Today we take a brief pause in the planned line of subjects for a full blown rant about my drive home from work today.
I knew the day wasn’t starting out well when I couldn’t even leave the parking garage. I park in the same garage for work every day I’m there, but for some reason today the parking attendant decided to be a head case and demanded to see my ID along with my check card. So I gave it to her...she looked at it, looked at me, and said "That don’t look like you!" Ugh. I’m wearing glasses today, and not in that photo. So after about five minutes of arguing back and forth, reciting my address, and showing her two other forms of ID, she finally lets me pay and go. I mean seriously - I think if someone was using a stolen wallet they’d have better things to buy than overpriced city parking space.
I managed to get about two blocks from the garage when I’m stopped behind a Fed-Ex tractor trailer completely blocking traffic. Now, this is Main Street - there is a fair amount of traffic coming in the opposite direction. So I wait, and I wait, and I wait - in the meantime, a city cop pulls up behind me in line. Finally, a small space opens up in oncoming traffic, and as I begin to pull into the lane, the cop behind me turns into the lane and passes me, narrowly missing the driver side of my car. In the meantime, oncoming traffic approaches, and the cop and the oncoming car are at a standstill next to the tractor trailer. Now, keep in mind the cop is obviously the one going the wrong way - instead of backing up and letting the correct traffic go through, he turns on his lights and sirens and makes all of the oncoming traffic back up so that he can get through. He then turns of his lights and sirens, and continues down the road at a leisurely pace - while the rest of us are still stuck behind the goddamned truck.
As for the truck - dude, seriously, even if the loading dock is full, do NOT block freakin’ Main Street to unload your packages. There is a side street not 20 feet ahead of you that you can pull into and not disrupt one of the major arteries of downtown traffic.
After that fiasco, I headed towards the interstate on one of the main roadways, and got behind a lady who came to a dead stop at a green light in the middle of the three lane road. She then signals to turn right, and as I’m about to pass her on the left, she then swerves to the left at the last minute and signals a turn in that direction. I stop, she doesn’t move, and then the light turns red.
She then proceeds to turn right as originally planned (still in the middle lane, btw), and I’m stuck for a whole light cycle.
I FINALLY make it to the interstate (keep in mind this is just over two miles from my work place, and it has already taken me over half and hour to get there), and merge on - and than am almost immediately run off the road by a handicapped driver who cut in front of me and then slammed on her brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of her.
Two minutes later, I watch a see of red brake lights light up in front of me as a dump truck crosses four lanes of interstate traffic at once to make a last minute left exit.
It was like America’s Worst Driver’s all rolled into one episode for my viewing pleasure. Oh, wait, there wasn’t any snow. Well, there’s some forecasted again for Wednesday.
Showing posts with label bad driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad driving. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Bad Driving Rant #4: Driving in the Snow
There is a time and a place to practice driving in the snow. On the interstate, in seven inches of ice and snow, in your Prelude, is not it.
So I just recently moved to a coastal area that's not prone to snow, but lo and behold, last week we had six inches dumped on us. I come from an area where snow and ice was the norm during the winter months, so I dug my SUV out of the driveway, and slowly headed on into work.
I admit to being momentarily shocked that the interstates weren't even plowed - but then I remembered my city probably didn't even own plows. So I stayed in four wheel drive and leisurely made my way down the road.
I live 17 miles away from my work place. I counted 34 wrecked, disabled, or stuck cars just on my way in that day. Seriously - did you think your lightweight 2-cylinder sports car was gonna get any traction OR clearance in half a foot of snow?
Some tips to drivers unaccustomed to driving in the snow:
1) If you don't have four-wheel drive, stay home.
2) If you don't have any experience driving in the snow, stay home.
3) Slamming on your breaks in the snow or ice is a sure fire way to NOT stop. If you need to stop or make a turn, simply let off the accelerator early and slowly glide into a stop.
4) Leave at least 100 yards between you and any other vehicle. Even if you think you're in control of your car, you still don't know about that other guy.
5) If you have a pick-up truck, put some bricks or rocks in the back so that you actually have enough weight to not go fish-tailing all over creation.
Of course, as usual - unless you really have to drive in that stuff, just stay home with some hot coffee and a good book.
So I just recently moved to a coastal area that's not prone to snow, but lo and behold, last week we had six inches dumped on us. I come from an area where snow and ice was the norm during the winter months, so I dug my SUV out of the driveway, and slowly headed on into work.
I admit to being momentarily shocked that the interstates weren't even plowed - but then I remembered my city probably didn't even own plows. So I stayed in four wheel drive and leisurely made my way down the road.
I live 17 miles away from my work place. I counted 34 wrecked, disabled, or stuck cars just on my way in that day. Seriously - did you think your lightweight 2-cylinder sports car was gonna get any traction OR clearance in half a foot of snow?
