OT: Pet peeves on the highway

[winlots]

Would like to parallel the interesting thread about "fast" roadways with another related OT. What are your pet peeves on the highway? I'll give a couple/three:

1. People in the hammer and sandwich lanes who don't move left to make way for faster traffic., often turning three lane highways into one-lane highways for all practical purposes.

2. The superfast smaller bikes which come roaring up and by in a nano second. I always say a sort of prayer for them: "Please just take yourself out and don't take anybody with you."

3. Litterers.

 

[rvwsleep]

Cell phones. Even on the highway people use them. Whenever I'm behind someone who's driving erratically, inevitably they are on their phone.

 

[triaddukefan]

Would like to parallel the interesting thread about "fast" roadways with another related OT. What are your pet peeves on the highway? I'll give a couple/three:

1. People in the hammer and sandwich lanes who don't move left to make way for faster traffic., often turning three lane highways into one-lane highways for all practical purposes.

2. The superfast smaller bikes which come roaring up and by in a nano second. I always say a sort of prayer for them: "Please just take yourself out and don't take anybody with you."

3. Litterers.

????????

 

[winlots]

There used to be devices called "CBs" which drivers, especially but not only truckers, would use to communicate with one another while driving. The CBers developed a very rich slang. Among the terms were "hammer lane" for the high speed lane, "granny lane" for the far right lane, and "sandwich lane" for the one in between.

 

[John]

Cell phones. Even on the highway people use them. Whenever I'm behind someone who's driving erratically, inevitably they are on their phone.

People who text while driving. It's unbelievable how often I see this on the highways, people looking into their laps and fiddling with thier phones instead of, you know, driving.

 

[TDiNozzo]

Cops speeding faster than the speeders.... why aren't they doing the limit and giving out tickets???? Seems they only work on holidays...

Work zones.... right lane closed.... except you never find it ahead.... maybe they were there yesterday????

 

[RadyLady]

My pet peeve is people who feel the need to make eye contact with the person in the car with whom they are carrying on a conversation. That scares the living hell out of me.

I understand the dangers of a careless person on a cell phone but I personally can carry on a conversation while keeping my eyes on my mirrors and what's going on in front of me very easily.

The problems with a cell phones are: the fumbling for the phone to see whos calling which in my case if someone calls me while I'm driving going to go to voicemail, texting of course which is completely stupid, and having to look down to dial which is solved by using voice dialers.

I'm not strongly advocating the use of cellphones while you drive but in the case where it is an emergency and you have to make a call, pull over or if you have a voice dial set up then just speak and use a hands free device and keep your eyes on the road!!!

 

[Wbbfan1]

You're in a traffic jam, and drivers who force themselves between lanes just to advance one or two cars quicker. Then of course if I'm the driver that's trying to do that, the drivers that get right up next to the bumper to prevent me from cutting in.

 

[winlots]

You're in a traffic jam, and drivers who force themselves between lanes just to advance one or two cars quicker. Then of course if I'm the driver that's trying to do that, the drivers that get right up next to the bumper to prevent me from cutting in.

WBB: therein lies the essence of the "sandwich lane" notion, eh?

Everybody: certainly agree with the cell phone posts....much more dangerous than littering, obviously, and there is data suggesting that it causes as many accidents as booze. Definitely a pet peeve of mine which I neglected while posting the thread, and will move it up into my top three

 

[pinotbear]

What it all boils down to - the speeding, the cutting in, the tailgating, the phone use, the pokey guy in the fast lane - is selfishness. A self-centered view of the world, when behind the wheel, manifests itself in so many ways, and almost always to the detriment of smooth traffic flow.

I coached high school softball for 8 years, and, invariably, we had kids getting their permit during the spring season- and, they'd be so excited, just pleased and proud. I always gave them my "10-second" lecture on driving. "For most people, from your age until they reach the age when they stop driving, in a typical day, the most dangerous thing you will do all day - is drive a car. Now, people don't think of it that way - but, they should."

 

[geneticrex]

Anyone doing anything OTHER than paying attention to their driving. Most people have ZERO concept of how fast something bad can happen at highway speeds, especially in traffic.

 

[choochoo]

There used to be devices called "CBs" which drivers, especially but not only truckers, would use to communicate with one another while driving. The CBers developed a very rich slang. Among the terms were "hammer lane" for the high speed lane, "granny lane" for the far right lane, and "sandwich lane" for the one in between.

But why move left when the slow lane is the right lane?

 

[winlots]

What it all boils down to - the speeding, the cutting in, the tailgating, the phone use, the pokey guy in the fast lane - is selfishness. A self-centered view of the world, when behind the wheel, manifests itself in so many ways, and almost always to the detriment of smooth traffic flow.

I coached high school softball for 8 years, and, invariably, we had kids getting their permit during the spring season- and, they'd be so excited, just pleased and proud. I always gave them my "10-second" lecture on driving. "For most people, from your age until they reach the age when they stop driving, in a typical day, the most dangerous thing you will do all day - is drive a car. Now, people don't think of it that way - but, they should."

