Avalanche325

It is amazing how many people can't really handle an automobile. Having a drivers license has nothing to do with it. I agree that getting a drivers license should be a lot more like getting a pilots license. Oh, you don't understand basic physics? Sorry, no license for you. You don't know how to recover from a skid, and can't prove it? No license. Can't change a tire? No. Under-steer, over-steer, trailing throttle over-steer, threshold braking???? NO. Go study, come back later.

If you are in the left lane AT ANY SPEED and a car comes up behind you, you should, and are legally required to, move into the right lane. If you do not understand that, you need to read your state drivers manual.

Here is a good one. I am in an exit lane. The car just ahead to my left puts her turn signal on. I slow down to let them in. There was now more than enough room (2 car lengths) for about 3-4 seconds. She then hits the brakes and does the little "I'm confused" left and right swerve. Now she is beside me. I hit the gas to get out of her way. The passenger gives me the full blown out the window finger. He flipped me off because his wife couldn't drive. GREAT.

SipperPhoto

heheh been there, done that... I get it every day on I-5 coming thru irvine... Some guy will throw his turn signal on, I give them PLENTY of room to come over.. the don't, the signal stays on for 20-30 seconds... I start to speed up (to my original speed) then, as soon as I do, the guy will fly into my lane and cut me off, I lay on the horn, he flips me off... damn uncourteous drivers.

Another one I liek is the double turn lane off the freeway... there are 2 lanes turning right off the freeway onto the surface street. I always get in the farthest to the left, meaning I should turn into the second lane. Well wouldn;t you know... the A-hole next to me, thinks he can turn into any lane, and proceeds to turn into mine, cutting me off, and nearly taking the front of my car off... and this happens nearly EVERY day...

jeff

BeTheChange

I've always just been an agry driver. I've mellowed recently, I just have high standards for people driving. My car had the "f*** you. die." sticker on it and lots of other fun ones. I think my big change now is if I see a cyclist I'll do some blocking for him and get behind him till all the idiots have passed. I still flick people off and honk, but I'm no longer actually angry. I just don't care, but I know it bugs the **** out of some of these people to get called on being stupid. Eh, skrew it.

N_C

First of all not everyone can control a car very well in a skid situation. Why? Every skid situation is differant. Plus those that can actually do it in a testing enviroment where there are no other cars on the road may not be able to do it when it happens for real. Not only that there are many reasons for a vehicle skidding, from rain to oil to ice. I don't care what you say or think, but no one can control a vehicle on 100% ice covered roads, no matter how much training or testing they have done.

Not everyone is physically able to change a tire. The lug nuts hold a wheel on a vehicle very tightly for a good reason. Hell I sometimes can't break them loose. So are you saying if a pregnant woman has a flat and needs a tire change, but knows she can't do it should not have a license?

What the hell is trailing throttle over steer anyway? Never heard of it. I'm guessing you're a truck driver. Not that there is anything wrong with that, my father is an OTR driver. I'm proud of him & he's proud to work in that proffession.

I think your comment on people driving in the left lane having to change lanes because it is the law may be somewhat incorrect. Not all states have the so-called lane change laws.

One final question. Do your knuckles drag on the ground when you walk? I ask this because you seem to want to limit peoples ability to drive only if they meet your specifications. Even though you didn't specicially state it I took some of your comments to be against women.

Granted more needs to be done to teach people better driving skills. But let's be reasonable about it. Let's not make it so damn hard that only a select few are able to do it like you want to.

BigFloppyLlama

I think riding has altered my driving style, but it really varries quite a bit. Sometimes I'm as mellow as can be, not really giving a care if drivers don't signal, drive under the limit, etc. Other times I'm downright edgy. 5 under the limit and I start cursing them out. But around here, we definitely have some horrid drivers (paired with one of the worst traffic signal configurations I've ever driven in) that are a danger to both cars and pedestrians alike.

J-McKech

I think what avalanche said is right. people need to understand the basic physics of a car. Its a 3000lbs machine and in some cases when people dont full understand how to drive it could be a weapon. I dont think his post was directed at women. He simply stated a story about how a driver didnt know what he/she was doing and it happend to be a woman. Just because someone isnt physical able to change a tire doesnt mean they shouldnt know how. He didnt say anything about being physical able, he just said to "know how"...what are the basic steps. Changing a tire is a pretty basic ordeal on a car but if you cant do that then do you full understand how the car works and thus performs under any such condition. I think there DEFINETLY need to be some qualifications to driving a automobile. testing testing testing. Driving is NOT a right, its a priviledge. Also i think after a certain age, older people need to get retested. I cant COUNT how many times i have almost been hit by an older person driving.

