Driving related Pet Peeves?? What are yours?

[a priori]

While Driving:

1. Tailgating.
2. Running "burnt orange"/red lights.
3. Not taking turns in a merge.
4. Speeding in neighborhoods.
5. Other activities borne of rampant selfishness.

While Not Driving:

1. Leaving an engine running/idling when anywhere but at a stoplight. Really, this one gets me more than about anything else. Just turn off the car already! If you want to listen the radio, use the "ACC" setting.
2. Buying a gigantic truck/SUV when you really only need a car.
3. Other activities borne of profound lack of interest or of ignorance.

[sophia_frederika]

Originally Posted by neon tetra

Soccer mom on the phone in her ginormous SUV, driving like a complete a-hole.

Lady Jane and I almost got totaled by one of those today. I was waiting for oncoming traffic so I could turn into my driveway. She was speeding (in a school zone) and literally ran up on to the sidewalk to avoid me.

[sdtundra]

I would have to say people that leave space, yet when you signal to get over, speed up. This guy did that to me once, so i signaled, and moved over....he got right on my ass approaching a red light (thought he was going to hit me) and started following me. I drove back to the high school where i had just picked up my brother, got out with my breaker bar. He stopped, reversed and left,.....

Another one is drivers on cell phones of course, or ones with big SUVs or BMWs that think they own the road.

Havent seen this yet, but a lot of young drivers in my area drive expensive cars such as 2008 BMW M3 Coupes...and Mustang GT's with heavy list of mods. It just seems that they drive like they're trying to impress someone, so when they get stopped for doing 40 in a 25, i cant do anything but pull up and laugh.

[Dawveed]

I agree with just about all pet peeves with people on cell phones at the top of the list. I have had several instances then I look over at the idiot and see them on their cell phone.

People backing into parking spaces is the only one where I cannot see how this is somebody's pet peeve. Unless we pull straight through a parking space, we will all back up either before or after. I feel that it is safer to back into a space. The only time when I pull straight in is when I might hold somebody up by backing in, if it is a diagonal parking space, or if there is a sign telling people nose in. Have a good day!

[Sitting Duc]

(background: almost all roads in New Zealand are only one lane in each direction; to pass you either cross the centre-line into oncoming traffic, or wait for a passing lane. Freeway? What Freeway?)

Cars who are travelling slightly slower than me who speed up when they reach a passing lane, and then slow down again when it goes back to one lane.
Why does having a big open empty lane beside you make you want to drive faster?
Related are the people who realise they are going slow and holding up traffic, so they pull further off the road so people can pass - on a double yellow line, or with oncoming traffic, or where it is equally unsafe to pass! Congratulations, you have one wheel off the tarmac and are going really slow. Why not just speed up a little?

Not indicating is less of a worry - nobody indicates properly, so you just start by expecting them to do the worst thing possible and be pleasantly surprised when they fail to kill themselves around you.

[NYPrius1]

1: People On Cell Phones. I have had 3 close calls since Jan.
2: People leaving shopping carts by their cars at the Super Market. They are too lazy to return them to the cart return area.
3: People Bitching About Gas Prices Driving SUV's and Speeding and Tailgating.

[morpheusx]

when the wife changes the channels on my Sirius.

[Michgal007]

1. No turn signals. Or, turn signals 2 seconds before turning. What's the point?
2. Speeding through yellow lights.
3. CELL PHONES. Even as a pedestrian, I make sure they see me before crossing the road. Get off of it! STOP TEXTING!
4. Tailgaiting.

[saminjax]

Originally Posted by bac

Certainly I don't have the time to list all, but here is the short list:

1. PDA/Cell/Texting: Stop trying to kill me and PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING!

2. Stop Here on Red: Why can't people read or understand this very simple phrase? Perhaps 1 out of 25 stop correctly.

3. Turn Signals: Just use them - they are there for a reason - really.

4. Left Lane Bandits: Why do you want to drive BELOW the speed limit and at the EXACT speed of the guy to your right? Just make the pass already!

I have 786 more, but I'll let them go for now.

... Brad

I agree with ALL of those and would add:

5. Backing up on the highway after missing the exit.

6. Stopping in the merge lane. This one makes me wish I had a missle mounted to the top of my car...

7. Tailgaiting, especially when in a line of traffic (what does the guy expect me to do, leapfrog over several cars?) or approaching a stop sign/stoplight. WHY??????

8. Throwing cigarette butts out the window. Makes me soooo mad...

[airportkid]

Stopping at a red light without leaving room for people to make a right turn (where right on red is legal).

Failing to match freeway speeds when merging (this one baffles me - in a country where being able to do 0-60 in under 10 seconds is a major selling point for cars, why do so many people creep onto freeways and only match freeway speed 10 minutes later)???