Some tips to drivers unaccustomed to driving in the snow:
1) If you don't have four-wheel drive, stay home.
2) If you don't have any experience driving in the snow, stay home.
3) Slamming on your breaks in the snow or ice is a sure fire way to NOT stop. If you need to stop or make a turn, simply let off the accelerator early and slowly glide into a stop.
4) Leave at least 100 yards between you and any other vehicle. Even if you think you're in control of your car, you still don't know about that other guy.
5) If you have a pick-up truck, put some bricks or rocks in the back so that you actually have enough weight to not go fish-tailing all over creation.
Of course, as usual - unless you really have to drive in that stuff, just stay home with some hot coffee and a good book.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Bad Driving Rant #3: Cops Who Speed
Hypocrisy, much? Gah.
I had to go out of town for work the other day to pick up some equipment, so I spent pretty much my entire day on the interstate. Seeing as it's the end of the month and the states need to make their ticket quotas, the troopers were out in full force with their speed traps.
Likewise, I counted no less than six individual instances were I was easily out-paced by a cop by at least 10mph, when I was right at the speed limit, or even a little above.
Keep in mind, obviously, I'm not talking about police vehicles on their way to a scene or an arrest with their lights and sirens on. No, no...just cruising down the road like the rest of us.
I was reminded of a specific instance a few years ago when I was coming back from vacation, and got pulled over for speeding. The cop gave me a hard time, but at least let me go with just a warning. As we pulled back into traffic, he immediately sped up and passed me, and I watched as he weaved in and out of the three lanes of interstate traffic, and finally turned left into the emergency vehicle turn-around ahead of us. I figured he had just gotten a call, and was on his way to an accident or some such thing. Nope. As I past, he had already set up a new speed trap (maybe I'm being a little self-important, but was it to try to nab me again?). Given the fact that we both pulled out into traffic at the same time just a few minutes earlier, you can imagine how fast he must have been going in order to get that far ahead of me in such a short period of time. Not to mention, again, the driving maneuvers that would have been categorized as "reckless" had anyone other than him done them.
There was also the time when I was driving back to college for the first time on my own; I had just gotten a new car, and it was my first real 'road trip' of any length. I reached part of the highway where there was construction and each direction was reduced to one lane of traffic. As I entered the work zone, a cop drove up behind me and road my ass the entire mile and a half of construction. I was, obviously, both freaking out AND doing the exact work zone speed limit - because you know that if I had sped up in order to appease his need to speed, he would have pulled me over for that fat $250 ticket. (Who cares about the tailgating?)
Oh, and what about that time in high school (I kid you not) when I watched a cop car speed past my parents' car...and turn into the Dunkin' Donuts? Seriously, it happened.
I had to go out of town for work the other day to pick up some equipment, so I spent pretty much my entire day on the interstate. Seeing as it's the end of the month and the states need to make their ticket quotas, the troopers were out in full force with their speed traps.
Likewise, I counted no less than six individual instances were I was easily out-paced by a cop by at least 10mph, when I was right at the speed limit, or even a little above.
Keep in mind, obviously, I'm not talking about police vehicles on their way to a scene or an arrest with their lights and sirens on. No, no...just cruising down the road like the rest of us.
I was reminded of a specific instance a few years ago when I was coming back from vacation, and got pulled over for speeding. The cop gave me a hard time, but at least let me go with just a warning. As we pulled back into traffic, he immediately sped up and passed me, and I watched as he weaved in and out of the three lanes of interstate traffic, and finally turned left into the emergency vehicle turn-around ahead of us. I figured he had just gotten a call, and was on his way to an accident or some such thing. Nope. As I past, he had already set up a new speed trap (maybe I'm being a little self-important, but was it to try to nab me again?). Given the fact that we both pulled out into traffic at the same time just a few minutes earlier, you can imagine how fast he must have been going in order to get that far ahead of me in such a short period of time. Not to mention, again, the driving maneuvers that would have been categorized as "reckless" had anyone other than him done them.
There was also the time when I was driving back to college for the first time on my own; I had just gotten a new car, and it was my first real 'road trip' of any length. I reached part of the highway where there was construction and each direction was reduced to one lane of traffic. As I entered the work zone, a cop drove up behind me and road my ass the entire mile and a half of construction. I was, obviously, both freaking out AND doing the exact work zone speed limit - because you know that if I had sped up in order to appease his need to speed, he would have pulled me over for that fat $250 ticket. (Who cares about the tailgating?)
Oh, and what about that time in high school (I kid you not) when I watched a cop car speed past my parents' car...and turn into the Dunkin' Donuts? Seriously, it happened.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Bad Driving Rant #2: Stopping in the Middle of the Road
I don't care if you're lost or you missed your turn...just pull off to the side of the road or turn around!
