http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/25/trooper_down/?page=full From the article: "Similarly, several studies conducted in driving simulators have suggested that drivers may “steer where they look.” As a study published in Journal of Experimental Psychology reported, “there is a systematic and reliable tendency for operators to follow their direction of gaze with their direction of travel, in many cases without the conscious awareness of doing so at all.” So, the thought is, drivers intrigued by a roadside emergency may subtly steer in the direction of the emergency. But whether drivers do this in the real world, or do it enough to cause accidents, remains an open question." I've found myself doing this on occasion. Since I know I have a tendency to do this, I try NOT to "rubber neck" when driving by accidents and the like.

 Thought you guys might get a kick out of this: http://captaincrabtales.blogspot.com/2010/07/four-way-stop-dilema.html

I drove to work today, first time in about a month, since I always ride a bike when the weather is decent.  Normally, when I drive, I encounter several bad drivers, and use the horn 2 or more times.  Today, nothing!

Take a bow, Silicon Valley!  You really stepped up today!

Here's an article I found on Bay News 9, the 24-hour news channel in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, about someone who has been harassed for obeying the law, specifically the speed limit:

What is up with the left lane losers (LLL) in the world lately? I can see they are also a thorn in the existence of fellow PW posters. I was going into work and the typical local late 50 early 60 woman pulls out into the left lane from the opposite side of the road. This correct and legal, but then does 35 in a 45. There are two cars in front of me one in each lane. I had moved over to pass the 40 MPHer in the right lane and the clown in front of me delayed passing the LLL until just before the 40 MPHer blocked him. I was blocked then by the 40 MPHer (Another older woman driver) who dropped to 35 and hung off the LLL’s bumper on the right. I gave her my best are you really that stupid look and she backed off enough to let me pass the LLL on the right. Since it is a long straight away for several miles that goes into a 65 MPH zone. I watched in my mirror as the LLL never moved over and her sister in stupid blocked the right lane probably the entire 5 miles creating a noticeable blue cloud of road rage behind them.

Then on the way home tonight through the same area I was behind two cars and was in the left lane passing traffic, we almost had overtaken a Semi when a car who I had watched follow this truck for two miles suddenly decided to pass just as the lead car got there. Of course they were not doing the 70 MPH we were and we had to shut it down quick. They slowing went around the Semi and then leisurely (About 60 MPH) passed another car before moving back over into the right lane. You guessed it another older female this time with her cell in her ear and gesturing with the other. This is a case of “If you can’t walk and chew gum. What makes you think you can drive and talk on the phone?”  

I had at least one more Dink Winkerson to deal with who was doing less than 40 in the 45 zone in the left lane and when I passed him, suddenly, his pathetic ego floored it. I thought great you can catch the cops when he suddenly slowed again for no reason I could see. I went on around him in the right lane and when I hit the 65 again here he came. He ran up and camped just off my bumper trying to block me from moving over when we caught some slower traffic. Since I could tell he was a professional A-hole I punched it up and slipped around the slower traffic before I was blocked. He was literally beating on his steering wheel. He then pulled past me and tried to match my speed so he could keep me blocked. I could not see his face, but I know he probably about had an apoplexy when I turned right of the highway before he could stick me.    

Typical oblivious imbecile Toyota driver today, stopped at least 25 feet behind the limit line at the red light at Lawrence/Arques.  I looked at her, looked at the line, back at her, back at the line, and shook my head and rolled my eyes as I walked past in the crosswalk.

After I did this, a motorcycle split the lanes, passed her, and pulled comfortably into the gigantic, idiotic gap she was leaving.   Another motorcycle could have fit easily.

So when I first found this site I though it was great a place to vent about how bad drivers where well I take back all plates I have wired I didn't know how bad of a driver I was until on day I was responding to a semi wreak on I-10 New Mexico and I was driving a Class A Pumper while everything went smooth until it came time to jump the median I slowed down and had a semi tailing me and another one in the right lane one semi fallowing too close and the other passing an emergency vehicle (with lights on illegal in New Mexico) So I slowed down what I could and when to make my turn into the median I got off the side of the interstate and felt the truck go up on 3 wheels and the other 3 where in the air I slammed the gas and flew into the median then without looking crossed the other side of the interstate and came to a rest on the other side of the interstate without and accident, when I got off the truck the DOT officer on scene said you know you almost lost it you almost rolled that firetruck I told him if you saw everyone else you would of made the same choice. After that accident my driving changed I am no longer a speed demon a light flasher or a horn honker I would rather wait a bit longer then risk my life for not thinking.

