Quoting DocLightning (Thread starter): I can't. I can't with the Toyota Siennas doing 55MPH in the left lane. I can't with the people who take so long to get through an intersection from a stop that the light is changing by the time they hit the other side. I can't with the 25mph down an on-ramp. And now, Maryland is making the test easier to pass. Go ahead. Rant away. You know you want to.

I think its crazy that it is this kind of things 99% of drivers are frustrated about. What about people speeding like crazy? People overtaking without respect of others lives? People who drink and drive? Drive while tired and so on? Because of this people die every day. But no, the real big thing problem is the people who drive slowly and block the left lane.  

Quoting planewasted (Reply 50): What about people speeding like crazy?

don't you know the rule? Everyone going slower than you is a snail, everyone going faster is reckless! "Is he crazy, I am already 20 over the speed limit, how fast is he going.......?"

best regards
Thomas

What annoys me more than anything else in the World is driving on smaller roads on saturdays from March to October. You are always going to stumble upon a Group of cyclists dressed like they are participating in Tour de France and failing to grasp that other people need to use the road as well.

How do like to meet these Guys coming from the opposite direction around a blind coner?


[Edited 2015-05-24 02:10:03]

Quoting larshjort (Reply 52): How do like to meet these Guys coming from the opposite direction around a blind coner?

practical implementation of Darwinism.

At least here you are supposed to honk when turning a blind corner on a narrow street. More importantly, if you can't stop within your visibility you are going too fast, there could be a broken down car lurking around that corner.
But riding your bike on the wrong side of the street is just flat out stupit.

Best regards
Thomas

Quoting tommy1808 (Reply 38): That way you won't wet your pants when you graduate to a real roundabout:

That's not a round about... that's a silly roundabout!   

You guys should drive here in Jakarta and be extremely grateful of the driving you guys do over there...

Quoting larshjort (Reply 52): How do like to meet these Guys coming from the opposite direction around a blind coner?

Hit the gas, activate the wipers and get out of there ASAP. 

Quoting planewasted (Reply 50): Quoting DocLightning (Thread starter): I can't. I can't with the Toyota Siennas doing 55MPH in the left lane. I can't with the people who take so long to get through an intersection from a stop that the light is changing by the time they hit the other side. I can't with the 25mph down an on-ramp. And now, Maryland is making the test easier to pass. Go ahead. Rant away. You know you want to. I think its crazy that it is this kind of things 99% of drivers are frustrated about. What about people speeding like crazy? People overtaking without respect of others lives? People who drink and drive? Drive while tired and so on? Because of this people die every day. But no, the real big thing problem is the people who drive slowly and block the left lane.

Doc has nailed it.

"Speed kills" is the mantra oft-repeated, and it is utter silliness. Speed does not kill at all, you can go fast all day long and be just fine. It is the sudden stop that will do you in, and it is to avoid these sudden stops that we have basic, logical rules of the road. Slower traffic keep right is one of the most basic, and most often ignored, rules, and that DOES kill, on a regular basis.

It's all about having the least conflict on the road, and if you cannot maintain basic right of way, you ought not drive.

Slower.
Traffic.
Keep.
Right.

If you are in the left lane, and someone comes up from behind at a higher rate of speed, move right to allow them to pass. If you do not, you are a hazard, and by blocking the road as you have done, you are creating a much greater hazard, for more people (look in the mirror - all those folks behind you are not following you because you are charismatic; they are trapped, and stress is building as they all try for a way past... YOU).

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 9): Strange, I have to parallel park just about anytime I go into downtown Louisville or I when I have business in Norton Commons, a small, planned community where street parking for visitors is the norm.

I avoid cities as much as possible but I cannot imagine parallel parking would ever be the only option, it sure wasn't when I lived in the city.

Quoting WildcatYXU (Reply 13): Your attitude is incredibly selfish. The road does not belong to you, so use it in the most efficient manner. And just BTW, you're not saving anything with your sluggish acceleration. Your you're riding the torque converter while accelerating slowly. So you're wasting fuel and time.

