Things Other Drivers Do to Make You Mad

* People who last second merge. They see the lane ends in 500 ft, yet still change into it and expect traffic to let them in up ahead (a me first mentality).
* Similar to above - two cars that try to squeeze into the same hole. 1 and 1 people, like a zipper.
* Tailgating
* Relying heavily on brakes in traffic - I dislike when the cars behind me stop rapidly and come within inches of my bumper.
* Talking and driving w/o hands free
* Doing makeup or other grooming while driving.
* Drivers in slow lane who don't let merging on-ramp traffic in (again, 1 and 1).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Walker1 @ Mar 30 2007, 08:48 AM) [snapback]414852[/snapback]</div>

1) Do not use turn signals.
2) On cell phones.
3) Tailgaters.

The same as your first three. I mean.. you walk out of the store with your hands free. You get in the car, dial the phone, start the car then start talking. I mean, what the hell were you doing before? You had your hands free. Could you call before you got into the car? Or since you're at a parking lot, couldn't you finish your call before you start off?

And then they try to back out with one hand on the wheel and then they decide to go slow cause they can't see and hold everyone up cause they're yapping away, totally oblivious to what's around them other than they're not going to hit another car or pedestrian.


It's kinda funny. I had this woman stare at me for "cutting her off" on the freeway. She had no idea she was doing 60km/h in a 90km/h zone cause she was yapping away on the phone and I had to overtake her, then change back and then merge off.

 

Carnegie-Melon University released a study indicating that any form of engaging conversation caused the driver to focus on an increasingly tunnel-vision perception of the road in front of them. It didn't matter if they were on the phone or debating with a passenger.

But what annoys me the most with cell phones is that people tend to not turn their heads to the side on which they are holding the phone. So when someone approaches an intersection and wants to make aright turn, if they are holding the cell phone to their left ear, they are less inclined to completely check for oncoming traffic. This is only my perception and entirely non-scientific but watch for it. I think you'll see it as well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Mar 30 2007, 09:10 AM) [snapback]414873[/snapback]</div>

15-21mpg during cruise, depending on altitude and chosen speed and version of Cessna :-( It's far better than larger planes though. Carrying 4 people that makes 72 people mpg though (not as great as a Prius but in line w/ SUV's and much faster and more direct for the tradeoff). What irritates me most is leaded gas they burn though and pilot controlled mixture which allows you to run rich (waste more fuel and higher HC output).

Also, because the planes are rented by the hobbs hour (meter runs when oil pressure is present) with fuel included (wet), it's "cheaper" for the pilot to fly faster and less efficient than slower and more efficient since slower might add 30 minutes to the bill on longer flights (about $60). If you own the plane, however, slower and more efficient is the way to fly if time isn't a factor.

*****

Driving annoyances - I've got another set of annoyances that pertain to wide (2 car widths) right lanes at intersections at red lights where the white line has been removed for the purpose of turning right:

* People who stop in middle of the lane preventing people behind from getting by on the right for the right turn on red when safe.
* People who stay to the left of the lane and then turn right w/o signaling.

Then of course there's the nasty AZ habit of people executing their left turns (unprotected) onto a 4 lane highway (2 lanes each side) with oncoming traffic executing right turns at the same time. In most areas I've been in, right has right of way, and left turns must wait for right to clear. However out here, doing so would prevent flow of traffic so most people justify the fact that left turns end up in the left lane and right turns end up in the right as "safe enough".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Mar 30 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]414975[/snapback]</div>

I hope for the days where I can say "I remember when they replaced 100 LL with premium MoGas or something Ethanol or hydrogen based. Flying got much cheaper after that, and pollution came way down". Won't happen for a while as the aviation industry moves at a snail's pace thanks to FAA certification requirements.

Still OT, but wonder if they'll ever *really* consider a bio-diesel type Jet-A (maybe Jet-V for Jet Veggie)?