| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
 Posted - 05/03/2007 : 12:54:39
|
With the type of impatient, critical personality I'm blessed with, my Road Rage has been shockingly minimal. But, a big peeve of mine is when drivers leave like 2 car-links of space between them and the car in front of them in a lefthand turning lane. I guess they are concerned about a rear-end collision, but as years go by it seems like more and more people are doing this, limiting how many cars can make it through a light. With the nice weather, I'm usually on my motorcycle and imake it a point to fill one of those gaps and wave a thank you to the driver behind me, but is it just me, or are more people doing this these days than let's say 5 years ago?
Any Road-Ragers, feel free to unload and tell us how you handle the rage.
Woodchuck
P.S. - Let me add another "arrggh!" driving irritation: load rap music from a car next to me that is so loud it vibrates my car! LOL! |
Edited by - Woodchuck on 05/03/2007 12:59:59 |
|
|
Gemma_Louise
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 12:59:52
|
All sounds stressful to me! I can't drive, I'm too scared to learn! I know I should because it's so useful, but I don't trust other drivers. You could be the best driver in the world and all it takes is some idiot to hit you. |
 |
|
|
shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 13:09:54
|
I just simply gave up driving altogether as I simply cannot handle the stress. I just freak out in heavy traffic and it is not worth it. I take the bus whereever I go or walk if it is not too far. We live close to a bus route so it works out. I do keep my driver's licence up to date though. I have saved tens of thousands of dollars over the years by not owning a car even though I can afford one.
*************
Sarno-ize it!
************* |
|
|
|
Gemma_Louise
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 13:24:37
|
quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmith
I have saved tens of thousands of dollars over the years by not owning a car even though I can afford one.
Yes, that's another reason I don't drive - the cost. It's a lot more expensive in the UK because of fuel costs. I've heard that fuel in the US is substantially cheaper than over here. Then again, we get ripped off in everything, clothes, food, music, you name it! |
|
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 13:34:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gemma_Louise
All sounds stressful to me! I can't drive, I'm too scared to learn! I know I should because it's so useful, but I don't trust other drivers. You could be the best driver in the world and all it takes is some idiot to hit you.
Wow! You are in the UK and likely you can get around pretty well without driving. My sister lived near London for 4 years and didn't need a car, but here in Southern California, USA, it is quite difficult to get along without a car (at least for many of us). Actually I did just that back in the 80's having lost my license for 3 yrs over DUI's, but it was NOT easy and I was jumping with joy the day my license was re-instated! I really should consider riding my bicycle more though.
Woodchuck |
|
|
|
Gemma_Louise
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 13:39:31
|
quote:
Originally posted by Woodchuck
Wow! You are in the UK and likely you can get around pretty well without driving. My sister lived near London for 4 years and didn't need a car, but here in Southern California, USA, it is quite difficult to get along without a car (at least for many of us). Actually I did just that back in the 80's having lost my license for 3 yrs over DUI's, but it was NOT easy and I was jumping with joy the day my license was re-instated! I really should consider riding my bicycle more though.
Yes, I've never been to the US (would love to though), so I guess I have a lack of awareness of how difficult it can be to get around if you don't drive. Much more open space I imagine! There's a lot of public transport here, albeit, overpriced like everything else, crowded and not always very punctual. In fact, when I'm on a crowded train full of commuters going to work in a morning, the idea of learning to drive becomes much more appealing to me! |
|
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 13:41:42
|
quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmithI just simply gave up driving altogether as I simply cannot handle the stress. I just freak out in heavy traffic and it is not worth it. I take the bus whereever I go or walk if it is not too far. We live close to a bus route so it works out. I do keep my driver's licence up to date though. I have saved tens of thousands of dollars over the years by not owning a car even though I can afford one.
That's amazing....two posters in a row who don't drive....and that's great! This is making me consider what I can do to limit my driving....it is easy to get lazy and drive when I could walk or bike ;) Gas has risen a lot this past week.....even more incentive to resist the driving 'addiction/convenience'!