Interesting as you have no idea how I accelerate. And, I can pretty much guarantee that I would get better fuel economy than you in any car in the world. As for time, well, I see the jackrabbits launch and then 10 seconds later I am right behind them. So much for wasting time. As I said, you need to relax and enjoy life, not rush to your grave.

When I'm riding on the bus and traffic must yield for a merging bus (it's the law), but it takes forever before there is a break in traffic or someone actually yields and the bus can finally get moving. And when a bus is at a bus stop and traffic turning right goes around the bus, which is illegal in Minnesota.

Texting and driving, or any other distraction for that matter. People fiddling with their smartphones and thinking its completely safe. Though I admit I change the radio or the climate control while driving, but never use my phone when the vehicle is in motion.

I also admit I'm not the fastest driver in the world. If I'm in the left lane and I see someone coming up behind me I'll merge right (as long as I don't need to be in the left lane), but then the person behind me merges right the same time I do.

Traffic meeting at a four-way stop intersection at the same time, and then nobody knows who goes first. Then two people go at the same time, and its just a long and awkward process.

People flying through railroad crossings long after the warning devices are activated. This is the reason why trains must sound their horns.

Thats all I got for now.

Quoting IMissPiedmont (Reply 57): I avoid cities as much as possible but I cannot imagine parallel parking would ever be the only option, it sure wasn't when I lived in the city.

The street I live in has exactly two parking spots that don't require parallel parking and, rough estimate, ~50 that do. The only reason those two exist are because the turning bay allows some space for it.

I think the ITE's Parking Generation report would make a nice read, but noch 120 bucks interessting...

Best regards
Thomas

From my experience in the US, I find that Maryland drivers are the absolute worst, without fail. Everytime I see a Maryland plate, I know I'm going to witness some diabolical driving, and am never disappointed. 

About the parallel parking: Most people start too close to the car/curb and run out of maneuvering room before they can get straight.

I was so very proud when I successfully parallel parked a RHD SUV in Adelaide (Christmas Eve traffic, no less).

Since I've been driven around in Morocco last month, I complain much less about everyday drivers here...

Quoting tommy1808 (Reply 32): not for a Category B license. Best regards Thomas

From what I'm reading (wikipedia) you then get a "B (Automatic)" license, forbidding you to drive a manual car.

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 35): The ability to parallel park is a matter of convenience, not safety. When it comes to teaching and evaluating new drivers, safety is where the focus needs to be.

But it is about safety. Here you can have difficulty parallel parking during your test (not doing it in one go), as long as you use your mirrors and blinkers, you'll not get penalized. Stop on the road to park without indicating and you're done, whatever the type of parking space.

My sister has started taking driving lessons three years ago and 2000€ later she hasn't got it yet...

Quoting larshjort (Reply 52): You are always going to stumble upon a Group of cyclists dressed like they are participating in Tour de France and failing to grasp that other people need to use the road as well.

We have those here, too. They tend to stay to the right here. What bothers me are the people in cars who refuse to pass them. Even when it is clear there is no oncoming traffic.

California has a "Three Feet Law" which says that drivers must past cyclists leaving at least three feet space between the cyclist and the car. That's fine, no worries here. I bike sometimes, so I can appreciate that. But, c'mon... even on a double yellow line with no oncoming traffic, pass them already!!

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28): In the UK don't you have to use a manual car? Which leads to the next question how many Americans can drive a manual vehicle.

Definitely not me.

Quoting DIRECTFLT (Reply 46): It is for that reason, that I think it should be illegal to hold a cell phone in your hand while driving. That's just too much multi-tasking for most drivers.

I can multi-task very well while driving. Its very quite rare that I will talk and drive at the same time although I try not to do it when I'm on the highway. Out of the last month, I talked on the phone while driving on the highway once and that was today. I'll own up to that mistake. I don't text and drive though!

