Something I don't understand...

[raiderphantom]

Re: Something I don't understand...

I used to have road rage. Now I'm very patient and have learned to deal with horrible drivers. I mean they're everywhere and there's nothing I can do about it so no need to raise my blood pressure...What I can't stand are hypocrites. Don't complain about other drivers and drive like an *** yourself.

[raiderphantom]

Re: Something I don't understand...

I don't know; every time you get into a motor vehicle, it's a life-or-death situation. One bit of understeer or wrong flick of the wheel and you could be going head-on into a wall or a ditch, etc.

Today, on my way back from Virginia, a freaking deer jumped right out in front of my car. If I hadn't been paying attention, that deer could have been going through my windshield. Every moment on the road can be a deadly situation.

I was on a bridge after midnight one time. Roads were empty, but I was pretty tired and eyes were blurry. I look out my window to my left, right next to me is a freaking deer running like 35 mph with me!! Scared the ish outta me!! Reminds me of the Kevin Hart - Ostrich segment he did lol

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Something I don't understand...

We need a "Deer are Idiots" thread to share our stories of their inexplicable and suicidal actions.

[TracerBullet]

Re: Something I don't understand...

Almost got in an accident today because of an idiot driver. Apparently they believed the solid green light gives them the right of way to turn left. Had to slam on my brakes to avoid a collision, then she stares at me like I'm in the wrong there. ****ing stupid people on the roads sometimes.

I don't really yell about it too much anymore. The thing that irritates me the most is people not using turn signals. I'll usually say something to myself or the passenger in my car about it in disapproving sarcastic voice, but don't rage like a lot of people (usually).

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Something I don't understand...

I'm always calm when I'm driving. It's a blessing to be alive after every trip in a car. If someone cuts me off, big deal I didn't get hurt or get in an accident so I'm good. Me honking or getting angry where the guy can't hear it doesn't do any thing to change what he/she are doing. All it does it makes your blood pressure rise and ruin your day.

In fact, being angry makes you less aware on the road so you're doing more a disservice to other drivers. If you get angry, just breath and let it pass and it will be gone within a few seconds.

Bad drivers are always going to be there until computers drive us. Its the risk you take everytime you get behind the wheel. Just be prepared to take on the worst and handle your emotions.

[Splitter77]

Re: Something I don't understand...

some things i never understood about driving in this country.

why people totally forget how to drive when its raining.
why people get all ******** when they see a traffic circle
and why cars coming onto the highway have to yield. (highway traffic in the right lane should yield to the cars coming on.)

this is the only country with these problems.

[RoundingThird]

Re: Something I don't understand...

I'm always calm when I'm driving. It's a blessing to be alive after every trip in a car. If someone cuts me off, big deal I didn't get hurt or get in an accident so I'm good. Me honking or getting angry where the guy can't hear it doesn't do any thing to change what he/she are doing. All it does it makes your blood pressure rise and ruin your day.

In fact, being angry makes you less aware on the road so you're doing more a disservice to other drivers. If you get angry, just breath and let it pass and it will be gone within a few seconds.

Bad drivers are always going to be there until computers drive us. Its the risk you take everytime you get behind the wheel. Just be prepared to take on the worst and handle your emotions.

As I have said earlier, I agree with this. Road rage only leads to bad things, like Ryan Dempster drilling A-Rod last night.

[VDusen04]

Re: Something I don't understand...

some things i never understood about driving in this country.

why people totally forget how to drive when its raining.

this is the only country with these problems.

I do not believe the United States of America is the only country that features drivers who drastically alter their driving habits to accommodate the various forms of rainfall. I also find weather conditions such as snow and rain to be a can't-win situation for many drivers out there.

This is not speaking toward you directly at all, as you haven't stated what displeases you about rain drivers, but I seem to constantly hear bitter complaints about other drivers in bad weather and I struggle to understand exactly what the perfect form of driving is in those situations. People either complain about how some idiot was going way too fast for conditions, way too slow, way too recklessly, or way too safely.

In Michigan every year, upon first snowfall, I hear so many stories of people saying the same predictable line, "Man, idiot drivers always forget how to drive in the snow" because they're apparently going too slow for conditions. Personally? I cannot fault folks for only going as fast as they feel comfortable. Surely, there's a limit (5 mph on a dusted 55 mph road is obviously insane) but I'd be lying if I said there's not dozens of times each year when I'm tailgated by someone pressuring me to go faster than I feel I safely can given the weather conditions (at one point leading to a spin out when I succumbed to the pressure in my younger days).

