Bit of a rant at other drivers

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Grog

Is it just me? or is this one of the stupidest things I have ever heard? Rolling into a red light, going as soon as it changes to green? Around here that will get you creamed 5 times a day. I watch everything while I'm waiting, after I get the green I don't move until I have checked both directions for the A-hat that will run the red. I don't care who makes it through the light after me, not my problem. I wish everyone was required to ride a motorcycle for a year, might change their driving habits.

What part of the bold did you miss?

Originally Posted by Tervuren

Also, if you are at the front at a red stoplight - pay attention to the intersection!!! Especially in rush hour. The moment it turns green, get moving. You can do this by looking at the lights in the other direction, learn your intersections on your daily drive. The other side of watching for when it will turn green, is you will be less likely to be hit by someone running a red light. Instead of just looking up and seeing its green, and going, you've been looking around paying attention, although I like to start rolling the moment(or just before) the light turn green, I make darn sure I'm not going to be hit if I move into the intersection from someone trying to run a red light.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Zeke

If I pull up to a red light getting ready to turn right and someone from behind honks in 2 seconds, I'm out of the car. Their day just became a bad day.

Nothing, nothing worse than that one.

Around here, that will (and has) get you perforated with lead.

Depending on my mood, in this situation, I'll put my vehicle in reverse and start backing slowly.

[Grog]

Tervuren

I didn't miss any of your bold. Glad you are looking, but I don't see how rolling before the light changes does any good. It's the cars coming through after you have green that are going to hit you. After I have green I release the brake, brake light goes off and the guy behind me knows I'm paying attention, look both ways check the oncoming left turn guy for movement and proceed, keep checking all the way through,takes only a second to check all this. A one second could be life saving for you or the guy behind you who will not look and just follow you lead. I hope your not rolling past the stop line or crosswalk. I can't believe how many people stop on or past the cross walk. While riding my motorcycle if I see a car at a stop sign or light when I have the right of way and he is rolling I will slow down to a crawl because I have no idea if he is stopping or going to pull out. If the car is stopped and staying that way, and the guy is looking at me I will maintain speed. If I see you rolling I will slow down and keep slowing if you keep rolling, it will cause both of use to waste time.

[doug_porsche]

The majority of drivers in the Denver metro area can not merge to save their sole.

when you are going to turn into a turn lane the proper order is:
Signal, breaks. if you do it the other way around the signal isnt that useful any more.

No, glancing over your shoulder is not the same as a turn signal.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Grog

Tervuren

I didn't miss any of your bold. Glad you are looking, but I don't see how rolling before the light changes does any good. It's the cars coming through after you have green that are going to hit you. After I have green I release the brake, brake light goes off and the guy behind me knows I'm paying attention, look both ways check the oncoming left turn guy for movement and proceed, keep checking all the way through,takes only a second to check all this. A one second could be life saving for you or the guy behind you who will not look and just follow you lead. I hope your not rolling past the stop line or crosswalk. I can't believe how many people stop on or past the cross walk. While riding my motorcycle if I see a car at a stop sign or light when I have the right of way and he is rolling I will slow down to a crawl because I have no idea if he is stopping or going to pull out. If the car is stopped and staying that way, and the guy is looking at me I will maintain speed. If I see you rolling I will slow down and keep slowing if you keep rolling, it will cause both of use to waste time.

I think we both mean the similar things - get moving as soon as safely possible, which involves paying attention. We live in different locations, with different laws, driving schools, and traffic patterns, so going into the technicalities will result in an endless argument. An example, the first stop light I come to on my way to work, has a five second delay from when it is red in all directions, until the next direction gets to go green. Everything is at a stop by then pretty much every time. The next light, has a short yellow, and on top of that, almost no delay from red in all directions to green. I go into that one pretty slow. My stress level is much higher. Especially given how it is setup if I'm coming home from work, it has a HUGE crown, you may not be able to see a left turning car until you are on top of it coming from that direction. I doubt I drive through there coming home within even 5MPH of the speed limit. 20-25MPH I'd strongly suggest.

My initial post was meant to focus on the drivers that are not watching(I can see them looking down, messing with stuff inside their car, etc) who suddenly look up, see the light is green, never saw it turn colors, and just step on the gas and go. I also saw they never really looked. It both wastes time, if it really was clear, they where sitting there wasting time while it was green, and if it isn't clear, there will be a wreck as they never looked.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by SXSMAN

My current peeve is in a dual turn lane "When the hell did it become OK to use the other (inside) lane to make the turn ?"

I drive a fair-sized pick-up.

Crew cab , long bed and I can keep my truck in my lines/lane. Even pulling a horse trailer or enclosed one.

Think people don't even care at all anymore , or did they ever ?

I'm not getting what you're describing.

In FL, the only legal turn was to turn from the closest lane to the closest lane.

Here in TX, you can turn from the left or right-most lanes (turning left or right) into any lane that it's safe to turn into.

There are also lots of places that have multiple turn lanes (on green only). I often get zombies piloting SUVs that will turn from the far right lane, to the left lane when I'm turning beside them (legally) in the second lane. I love that.

Honestly, I prefer the law in FL, if you're turning right, you turn from the right most lane to the right most lane. If you then want to move to the left, you need to signal and move left. Same, but opposite if you're turning left.

[masraum]

One time at band camp... no wait, not band camp. I was stuck behind a chick in the left lane with a huge gap in front of her (honestly, at least 100yds). It was evening traffic, but late enough that "rush hour" was over and traffic was moderate but steady at 60ish. For whatever reason, all of the lanes were mostly full except for this one large gap in the left lane. After 2 or 3 miles, traffic had moved around enough that I was able to get past the girl. I'd say that she was probably in her late 20s or 30s. She didn't like getting passed and gave me a honk, the stink eye and a salute. I was feeling good, so I looked into the rear view, and gave her a friendly wave accompanied by a big goofy smile. Apparently it worked because I saw her start laughing. It's a shame it doesn't always work out like that.

I try not to get pissed about the zombies that drive. I just go around them when I get a chance. It makes the commute more interesting.

That doesn't mean that I don't occasionally get frustrated or mentally call them idiots. I just shrug that stuff off afterwards.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm not getting what you're describing.

I think the following is what he was talking about... he just neglected to mention he was talking about dual left turn lanes.

Originally Posted by masraum

...lots of places that have multiple turn lanes (on green only). I often get zombies piloting SUVs that will turn from the far right lane, to the left lane when I'm turning beside them (legally) in the second lane.

I think he was talking mostly about drivers who can't be bothered or don't have the minimal amount of skill to keep their vehicle in that rightmost left turn lane, so they sort of creep into your lane... or at least, parts of their vehicle do.