Quoting rwessel (Reply 47):

Finally another Chicagoan has responded. I live near DP a few towns over and I know exactly where you are talking about. I've easily navigated that roundabout.

What erks my mind is that people dont stick to the slower traffic use the right lane on the Edens (I94) (3 lanes of traffic each way) and the Tri-State Tollway (294/94) (4 lanes of traffic each way) . I don't know why people think its okay to go the speed limit 55 mph / 90 kph in the middle passing lanes.

I drive 70 mph / 112 kph and if someone is going faster or about to ride my bumper, I'll move over or speed up so I dont get flashed. I think Illinois shouldn't even have a minimum speed limit on the highway.

Although my dumb ass got a written warning by Illinois State Police for doing 65 in a 55 on a Sunday evening in March. I saw him the entire time and didn't even slow down even though the highway was wide open.

The Chicago Tribune ran a story on speeding : http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...illinois-tollway-tri-state-tollway although the article is from 2013, Tollway speed limits at certain areas are now 70.

If you are old get off the highway. It is not for you. Old people seriously go under the speed limit and they sit in the passing lane too. I

The worst worst worst people are the ones that will text while sitting in traffic or the ones that always leave a huge gap for cars to change lanes in during rush hour. Is it really that hard to keep up with traffic? I'll flash my lights at you if you are in the middle lane going the speed limit or can't keep up. You give me the finger, I'll give it back. I'm not a left lane driver if I don't have to be but I'll definitely look at you.

Leo/ORD

Quoting diverted (Reply 34): As far as I'm concerned, you're right, whether or not you can parallel park is probably not life or death. However, it is a great indicator of one's ability to judge distance, steering and pedal input, as well as low speed car control. Someone who KNOWS where the corners of their car are, KNOWS where the wheels are pointing etc. can probably parallel park. Someone who doesn't probably can't. And if you don't know where the corners of your vehicle are, which way your wheels are pointing, or which way to turn to get the desired result, you shouldn't be driving.

DINGDINGDING!!! We have a winner.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28): In the UK don't you have to use a manual car? Which leads to the next question how many Americans can drive a manual vehicle.

I can but that's not required for our test. I learned to drive a manual after I had my license. The learning curve is steep.

Every car I've owned since that 1993 Ford Escort has been an automatic. I've tried to find manuals, but other than certain high-end sports cars and some German imports, manuals are really hard to find in the US.

My favorite thing about owning a manual:
Friend (by which I mean 'random acquaintance who I have no intention of loaning my car'): "Hey, can I borrow your car?"
Me: "Sure! Can you drive a stick?"
Friend: "Uh...I'll ask someone else."

Worked EVERY time. I didn't need to look like a dick by saying no, nor did I have to lie. It was fantastic.  

Having driven down I-5 yesterday, two words: CRUISE CONTROL. Also, when someone is trying to pass you on the left, don't speed up and drive line-abreast with them. I'm trying to get over to the right in front of you so that the guy behind me can pass. I'm not going to do more than 7 over the speed limit. If I get behind you, you will slow to a glacial pace.

Seriously, lady wasn't being deliberately annoying. SHE WASN'T USING CRUISE CONTROL (and I'm pretty sure that her fancy Toyota Sienna had it). Pilots don't hand-fly planes across the Pacific, you shouldn't drive your car by foot down the 5.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): I can but that's not required for our test. I learned to drive a manual after I had my license. The learning curve is steep.

Interesting, you can take the driving test here with either a manual or an automatic, but if you do the test in an auto, your licence is endorsed for driving automatics only during the probationary period (3 years). If you want the endorsement removed, you have to re-take the driving component of the test in a manual.

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences/licence-and-permit-types/licence-conditions

Quoting melpax (Reply 66): Interesting, you can take the driving test here with either a manual or an automatic, but if you do the test in an auto, your licence is endorsed for driving automatics only during the probationary period (3 years). If you want the endorsement removed, you have to re-take the driving component of the test in a manual.

