What annoys you about drivers on the road?
By ilyzium
@ilyzium (1197)
Canada
August 26, 2009 1:16am CST
I don't know about you, but I have a long list of pet peeves about drivers on the road. You know the things that really drive you crazy about the way someone drives. Ok well here are mine: certain people that talk on the cell phone, now I occasionally do this myself but do try to pull over. The problem with a lot of people when they do this is that many people can't talk and drive at the same time. Either they'll drive carelessly and almost straddle 2 lanes, drive too slow in their own lane or something. Also I hate it when people cut me off in traffic, or change lanes so they're in front of me but then slowing me down by driving like a TURTLE...And people you know who you are too! Another pet peeve of mine are the drivers that don't signal in front of you when they're changing lanes. I mean really? How are you supposed to know what they're going to do? We're not mind readers people...Or how about about when you're driving somewhere and you really need to change lanes, like when you're trying to get to your exit and no-one is letting you in?
2 people like this
17 responses
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I agree with the ones you listed. I get irritated when I have my signal on to pass someone on the highway but can't move over because some is to my right and takes their sweet time to pass me. I have to brake to keep a good distance from the car I want to pass. When I am passing I always speed up a little so I can get by and move back over to let anyone who is behind me to get by me.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
hi happy,
Don't you hate it when you're on a highway and you're trying to pass lanes and ok obviously "speed demon" won't let you pass, but neither will slow poke who drives soooo slow and suddenly speeds up because they can't bear to have someone in front of them. Yes, I will let anyone in front of me, except someone who I've seen is driving incredibly slow. They can stay behind me.
@danieltorres08 (123)
• United States
26 Aug 09
The ones talking on thier cell phones that just does it for me i wanna ram with my car right behind them when they cut me off because their conversation is soooo much more important than the word they are on
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hello danieltorres08,
Oh the people talking on cell phones yes. I mean if you really want to talk on a cell phone, why not pull over or buy one of those hand's free ones where you can talk with out holding it. Isn't that supposed to be illegal everywhere soon? I know where I live they've proposed making it illegal but the law hasn't come into effect yet. Should be interesting to see what happens when it does.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
26 Aug 09
Hi, You have a long list that bothers you when people drive on the road. What irritates me most is the not signaling while changing the lane. This is very dangerous and I have seen accidents just horrible.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hello Krajibg,
How do you like the long list so far? Probably enough information here to write a book...people take note of that here ;) Well, I personally always honk at people when they don't signal before changing lanes, because really how hard is it to signal when you're changing lanes?
@joye68 (151)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Common courtesy only seems to exist if folks stop and remember to repeat these important things to yourselves.
I don't own the road.
It's a privilege to drive.
Additionally, it would be nice if folks who have road rage problems get counseling. This is getting out of hand. Do something to improve your rage before you hurt someone on the road.
This goes back to the previous statements.
I don't own the road.
It's a privilege to drive.
Drinkers. Don't get in the vehicle just to make it home "a minute down the road". If it's only a minute down the road, take a cab.
I don't own the road.
It's a privilege to drive.
There's just too many peeves to list... I think so much just boils down to responsibility and the refusal to accept it.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hi joye68,
Well, I think we have enough material here in this conversation to write a book about it!! Drinkers yes they shouldn't even be driving and endangering others. People don't own the road!! Oh I agree with you on the road rage thing because it's become so prevalent on the roads. I once had an issue with that, that is I was driving along somewhere on these narrow roads where 2 lanes merge into one. Well, there was no-one coming along behind me so I continued driving. At the last second, this driver zoomed out so fast that I had to slam on my breaks. He got out of the car, walked over to my car and starting screaming at me, saying that I almost hit him! Huh? He was the reckless driver and I always hit him? Well, it didn't end there. He walked back to his car, and a moment later walked back to me thinking he'd forgotten something. He was screaming again and pounding on my window for me to open it. I don't think so. I screamed at him to leave me alone, or I'd phone the police with cell phone, but I was so shaken up after that that I had to pull over to the side to regain my composure. I really thought that he was going to smash my windows or something.
@lhsy2k (227)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Drivers switching lanes without using their turn signal or even bothering to look.
I hate when you're talking to a passenger and a Harley Davidson drives by right next to you, they are annoyingly loud and you can't even hear yourself think when near one.
I hate soccer moms in minivans that are on their cell phone, they never know what is going on around them and put everyone in danger.
People driving around with their high beams on when behind you really drives me nuts too, or rubbernecking.
