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And the No. 1 thing that drives motorists mad ...
The Daily Bulletin ^ | 7/17/2006 | Michelle Groh-Gordy, DriveTime

Posted on 07/17/2006 8:41:13 AM PDT by Smogger

Are you really a good, conscientious driver, or are your driving habits the behind-the-wheel equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard to everyone else on the road?

A recent survey of 10,000 drivers conducted by Hagerty Insurance, a company that insures collector cars, determined the 10 things that exasperate other drivers the most:

10. You're taking a carefree spin down the road when you notice that the car in front of you has its turn signal on ... and on ... and on. Five or 10 miles later, your left eye twitching, you realize the other driver is clueless to the fact their indicator is on. You have just experienced the 10th-biggest irritation, according to the drivers surveyed.

9. Ah, men. Running a little late for work, they often can be seen grooming and shaving while driving. To be certain, this is never an issue for those of us of the female persuasion. Heads up, gentlemen. Grooming while driving was ranked as the ninth-most annoying driver behavior.

8. Due to the fact that I get into deep hot water with motorcycle riders every time I write something negative about motorcycles driving in between lanes, I feel it necessary to post the following disclaimer: I did not conduct the survey. Hagerty Insurance did. That said, the survey concluded that motorcycles that split lanes are No. 8 on the list of what infuriates drivers the most.

7. If you have been told on more than one occasion that you are a good candidate for an anger-management class, you should be aware that those of you who take your rage out on the road are the seventh-most disliked drivers.

6. Do you find that reaching up and turning on that pesky turn signal is more effort than you care to expend while driving? Not bothering to use your turn signal is the sixth-most irksome thing you can do when behind the wheel.

5. If you are a driver with a superiority complex, beware. If you speed up to keep other people from changing lanes or passing you, you were ranked as the fifth-biggest irritation on the road.

4. Some drivers weave in and out of lanes for the precious advantage of arriving at their destination two minutes earlier than those silly folks who actually drive safely. Traffic weavers, you have been forewarned -- you are the fourth-most reviled drivers.

3. You look in your rear-view mirror and see another car driving within inches of your rear bumper. If you were to stop suddenly, the driver behind you would no doubt be meeting you in your front seat for lunch. The survey found that the third-most exasperating driver is the tailgater.

2. If you've got to drive slow, you better know where to go. Those who putz in the fast lane ranked as the second-biggest driving annoyance.

1. And the Big Kahuna, the No. 1 act that survey respondents said made them grind their teeth down to a pulp when they saw other drivers doing it? You guessed it -- chatting on the cell phone. Some 28.5 percent of those surveyed would like you to hang it up the next time you hit the road.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: anger; cars; chatroom; driving; generalchat; notnews; roadrage; takeit2chat; transportation; wrongforum
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To: mass55th
How about the person who speeds up to pull out in front of you from a side street/driveway, only to slow down once he's out on the road. And usually, there's nobody behind you. So why couldn't he wait until you passed him?

That one gets me, too.
How about when someone is poking along 5-10 mph below the speed limit on a city street, and when a traffic light turns yellow, they speed through and leave you sitting at the red light?
That's also in my top 10.
281 posted on 07/17/2006 10:10:13 AM PDT by FreedomOfExpression (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: RinaseaofDs

Hehehe.. The author is a women. I think she was being a little tongue in cheek.


282 posted on 07/17/2006 10:10:34 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: Individual Rights in NJ
Bingo! You'd think they'd have a clue when tractor trailer trucks are passing them on the right.

Then again, they're probably dialing a 900 number. LOL

283 posted on 07/17/2006 10:11:19 AM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: dirtboy

"But that's OK - motorcyclists who pull that crap usually take themselves out of the gene pool eventually."

In California motorcycles are legally permitted to split lanes. They aren't taking anything away from anyone else by doing so (in fact they're reducing congestion by not sitting in it) and it only pisses off other drivers (cagers) because they're jealous. Well, that, and I suspect that many of my lane-splitting brethren are running insanely loud exhaust pipes that tend to startle people when they suddenly come by splitting lanes.

Anywhere else in North America, if you're splitting lanes you're breaking the law. I almost never see it happen here, for example.


284 posted on 07/17/2006 10:11:44 AM PDT by -YYZ-
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To: Cobra64
Hey, when are you going to install a PC in your car so you can get your e-mail?

Never.

BTW, in my line of work, I communicate constantly with others in seminars, meetings, consultations, etc. in very large buildings with many offices. That is the only reason I ever want to use a cell phone. For WORK.

Great. Others may choose to use them for other purposes.

Do you yak in the movies, at the opera, and in Church?

No.
285 posted on 07/17/2006 10:11:45 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: -YYZ-
They aren't taking anything away from anyone else by doing so (in fact they're reducing congestion by not sitting in it) and it only pisses off other drivers (cagers) because they're jealous.

Sorry, it's not jealosy. You're basically cutting in line, and it's human nature to get riled about that.

Like I said, if cyclists want to be treated like cars in traffic, they need to act like cars.