That's interesting because at age 17 I went from not knowing how to drive a manual to proficient in about 72 hours. By one week I could even start out of 5th gear.

Quoting BMI727 (Reply 35): When it comes to teaching and evaluating new drivers, safety is where the focus needs to be.

Really aren't you the person who believes safety equipment shouldn't be mandatory in vehicles?

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): Having driven down I-5 yesterday, two words: CRUISE CONTROL.

Three even better words: radar cruise control. I won't buy another car without radar cruise control again, it's bloody fantastic!!!

I'm a semi driver for Schneider and let me tell you, the crap the goes on around a truck is beyond ridiculous and unsafe. If cops would just hang around trucks (which I noticed they are starting to do) and witness the crap I see everyday, they could earn enough money to pay off the US National Debt in a week.

Quoting Aesma (Reply 62): Here you can have difficulty parallel parking during your test (not doing it in one go), as long as you use your mirrors and blinkers,

Mirrors and turn signals are safety things that should be an automatic fail, but that is not the same as parallel parking.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): DINGDINGDING!!! We have a winner.

Teach students to pay attention to placing the car in a more relevant way. If they really need to parallel park they can learn without wasting instruction or evaluation time.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 68): Really aren't you the person who believes safety equipment shouldn't be mandatory in vehicles?

Manufacturers should not be forced to build for the lowest common denominator. If a model does not have the equipment you want your solution is simple: buy something else.

There's nothing stopping manufacturers from indulging as much of their customers' laziness as they want with cameras, radar cruise controls, etc.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 68): Three even better words: radar cruise control. I won't buy another car without radar cruise control again, it's bloody fantastic!!!

My next car WILL have it.

Turning from one street to another, and turning into the second or third lane (instead of the closest one).

Driving around with fog lamps on (if you don't get it now, you will when you get a little older).

Getting onto a freeway? ACCELERATE! That's what the "acceleration lane" is for, nimrod.

Dim your high beams.

Don't brake all the time - use the brakes when you actually have to slow down, otherwise, just don't. Many drivers exercise the "I brake for air molecules" doctrine.

And, if you must drive, remember: green means "go," so when the light turns green, move out reasonably briskly. you don't have to burn rubber, but be mindful: there are people behind you who also have someplace to go.

Quoting af773atmsp (Reply 58): When I'm riding on the bus and traffic must yield for a merging bus (it's the law)

Tri-Met (PDX) has flashing triangles on the back of their buses to warn drivers they are pulling out from the curb because it is the law to yield so drivers should chill.

Quoting af773atmsp (Reply 58): And when a bus is at a bus stop and traffic turning right goes around the bus

Most places put bus stops across the street or mid block so that does not happen.

Quoting LFutia (Reply 64): I drive 70 mph / 112 kph and if someone is going faster or about to ride my bumper, I'll move over or speed up so I dont get flashed.

Flash to pass is illegal in Oregon. Distracted driving, they call it. I don't see it much here in northern California.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): Having driven down I-5 yesterday, two words: CRUISE CONTROL.

That is part of the reason I take 101. It is so incredibly boring. Nothing to see, nothing to do. Gas up at the bottom of the Grapevine and don't let up until Anderson's!

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): when someone is trying to pass you on the left, don't speed up and drive line-abreast with them.

That's another thing I hate: One car going 65MPH, another car going 66MPH both with cruise control on in a 70MPH zone. The "faster" one passes. Such as it is. 25 miles later, the "faster" one forgets they are passing and still in the left lane going 66MPH trying to figure out why people are whizzing by on the right. Yes, I have seen that between Fairfield and Redding on 505/I-5.

Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 27): I suspect many would struggle with roundabouts

Yep, we did a family trip back in 2012, my wife father and mother had a big Renault, sister and brother in law were in a Focus (both cars were autos) we had a VW Polo 3 cylinder gutless POS......And thanks to roundabouts we got to every place quicker than them.

As I pointed out to friends, if Germany had put roundabouts across Europe they would have on WW II, the American's would ground to a halt.