Biker2004

Bottom line...driving is a PRIVILEGE!!! Also, I have given it up for a better lifestyle.

cyclezealot

Why do I hate motorist/auto culture most of the time..They are selfish, homicidal nutcases...No respect for the rights of others. At least a goodly enough percentage to tarnish the rest.
Example...Yesterday, while commuting to work...I cross a busy intersection that share an on ramp with a interstate..A very busy one..I do not expect it possible at that hour to merge to a lane where a bike can procede through the intersection..
So I get off my bike..Hit the button to cross the pedestrian crossway..
One time out..Think they would stop for the cross sign for pedestrians to cross. One full cycle . NO...I press it again...
They have a red light...I have the white lite to cross the pedestrian crossway. Some stop when I exert my hand..THEY HAVE A RED LIGHt..Of course most states have right turn on red...
Some stop..TWo lanes allowed to have access to freeway..I hold out my hand for them to stop...Second lane, I hear screaching of brakes..Right in front of me..
I cross...SOme A$$ ho$$ yells get out of the way @@@...I give him the one finger solute.. SOmething should be done about these jerks...
I read pedestrains up in Los ANgeles have a similiar problem at regular cross walks..
Many pedestrians are killed each year, because motorists think right turn on red, means they NEVER have to stop...Ever...
I think that jerk deserved the salute...He came real close.
Other examples of their excesses..Watch a green arrow change to red for a left hand turn at an intersection...It might take 30 seconds for them to stop turning left on red. I see it every day..Where are the police when you need them.

Brillig

Wow, you got some nutbars out there. We don't have anything close to that back here, even in NY City. Maybe you should move back East.

cyclezealot

Brillig...I cross that intersection every time I commute. This is a rarity....Most often at that freeway interchange, their excess is they continue to move a long time after they get the red light...
Maybe the ceter right turn lane, can't see a pedestrain..But, I doubt it.
Exceeding length of green arrow. That happens all the time..I notice motorists get fumed, fearing they might miss their green light.

DanFromDetroit

This is the law in parts of Europe. I think it is called something like "Drive Right". I do believe that it is just a matter of courtesy on Interstate Highways here. There are exceptions to this like exits on the left and such.

On surface streets no such rules apply, in fact because of the way boulevards are layed out here in Michigan, slower traffic making a left turn is forced to move through the intersection and then from right to left to complete a left turn. These are commonly know as "Michigan Lefts" here.

If you are traveling in one of the rightmost lanes and still being tailgated, the best solution is to modulate your speed slowly between the speed limit and about 5-10mph below the limit. Rather than constantly adjust their speed, most tailgaters will pass you on the left.

Dan

Daily Commute

If a driver going 65 in the left lane is blocking drivers who want to speed, both the blocker and the speeders are in the wrong. A cop has the right to pull either or both over. But the speeders don't have the right to gripe.

You don't have the right to complain that somebody else's lawbreaking stops you from lawbreaking.

jszymczak

There are also laws against tailgaiting...

Brillig

Yes.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=20#post482951

midwestmntnbkr

Since when is it your job to try to force laws on the people that want to go by you and get somewhere? If you are not a cop (and I don't feel they have any right to tell me what to do either) you have no business holding others up. You need to move right and get out of the way or stay off the road.

Too many laws and too many idiots trying to tell people what to do and how to live their life. More people should worry about themselves and leave the rest of the world alone. If I get a ticket, that's my problem don't you worry about it. Once again I say people should take responsibility for their OWN actions and leave the rest be.

cyclezealot

Could be splitting hairs here..You are blocking a lane and already going somewhat over the legal speed limit..Somebody wants to pass at really obsessively speeds..Not sure where my sympathies are.

Daily Commute

Then we agree. Both the speeder and the blocker "should take responsibility for their OWN actions and leave the rest be":

The blocker should get out of the way. The speeder should slow down.

The person blocking the left lane has no right to complain about the honking speeder. The speeder doesn't have the right to whine about the blocker.

The blocker shouldn't be a cop by intentionally blocking the left lane. The speeder shouldn't be a cop by honking at or tailgating the blocker.

Blockers should look at how blocking traffic increases the risk to all. Speeders should look at how to make their own behavior safer (i.e., slow down) instead of whining about the faults of others.

lsits

I get people comming up behind me all the time and flashing their lights at me wanting me to move over. Trouble is, I'm in the carpool lane. Crossing the line is a minimum $271 fine. (I don't know where they came up with that figure) I just continue at the same speed. That really ticks them off.

khuon

The carpool lane should not be treated as another left lane. It is a limited access lane and it is not intended to be used for passing nor is it a "high speed lane". It is essentially a reward for vehicles filled to a greater capacity than just the sole driver. You should feel no compulsion to have to move over and let someone pass and you're right in that it may actually be illegal to do so. As far as the fine goes, I believe they start with some base round number and then add random fees to it. At some point, someone figured out (your tax dollars at work) that the cost to type up some form in some clerk's office cost something like $11 or something odd and as things get serially added along, you end up with a goofy numerical value for the fine.

Biker2004

Well all I can say about this last statement is: It will take some pretty intrepid people to become volunteer "cadets" who take down license plate numbers of violators who clearly disrespect the rules of the roads because of their selfishness toward others. Of course, it will take quite some doing to get the cities to agree to such legislation. Also, there are now many major intersections here in Garden Grove that have cameras pointed strategically in order to capture images of vehicles speeding through them after a red light has appeared thus automatically proving the violation.

Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated