So many idiots on the road

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

I simply don't get it. I have been beeped at 2 times turning into my street. It's funny because on all occasions I have used my blinker plus I need to go a bit slow (but not at a snails pace, just normal) because it is a blind corner and need to be careful if there are any cars coming the other way.

Some people need the calm the hell down on the roads, I can't stand dealing with these low lifes.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

I live part way along a fairly busy road. Both my wife and I indicate quite early that we wish to turn into our driveway, but still get beeped and abused for doing so. I don't know what else we are supposed to do!

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Larryp

I don't know what else we are supposed to do!

Evaporate! Haven't you figured it out yet? How dare you cause a tiny delay on their road?!

There is a noticeable lack of courtesy and it's not just amongst young drivers. I blame the atrocious example set by politicians!

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

Evaporate! Haven't you figured it out yet? How dare you cause a tiny delay on their road?!

There is a noticeable lack of courtesy and it's not just amongst young drivers. I blame the atrocious example set by politicians!

You are probably right!

[BlackWidow (Mardy)]

Wait until we are all driving Space Ships. People hitting from behind in warp drive. What are the speed cameras going to do then?

Oh my brain hurts just thinking about it

[Baddad (Marty)]

Wave to them when they beep. That will upset their day.

They will be wondering why the wave. Going 'round the twist, "Do I know that person?" Not getting the "bird" but a wave? "Why?"

One lady would blow a kiss.
The impatient beeper would take off, "That idiot's beyond help. I was being rude to her and she blows me a kiss? NUTS"

Cheers

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

I simply don't get it. I have been beeped at 2 times turning into my street. It's funny because on all occasions I have used my blinker plus I need to go a bit slow (but not at a snails pace, just normal) because it is a blind corner and need to be careful if there are any cars coming the other way.

Some people need the calm the hell down on the roads, I can't stand dealing with these low lifes.

Ok, I'll chime in on this thread. It's Melbourne, the city of the truly uneducated driver. My pet peeves are the right hand lane hogs on the freeway and drivers that can't do the speed limit posted for the road. If it is signed 70 then do 70 not bloody 30 or 40.

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Ok, I'll chime in on this thread. It's Melbourne, the city of the truly uneducated driver. My pet peeves are the right hand lane hogs on the freeway and drivers that can't do the speed limit posted for the road. If it is signed 70 then do 70 not bloody 30 or 40.

My current favourite, given that I live in the Snowy Mountains and travel to Canberra frequently, is the moronic parent that chooses to have their little "L" plate toting "Johnny" at the wheel of their 4X4 on the way to the snow.
This parent sits in the passenger seat totally oblivious to the fact that their little Johnny driving at 65kmh in a 100 zone has created a traffic snarl of about 50 cars behind him, all keen to get to the snow.

Not once have I seen one of the moving chicanes being directed by the 'responsible' adult to move over and let the 4 dozen cars by.

The frustration eventually becomes too much so we have the wonderful situation of an inexperienced driver at the wheel of a top heavy 4X4 being overtaken by several cars and many near head-on collisions are on the horizon.

Seriously 'Parents' what the H does little Johnny learn from this, and when one of those other cars gets too close, how will Johnny 'L' be at controlling the car in an emergency.

I am sick of having near head-on accidents due to this situation. Oh, I do know that Johnny is within the law doing what he does but then there is no point being in the right if you're under 2 metres of soil in a cemetery.

You would be horrified if you knew how many near head-ons I see each week during winter.

[Manav (Yugant)]

I catch a bus and read or listen to music..I do get to watch frustrated drivers stuck on a early morning jam on M2 with facial expressions as if someone shot their pet dog. Meanwhile my daily bus buzzes past in the bus lane... Sorry I know this post doesn't help

[Ric]

I agree Matt, that's usually the 3:00am callout on a freezing morning. Believe me there is nothing colder than a primed 38mm fire hose that's dripping down the side of you.

The worst part is the abuse you get for slowing down their trip and making them wait for 10 minutes while one lane has been closed.

[JC (Julian)]

Pet peeve No,1
Drivers sitting on 85k in a 100k zone while the road is single lane, and then accelerate to 110k when in double lanes, dropping back to a nice steady 85-90k when the lanes merge to single again....Gotta love that..
Pet peeve No, 2
Truck drivers with heavy loads doing 80kmph in 50kph zones because they know exactly where the police are. The normal safe distance to be able to pull out in front of a truck can be unknown, even in a 50k zone.

[Barrykgerdes]

I have had two recent rude and I believe illegal occurances on local roundabouts (Samantha Riley Drive). Samantha Riley drive has the two lane version where the side road is single. I was turning from the side road (turn signal idicated) and had cars on Samantha Riley drive enter the roundabout right in front of me and overtake while I was still tuning.

As far as I can make out the lane markings on the side road section do not prevent me making the turn into the left hand lane if I require to do so as I already have right of way on the round about and long wheel base buses which also make the same turn would not be able to make the turn into the right lane (also requiring to make the bus stop just past the round about).

Barry

[LewisM]

Some of my recent funnies:

1/ Shopping centre carpark absolutely full because of recent EOFY Sales. So, I am in one of the lanes, with flicker on, waiting for one guy to come out. Another guy the other direction is going to take another one just up from me too, and we both indicate to each other which would be best. Problem solved. Then, a "chick" (for she was no lady), in a 4WD is driving past the lane. Sees there are going to be 2 cars moving out, so she reverses up and starts to indicate. I had already been waiting 5 minutes at this point of her arrival. I knew this was going to be fun! Thankfully, the first car moved out and the other guy moved in, which blocked her geting to mine, and finally the other car moved out so I could take the spot, so I started moving and took it. She was blaring the horn, giving me BOTH bird fingers, then called me a cock head, and that she had waited 10 minutes for that park. I calmly got out of the car, and politely told her that I had seen her back up and expect to take the position I had waited LONGER than her for and she could ask the guy 2 cars up who had waited - she did not need to, he interjected and told her she was WRONG. Well, did we both cop expletives! And she had young kids in the car!

2. This one is just pure arrogance/attitude. Another car park, quite full. Instead of parking in a lane, and not even having the brains or courtesy to park in 2 lanes (not that that is any courtesy), Mr. Nimrod decided he would park his car perpendicularly to the other cars - yes, he took up 3 car spaces. We were SORELY tempted to block him in, but knew if you have this sort of stupidity, arrogance, attitude and disrespect that he would have NIL concern hurting a car and / or person. So, a group of us stood around and waited. He and his "woman" (as he called her), came to the car, and duly said "Whatcas all lookin at?". One guy in the small crowd cirped up "Your inept and careless driving ********!". I was surprised said penile protuberance didn't get agitated - probably felt outnumbered, and he laid rubber.

3. Going out a clearly marked and arrowed ONE WAY exit. Guy in typical old Commodore comes IN the exit, and for no reason or provocation from me tells me to F Off and give me the finger, with the most scornful, aggressive facial expression I have ever seen. He probably couldn't read... I am sure he was missing more than a few synaptic connections.

[Profiler (Profiler)]

This is an old joke

Q. What is the definition of a second?

A. The period of time from when the traffic light changes from red to green and the A@#$%&* behind you instantly beeps their horn

[taminga16 (Greg)]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

I simply don't get it. I have been beeped at 2 times turning into my street. It's funny because on all occasions I have used my blinker plus I need to go a bit slow (but not at a snails pace, just normal) because it is a blind corner and need to be careful if there are any cars coming the other way.

Some people need the calm the hell down on the roads, I can't stand dealing with these low lifes.

With all due respect, is there a possibility that you may not be negotiating the intersection correctly? and and that fellow motorists 'beep at' you to let you know that that is the case and not that they are are an 'Idiots on the road' at all.
Greg.
P.S. I am not a big 'Beeping fan' myself, I get grief enough for the type of car that I drive.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

What a lot of this says to me is that there are too many people out there under too much stress. Yes, ignorance and inconsideration come into it but the fineness of the hair trigger some people display indicates to me that they are constantly walking (and driving) around on the point of snapping. There must be something very wrong with their lives for them to be in this state. Life can't be any fun for them. Of course that doesn't make them right and the rest of us shouldn't have to cop their bile but it may help in understanding and dealing with them.

I've only ever once committed road rage and done something I am ashamed of (there was no accident, no one was hurt and compared to some cases it was pretty mild - just a few seconds of aggressive tail-gating) and that happen a couple of months before I suffered a total and debilitating nervous breakdown. Someone did something rude and stupid (used the shoulder to pass me on the left on a single lane road while I was doing the speed limit) and suddenly I couldn't control my anger. I've experienced plenty of bad behaviour before and since and I just keep on with what I'm doing, don't engage in tit for tat, and stay out of their way as they are obviously a danger on the road.

Originally Posted by LewisM

Some of my recent funnies:

1/ Shopping centre carpark absolutely full because of recent EOFY Sales. So, I am in one of the lanes, with flicker on, waiting for one guy to come out. Another guy the other direction is going to take another one just up from me too, and we both indicate to each other which would be best. Problem solved. Then, a "chick" (for she was no lady), in a 4WD is driving past the lane. Sees there are going to be 2 cars moving out, so she reverses up and starts to indicate. I had already been waiting 5 minutes at this point of her arrival. I knew this was going to be fun! Thankfully, the first car moved out and the other guy moved in, which blocked her geting to mine, and finally the other car moved out so I could take the spot, so I started moving and took it. She was blaring the horn, giving me BOTH bird fingers, then called me a cock head, and that she had waited 10 minutes for that park. I calmly got out of the car, and politely told her that I had seen her back up and expect to take the position I had waited LONGER than her for and she could ask the guy 2 cars up who had waited - she did not need to, he interjected and told her she was WRONG. Well, did we both cop expletives! And she had young kids in the car!

Having a large car with poor rear vision (a troopie) I find it easier and safer to reverse into car parking spaces. Since this is uncommon I normally come to a complete stop in front of the desired free spot, indicate, and then move forward so I can back in. Almost everyone understands and leaves me room. However around xmas and at other very busy times I don't even try. I've just had too many cases where someone has tried (and generally succeeded in) zipping in while I'm trying to back up.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by taminga16

With all due respect, is there a possibility that you may not be negotiating the intersection correctly? and and that fellow motorists 'beep at' you to let you know that that is the case and not that they are are an 'Idiots on the road' at all.
Greg.
P.S. I am not a big 'Beeping fan' myself, I get grief enough for the type of car that I drive.

I know how to turn into my street, I've only lived here all my life.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Shopping centres are the worst! At my local shops there are ramps to go up and down to each level. When going up it is a left turn ONLY.

Anyway I was driving to go down the ramp and some dude that was coming up turned right and he almost hit me. We both stopped the car and he was just telling me off like I was in the wrong.

People turn right a lot at the top of the ramp because they are "lazy" and "can't be bothered" going the proper way around the car park level.

I hope this is clear in that HE was in the wrong, not me.

Trucks in the right lane is also annoying especially when they are going slow, it's only common sense to not be in that fast lane! Another bad experience with trucks...I was merging onto a freeway and obviously everyone knows that if your car is in front or most of it is in front of the car next to you that you have priority to go first. Well this truck came out of no-where and totally cut me off and he made me go half in the emergency lane!

Oh and I thought of another one! When I was in Box Hill last week near that really bad intersection, the left lane was ending because of parked cars. The bus in front of me (not only that before he almost smashed into a car) merged into the right lane and the car let them through. That's fine, most people know about the common courtesy where you do one at a time. My lane almost ended and the guy next to me (I was clearly in front of him) kept speeding up staying behind the guy in front of him and he didn't let me through. Blinker on and all I went to merge and he just sped in front and cut me off!

On all of these occasions it has not been my fault and I know how to conduct myself around an intersection!

After my brother came back from Europe a few years ago he said how much better the drivers are over there than here in relation to respect, common sense and just generally how to drive.

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

I was merging onto a freeway and obviously everyone knows that if your car is in front or most of it is in front of the car next to you that you have priority to go first. Well this truck came out of no-where and totally cut me off and he made me go half in the emergency lane!

Actually, that's a common misconception.

If the lane ends and is so marked (with thick dashed lines, and usually there is also a sign such as "Left lane ends, Merge right) then you must give way to traffic in the continuing lane - you can only enter if it safe to do so, i.e. with enough space to safely enter. It's very similar to entering a road from a slip lane or a "Turn left anytime with care" lane - you can't impede traffic already in that lane. Of course, it's nice if someone "makes a space", but they don't have to.

The other type of lane merge is where two lanes come to one with no markings, i.e. the thin lane-dividing line simply stops. In that circumstance, the car that is ahead has right of way.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

Actually, that's a common misconception.

If the lane ends and is so marked (with thick dashed lines, and usually there is also a sign such as "Left lane ends, Merge right) then you must give way to traffic in the continuing lane - you can only enter if it safe to do so, i.e. with enough space to safely enter. It's very similar to entering a road from a slip lane or a "Turn left anytime with care" lane - you can't impede traffic already in that lane. Of course, it's nice if someone "makes a space", but they don't have to.

The other type of lane merge is where two lanes come to one with no markings, i.e. the thin lane-dividing line simply stops. In that circumstance, the car that is ahead has right of way.

I think that explains why I got cut off by a truck and not a car because truck drivers are bigger and think they can do what they want. I never get that reaction from another car. In my case however he made me drive into the emergency lane though??

I can't stop on the road cause the other motorists should understand that the merging lane ends