286 posted on 07/17/2006 10:13:47 AM PDT by dirtboy (When Bush is on the same side as Ted the Swimmer on an issue, you know he's up to no good...)
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To: Smogger

I'm surprised that spandex clad recreational bikers didn't make the list. They are most commonly seen riding three abreast at 15 to 20mph on what is normally a 40mph roadway. The sidewalk - or better yet, purpose built bikepath - 10 feet away and parallel to the road is invariably empty.

Bikers are the worst, police on revenue enforcement duty are a very close second.


287 posted on 07/17/2006 10:15:09 AM PDT by CGTRWK
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To: miliantnutcase
Slow indecisive drivers scare me the worst.

Sorry...

I'm the driver with my left turn signal on thinking, "Oh gosh, I could have made that turn, I'll bet everyone behind me is flipping out!"

After I totalled my van making a left turn, I no longer give a crap.

288 posted on 07/17/2006 10:15:25 AM PDT by Dianna
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To: Smogger; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; SandyInSeattle; Darksheare; OSHA; ...
5. If you are a driver with a superiority complex, beware. If you speed up to keep other people from changing lanes or passing you, you were ranked as the fifth-biggest irritation on the road.

Jerks like that are the reason turret guns were invented.


289 posted on 07/17/2006 10:15:43 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Pray for peace, prepare for war.)
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To: talleyman
"If you attempt to leave a safe distance between you and the car ahead, someone else will instantly fill the space..."

Oh man, is that ever true.

290 posted on 07/17/2006 10:15:51 AM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: Alberta's Child

"What is it about the phrase "Keep Right Except to Pass" that so many drivers cannot comprehend?"

A lot of places don't have those signs. They have "Slower traffic keep right" or something similar, and nobody thinks that they're "Slower traffic". I'm not sure what we have in Ontario, but I'm pretty sure most people don't pay any attention, anyway.


291 posted on 07/17/2006 10:16:01 AM PDT by -YYZ-
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To: Just A Nobody
This is legal in California.....

It's perfectly legal in California for multiple vehicles to share lanes. For example. I can squeeze by you on the right if I am making a right hand turn and you are going straight. In fact a pet peeve of mine is morons that prevent this paticular activity by hogging the lane. ;-) Poor California we used to have the best drivers until all of the the illegals and Asians showed up :-(

292 posted on 07/17/2006 10:17:02 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: Egon

Then you're part of the problem. To a lot of us, the speed limit is the minimum.


293 posted on 07/17/2006 10:18:47 AM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: 1Old Pro
People using "turning lanes" which are generally a one lane portion inbetween a 2 or 4 lane road. they are supposed to be for TURNING and you should enter and slow down and perhaps stop and then turn. They are not another lane for people to drive long distances in.

I really hate it when people almost come to a complete stop before getting into the left turn lane, or worse, they stop halfway between the turn lane and the regular lane to make their turn.
294 posted on 07/17/2006 10:19:03 AM PDT by FreedomOfExpression (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: Smogger

No. 2 seems to be epidemic in Ohio.

You'll get some old fart who sticks the cruise on at 58 MPH while he's trying to pass an 18 wheeler who's doing 57.9 MPH and it takes 15 minutes to complete the pass.

Then the old fart gets completely blown off of the road as the 2 miles of traffic zoom by him.


295 posted on 07/17/2006 10:19:34 AM PDT by MikefromOhio
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
Why is that crotch rocket road maniacs out number the respectful ones on the road? I mean there is a guy on a rice rocket who must have incredible faith in my driving ability. Because the way he is tailgating me, waiting for a break in traffic to weave by he could be just a smudge on my 4900lb. truck's rear end.
296 posted on 07/17/2006 10:21:44 AM PDT by miliantnutcase
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To: mupcat
...and for those who drive UNDER the limit---pull over and let someone pass...

Absolutely agree.

297 posted on 07/17/2006 10:23:05 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (New England...the Sodom and Gomorrah of the 21st Century, and they're proud of it!)
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To: Lucky9teen
I'm REALLY surprised that "rubber neckers" wasn't on that list. That is MY biggest pet peave when driving, among the others that were mentioned on the list, I absolutely hate it when traffic comes to a dead stop because of looky lou's who just HAVE to slow down and look at the car on the side of the road with the flat tire. Jeesh. SO annoying.

Agreed. Mentioned by my coworker. Personally, I will roll past a grizly accident involving a school bus and a cement truck at 75 mph. without so much as a second glance. Get home and watch it on TV.

298 posted on 07/17/2006 10:23:15 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: goodnesswins
LOL....I've wanted to get a sign I could flip up that says....."You're turn signal isn't working"

I have a bumper sticker that reads, Turn Signals?

299 posted on 07/17/2006 10:24:09 AM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Cobra64
Then you're part of the problem. To a lot of us, the speed limit is the minimum.

I've read enough of this thread to know two things:

1. I know which of us represents the problem.

2. I don't really want to get dragged any further into a thread that has outlived its usefulness.

Happy motoring!

300 posted on 07/17/2006 10:25:55 AM PDT by Egon (We are number one! All others are number two... or lower.)
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