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.
agreed. very few men "groom" while driving, but women do it all the time. and c'mon, how dumb is it to apply eyeliner or mascara when driving? one little bump and you lose an eye.
A thousand dittos.
I have no issue with people talking on their cell phone as long as they don't slow down so much they impede the flow of traffic or start weaving from side to side in their lane. If people can talk on the phone without doing that, go for it. Otherwise, stay off the phone.
And those people who can't signal in my book should be shot.
Women farding?
You're right, we don't need another behavior modifying nanny-state law.
People need to voluntarily stay the hell off their cell phone when they're driving. This problem is getting worse. The people who poke in the left lane with their blinker on are either about 80 year old, or on their damn phone.
Thank you. My wife and I appreciate it.
#5 is the worst! Especially when you turn on your turn signal and are 10 or 20 car lengths out in front of the guy... And STILL he tries to keep you from changing lanes... grrrr!
Agreed. My general rule is -- if you're doing something that implies that you're more important or in a bigger hurry than everyone else on the road, then you're p*ssing off other drivers with your actions.
I'm no fan of big government but if people can't drive and talk at the same time they shouldn't do them at the same time. That being said, I live in the Peoples Republic of New York where driving while talking on a cell is illegal and the law is totally ignored and unenforced.
"LOL....I've wanted to get a sign I could flip up that says....."You're turn signal isn't working""
This pisses me off, too, especially when I'm on my motorcycle. Talk about a good way to make yourself dead . . .
Men grooming behind the wheel? I'm old and I've never even seen this--ever. Women on the other hand...
AMEN!
And if traffic is too heavy to pass, then it's likely to slow down any second and make me hit the brakes, and *then* where will the jerk be?
I absolutely detest tailgaters. The only thing worst than tailgaters on the interstate are tailgaters on twisty back roads at night, where you can't see well enough to pull off because he's got his blasted lights crammed up your butt, blinding you. UNGH!
Me neither. Slow azz, lollygaggin, sight-seeing drivers, oldies, Asians, and illegals are the biggest culprits.
My second biggest pet peeve is not even on the list. People that don't know when to go at a four way stop, paticularly the moron directly across from you waits and wants you to turn left in front of him. I find that illegals are the biggest culprit there as well.
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