Last but not least, drunk drivers. How selfish of them to drive around intoxicated putting everyone's life in jeopardy.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hi lhsy2k,
I think just about everyone here is annoyed by that one: the drivers changing lanes without signaling. I always make it a point to honk at someone when they do that. Oh well i don't see too many Harley's driving around so that's not really a problem for me, but I could see how it could be for you. Can I ask, but what is rubbernecking? I can't say that I'm familiar with that term? I don't know how anyone can be so stupid and selfish to drive while intoxicated?
@bluedandelion (14)
• Indonesia
26 Aug 09
Yeah, that's right. I'm swearing a lot on the road. What upset me most on the road is when i do those "safety drive" things (including turn on signal whenever i want to cross over or change lane and some other things), suddenly out of nowhere came this "king of road" in full speed car just cut me off or do those zig-zag thing to get in front of me so he make me push the brake in a sudden. I mean, Hellooooo.... This is not your private road, man. It is still public road. I use it too, for your information.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hi bluedandelion,
Oh I agree, being cutting off by those speed demons is one of my top pet peeves, because I just think that's so ignorant and inconsiderate. Oh yes, those people that zig-zag back and forth are just as irritating, because they can cause so many accidents. I guess some people just think they own the roads...:(
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
26 Aug 09
Yes, I often feel annoyed to the drivers here. I think the traffic rule is strange here. For example, if the traffic light turns green, the people should go across the road because the cars should stop at that time. However, the cars which turn around can still go. This is quite confusing. OK, then I have to stop after these cars pass by. But after that, the red light turns on and I can't go across the road. It doesn't make a sense at all. And the drivers who turn around shall give in to the people at first, but they don't. This makes me so angry.
I love China
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hi youless,
I've never been to China so I wouldn't know, but do you have the green light sign for pedestrian only-where there's a picture of someone walking? Or when the light turns green, it's green for EVERYONE? So, I'm guessing that you can't turn right on a red light, well you can in most places here in Canada. On the rare time that you can't there will be a easily marked sign. Oh yeah, another country, where the drivers don't yield to the pedestrian...
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
26 Aug 09
The thing that drives me nuts is when people talk on their phones while they are driving. they are making the roads dangerous for all of us, because their attention is not on the road. Their is nothing that important that they have to drive and talk on the phone at the same time.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hi dlr297,
Oh the phone thing yeah...I agree with you there because I've noticed there are mostly 2 kinds of phone users: the kind that drive carelessly that can't do 2 things at once, or the kind that drives incredibly slow in their lane. I make sure when my phone rings to pull off the highway, or side road, plus I think that soon the law will come to effect where I live, where we can't talk on cell phones.
@bhargavoza (656)
• India
26 Aug 09
Two things annoy me from drivers on the road. When they overtake from wrong direction and when they spit out while driving.
@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
26 Aug 09
Hi there!
Yes, we have the same problem on the road while driving, though having a driving license in this country is as precious and tedious as the car you drove still you will encounter deviant drivers. My most hated pet peeve is when somebody out of the blue comes in front of me without giving a signal and i have to push my breaks so hard, the thought that somebody might bump me behind makes me crazy. Another thing is when nobody wants to let me in when i need to change lane, i am always giving in to others so I expect them to do the same for me as a sign of courteousness to fellow road users. Good Day!
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
27 Aug 09
Hi seanbryan,
Oh wow you're all the way in the UAE! Yes, yes, yes! That's so rude & annoying when other's wont let you in, especially if you're always nice about letting others in, that's just well, karma because they're supposed to be letting you in! Do you ever notice that when you look at those people that won't let you in that they won't meet your eyes? They'll usually look straight ahead and pretend they don't see you. Well, I've noticed that. Oh I know I don't like being cut off by drivers either, because it's so easy to get into an accident that way too.
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
26 Aug 09
People talking on phones while driving are criminals who should be behind the bars! The prison kind of course.
With 30 years of driving behind me I have categorized those who annoy me by their driving.
The trusting kind: These trust every one on the road. They trust every one to be a perfect driver. They trust every machine on the road to be in perfect condition. They trust fate to carry them safely no matter what they do. With all this trust, trust them to drive with gay (not 'that' gay) abandon, never mind safety.
The Zip, Zap, Zoomers: These people zip into the smallest space, Zap by you and zoom away to God know where! You will be left weak kneed and in envy at their pizazz.
The cutters and sputters: These people look to make time. They cut in your front to escape their clogged lane and find another one to just move on! Their hapless vehicle looses power and stalls at the busiest junction stalling the traffic. You are left fuming.
I keep observing people for these signs and move out of their way pronto!
