Mouth is currently on their third drummer.
So I guess what I'm saying is sometimes it's kind of cool when people can't work cars correctly.
I know exactly where you're coming from. My mom is a drivers education teacher so all of these things are engrained in my brain. I can understand not using a blinker if no one else is around, but I have seen people cross three lanes of traffic without using a blinker.
What i want to know is why people can ignore other people blinkers so easily. The other day I was going to work and I needed to get into the middle lane from the left so I put on my blinker to signal that. I ended up almost missing my exit because people were just completely ignoring the fact that my blinker was on. It wasn't like I waited until the last minute either, I had ample time to get over if those other drivers would have given me the space to do it, but no one did!
I would have to say that my biggest pet peeve is when you are on a four lane highway and someone speeds up and then just stays along side of you. They don't attempt to go faster and they don't slow down. It ends up being really awkward and I almost feel as though they are in my car with me or I am in their car with them. There are also the weird looks that I often give them or they give mean. Sort of a subtle nonverbal communication. If you are going to speed up, go faster then the person in front of you and get in the right lane.
Worst thing EVER: People who don't put on their blinker at a red light until the light turns green!! I hate these people!! I wish I had a craptacular car because I always want to intentionally ram their car!!
I am one, among many people, that would suggest that I am one of the worst drivers out on the road...all of the things that my clever classmates have mentioned as "pet peeve driver habits" I unfortunately do on a daily basis. I failed my drivers test the first time because I turned into oncoming traffic so I should not be out on the road...however, I am out there obliviously breaking law with my horrible driving habits with the rest of them. BUT, I too get annoyed when people cut me off or drive really slow in the left lane! On the flip side, sometimes there is just too much stuff going on for me to be as attentive as I should be! I'm sorry in advance if I'm the person you are honking at!
I can't stand when people don't merge over until the last second when they are turning. It's like... Hey! Get your ass over. Jeez! Yeah I have road rage...just a tad. But seriously, I don't understand it. I think the driver purposely wants me to have to brake. I don't even ride on other people's tails when I'm driving, so there is no reason for their lack of merging over to the side. I feel that it should be common courtesy.
Another pet peeve is when cars go under the speed limit, excluding bad weather conditions. If you don't know where you are going...pull over until traffic passes and then go 20 under the speed limit. Gosh! I mean if you're allowed to go 55, why wouldn't you?
I'm a big blinker fan too...sometimes I even use it in parking lots just out of habit...kind of lame.
Anyway, I am always in awe of how difficult people find it to drive on the interstate! The left lane is the PASSING lane, not the DRIVING lane. You should never be in the left lane unless you are going faster than the people in the right lanes (grr..)
Also, and I think this was mentioned, people who don't pay attention when they're coming from the on ramp. Find a spot where there isn't a car or I'm going to run you over
p.s. I drive a Toyota Corolla so I'm pretty intimdating
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who refure to use blinkers when they drive. Last Sunday, I was following someone and we came to a four-way stop and they failed to put on their turn signal to turn left. Well, I let them have it when I just layed on my horn for like 5 seconds. Well, the forgetful driver happened to be one of my teammates on my soccer team. We were both driving to our game. He apologized for his lack of attentiveness and said that he was distracted. Then, I felt bad. Oh, well. He'll learn to use it next time no matter what.
I don't drive too often. I never get to mad at other drivers because I like to drive like an old lady. I like to stay at least five under the speed limit and I make very slow turns.
Lately, with all the weather, I have really been bugged by a lot of drivers. I cant stand driving in the snow (and yes, I am probably the one on the most left hand lane going 40 on the highway), and I absolutly hate it when someone cruises by you in their SUV, going 80 when it's sleeting and snowing. I am just trying to be safe and they plow through like there are no worries!
my pet peeve is when people act like they are the only ones in the whole world. that meaning they drive 7 mph around the city gawking at god knows what. ughhh its making me mad just thinking of them. you know what im talking about, the people that drive real slow because they think that a spot will just show up and if they hadnt been driving slow would have missed it.... jerks... so the go pedal is on the right... lets use it :)
Post a Comment