December 10, 2004
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I find myself fuming because a fellow salesperson in my office just had an automobile accident caused by a driver who fled the scene after committing an infraction which is my single greatest driving pet peeve. It’s really a two-fold pet peeve, and here is the fundemental issue: The acceleration (entrance) ramp to an expressway is supposed to be used to ACCELERATE!
The theory is really quite simple. When you enter an expressway you are supposed to accelerate to the speed that traffic on the expressway is moving. When you reach the end of the ramp you are then able to merge easily with traffic. I do not feel that Capital Punishment should be out of the question for people who get to the end of an entrance ramp and stop. Conversely, I find my driving feathers quite ruffled when I try to enter an expressway and people already occupying the expressway will not move into the outside lane, tap their brakes, or speed up just a little to let me in. I’ve had people actually match speed with me just so I couldn’t enter the expressway. These people obviously have serious territorial issues and should be drawn and quartered between two rusty AMC Gremlins.
I’m typically a mild mannered, dweeb kind of guy who is not prone to road rage in the least. However, these two issues turn me into a raging, homicidal, maniac.
What breaches of driving etiquette make you crazy? While I’m waiting for your answer I need to take a valium and lie down.
Comments (5)
Blinker usage.
This one, simple thing would solve 80% of the world’s driving problems. If you’re turning, about 3/4 of a residential block before you turn…turn your blinker on. If you’re not turning…don’t turn it on.
While this seems a bit too simple to solve the world’s problems, I would suggest that all the idiots who can’t figure out how to use a little lever on the side of their steering wheel have no business driving in the first place. I cannot possibly tell you how many times I have neerly careened into someone because they didn’t signal that they were turning…and then they get pissed off at me. That one thing has resulted in the early termination of a few people’s happy existences.
I agree with you and the other comment left!! I about hit someone this evening because they turned in front of me and had not had their blinker on! GRRR! But those people that don’t scoot over so I can enter out on the expressway drive me nuts!! OR…(my husband is a trucker and he would hate this one too!)….How about 2 trucks side by side on the interstate and the one in the passing lane NEVER gets past the other one!! I could go on forever so I will shut up for now. Hope you have a good day!
Not speeding up on onramps and a lack of blinker usage top my list. Here in TX (I’m from CA), onramps seem to dump you unceremoniously into oncoming traffic, one would think drivers would be a little more courteous in letting people in. Nope. Apparently “drive friendly” means “shove the guy entering the interstate onto the shoulder.”
*ahem* Not wearing seatbelts…
Anyway, people not realizing that I am the center of the universe and everyone’s driving habits should adapt to mine. In the words of my Aunt Marci:
EVERYONE! Get out of my way!!!
(obviously said in a strange accent that doesn’t really exist outside my family)
Road rage… ya gotta love it! LOL My biggest problem is with those darn semi’s! Do they own the road or just think they do? Enjoy the valium… save some for me!