PINO: very, very well said, top to bottom.

But why move left when the slow lane is the right lane?

CHOO- you are exactly right. Sadly, as my cardiovascular function decreases, I'm finding that many of my cognitive functions are declining as well.....guess it is a matter of blood flow.....or NOT flow, as the case may be. I was thinking " right" but typing " left." So much that used to be automatic seems to require concentration these days.

 

[triaddukefan]

My pet peeve is people who feel the need to make eye contact with the person in the car with whom they are carrying on a conversation. That scares the living hell out of me.
!!

Thats one of the drawbacks of driving with an attractive female in the passengers seat The worst ticket I received was the result of having a pretty female passenger. Years ago as a young lad ... I was driving up Interstate 57 between Champaign and Chicago... and anyone who has driven that stretch knows its one of the most boring stretches of interstate east of the Mississippi River. Anyway....... I was driving and talking and looking at my passenger.... happened to look in the rear view mirror to see an Illinois State Trooper fast approaching... thought to myself for a second..... I wonder who he is coming for. There was no car beside me... or in front of me... and was like uh oh. The ticket was for 93 in a 65mph zone. ....

Simple solution for that problem.... just request that the female put on a mask while in the car

 

[mcatrage]

People who can't regulate their speed without hitting the brake constantly. You don't need to accelerate to the other cars bumper and then brake.

They create the traffic and cause the ripples that become the stop and go traffic for no reason. As a stick driver as well I hate them even more for making me downshift for no reason.

 

[Aluminny69]

People who type "left" when they meant "right." ( just kiddin')

But, I posed this question on Facebook: If you are in the left hand lane, but going the speed limit, why should someone behind you need to pass? Should we move over, just to let them speed, and break the law?

George Carlin said it best:
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”

 

[Waquoit]

Cops speeding faster than the speeders.... why aren't they doing the limit and giving out tickets???

Nah, that's cool. When troopers go the speed limit the entire highway bunches up, that's dangerous. It's the clowns going slow in the left lane on 2-lane highways that are the worst. Move the ef over. And those who come to a complete stop on the highway to try to pull in because they refused to move over for their exit when they had the chance deserve the horn and finger I give them.

 

[RadyLady]

People who type "left" when they meant "right." ( just kiddin')

But, I posed this question on Facebook: If you are in the left hand lane, but going the speed limit, why should someone behind you need to pass? Should we move over, just to let them speed, and break the law?

George Carlin said it best:
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”

hmmmm....dangerously close vs letting them by...I pick letting them by, and let the police police the road.

 

[RadyLady]

People who can't regulate their speed without hitting the brake constantly. You don't need to accelerate to the other cars bumper and then brake.

They create the traffic and cause the ripples that become the stop and go traffic for no reason. As a stick driver as well I hate them even more for making me downshift for no reason.

I agree - and I would like to add the folks who are not familiar with highway driving who have to break almost to a dead stop when they approach a curve in the road. I was a passenger in a car that did this and I almost went apoplectic!

 

[Aluminny69]

It's the clowns going slow in the left lane on 2-lane highways that are the worst. Move the ef over.

Define "slow." Do you consider going the speed limit "slow?" Do you think the left lane is for people who want to go as fast as they want?

 

[Waquoit]

But, I posed this question on Facebook: If you are in the left hand lane, but going the speed limit, why should someone behind you need to pass? Should we move over, just to let them speed, and break the law?

My buddy's brother-in-law is a hardcore wingnut and his big thing is driving the speed limit in the left lane just to be a . Don't know why I just thought of him. Anyway, you should move over because what you are doing puts others at risk.

 

[RadyLady]

Define "slow." Do you consider going the speed limit "slow?" Do you think the left lane is for people who want to go as fast as they want?

are you a cop?

 

[Aluminny69]

My buddy's brother-in-law is a hardcore wingnut and his big thing is driving the speed limit in the left lane just to be a . Don't know why I just thought of him. Anyway, you should move over because what you are doing puts others at risk.

First, I didn't say I do it, just posing a hypothetical ( and possibly ethical) question. Isn't the person speeding putting people at risk? If they lose control, or get into trouble, your being in the right hand lane is not going to save you. Why do they have speed limits?

Which brings up a real pet peeve: Tailgaters! On one lane roads, I tend to slow down for tailgaters. Hey, if you're going to rear end me, it's better at 20 mph than 40 mph. Call me a , but tailgating is dangerous. You have no idea why I might need to suddenly stop. Most if not all rear end collisions are the result of tailgaters....

 

[Waquoit]

I agree - and I would like to add the folks who are not familiar with highway driving who have to break almost to a dead stop when they approach a curve in the road. I was a passenger in a car that did this and I almost went apoplectic!

My aunt is like that. No concept of driving with the foot off the gas. My driving instructor said that if you have to use the brakes on the highway you did something wrong.

 

[Aluminny69]

are you a cop?

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once