PSA: Just because I follow at a safe distance doesn't mean that you can cut me off

[rudeguy]

On the highway I normally follow about 4 car lengths behind the car in front of me. Of course its farther back in the winter time. My problem is idiots that think that just because I follow at a safe distance, its an open invite for them to try to wedge their SUV in front of me.

Now if someone is trying to exit, great. I'll let them in. Hell...if they put on their turn signal I'll let them in. I'm talking about the people who decided that 4" in front of my bumper is where they need to drive.

Again..we aren't talking rush hour where every does and should crowd together. This is open road driving.

 

[mizzou]

i've caught myself speeding up, denying someone the ability to merge into my lane

sort of a dick move on my part, but you know what, that person deserved it.

Unless there was a pregnant woman in the car or he was late to work, then I'm just being a dick

I've only done this at specific areas where people zoom past a line of traffic then merge in last second to avoid the wait in a turn only lane

 

[rudeguy]

i've caught myself speeding up, denying someone the ability to merge into my lane

sort of a dick move on my part, but you know what, that person deserved it.

Unless there was a pregnant woman in the car or he was late to work, then I'm just being a dick

I've only done this at specific areas where people zoom past a line of traffic then merge in last second to avoid the wait in a turn only lane

I stay less than a foot back from the car in front of me when I'm in a turn lane just to make sure assholes don't do that. I made a big thread about the idiots by my son's school that do exactly what you are talking about. Finally at the end of last school year I saw one of them upside down and on fire in the median. Fuckers deserved it.

 

[Alone]

Happens all the time when I'm on the bike. People assume that because I'm a couple car lengths back, I must be falling behind and it's ok to drive two feet in front of me.

Cock suckers. One day they'll end up with my boot in their door, but with my luck I'd probably fall over and look like an idiot.

 

[Terzo]

i've caught myself speeding up, denying someone the ability to merge into my lane

sort of a dick move on my part, but you know what, that person deserved it.

Unless there was a pregnant woman in the car or he was late to work, then I'm just being a dick

I've only done this at specific areas where people zoom past a line of traffic then merge in last second to avoid the wait in a turn only lane

I stay less than a foot back from the car in front of me when I'm in a turn lane just to make sure assholes don't do that. I made a big thread about the idiots by my son's school that do exactly what you are talking about. Finally at the end of last school year I saw one of them upside down and on fire in the median. Fuckers deserved it.

I think most of us here work the same way. I'd like to be more optimistic and assume that the person has been trying to merge and just sucks at it, or hasn't driven in the area before and didn't realize they need to get over, but really it's just opportunistic assholes.
These days, the only time I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt is if I see out of state plates.

 

[Leros]

Some people have a really hard time driving behind someone.

It really bothers me on the highway. I'll be going 75 mph and the guy behind me will pass me and then drive 70 causing me to slow down. So I pass him. He gets annoyed at being behind me and passes me again. Repeat over and over.

 

[nageov3t]

I'll admit to doing it to trucks, SUV's and minivans.

I hate driving behind cars that I can't see around and tinted windows only exacerbate the problem.

 

[PsiStar]

I fully understand the safe distance thing and do practice it. But it is not always appropriate in all driving situations ... unless you just are happy with a gadzillion ppl cutting in front of you during rush hour.

I just drove thru Manhattan coming via the Holland Tunnel. Needless to say that I am 1/2" from the car in front and at the last minute let someone ... but only the someone in the right position ... zipper in. Else there would be 20 ... in which case you just shouldn't be there.

This is after driving ~80 across NJ on i78. Some are faster and I am alllll about someone faster going by me at that speed, but mostly many are slower. The slow ones, I drive like they are not there. I usually do not cut in front of too closely, but oft times there is only maybe 2 or at best 3 car lengths to squeeze into ... and so it is.

 

[Zedtom]

When I'm commuting around town I just try to go with the flow and not get annoyed at the typical bs. The open road outside of the city is different- I like to have breathing space and if someone is playing games I prefer to just take an exit ramp and let the pack of jackals zoom off.

 

[protocol167]

That's when I screw you and cut you off to get to the HOV lane because I have three passengers and make it to work 20 minutes before you. Stop hogging the fast lane when your driving slow and blame it on others.

 

[Raduque]

You know what I say about people who are speeding and try to cut me off to get to work sooner?

LEAVE EARLIER, you lazy SOB.

 

[SparkyJJO]

That's when I screw you and cut you off to get to the HOV lane because I have three passengers and make it to work 20 minutes before you. Stop hogging the fast lane when your driving slow and blame it on others.

You're assuming he's in the fast lane, jerk.

