Traffic annoyances
Anyone who has actively participated in traffic, knows that the biggest annoyance is other people. Some are indeed merely annoying, while others are outright dangerous. Well, here's my list:
1 - Tailgaters. Keeping a safe distance is essential for safe driving. A rule of thumb is 2 seconds driving distance. This is not just a figment of imagination from driving instructors, but it is needed for you to anticipate and react on what the person in front of you is doing, so that you don't crash into them when they suddenly need to break. If you have a car that is much heavier than the person in front of you, you might even need to increase the distance. Being right on someone's tail is outright dangerous. If you want to kill yourself, good for you, but don't put other people in danger. And if you value your haste higher than your own and other people's lives, you don't belong on the road. The worst is about 90% of the drivers don't seem to have a clue what a safe driving distance is. There are several sub-categories here.
a. Tailgating on a car that is already driving slightly above the speed limit. There's no point in this as the person in front of you will not risk a traffic fine for your haste. Accept your fate and keep it safe
b. Tailgating on a car that is indicating to turn off at the next intersection or t-junction. They can't make a 90-degree turn at 60 km/h, and neither can you, so expect them to slow down to near-stop. Give them a break and increase your distance, so that they you know you have seen their intent, and so that they can take the turn without worrying for their life.
c. Tailgating when there is a free overtaking lane. If you don't dare to use the left-most lane, you do not belong on the road, let alone on the highway. If you don't know you are too close to the car in front of you, you don't belong on the road either.
d. Tailgating when there is a row of cars in front of you that drive around or below the speed limit, esp. on the highway. The person in front of you is probably just as eager to speed up as you, so don't try to force them aside. Neither will it help you as you will be stuck behind the next car.
e. Overtaking at last second. Don't give the person in front of you a heart attack by driving nearly into their car before swerving left. It's bloody dangerous and not cool at all. If you can't judge distance properly, you shouldn't drive, and certainly not that fast.
2. Motorcyclists. If you all have a collective death wish, fine, but don't put other people in danger. People don't want to hit you, so give them a chance not to. Thanks.
3. People who don't indicate directions. The subcategories:
a. People who don't indicate directions on a highway. If you change lanes, don't risk an accident but indicate that you are going to do so. Especially if you do so right in front of another car.
b. People who don't indicate directions at roundabounts. A bit less dangerous than above, but much more annoying as you wait for nothing.
c. People who indicate directions too late. Indicating is to signal that you plan to change directions, not that you are already doing so. We can see what you are doing, but not what you want to do.
d. Cyclists who don't indicate directions. People are waiting for you, please be so kind to show them that they don't have to. Also, in some situations it's bloody dangerous if you don't, and if you get hit by a car you have the biggest problem. So stop texting on your phone for a second and extent that arm, ok?
4. People (mostly elderly) who drive slow but not safely. If you decide to drive exactly on or just below the speed limit because you feel safer, I can live with that. But not if you are so much focused on your speed limit that you overlook, for example, cyclists at roundabounts, or crossing pedestrians. Get your priorities straight.
5. Headlights. Don't know about other people, but I'm blinded by 90% of the headlights of other cars. As there is no market incentive for car manufacturers to reduce the intensity of car's headlights, the only option would be strict regulation, but I don't see that happening. Drivers can contribute by turning their lights more downward. This also counts for scooters and even cyclists. Lights, especially in the city, are mostly there to be seen, and not to see (but there are exceptions to this).
6. People who drive on the left lane on the highway when the right lane is free. Especially, please take note if extra lanes are added on the right. Move right, and don't tempt people behind you into dangerous maneuvers.
7. People handling their mobile phone in traffic, especially cyclists texting while cycling. What are you thinking?
That's it for now...
1 - Tailgaters. Keeping a safe distance is essential for safe driving. A rule of thumb is 2 seconds driving distance. This is not just a figment of imagination from driving instructors, but it is needed for you to anticipate and react on what the person in front of you is doing, so that you don't crash into them when they suddenly need to break. If you have a car that is much heavier than the person in front of you, you might even need to increase the distance. Being right on someone's tail is outright dangerous. If you want to kill yourself, good for you, but don't put other people in danger. And if you value your haste higher than your own and other people's lives, you don't belong on the road. The worst is about 90% of the drivers don't seem to have a clue what a safe driving distance is. There are several sub-categories here.
a. Tailgating on a car that is already driving slightly above the speed limit. There's no point in this as the person in front of you will not risk a traffic fine for your haste. Accept your fate and keep it safe
b. Tailgating on a car that is indicating to turn off at the next intersection or t-junction. They can't make a 90-degree turn at 60 km/h, and neither can you, so expect them to slow down to near-stop. Give them a break and increase your distance, so that they you know you have seen their intent, and so that they can take the turn without worrying for their life.
c. Tailgating when there is a free overtaking lane. If you don't dare to use the left-most lane, you do not belong on the road, let alone on the highway. If you don't know you are too close to the car in front of you, you don't belong on the road either.
d. Tailgating when there is a row of cars in front of you that drive around or below the speed limit, esp. on the highway. The person in front of you is probably just as eager to speed up as you, so don't try to force them aside. Neither will it help you as you will be stuck behind the next car.
e. Overtaking at last second. Don't give the person in front of you a heart attack by driving nearly into their car before swerving left. It's bloody dangerous and not cool at all. If you can't judge distance properly, you shouldn't drive, and certainly not that fast.
2. Motorcyclists. If you all have a collective death wish, fine, but don't put other people in danger. People don't want to hit you, so give them a chance not to. Thanks.
3. People who don't indicate directions. The subcategories:
a. People who don't indicate directions on a highway. If you change lanes, don't risk an accident but indicate that you are going to do so. Especially if you do so right in front of another car.
b. People who don't indicate directions at roundabounts. A bit less dangerous than above, but much more annoying as you wait for nothing.
c. People who indicate directions too late. Indicating is to signal that you plan to change directions, not that you are already doing so. We can see what you are doing, but not what you want to do.
d. Cyclists who don't indicate directions. People are waiting for you, please be so kind to show them that they don't have to. Also, in some situations it's bloody dangerous if you don't, and if you get hit by a car you have the biggest problem. So stop texting on your phone for a second and extent that arm, ok?
4. People (mostly elderly) who drive slow but not safely. If you decide to drive exactly on or just below the speed limit because you feel safer, I can live with that. But not if you are so much focused on your speed limit that you overlook, for example, cyclists at roundabounts, or crossing pedestrians. Get your priorities straight.
5. Headlights. Don't know about other people, but I'm blinded by 90% of the headlights of other cars. As there is no market incentive for car manufacturers to reduce the intensity of car's headlights, the only option would be strict regulation, but I don't see that happening. Drivers can contribute by turning their lights more downward. This also counts for scooters and even cyclists. Lights, especially in the city, are mostly there to be seen, and not to see (but there are exceptions to this).
6. People who drive on the left lane on the highway when the right lane is free. Especially, please take note if extra lanes are added on the right. Move right, and don't tempt people behind you into dangerous maneuvers.
7. People handling their mobile phone in traffic, especially cyclists texting while cycling. What are you thinking?
That's it for now...