Idiot drivers---AKA reckless drivers

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Some observations:

1.) If there was one thing that irked me about NoVA drivers the most it was coming up behind people who were just "hanging out" in the left lane. It's one thing if you're doing 75 in a 65 in the left lane and are being tailgated (at which point you should still move to the right-hand lane to let the leadfoot person around you), but I constantly would come up to people doing at or slightly BELOW the speed limit in the left lane. There were so many people there who wanted to play "vigilante traffic cop". My commute along Route 7 between North Reston and McLean was dreadful, as people who were going to be turning left onto Lewinsville Road MILES down the roadway would get into the left lane as early as Baron Cameron Avenue and then just poke along. Here in PA people (for the most part) are MUCH better about moving over to the right if they see someone approaching them from behind in the left lane.

2.) If you're "always keeping your eyes on the road ahead of you" then you are a BAD driver! I was taught in drivers' education to always be scanning my mirrors to get an idea of what, if any, vehicles were in lanes beside me or behind me as well as in front of me. Why? Let's assume I'm in the middle lane of a six-lane divided highway (three lanes in each direction). A deer jumps out into the road from the woods on the right. If I'm aware of my surroundings I'll know that there is a car dangerously near my left-rear fender, attempting to pass me, and a free and open lane on the right. I hit the brakes and veer to the right, out of harm's way. The car on the left probably splatters the poor creature, but at least I'm safe. If I was just "always keeping my eyes ahead of me" I'd instinctually veer to the left, clipping the front of the car that was about to pass me and causing a terrible accident as that car will "pit maneuver" me and hit me right in the driver's side door. I've driven well over 100,000 miles thus far in my lifetime and have only been in one accident, which also wasn't my fault (rear-ended by an SUV at a red light). When someone is just "hanging out" in the left lane for miles I assume they're not checking their mirrors at all, so I gun it to pass them on the right to get as far away from them as possible.

3.) Turn signals aren't just a "suggestion". If you don't use your blinker and turn/merge in front of me, then I will lay on my horn for a full five seconds. Don't like it? Use your signal! I was constantly blaring my horn back in NoVA at people who refused to use turn signals. It's amazing such an affluent area where so many people owned BMWs and Lexuses that so few of those vehicles ironically came equipped with turn signals. I'd expect turn signals to be installed on my vehicle if I spent $40,000 for it.

4.) What is it with the cops in NoVA NOT ticketing people just "hanging out" in the left lane, yet they'd ticket casual speeders very aggressively? In PA (and most other states, presumably also Virginia) there are signs posted all over the place on major roadways that say things like "Slower Traffic Keep Right", "Pass Left, Stay Right", "Left Lane for Passing Only", etc. In these states one could be ticketed for just dawdling along in the left lane (and I've seen this occur before). Why is Virginia so behind the times on this? If it's due to inefficient manpower, then raise taxes. It's not like most people in NoVA can't afford them when everyone I knew down there spent money like it was going out of fashion.

5.) Don't call me "racist" because of these observations. While it's true many foreigners are responsible for not knowing our traffic laws here there were just as many elderly and middle-aged native drivers as well who didn't signal or who "hogged" the left lane. My generation may be wicked when it comes to texting/chatting behind the wheel, but at least we largely use our turn signals and generally don't "hang out" in the left lane.

My poor kids always hear me say "hmmm guess that particular year model didn't come equipped with turn signals." However, I don't discriminate since I see lots of other cars besides $40,000 cars that don't use their turn signals.

Life being what it is, I would have to say I wouldn't lay on my horn because you didn't use your turn signal, you never know when someone is going to get out of their car and confront you and quite frankly, it's just not worth putting my life at risk because of it.