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hi webearn99,
I like the terms you used: Zip, Zap Zoomers, cutters and sputters :) Yeah well I'm amazed sometime when I see some of those people just quickly zip in and out of traffic, parking spots as if their life depended on it. Maybe that's their "karma" getting back to them by having them stall in the parking lots? ;)
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
I hate how some drivers weave in and out to change lanes. I don't like how some drivers drive really slow. I don't like when the driver is busy talking on his cell phone and can't drive correctly. Some don't even bother using a turn signal before they change lanes. Those drivers sure are living dangerously.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hi nijolechu,
I agree. I hate all of the above but especially when someone drives really slow in front of me, or especially if they drive without using their turn signals. Now, that's just plain laziness if you ask me. Actually, I always honk if someone either cuts me off, or if they turn in front of me without using their turn signals. I get really frustrated driving with my husband though, because he never honks when one of those morons cut him off or not signal in front of him that I secretly want to kick him.
@sehlers (163)
• United States
26 Aug 09
My biggest pet peeve are people who think turn signals are optional. I don't know how many times I'll be driving down a street and the person in front of me will just stop for no apparent reason and then turn left into a parking lot once the traffic is clear. Close by that one are the people who put on their turn signal either in the middle of the turn or when the light changes. Argh!
Another one are the people who are entering a freeway at way less than the speed limit, so if I'm on the freeway I've suddenly got a person in front of me going 20 miles an hour less than me and I have to brake, or I'm behind that person on the entrance ramp and can't get to speed to merge easily.
Oh yeah, the ones who, when I signal to move lanes, speed up so I can't be in front of them.
A little forethought and consideration goes a long way.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hi again Sehlers, :)
See I think those things are just plain rude and inconsiderate, I mean really do these people honestly think they own the road?! You know I'll honk at people that do these things, and it's funny but they usually just look straight ahead and refuse to meet your eye. Oh yeah that's so dangerous to be driving on the freeway, and be cut-off by a moron who's driving below the speed limit. If the police were to see them they could get a ticket for that. I call those people the "road hogs" that drive like turtles, and won't let anyone pass them.
@karissakho (7)
• Philippines
26 Aug 09
most of the drivers on the road especially in our place are reckless. They kept on overtaking cars infront of them. it doesn't matter to them if they could cause accidents due to their reckless driving.
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
26 Aug 09
i do not know how to drive but i can say that there are a lor of people here in my country that has a drivers lisence but not really passed all the test, i can even get a lisence if i want even i really dont drive. thats the first scary part with the drivers here in our country. next is some drivers specially the one that drives the jeepney they have their music so loud that you can not even have a good and convinient travel. so if i can take thetrain i go for the train than to ride the bus or the jeep or the cab.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hey roniroxas! Long time no talk! ;)
You know I think that's terrible that there are people like that driving on the road, that well, are only on the road because they bribed someone for their drivers license! We have too many careless drivers as it is, never mind the ones that don't know how to drive. I don't blame you for not feeling safe enough to not want to drive in your country, because I think that if I were you, I'd feel the same.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
26 Aug 09
What I hate about drivers on the road. People talking on the phone, people who don't use their signals when changing lanes or turning. Please who drive right up your behind, people who drive too slow (below the speed limit), people who speed,
people who keep changing lanes just to get somewhere faster but end up at the light with everyone else. How about when you signal and they don't let you thru. That is so rude I think. These are the reasons why I can't stand to drive unless the road is empty. So my favorite time to drive is early Sunday mornings. No one is on the streets.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hello lelin,
I agree with everything you've said!!! That's true that probably early Sun or SAt mornings are the best time to be on the road, because I know that the rest of the weekend you have the "holiday drivers", that is people who are taking their time looking at scenery and pretty much driving much slower than they normally do. Well, I know for myself when I'm driving I pretty much observe people and how they drive, and I'm good about letting people in as long as they're not the turtle drivers. If I see someone driving really slow, and next wants to get in front of me I won't let them, but everyone else is fine. One of my biggest gripes has to be about the lazy, selfish drivers who don't signal.
@phoenix1344 (698)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Oh my God, I have so many pet peeves for drivers its ridiculous! First off I agree with every one you listed but I have a few I want to tack on. One of my biggest pet peeves is tailgaters! It's like, really, do you have to be almost bumper to bumper behind me?? And they do this even when the lane next to them is completely open! I usually just tap the breaks or slow waay down to get the point across. I also hate it when I signal to get over and people purposely speed up!! Its like come on people where is your common courtesy!
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
Hey phoenix!
Long time no hear! :) Oh I forgot to mention the tailgaters, yes I would agree about that. Although what do you do when you have someone driving too slow in front of you? Will you tail gate them back or what will you do? I'll try to pass them somehow even if it's somewhere you're not really supposed to pass because I've said it before, I just don't like being slowed down by a TURTLE! Oh now that's another ignorant thing that some people do: the slow turtles that will automatically speed up so that you can't pass them. Now that is very ignorant! :(