New Stupidity From Stupid, Rude Drivers

[pierretong1991]

Originally Posted by robin3904

Coming from the northeast, this phenomenon of driving around cars that are stopped at a red light in order to turn right is a new one for me. Maybe the roads where I used to live were never wide enough to do that, but the first time someone drove around me at a red here was a surprise.

I think that's it - plus I now live in ITB Raleigh where the roads are older than other parts of the Triangle and thus are narrower. Might explain why I have a completely different view on this subject than other people.

[UserNamesake]

Originally Posted by guest12

I'll bite on this one - there's a lane like this at Dillard/Walnut in Cary....and if I KNOW i'm going straight, I'll try to stick to the straight-only lane...

Originally Posted by twingles

I try to avoid blocking the right lane if I'm going straight...

Originally Posted by RedZin

I always pull up far enough to allow people behind me to turn, should that lane allow them to. That's just common sense.

I try to do the same... to hell with the "flow" ... or any perception of it.


Good on y'all for your mindfulness.

Obviously, no one's required to do it, however. And the guy was out of line, CapitalBlvd.

[Repatriot]

Originally Posted by m378

Northern m378 used to do the speed up thing all the time. Because people would constantly shift lanes and cut me off in order to save 0.5 seconds on their commute. Cause you know, they're far more important than I am. It was fun to not let them in - sort of like a game. What can I say - it's part of why I moved. Now I let everyone in unless they're just being an a-hat and weaving in and out of traffic making it dangerous for everyone else.

I think a lot of it is again people just being oblivious. I don't think they do it on purpose, a lot of people just subconsciously go the same speed as the people around them. It's a horrible habit and obviously one of people that don't really pay attention.

Funny as when I was commuting 'up there' I rarely saw this (there are butt-heads everywhere however).

But in Singapore, this is quite the phenomenon. There is a word in one dialect of Chinese called kiasu which translates roughly to being afraid to lose.

Drivers in Singapore are remarkably kiasu in that if you put your signal on, they will speed up to not let you in, because of course, they will lose face, and you will win. Some stray over the adjacent lane so as to block you passing them. It's very emotionally un-intelligent but pops up in everyday life events every day in everything from getting on or off elevators or escalators to opening doors to driving.

So, are we here in the US afraid of losing face? Over such petty stuff? Sheesh.

Because that is what this kind of thing is - petty.

In Japan, with driving and most everything else, people bend over backwards to give way. It's a Good Thing and everyone feels good. This is how I drive here when I can.

[JaPaKoMom]

I was recently thinking about this thread while I was in St. Martin. Even though the speeds are very slow in St Martin, the style of driving makes Raleigh look like the tamest ever! The few inconsiderate people are pretty small in comparison to the total number of drivers and it certainly is a pleasure to come back home with drivers that are mostly considerate!