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View Full Version : Pet Peeve of the Day: 12-13-05

Schmidty
12-13-2005, 04:27 PM
People who block an intersection so that you aren't able to turn left when your light turns green. Usually this means that you have to wait another 5 minutes until the next green light. The other day, this happened to me 3 times in a row. I was about ready to ram into whatever jackass that was blocking the lane at the moment.

There is absolutely no reason for this to happen. If they see that traffic is backed up, they should just be patient and leave the intersection clear. They're not going to get much further anyway since traffic in their lane is at a stand-still, and they're going to piss off and delay a whole lot of other people because of their asshatery.

I think a lot of people lose whatever scrap of consideration for others that they have while driving. These are the type of people that cause the majority of accidents, since they just have to inch a tiny bit closer to the car in front of them, or they just have to make it through that light that just turned red. A plague up on them!!! :mad:
oliegirl
12-13-2005, 04:30 PM
People in Atlanta leave room for you to turn left, but not to go straight. When this happens to me and I am the lead car, I sit there with my hand on the horn until they move into the turn lane or are able to get out of my way. If they look at me apologetically I'll usually stop honking the horn, but if they look at me with an attitude, forget - they are going to have to listen to it until I can get across the intersection...

Good pet peeve Schmidty! And for the record, I like these threads :)
Subby
12-13-2005, 04:30 PM
I will only do this while I am talking on my cell phone.
gottimd
12-13-2005, 04:33 PM
There is this supergay jackass that always does this in McLean, VA when I drive to work through there. He is always on his cell phone being supergay too!
oliegirl
12-13-2005, 04:34 PM
There is this supergay jackass that always does this in McLean, VA when I drive to work through there. He is always on his cell phone being supergay too!


OMG - I can't believe I knew that you were talking about Subby! I spend WAY too much time on this board!!!!!
SackAttack
12-13-2005, 04:37 PM
People who block an intersection so that you aren't able to turn left when your light turns green.

Blocking an intersection for any reason is against the law in California. It provides an impediment to the passage of emergency vehicles.

So not only are they being inconsiderate jackasses, they're breaking the law!

Well. In this state, at least.
pennywisesb
12-13-2005, 04:38 PM
People in Atlanta leave room for you to turn left, but not to go straight.

Can you explain this, I'm trying to picture how someone could be blocking you from going straight if there is room in the turn lane?
oliegirl
12-13-2005, 04:39 PM
Can you explain this, I'm trying to picture how someone could be blocking you from going straight if there is room in the turn lane?


Because most of the time, not all the people going left can turn, so there are cars there...and the people going the other way have scooched up far enough so they are blocking the straight lane but not the left turn lane.

Maybe flere can draw you a picture and include it in the NFL Week in Pics this week ;)
Schmidty
12-13-2005, 04:40 PM
Blocking an intersection for any reason is against the law in California. It provides an impediment to the passage of emergency vehicles.

So not only are they being inconsiderate jackasses, they're breaking the law!

Well. In this state, at least.

If I find out it's against the law here, I'm going to be busting out with some citizen arrests!!!!
Subby
12-13-2005, 04:40 PM
To be fair, I only do it while I am in my hummer and watching a dvd and eating poor people.
st.cronin
12-13-2005, 04:42 PM
Blocking an intersection for any reason is against the law in California. It provides an impediment to the passage of emergency vehicles.

So not only are they being inconsiderate jackasses, they're breaking the law!

Well. In this state, at least.


iirc, there are some incredibly draconian punishments in NY as well ... I think you can actually lose your license for doing this.
pennywisesb
12-13-2005, 04:42 PM
Because most of the time, not all the people going left can turn, so there are cars there...and the people going the other way have scooched up far enough so they are blocking the straight lane but not the left turn lane.



Oh, ok, I get it now, thanks. :)
oliegirl
12-13-2005, 04:50 PM
Oh, ok, I get it now, thanks. :)


No problem :) Actually, this happens at 2 of the big intersections I have to go through on a daily basis...I try to avoid them at all costs during traffic, but sometimes I have no choice :mad:
Daimyo
12-13-2005, 09:38 PM
This is a big problem in Chicago. I noticed when i was in Los Angeles that every intersection had signs warning of a fine for blocking the intersection (I think $500?) and it was never a problem the whole time I was there. I wish more places would do that.
Craptacular
12-13-2005, 10:12 PM
This is a big problem in Chicago. I noticed when i was in Los Angeles that every intersection had signs warning of a fine for blocking the intersection (I think $500?) and it was never a problem the whole time I was there. I wish more places would do that.
Does that explain why 17 drivers run every red light in Chicago?
oliegirl
12-14-2005, 06:58 AM
Some intersections in Atlanta now have video cameras and signs posted that the intersection is under surveillance. i think this is the best idea...it keeps the county from paying a cop to just sit there (and no one will do it with a cop right there so they don't get any tickets issued), and I would think that if you received a ticket in the mail with a photo of your car and the traffic light, you would probably think twice before doing it again.
VPI97
12-14-2005, 07:21 AM
I hate every person in every car in Atlanta. No offense to anyone on the board.
gottimd
12-14-2005, 07:31 AM
Some intersections in Atlanta now have video cameras and signs posted that the intersection is under surveillance. i think this is the best idea...it keeps the county from paying a cop to just sit there (and no one will do it with a cop right there so they don't get any tickets issued), and I would think that if you received a ticket in the mail with a photo of your car and the traffic light, you would probably think twice before doing it again.
Around here, they had that in many places. They did studies and realized it was causing more accidents because people were gunning it even more to get through the intersection when it turns yellow.

Someone in the DC area correct me if I am wrong about that, and also, I think they started installing speeding cameras in between lights. It gauges how fast you got from one light to the next (short distance) and if you got there way too fast, you were obviously speeding and you get a ticket as well.
MizzouRah
12-14-2005, 08:56 AM
I hate every person in every car in Atlanta. No offense to anyone on the board.LOL!

I'm really liking these pet peeves.. most of them hit home, must be the old man in me. :)
sterlingice
12-14-2005, 11:43 AM
Around here, they had that in many places. They did studies and realized it was causing more accidents because people were gunning it even more to get through the intersection when it turns yellow.

Someone in the DC area correct me if I am wrong about that, and also, I think they started installing speeding cameras in between lights. It gauges how fast you got from one light to the next (short distance) and if you got there way too fast, you were obviously speeding and you get a ticket as well.See- I just hate this idea. It's the idea of turning cops into a money making device and not about making the roads safer. And this is from someone who is described as driving "like an old lady" by friends- so I'm not in danger of a lot of tickets or anything and I still hate the idea.

SI