 

[TecHNooB]

There's a 2 lane exit that takes you off the garden state parkway towards 287 south. I got stuck sitting in traffic on the left of the two lanes and moved about 200 feet over the span of 30 minutes. At one point, movement came to a dead stop. Cars that tried to merge in during this period had no choice but to take another exit as there was a solid block of cars and no movement. During the last 10 feet or so before concrete divider, a truck decides he really needs to take this exit and forces his way in front of me. I let him in, but he was followed closely (were talking inches) by another truck, and two cars. Letting the trucks in didn't bother me. The two cars that merged in after the trucks.. that's one of those times where I wish I had rocket launchers installed in my car.

 

[protocol167]

You're assuming he's in the fast lane, jerk.

Sorry, I never have to jerk off because I either have my first or second girlfriend do that kind of stuff before I get off to work. It's better to get off to work with a good morning start of feeling relaxed and released then someone who gets it twice every week.

 

[bfdd]

rudeguy it wouldn't be so bad if they didn't ALWAYS slow down to merge. I don't fucking get it. I do the same and leave 4 - 5 car lengths and people constantly SLOW DOWN TO MERGE IN FRONT OF ME. WTF?! It pisses me off to no end when I see idiots commit to traffic causing decision when driving.

 

[JEDI]

I'll admit to doing it to trucks, SUV's and minivans.

I hate driving behind cars that I can't see around and tinted windows only exacerbate the problem.

ding ding ding winnar!

i like to see 2+ cars infront of me incase someone ahead brakes. if the driver infront of me isnt paying attention (ie: phone or txting) then he'll slam on the brakes hard.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I think I'm going to paint a message on the sides and back of my van that says, "I weigh twice as much as you and I have drum brakes." It probably won't do any good as I doubt the ability of some drivers to read.

 

[coloumb]

i've caught myself speeding up, denying someone the ability to merge into my lane

sort of a dick move on my part, but you know what, that person deserved it.

Unless there was a pregnant woman in the car or he was late to work, then I'm just being a dick

I've only done this at specific areas where people zoom past a line of traffic then merge in last second to avoid the wait in a turn only lane

same here [not letting someone in ahead of me as there was PLENTY of time and space to get behind me].

There is an exit in Portland which is exactly as you described - right after the tunnel - CLEAR signs indicate NO LANE CHANGES - but there's always some dickhead who races down the middle lane and then cuts in at the last moment.

 

[TheVrolok]

Some people have a really hard time driving behind someone.

It really bothers me on the highway. I'll be going 75 mph and the guy behind me will pass me and then drive 70 causing me to slow down. So I pass him. He gets annoyed at being behind me and passes me again. Repeat over and over.

That happened to me on my way up to college once. I was on the highway with my cruise control set to 70. I came up on her, moved to the left lane, passed, and then moved back into the right lane all without changing my speed. A couple seconds later, she speeds up, gets in the left lane, and passes me. Ok, whatever. Then she slows down again, I once again pass her without adjusting my cruise control. She then passes me again ... and slows down .. again. So I say "WTF is with this chick?" I actually speed up this time, and go to pass her doing about 80, she then floors it so I can't pass her at which point she's gotta be doing 90 and I figure, "Whatever, she's a dumb schmuck" so I get back behind her and of course, she slows down. I suck it up, slow down my cruise control and just become frustrated.

Best part? Maybe 10 miles later the highway becomes a single lane road and we hit some crawling traffic; there's a tractor trailer in front of her, and she's in front of me. She starts swerving left and right presumably trying to see around the truck and find out what's going on .. then all of a sudden the truck slams on its breaks and she drills it. No damage to the truck's solid steel bumper but her car gets its from left headlight enclosure obliterated and a good 2 foot dent/scratch down the front panel. They pull over, I slowly pass them and give her a tip of the hat. Words could not describe how satisfied I felt.

 

[TecHNooB]

That happened to me on my way up to college once. I was on the highway with my cruise control set to 70. I came up on her, moved to the left lane, passed, and then moved back into the right lane all without changing my speed. A couple seconds later, she speeds up, gets in the left lane, and passes me. Ok, whatever. Then she slows down again, I once again pass her without adjusting my cruise control. She then passes me again ... and slows down .. again. So I say "WTF is with this chick?" I actually speed up this time, and go to pass her doing about 80, she then floors it so I can't pass her at which point she's gotta be doing 90 and I figure, "Whatever, she's a dumb schmuck" so I get back behind her and of course, she slows down. I suck it up, slow down my cruise control and just become frustrated.

Best part? Maybe 10 miles later the highway becomes a single lane road and we hit some crawling traffic; there's a tractor trailer in front of her, and she's in front of me. She starts swerving left and right presumably trying to see around the truck and find out what's going on .. then all of a sudden the truck slams on its breaks and she drills it. No damage to the truck's solid steel bumper but her car gets its from left headlight enclosure obliterated and a good 2 foot dent/scratch down the front panel. They pull over, I slowly pass them and give her a tip of the hat. Words could not describe how satisfied I felt.

shens!

 

[TheVrolok]

shens!

Perhaps, perhaps.