Ron4RNevada
New member
Thank God I live in rural northern Nevada! Most places we only have one lane and no traffic (I try to avoid Reno).
Bad Drivers and Their Habits
- Thread starter 5ontheFloor
- Start date
Swampmonger
New member
Buying my '06 Jeep four years ago changed the way I drive. Anything over 65 with the 4.0L I6 is just wasted gas. I drive the speed limit. In the right lane. I do the same in my T4R even though it's much more efficient.
My life is just so much better. I don't feel like I get anywhere any slower than I used to. Obviously, I do, but not so much that it actually makes a difference. It takes me a couple of minutes longer to get to work, but in the big scheme of things what does that matter? The lack of frustration is so much healthier.
Another thing that changed me was when I started riding my bike to work. It turned a 15 minute commute into an hour. I enjoy it, though. The incredibly dangerous things I see people do to cut literally two seconds off their commute is mind-boggling.
To stay on the OP's topic...I might be the guy in the passing lane that someone honks at and gets three inches off my bumper. Like I said, I do the speed limit in the right lane, and has been pointed out not everyone else does. That means I have to pass occasionally. I'm mindful of people approaching me on the left. I'm not going to slam over in the left lane and cut someone off. However, I'm not going to just hang out behind someone driving slower than me, either. I will get the the left lane sometimes even knowing a car behind me will have to slow down for a few seconds. I always make sure that I am actually passing a vehicle and I make sure to put on my right blinker to let those behind me know that I am aware they are back there and I will get over as soon as I've passed. It works out for the most part, but occasionally I do get a jerk that can't be inconvenienced for 20 seconds while I pass.
My life is just so much better. I don't feel like I get anywhere any slower than I used to. Obviously, I do, but not so much that it actually makes a difference. It takes me a couple of minutes longer to get to work, but in the big scheme of things what does that matter? The lack of frustration is so much healthier.
Another thing that changed me was when I started riding my bike to work. It turned a 15 minute commute into an hour. I enjoy it, though. The incredibly dangerous things I see people do to cut literally two seconds off their commute is mind-boggling.
To stay on the OP's topic...I might be the guy in the passing lane that someone honks at and gets three inches off my bumper. Like I said, I do the speed limit in the right lane, and has been pointed out not everyone else does. That means I have to pass occasionally. I'm mindful of people approaching me on the left. I'm not going to slam over in the left lane and cut someone off. However, I'm not going to just hang out behind someone driving slower than me, either. I will get the the left lane sometimes even knowing a car behind me will have to slow down for a few seconds. I always make sure that I am actually passing a vehicle and I make sure to put on my right blinker to let those behind me know that I am aware they are back there and I will get over as soon as I've passed. It works out for the most part, but occasionally I do get a jerk that can't be inconvenienced for 20 seconds while I pass.
Ausumm
New member
If you didn't mention Texas, I woulda thought you were talking about Pennsylvania. Overall, it just seems like no one remembers that driving on public roads is NOT a solo sport. I can understand if someone just made a mistake. But when you flash your headlights and honk your horn, and then flip them the bird...and they STILL don't move over...that's just ignorant. Especially when they get mad at YOU for passing THEM on the right. (you and 20 other pissed off motorists)
I figure sometimes, it's someone who doesn't realize they are hogging the passing lane. Other times, it's someone who KNOWS they are being an a**, and they simple don't care. I don't know which is worse!
Jernik
New member
Yeah, a TJ (or older) makes the drive totally different. However, if I pull out to pass and there's a line of faster traffic, I'll kick it up 5-10 mph to complete the pass quicker and not bottle neck traffic any more than necessary. I do that even if I'm already over the limit and traffic is moving faster than I choose to. It's all about flow for me. The better traffic flows, the less congestion around me, the less likely I'll be trapped without escape options if someone does something stupid.
As for the different attitudes/behavior in the cities... I've noticed most everyone I've encountered in/around Houston are really nice people - when outside of their car. My theory is it hinges from 5 million people being sick and tired of having to deal with 5 million people every time they leave the house.
As for the different attitudes/behavior in the cities... I've noticed most everyone I've encountered in/around Houston are really nice people - when outside of their car. My theory is it hinges from 5 million people being sick and tired of having to deal with 5 million people every time they leave the house.
5ontheFloor
New member
Ha that's the other thing, flashing lights in other countries is usually signal that you are about to be passed or kinda move out my way. Here people think that means slam on my brakes and generally annoy those that are behind me therfore they are worthless.
