Did I do something wrong? (Austin, Anderson: live, yard, car)

[S6Sputnik]

Driving to work today I experienced the following...:

I am North Bound on Mopac (from 2222 to Anderson Ln) and I am putsing along as I get closer to my exit I slow down (55mph) and get into the right lane. When I see the solid lines become NOT solid I put my right TURN SIGNAL on and get into the exit lane! here is the thing..as I get into the turn lane there is a Lexus SUV (REX 30) about two car lengths ahead of me that was NEITHER driving on MoPac nor in the Exit lane, the woman did not have her turnsignal on so I just assumed that she was probably texting and was going to stay on MoPac..

I was wrong she swervs into the exit lane and thinking that I was trying to over take her or something she SLAMS on her brakes and gives me the finger when she gets into the left turning lane and I make my right turn

WHAT gives a middle aged person the right to drive like an idiot and then flip someone off.

FOR THE RECORD I WAS NEVER CLOSER THAN ONE FULL CAR LENGTH!

[Raskolnikov]

That kind of thing is becoming epidemic-- doing something wrong then blaming someone else because you feel stupid. It probably made her feel better for flip you off. Just another example of the downfall of our culture.

[UKjay]

Sounds like you were driving conscientiously and considerately. I am always amazed at how inconsiderate drivers are; Austin seems to have more than their share of "me first" people. Good manners and mindful drivers - not a typical Austin mentality.

[mandib]

Ugh. I've seen this before. And I knew someone once who was on the turn off from Great Hills onto 360 (there's that "yield" lane there), well someone decided she wasn't going fast enough, and in that lane (which is fairly wide as it turns) whipped around her and cut her off, causing her to slide and wreck her car! Awful

[AustinTexan]

I very often flip off out of state drivers just for being here. In fact, if you have California plates, I'll try to run you off the road. Sounds like me and this lady think alike. LOL!!!

[iceshots]

I can understand people passing you (me) because we are going slow, or, getting upset while thinking you are trying to pass them when they are not properly in the lane, but, WHY do they think they then have to retaliate by cutting people off or slamming on the brakes? Where does this "I'll show them" mentality come from? If you want to pass someone, pass them and leave them behind in your mirror. Don't pass them and then slam on the brakes to teach them a lesson. That just leads to accidents that may or may not involve the passed car rear ending the passing car.

Overall I find Austin drivers to be quite well behaved. In Toronto our biggest problem is "shoulder jumpers". That is peple who decide that the shoulder of the road is their private lane and, in heavy traffic, will use it for 20 - 100 yards after a merging lane has run out. They also have the habit of jumping from the right hand lane to an on ramp just so they can drive up the ramp and then on the shoulder to pass a number of people.

Makes you wonder which cracker jack box they got their licence from.

[compSciGuy]

You haven't seen shoulder jumpers in Austin? When I lived in Austin, I used to see that type of action all the time, especially at rush hour. Then some people would see it and follow.

[iceshots]

Haven't seen it. But then, I have not been driving I-35 or Mopac in rush hour. Most of my driving is on Ben White and 290. I am always surprised at the west end of 290 when it goes down to 1 lane. People merge to the left lane way before the right lane ends. I have never seen anyone drive up that nice large shoulder.

I am not saying it does not happen, just that I have not seen it yet in 2 years of visiting Austin every two weeks.

[love roses]

I've seen it a few times. And even though I don't drive on the same end of town, I had the same sort of incident happen to me yesterday. Some geniusball doing something idiotic, like cutting through traffic or something (I actually wasn't even involved) and I saw him try and change lanes in front of a car a ways behind me without looking in his blind spot and he almost hit the person so they honked at him. So after he passes this other guy and then me, he gets in front of me and flips me off. For the record, I was going 65 in a 50, so I wasn't going too slow and I was in the right hand lane. What a dork...I hope he gave birth successfully by the time he beat us all to the red light, which is what I figure someone who needs to drive THAT fast must be doing or bleeding from the ears or another orifice on their way to the emergency room.

[compSciGuy]

Originally Posted by iceshots

Haven't seen it. But then, I have not been driving I-35 or Mopac in rush hour. Most of my driving is on Ben White and 290. I am always surprised at the west end of 290 when it goes down to 1 lane. People merge to the left lane way before the right lane ends. I have never seen anyone drive up that nice large shoulder.

I am not saying it does not happen, just that I have not seen it yet in 2 years of visiting Austin every two weeks.

It's very common on I-35 just north of downtown. (or maybe I just remember that area more because of the extra danger).