The New Jersey Supreme Court has decided to overturn the loss of license for a DUI arrest for one of New Jersey's finer residents.  The reason the court overturned it was because this person arrested didn't speak ENGLISH, and, therefore, didn't understand what the officer was saying to him.
Maybe each office should drive around with a busload of translators to cover every language.
What's next??? Will officers have to warn suspects in their native tongue while being shot at, before they can return fire?

I just moved to Brandon, FL from Omaha, NE. I've driven cross-country; in D.C, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Philly, Portland, and Chicago but NEVER in the US have I seen such ridiculous driving as I've seen across Florida. I'm talking above and beyond no signal merges, 3 lane exits, pull-outs, etc. I'm talking about the kind of maneuvers you'd see in Kuwait or Seoul.

Just today, within a mile, I saw these two examples:

I'm sitting at an intersection, the opposing traffic has (from my POV, left to right) a straight/right turn and two left turn lanes. There is a line of cars in the first (leftmost from me) lane, a few cars in the second, none in the third. The driver second back in the middle lane pulls into the open turn lane. Pretty standard meaneuver so far; nothing too surprising until he proceeds to turn right, in front of the car he was behind and the car in the right lane stopped for the light, continuing onto the intersecting street, almost hitting a car that was passing through the intersection at the time.

Then, where the street had narrowed to one lane each direction before the next light, the car behind me decided he can't be assed to wait for the lane to move forward so he can get to the left turn lane, pulls into the ONCOMING lane, over double lines, to get to the light, narrowly missing an oncoming car that had turned from the intersecting street where the street was just wide enough to allow 3 cars abreast, but not quite have a full turn lane.

I guess since Florida is a "no fault" state and 1/4 of the drivers are uninsured, no one really gives a shit if they get in an accident. They'll take any chance they can to get ahead. I'm very close to following suit... maybe when my car is payed off.

 I was hit & run on in a Stop & Shop parking lot in Yonkers, NY on Sunday July 11, 2010 around 1:00pm by a Black Mercury Monterey with the following "Consul" License Plate - CFP 0088.   He tried to evade me after hitting me, I followed him after a short while because I didn't want to endanger my 5-year-old child in the car or other drivers.  I went back to the Stop & Shop parking lot and was surprised to find that shortly after I returned, the idiot also drove back to Stop & Shop and went into the store very briefly to shop.  I did report this incident to the Yonkers Police department (who arrived just after he left) and they are looking for the driver - a medium brown skinned male with close cropped hair, approximately 5'8" to 5'10" in height and approximately late 20s to early 30s in age. 

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/24133940/detail.html

First, I'm a 53 year old commercial truck driver and motorcycle rider in addition to being a regular driver.  Here are some observations from across the country.  It's a turn signal, AKA a turn indicator.  It's not a right-of-way signal/indicator.  When I was learning to drive a few years ago, it was called the acceleration lane and we used it to accelerate to speed in order to make merging onto the freeway safer.  Now it's called the merge lane which i must assume to be interpreted as drive slowly until you get to the end of the lane, turn on your right-of-way signal, then proceed to cut off as many vehicles as necessary since you have indicated your intent on merging  slowly and have the right-of-way.

Please get up to speed and try to match the flow of traffic before you reach the end of the ramp and remember you do not have the right-of-way.  The car, truck or motorcycle already there has that privilege.  Also be aware that even though they are much smaller than you, motorcycles have the same right to be on the road as you do and that should not make them a target for your aggressions, and motorcyclist please try to remember that you are smaller and more difficult to see and you need to make sure the other drivers see you.

Now for the trucks!  We are BIG and you will not win in the end.  My average gross weight is 78000-79500 lbs.  For those of you weak on your math skills, that about 38-39 tons!  I can't stop on a dime, I can't swerve to get out of your way and it's going to take some time for me to get up to speed.  At those weights, if you make me slow down I may have to shift down 1 or 2 gears and that will mean anywhere from 1/2 mile to a couple of miles just to get back up to speed causing more delays for me and the other drivers you are so oblivious to.  Remember that no matter what it is or where you buy it, a truck like mine made it possible!

Adjust your driving to meet your surroundings, because some may not tolerate your lack of driving skills or we just may not see you as you're passing us on the right around a turn on the freeway on the shoulder because the lane ended 200 yards back.

Be safe and courteous.  Are the 15 seconds you might save really worth it?

  19 car pool lane violations posted. Really? Don't you have better things to do?

Why do people drive so aggressively just to get to work?

Remember, any car is a 2 ton machine capable of high speeds. When people drive recklessly, they risk property damage, injury and death to themselves and others -- just because they left their house late?

Senseless.