It's interesting how self-centered we become as drivers. I think I said it earlier, but we honestly seem to approach driving as if every other driver out there has the worst possible intentions and is clearly out to get us, thus creating this boiling tension and rage. And we always seem to think we're driving the perfect speed and anyone not matching it is either reckless or forgot how to drive. I think being a defensive driver means always being aware and ready. I don't necessarily think it means waging war on everyone inside your own head.

I'm guilty of a lot of the same thoughts mentioned throughout this thread. But over the years, I've tried to make a concerted effort to look at things from another angle. What do I know about that other driver? What if the speeding car was rushing to the hospital for a medical emergency? What if the slow driver has an accident in their history where they were going too fast for conditions and decided to err on the side of safety? What if the person who cut us off just made the first big driving mistake of their life? Do those reasonings justify everything? No, they may justify nothing. In fact, the speeding emergency guy is being unwise to put others at risk. But for me, it can help to be open about that stuff and humanizing things, just in terms of diffusing the dangerous cycle of potential anger, pessimism and rage.

Lastly, every person who makes a mistake on the road isn't an idiot. Nearly every single person in this thread, has made hundreds of driving mistakes. When we make those mistakes, we know they're one in a thousand (or million) for us, but to the driver who reacted or dealt with our mistake, it's one out of one. All they know is we're a driver they've seen for the last five minutes and in the one thing we had to do, we screwed it up. So to them, we're the worst ever, when in reality, it was a super rare occurrence.

[C the Lyte]

Re: Something I don't understand...

some things i never understood about driving in this country.

why people totally forget how to drive when its raining.
why people get all ******** when they see a traffic circle
and why cars coming onto the highway have to yield. (highway traffic in the right lane should yield to the cars coming on.)

this is the only country with these problems.

I find it hard to believe we are the only country with these problems.

Also, what is your reasoning for cars already on the highway traveling @ a higher rate of speed to yield for the slower vehicle merging? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it the merger's responsibility to safely merge onto the highway? Now, the other car in the right lane can be courteous and move into the left lane if possible.

Lastly, every person who makes a mistake on the road isn't an idiot. Nearly every single person in this thread, has made hundreds of driving mistakes. When we make those mistakes, we know they're one in a thousand (or million) for us, but to the driver who reacted or dealt with our mistake, it's one out of one. All they know is we're a driver they've seen for the last five minutes and in the one thing we had to do, we screwed it up. So to them, we're the worst ever, when in reality, it was a super rare occurrence.

First impressions....

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Something I don't understand...

Mistakes are things like crossing into the other, empty lane on a two lane turn or failing to use a turn signal.

Not knowing how to merge properly isn't a "mistake" its poor driving.

[kehlis]

Also, what is your reasoning for cars already on the highway traveling @ a higher rate of speed to yield for the slower vehicle merging? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it the merger's responsibility to safely merge onto the highway? Now, the other car in the right lane can be courteous and move into the left lane if possible.

Yea, I didn't get that at all, that would cause MORE accidents and MORE congestion.

It literally isn't possible for cars in the right lane to move into the left lane at certain times in Pittsburgh and have to a car going 20 would be disastrous.

[Splitter77]

Re: Something I don't understand...

Yea, I didn't get that at all, that would cause MORE accidents and MORE congestion.

It literally isn't possible for cars in the right lane to move into the left lane at certain times in Pittsburgh and have to a car going 20 would be disastrous.

you dont move over, you slow down to let the car onto the highway.
cars shouldnt be yeilding or stopping to get on a highway at 5-10 mph.
they should be coming into traffic at 35-40mph.
just my opinion i guess

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Something I don't understand...

It makes no sense to have on-going traffic to try and slow down its momentum for cars coming onto the highway.

I'm sorry, but 35-40mph is too slow coming onto a highway that is going double that speed.

[kehlis]

Something I don't understand...

you dont move over, you slow down to let the car onto the highway.
cars shouldnt be yeilding or stopping to get on a highway at 5-10 mph.
they should be coming into traffic at 35-40mph.
just my opinion i guess

that literally is not possible in Pittsburgh.

[RoundingThird]

Re: Something I don't understand...

Wow. Today I was stuck in traffic on a highway and some moron decides that she has had enough, so she exits off of the on ramp of the previous exit. There were two cars getting on the highway that had to swerve off the road. Luckily there was a cop right behind me who saw the whole things. I was laughing when I saw her get busted.