Woodchuck |
|
|
|
Shary
147 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 15:35:17
|
| Hmmm... What if the driver behind you is digging around in her purse for a kleenex, for instance, and doesn't see you cut in front of her? Bikers are pretty vulnerable. Seems to me that sitting through an extra stop light takes only a few minutes whereas being dead is usually permanent. |
|
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 16:35:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by Shary
Hmmm... What if the driver behind you is digging around in her purse for a kleenex, for instance, and doesn't see you cut in front of her? Bikers are pretty vulnerable. Seems to me that sitting through an extra stop light takes only a few minutes whereas being dead is usually permanent.
Nope, I'm a veteran biker and realize the chances every time I saddle up ;) plus, after she gets her hanky thing all under control, I doubt she would put the pedal to the metal from a full stop without first looking up....but then again, I am talking about California, so I guess it could happen. LOL! You instinctively learn to keep eye contact with other drivers and assume yet they might do exactly the wrong thing. One of the biggest dangers is for an oncoming driver to turn left in front of you the last minute. I always slow down and flash my brights and make sure they are looking at me. Frankly though, I do feel safer on a motorcycle than a bicycle. Cars whizzing by me closely makes me very tense at times. And, with the quick manueverability of a motorcycle, I have avoided a couple of accidents where in a car I would not have been able to get out of the way. Bottom line, every time you get on the roads, motorcycle, car, bike, even a pedestrian crossing the street, you gotta realize you are in a bit of potential danger and think defensively. But, you got off on a tangent: why are drivers now leaving so much extra space between them and the other drivers or are they not and I'm imagining it? ;)
Woodchuck |
|
|
|
weatherman
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 19:46:03
|
I get road rage driving in Montana - I can't even fathom how people in California deal with their daily commutes. It must be a very good TMS marker, I go crazy when I have to sit through one extra cycle of a red light. Yet, most people regard me as fairly laid back. Maybe a car is a safe place to vent.
I recently had a short trip to San Diego, and enjoyed it greatly because a co-worker did the driving. Great food and weather, that's for sure.
Weatherman |
|
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 20:02:32
|
quote:
Originally posted by weatherman
I get road rage driving in Montana - I can't even fathom how people in California deal with their daily commutes. It must be a very good TMS marker, I go crazy when I have to sit through one extra cycle of a red light. Yet, most people regard me as fairly laid back. Maybe a car is a safe place to vent.
I recently had a short trip to San Diego, and enjoyed it greatly because a co-worker did the driving. Great food and weather, that's for sure.
Weatherman
I only commute less than 3 miles to work, so generally it is not a big issue. However many commute great distances daily having purchased homes they can afford in far away places just developing. Most seem to get used to it though (rather than go nuts) and just expect a long, slow journey to and fro home. I think it is ones like me who then get more frustrated with the traffic on that once in awhile long-distance drive. But, overall I am pretty cool about. I've just been focused on this left-turn lane issue lately ;) Just thought it might be a topic bothering many.
Woodchuck |
Edited by - Woodchuck on 05/03/2007 20:06:54 |
|
|
|
armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2007 : 23:11:23
|
Cycling safely, your risk of injury or death is about the same as in a car. It's hard to get good stats backing that up since normally all cycle crashes are lumped together, but John Forester in Effective Cycling has some good ones. One reason I think is that cyclists don't spend much time on high-speed roads, where crashes are much more dangerous.
And to keep this on topic, I still get road rage on my bike. Sad but true. But I feel less bored during the commute!
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
|
|
|
shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 06:11:29
|
I am fortunate where I live as there are miles and miles of bike paths just behind my house.
*************
Sarno-ize it!
************* |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
|
|
Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2007 : 11:29:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
When the bike and the car collide, the car always wins. Even if the bicyclist was right, they may be dead right.
I try to keep reminding myself of that! It only takes one mistake!
Woodchuck |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Speaking of Road Rage....