Quoting Longhornmaniac (Reply 42): Well I got t-boned in my 5-day old Infiniti on Wednesday by a girl running a red light, presumably while distracted (read: texting)...

I'm sorry.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 65): My favorite thing about owning a manual: Friend (by which I mean 'random acquaintance who I have no intention of loaning my car'): "Hey, can I borrow your car?" Me: "Sure! Can you drive a stick?" Friend: "Uh...I'll ask someone else." Worked EVERY time. I didn't need to look like a dick by saying no, nor did I have to lie. It was fantastic.

It is NOT a dick move too say no.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 67): By one week I could even start out of 5th gear.

And by week 2 you needed a new clutch ?

Quoting JakeOrion (Reply 69): If cops would just hang around trucks (which I noticed they are starting to do) and witness the crap I see everyday, they could earn enough money to pay off the US National Debt in a week.

In Vegas they've started tailing ambulances, just to catch the idiots that block/ fail to yield to them.


The other thing i'm seeing here is on residential streets people cutting the corner when they make a turn.

People driving in the shoulder/emergency lane during traffic are some of the worst people out there. It's fun to block them.

Quoting DocLightning (Thread starter): And now, Maryland is making the test easier to pass.

Well, that's in a state in which you aren't required to use a turn signal when changing lanes, so I'd expect some lowest common denominator stuff to come out of there. I don't care how Maryland wants its drivers to drive in Maryland, but the problem is that Maryland isn't a big place, and those drivers drive exactly the same once they cross the borders.

Quoting bgm (Reply 60): From my experience in the US, I find that Maryland drivers are the absolute worst, without fail. Everytime I see a Maryland plate, I know I'm going to witness some diabolical driving, and am never disappointed.

This is my experience as well. When people in northern Virginia and New Jersey make fun of your state for having awful drivers, it's a pretty bad experience.

Quoting larshjort (Reply 52): What annoys me more than anything else in the World is driving on smaller roads on saturdays from March to October. You are always going to stumble upon a Group of cyclists dressed like they are participating in Tour de France and failing to grasp that other people need to use the road as well. How do like to meet these Guys coming from the opposite direction around a blind corner?

I'd rather come around a blind corner to this  

Quoting sccutler (Reply 61): About the parallel parking: Most people start too close to the car/curb and run out of maneuvering room before they can get straight. I was so very proud when I successfully parallel parked a RHD SUV in Adelaide (Christmas Eve traffic, no less).

I have this weird affliction. I can parallel park in the tightest spots you can imagine, with just a few inches of space front and back, and end up perfectly next to the curb first time, every time, even if I'm in a hurry due to cars behind me.

But ask me to pull up to a curb on a quiet street with no cars in front or behind me, and for some reason I have a mental block and end up either two feet away from the curb or screeching the sides of my tires along it.

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 67): That's interesting because at age 17 I went from not knowing how to drive a manual to proficient in about 72 hours. By one week I could even start out of 5th gear.

One of the first things I remember learning in driving school was "don't start out of 5th gear"!

Quoting DIRECTFLT (Reply 77): I'd rather come around a blind corner to this

The issue is that they are looking more like this  

Quoting zckls04 (Reply 78): I have this weird affliction. I can parallel park in the tightest spots you can imagine, with just a few inches of space front and back, and end up perfectly next to the curb first time, every time, even if I'm in a hurry due to cars behind me. But ask me to pull up to a curb on a quiet street with no cars in front or behind me, and for some reason I have a mental block and end up either two feet away from the curb or screeching the sides of my tires along it.

I am the same way. I can parallel park on Van Ness at 5PM on a Friday in like 15 seconds but no way in heck can I parallel park on some back road on a Tuesday morning in the mountains. I don't get it either.

Quoting zckls04 (Reply 78): One of the first things I remember learning in driving school was "don't start out of 5th gear"!

But, can you float the gears?

I always hated the flashers in the Chicago area. North Texas is a whole new set of aggravations, mostly cars parked the wrong way on the street, rolling stops, and twice in the last 6 weeks.... U turn on red.