5ontheFloor
New member
Also people that pull out in front of you from a thru street just to make another turn 500 yards down the road annoys me to no end. Why can't they just wait for me to pass by since there are no other cars behind me?!?
Sorry venting again (above situation happened this morning)
Sorry venting again (above situation happened this morning)
Jernik
New member
I like this one! It makes even more sense when there's nobody behind you!
Same as people who haul ass to get in front of you only to immediately slam brakes and make a hard turn into a subdivision or parking lot (usually turning on signal after they're halfway through the turn, if they bother with it at all). Again, when nobody else is behind you.
5ontheFloor
New member
Yup. And they do this when I want to catch a green light. They can't wait the five seconds it will take me to pass them so I have got to wait 2 to 3 minutes at the light[emoji35]
5ontheFloor
New member
Yeah what you do I don't really consider the same. I think of more like campers that just hang there slowing everyone down. As for tailgaters and obnoxious honking, I don't prescribe to that. There's just no need for it. Especially nowadays where people get shot for talking in theaters etc.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
We don't have fast lanes or "passing lanes" in SoCal anymore we have HOV lanes on the left which are usually reserved for carpoolers.
On rural highways, the law is slower drivers on the right, but most folks don't know what slower means relative to the speed of the road. So when I drive to NV to visit friends (about 450mi drive) I end up passing one either side coz very few people "get it" or know why I'm flashing my brights at them.
True driving is dead when there are no more drivers and just passengers behind the wheel.
On rural highways, the law is slower drivers on the right, but most folks don't know what slower means relative to the speed of the road. So when I drive to NV to visit friends (about 450mi drive) I end up passing one either side coz very few people "get it" or know why I'm flashing my brights at them.
True driving is dead when there are no more drivers and just passengers behind the wheel.
MtnT4R
New member
I got stopped up by a guy who thought it would be totally fine to just stop in the right lane entering a roundabout to finish whatever the hell he was doing on his phone. I pulled up next to the car to see the guy and his wife in the passenger seat both with their noses in their phones. Its pretty unbelievable to think that people can honestly be that self centered and ignorant of the world around them, but its reality and unfortunately getting worse.
The best perspective I can find is just to call it a great opportunity to work on my patience. :doh:
Hepar
New member
Amen. I've been trying to do my best on taking deep breaths and trying not to let something really so trivial upset me. But like I said before, to me it's more of a sign of how people are just in their own worlds in general, not just driving. We've become so unaware of the people around us that it really makes me sad.
What I've been recently doing is to do what I can with what I can control. One thing is that I've told myself that every time I go out into a public space, I will try to have a decent conversation with a random stranger. I'm not successful every time I attempt it, but I've had some pretty great conversations and I find that when I do, it generally lifts my mood to where stuff like we've been discussing doesn't get to me as much.
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97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
Had to take the shoulder today to get around a delivery van that was stopped at a light in the left lane that was halfway over the line straddled into my right lane, of course when I passed, the driver was obliviously staring at his phone :doh:
t4r blinder
New member
Not law enforcement but just my personal experiences. First, I have passed state troopers on the right on stretches of I10 and I20 in west texas. They were going 60-65 mph in a 80 mph zone. It almost seemed they were radaring the opposing lane to catch speeders and quickly turn around. I have also seen them pull over people who are in the left lane not passing with no one around. One person actually got pulled over when i passed them on the right. As a bonus, I think you can get away with 85 mph out there but definitely not 90-95mph, I know! Although both times I was issued warnings only and they were extremely cool.
5ontheFloor
New member
Yes while we should all obey posted speed limits, Texas has some if not the fastest posted limits in the country. 85mph on toll road 130 south of 45. So I know that you can defend yourself if you are not going 15 over the limit. But doing 15 over on 130 your doing 100 and the troopers will pull you over.
One time I got pulled over for doing 54 in a 40 zone. I was not from that area and I was following flow of traffic. Came around a corner and a local LEO was sitting waiting in a parking lot. Of course everyone slammed their brakes but I was the one he pulled over. I was very respectful, thinking this trip to visit my gramma was gonna cost me. He checked out my info, wrote me a warning and even joked with me as he was leaving. Now when I drive that road I don't do a hair over 40 and all the locals pass me, some honk, but I don't care.
When's all said and done, I try my best to follow rules of the road, use common sense, and keep my cool.
5ontheFloor
New member
That's why the speed limit is so high. Especially out in west texas!
5ontheFloor
New member
Heh so I use Tapatalk when Im on the road looking at the forum. I just logged on to my laptop and checked out some of the threads...OMG there are some hilarious profile pics and signatures that I dont see on Tapatalk...awesome
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