Driver Errors

Inspired by a miniature Facebook conversation I had, I would like to highlight the many faults and patterns of your typical American driver. I've lived in the MD/PA/DE/NY/NJ area for around 20 years, so I have seen some crap. In no particular order:


Even if you are lost, you need to pick a lane.
I see this a lot- you will have three lanes of traffic on a semi-highway. From right to left- a fast lane, the normal lane, and the turn left lane. The vehicle in front of me couldn't decide whether to turn left or go straight, so he put half of his vehicle in the turn lane and half of his vehicle in the regular lane. He finally decided to want to turn, but still kept his vehicle in the straight lane. I had to slow down to get around him, and was very annoyed.

You need to gun it on on-ramps.
Oh, the stories I have for this one. Two particular situations- one where you need to speed up, and one where you need to stop at the end of the ramp. A particular elderly couple in their station wagon decided to get on a very busy stretch of highway at the almighty speed of 20mph. The speed limit was 60mph. They failed to speed up to the speed limit and almost caused a pileup.

I have also had drivers on the on-ramps cut me off and almost cause a pile up because they "had" to get over. If I cannot merge properly, I stop at the end of the ramp and wait. 99% of people getting on the ramp after me are usually jackasses and cut me off so that I cannot get back onto the highway, but better to be safe than sorry.

You need to use your blinkers.
This would be the number one complaint I have of drivers. Failure to yield means that you crossed a lane of traffic without putting your signal on. At lights or a stop sign, it can be a avenue (no pun intended) for misinterpreted information, and you can collide with people. It isn't much of an issue if you are far ahead of other vehicles on the road, but it is the law that you must yield with your blinkers, letting other drivers know of your intentions. It takes 1-2 seconds to hit the lever. Do it.

The most dangerous time to drive on the road is from Dusk, Dawn, and early morning.
In the most extreme example, an older man fell asleep at the wheel on a 60mph highway. Being that we were in Pennsylvania and there are NO GUARDRAILS in the middle of the highway, he veered off into a ditch, over the ditch, into our lane of traffic, caused a car to brake hard towards the ditch, roll three times and flip over. I stopped at this accident and helped tend to the driver who fell asleep. As for the gentleman he thought he killed... he walked out of his car with a concussion. I couldn't believe it. If you are too sleepy to drive, you really should not be doing it. Driving, although it doesn't seem like it; requires an immense amount of energy and concentration from your brain.

Tailgating
Number two most common. People don't like how slow you are going, so they will pull their car right behind you, very close, and annoy the crap out of you. This is a dangerous maneuver and it is against the law. You should be 3-4 car lengths behind someone, and even further away at higher speeds. Plow into someone who is legally stopped and it is your fault.

Drive on the Road
Do not be like the woman who nearly hit me in Pennsylvania. She was angry about something at the drive thru in Mcdonalds, stormed out of the line hitting the gas, missing people, going over the grass and into the highway median.