Quoting sccutler (Reply 72): Dim your high beams.

  

Quoting seb146 (Reply 73): That's another thing I hate: One car going 65MPH, another car going 66MPH both with cruise control on in a 70MPH zone. The "faster" one passes. Such as it is. 25 miles later, the "faster" one forgets they are passing and still in the left lane going 66MPH trying to figure out why people are whizzing by on the right. Yes, I have seen that between Fairfield and Redding on 505/I-5.

Same happens in slow motion on the hill up from the Palm Springs area, eastbound towards Arizona. Worst is on the day before Thanksgiving. It is less than a 2000 foot climb but the grade is steep, and a truck going 38MPH decides it needs to pass a 35 MPH truck. Probably more annoying than a time loss, but the time lost is the time where you can either arrive at 12:30AM or at 1AM.

1) Left lane campers....
2) Roundabouts. These devices are a cheap ass way for a municipality to avoid investing in a 21st century infrastructure. Hell, a lot of folks cannot merge IN A STRAIGHT LINE....and places add CURVES???!!!! Dumb. Invest in a damn traffic signal...with cameras....that way when some dumb ass fails to yield the right of way, the pic can win your case in court....

Quoting bhill (Reply 82): Roundabouts. These devices are a cheap ass way for a municipality to avoid investing in a 21st century infrastructure. Hell, a lot of folks cannot merge IN A STRAIGHT LINE....and places add CURVES???!!!! Dumb. Invest in a damn traffic signal...with cameras....that way when some dumb ass fails to yield the right of way, the pic can win your case in court....

They're higher capacity than lights, especially if there's a primary route through the circle. And no one is required to yield the right of way within them. Those entering them need to yield, but they don't have the ROW.

I have avoided this thread for a while now, but after the events of last weekend, I can't do it anymore  

First: People in CA will happily cruise at 75-80+ on a freeway (which is fast compared to other states, and really fun), until it rains, then everyone goes 20 and decides that skidding out is the best way to handle your car  . Or, they suddenly become irrational, angry, or simply dumb, and go slow EXCEPT FOR WHEN THEY TRY TO CORNER. WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT? (I only just started driving on my own 2 months ago, and this has happened a lot)

Second: I drive two cars, A 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, and a 2015 Mazda 3 Hatchback. (I am not allowed to drive the family BMW.. for... reasons...) I was driving the jeep, and went around a 270º while it was raining. That thing is a roll risk, and while I usually drive nice and fast around the corners, I couldn't, because I didn't feel like dying (I was doing 30, recommended speed was 25). Some B**** in a Passat comes up behind me, probably 3 feet from my bumper, and starts beeping up a storm. So what did I do? Slowed down. She passed me super fast when she could, but I felt proud of myself for wasting a few seconds of her time.

Third: The world in general now (at least the US), is quite unfriendly to Manual Transmissions. My Mazda has some form of anti-roll, but will still roll back a foot or so on a steep hill (theres quite a few near SAN and out east). People LOVE, at a light or stopsign, to stop right up your *ss, creating a terrible situation if you do roll. Also, if you stall, they will beep yell and cuss like nothing else. (I've only been driving a stick 1 1/2 months, but i've only stalled on normal roads 2 times). I find it funny. When my car starts rolling back, or turns itself off (its smart like that) your common sense should kick in. It's not like I stall at a light to be funny. Stupid Americans and their Automatic cars...

Quoting Aesma (Reply 62): Since I've been driven around in Morocco last month, I complain much less about everyday drivers here...

Brings back memories of our driver passing a fuel tanker through an S-curve on a narrow 2 lane road with a sheer cliff on one side. Still not sure how he managed that.

I have an airport related driving rant:

Don't unload your car in the thru-traffic lanes on the airport roadways. Please say goodbye to your girlfriend not there. Anywhere else, actually, would be perfect. And don't leave your door open so you block the other thru lane too.