I was on my way to the post office today over my lunch break, and this bimbo who is turning into the parking lot in front of me comes to a total halt at the entrance of the lot, completely blocking both lanes of traffic, while she reads the parking notice sign next to the building. Seriously...SERIOUSLY? Just park, for f*ck's sake!
Another "favorite" is the idiots who are in the right lane and realize they need to make the next left turn, so instead of just going past the turn and merging in a sane and legal fashion and turning around, they slam on their breaks and put on the blinker - expecting the traffic behind them to let them cross three lanes to make that turn. I mean, come on - can you really not spare that extra two minutes to drive to the next exit and make a u-turn?!
I'm sorry, but no one is that important or in that much of a hurry to just stop in the middle of the freakin' road. Either pull over or turn around, and get out of everyone else's - who DO know where they're going - way.
I was on my way to the post office today over my lunch break, and this bimbo who is turning into the parking lot in front of me comes to a total halt at the entrance of the lot, completely blocking both lanes of traffic, while she reads the parking notice sign next to the building. Seriously...SERIOUSLY? Just park, for f*ck's sake!
Another "favorite" is the idiots who are in the right lane and realize they need to make the next left turn, so instead of just going past the turn and merging in a sane and legal fashion and turning around, they slam on their breaks and put on the blinker - expecting the traffic behind them to let them cross three lanes to make that turn. I mean, come on - can you really not spare that extra two minutes to drive to the next exit and make a u-turn?!
I'm sorry, but no one is that important or in that much of a hurry to just stop in the middle of the freakin' road. Either pull over or turn around, and get out of everyone else's - who DO know where they're going - way.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Bad Driving Rant #1: Driving Too Slow
If you and/or your vehicle are incapable of reaching and maintaining the speed limit, then get off the road.
Myth #1: Driving slower is safer.
Fact #1: Most of the time, it in fact is not. For instance, say you're driving on a highway in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, where the speed limit is 55. Those roads have quite a few large turns, limiting the visibility to only a 50 or 100 yards at certain points. So say you're going 35mph, and the guy coming up behind you is maintaining 55mph...he comes up behind you suddenly...do you think he's going to have time to stop or swerve around you?
This also applies to you idiots who slam on the brakes on the interstate when it starts to rain. In case you slept through that part of Driver's Ed, the road is in fact it's MOST slippery condition the first few minutes that it starts to rain. So all that brake slamming is really just rear-ending waiting to happen.
Myth #1: It's perfectly legal to drive as slow as I want.
Fact #1: In many states, driving between 15mph and 25mph below the speed limit is considered reckless driving. Other states actually have posted minimum speeds on major highways and interstates. Even more states have laws stating that you "cannot drive so slow that you hinder the flow of traffic." Think about that, dude, next time you decide to drive 5mph under the speed limit on the left side of the interstate and have seven cars backed up behind you.
Every once in awhile when I rant about this in person, I hear things like "Well, some people's cars aren't in very good shape," or "sometimes older people are too afraid to drive at that speed." My answer is, "Why should my life be put in danger because someone else is incapable of driving safely?" Your rights end when my rights begin, so if driving the speed limit is really that difficult for you, then find another means of transportation.
Myth #1: Driving slower is safer.
Fact #1: Most of the time, it in fact is not. For instance, say you're driving on a highway in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, where the speed limit is 55. Those roads have quite a few large turns, limiting the visibility to only a 50 or 100 yards at certain points. So say you're going 35mph, and the guy coming up behind you is maintaining 55mph...he comes up behind you suddenly...do you think he's going to have time to stop or swerve around you?
This also applies to you idiots who slam on the brakes on the interstate when it starts to rain. In case you slept through that part of Driver's Ed, the road is in fact it's MOST slippery condition the first few minutes that it starts to rain. So all that brake slamming is really just rear-ending waiting to happen.
Myth #1: It's perfectly legal to drive as slow as I want.
Fact #1: In many states, driving between 15mph and 25mph below the speed limit is considered reckless driving. Other states actually have posted minimum speeds on major highways and interstates. Even more states have laws stating that you "cannot drive so slow that you hinder the flow of traffic." Think about that, dude, next time you decide to drive 5mph under the speed limit on the left side of the interstate and have seven cars backed up behind you.
Every once in awhile when I rant about this in person, I hear things like "Well, some people's cars aren't in very good shape," or "sometimes older people are too afraid to drive at that speed." My answer is, "Why should my life be put in danger because someone else is incapable of driving safely?" Your rights end when my rights begin, so if driving the speed limit is really that difficult for you, then find another means of transportation.
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