Bay area drivers...
I think some California drivers need to go back to studying the driver's handbook...
During one hour of driving I observed the following oddities:
1. Driving on US 101 the car in front of me suddenly slowed down and then quickly changed lanes (and almost sideswiped a car in the other lane). I soon discovered why he had changed lanes. In front of me was a car going VERY slow and not using the hazard lights to alert others. Since there were a lot of cars in the other lanes, I couldn't just change lanes and instead had to brake HARD and slow down until the traffic cleared and I could pass the slow car. The car was going 15 mph on the highway... When I passed him I saw that he had a flat tire. While I understand that the driver didn't exactly choose this situation, I don't understand why he didn't pull off at an exit or pull off to the side, or at least use the hazard lights?
2. After shopping at Safeway I got in my car to back out of the parking spot. A car had just pulled into the spot to my right but since he had just stopped, he had not even turned off the engine. I started to back out and suddenly the guy opens his door (and he was parked really close to me), so my side mirror hit his car before I could stop. He thought I should have let him out before backing out, but I disagreed for two reasons:
i. He was parked really close to me, so he would have a hard time to get out while I next to hi, so why not wait until I had backed out to make it easier for himself to get out?
ii. I had already started moving when he opened the door. Who opens the door when a car really close to you is moving?
3. At an intersection, three lanes where the right-hand lane is for right turns and the other lanes were for going straight ahead. The directions were posted on signs at the intersection and painted on the road. I was planning to go straight so I was in the middle lane. The guy in front of me suddenly decides that he wants to turn right, so he turns right from the middle lane. At the same time, the car in the right-turn lane decides to go straight... Boom!
I understand that people can sometimes end up in the wrong lane and needs to cheat a little (I've done it a couple of times), but wouldn't you expect people to look around before breaking the rules to make sure they don't risk running into anyone else? Having two people being in the wrong lanes at the same time is a pretty rare occurrence, but why just turn and expect others to avoid you? I've seen situations like this in other states, but it seems like drivers in those states pay more attention than CA drivers.
Enough ranting for now...
During one hour of driving I observed the following oddities:
1. Driving on US 101 the car in front of me suddenly slowed down and then quickly changed lanes (and almost sideswiped a car in the other lane). I soon discovered why he had changed lanes. In front of me was a car going VERY slow and not using the hazard lights to alert others. Since there were a lot of cars in the other lanes, I couldn't just change lanes and instead had to brake HARD and slow down until the traffic cleared and I could pass the slow car. The car was going 15 mph on the highway... When I passed him I saw that he had a flat tire. While I understand that the driver didn't exactly choose this situation, I don't understand why he didn't pull off at an exit or pull off to the side, or at least use the hazard lights?
2. After shopping at Safeway I got in my car to back out of the parking spot. A car had just pulled into the spot to my right but since he had just stopped, he had not even turned off the engine. I started to back out and suddenly the guy opens his door (and he was parked really close to me), so my side mirror hit his car before I could stop. He thought I should have let him out before backing out, but I disagreed for two reasons:
i. He was parked really close to me, so he would have a hard time to get out while I next to hi, so why not wait until I had backed out to make it easier for himself to get out?
ii. I had already started moving when he opened the door. Who opens the door when a car really close to you is moving?
3. At an intersection, three lanes where the right-hand lane is for right turns and the other lanes were for going straight ahead. The directions were posted on signs at the intersection and painted on the road. I was planning to go straight so I was in the middle lane. The guy in front of me suddenly decides that he wants to turn right, so he turns right from the middle lane. At the same time, the car in the right-turn lane decides to go straight... Boom!
I understand that people can sometimes end up in the wrong lane and needs to cheat a little (I've done it a couple of times), but wouldn't you expect people to look around before breaking the rules to make sure they don't risk running into anyone else? Having two people being in the wrong lanes at the same time is a pretty rare occurrence, but why just turn and expect others to avoid you? I've seen situations like this in other states, but it seems like drivers in those states pay more attention than CA drivers.
Enough ranting for now...