These Are Your Most Hated Traffic Grievances

I asked you recently what your biggest traffic annoyances were, whether they were illegal stuff other drivers did or just stuff that drives you crazy, and wow, did you all ever deliver. The display of motoring pedantry on display managed to warm even my bitter, shriveled heart.

These are the best of the worst, so let's sit down and get ready to curse at our laptops and phones together.

Dimwits on my ass while I'm cruising down the highway.

You've caught up with me, OK fine, now pass me so to get the hell away from my wheels. But noooooooooooooooo, for whatever reason the dimwit stays right there on my rear bumper.

Submitted by the1969DodgeChargerFan

Not getting up to highway speed by the end of the on ramp.

Your car should be matching traffic (or even a little faster so you can find a hole) BEFORE the ramp meets the lanes.

Submitted by Derel1cte

If anything embodies the selfish, casual ignorance of the American driver, it is failure to use turn signals. For the safety of everyone on the road, please indicate when and where you are planning to move your 2-ton vehicle. It is possibly the easiest and most overlooked task of driving.

Submitted by Stephen

This isn't so much a violation as it is an annoyance. I'm not sure if this is common everywhere, but I often run into situations at four way stops where I'm clearly not the first person there, and the other person will sit there and then wave me through. Another is a person stopping to let me turn left in heavier traffic on a main road, when the other lane might not be stopping. I get that in either situation you're trying to be nice, but in my mind all you are doing is creating confusion. Just follow the rules of the road and take the right of way when you have it.

Submitted by PantherCougar

Driving without headlights on. I live in Vermont, it's mostly gray, dreary, and earth-toned in the atmosphere. As both a driver and frequent pedestrian, simply having headlights illuminated even in relatively clear conditions makes a world of difference. And it's so easy to do! Just turn the knob after you start the car! It really gets me when it's silver/gray/tan cars during rainy, foggy, snowy weather. People don't realize that daytime running lights aren't enough and that headlights aren't just for the driver's visibility. Let more pedestrians, bikers, fellow motorists know where you are! Idiots! Assholes!

Submitted by Ian Lord

It's not illegal, but people on two-lane roads driving at or slightly below the speed limit who then accelerate to ten or more mph over the speed limit at passing zones, making it impossible to get by them with going WAY OVER the speed limit. Of course, once the passing zone ends, they slow way down again. Assholes.

Submitted by NotLewisHamilton

Red Light Runners.

Not uncommon to see 5-6 each light where I live.

Which leads to a dangerous game. I see a yellow light, I have good brakes and can stop without putting everything on the winshield. So I start to brake. And wonder if that tiny dot in the rearview mirror that saw the same yellow light is going to be able to dodge my stopped car at 120 mph 3 seconds after the light turns red.

Submitted by Hoser68

As a motorcyclist on a higher bike (FJ-09), I'm afforded the ability to see into many of the cars that I'm next to or passing.

I'm guessing 60% of the people are actively on phones, while they drive, in traffic.

I've seen people reading, videoconferencing, playing Candy Crush, and watching full movies. In one case, I saw a dude with an iPad propped behind the steering wheel, blocking his view of the instruments, watching Game of Thrones. This dude was driving 60+ mph in beltway traffic around DC.

I have no idea how to solve this, but it scares the living fuck out of me, so much that I will no longer commute on busy highways on my motorcycle.

Submitted by Segador

You can tell how shitty the drivers in a city/state/region are in 1 minute driving on a busy highway during rush hour. If I can drive the speed limit or near to it in the farthest right lane (not a ramp, or a lane that ends, just the right lane) while the leftmost lanes are at a full stop, that city is full of shitty drivers. In Phoenix, for example, you can see half of the cars merge over 2 or 3 lanes from the on-ramp STILL GOING 10 UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT just to get out of the right lane. They aren't passing, have no intention of passing, or of going any faster than the speed limit. But they NEEEEEED to get over.

Submitted by Bags

As a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, and driver I *hate* super dark limo tinted windows.

Crossing the road – make eye contact to see if other driver is even looking at me – nope, is there even a person in that car?

4 way stop – does the other driver see me or are they going to plough into me right after I (legally) take my turn. No way to tell behind that limo tint – maybe they are texting or maybe they are paying attention?

Etc. etc. I've lived in the desert and a triple limo tint does nothing to keep your car cool. Buy some fucking sunglasses and let other road (and sidewalk) users see if you are even looking in their direction.

Bonus: you won't get shot by cops who are scared because they can't see who's in the car. Plus think of all the tint tickets you won't have to pay

Submitted by Qiviut