Random thoughts that are pointless and too dumb to say anywhere else thread: 2020

[LouisEly]

Ugg I really hate Arizona and California drivers. Illinois drivers are saints compared to them.

I can't speak to Arizona, but I lived in CA for 6.5 years and in IL for almost 4 years and Illinois drivers are worse than CA drivers and it isn't even close.

 

IL drivers are the most selfish drivers I have ever seen - never have I been anywhere where they pull out into the intersection when the light is changing even though it is blocked ahead and they can't get through, blocking the intersection for the cross-traffic. IL drivers think that if they can get ahead of one or two more vehicles that will make all the difference in the world in their commute, whether that is forcing themselves into the intersection, passing on the right shoulder/where there isn't a lane, not merging until the last second, you name it.

 

In CA everybody knows there is traffic everywhere and they, for the most part, just deal with it and take their turns. (CA also had legitimate road rage incidents, and I think that has made people think twice about being a jerk.)

[nate82]

Ugg I really hate Arizona and California drivers. Illinois drivers are saints compared to them.

I can't speak to Arizona, but I lived in CA for 6.5 years and in IL for almost 4 years and Illinois drivers are worse than CA drivers and it isn't even close.

 

IL drivers are the most selfish drivers I have ever seen - never have I been anywhere where they pull out into the intersection when the light is changing even though it is blocked ahead and they can't get through, blocking the intersection for the cross-traffic. IL drivers think that if they can get ahead of one or two more vehicles that will make all the difference in the world in their commute, whether that is forcing themselves into the intersection, passing on the right shoulder/where there isn't a lane, not merging until the last second, you name it.

 

In CA everybody knows there is traffic everywhere and they, for the most part, just deal with it and take their turns. (CA also had legitimate road rage incidents, and I think that has made people think twice about being a jerk.)

 

The ones that drive in AZ are horrible. They do everything you are describing what IL drivers do but multiple that by 10. If you are traveling on the I-10 and merge onto I-17 you have to watch out for the CA drivers returning to CA as they sit in the right lane that is an exit only lane for I-17 and wait until there is nothing left but a huge break down lane or worse they stop completely in the exit lane that is going at 55mph or faster so you can merge onto I-17 at a decent speed. They are also driving at about 25mph or slower so they can merge. There are 3 lanes plus a HOV lane which they already have 2+ people in their vehicle and are not driving in the HOV lane. Makes no sense.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Ugg I really hate Arizona and California drivers. Illinois drivers are saints compared to them.

I can't speak to Arizona, but I lived in CA for 6.5 years and in IL for almost 4 years and Illinois drivers are worse than CA drivers and it isn't even close.

 

IL drivers are the most selfish drivers I have ever seen - never have I been anywhere where they pull out into the intersection when the light is changing even though it is blocked ahead and they can't get through, blocking the intersection for the cross-traffic. IL drivers think that if they can get ahead of one or two more vehicles that will make all the difference in the world in their commute, whether that is forcing themselves into the intersection, passing on the right shoulder/where there isn't a lane, not merging until the last second, you name it.

 

In CA everybody knows there is traffic everywhere and they, for the most part, just deal with it and take their turns. (CA also had legitimate road rage incidents, and I think that has made people think twice about being a jerk.)

 

Chicago area? Where I am it is pretty much like what I experienced in Wisconsin except with slightly better blinker usage but a couple of miles more over the speed limit on interstates.

[homer]

Phoenix and Chicago highway drivers are quite similar

[CheezWizHed]

IL drivers are the most selfish drivers I have ever seen - never have I been anywhere where they pull out into the intersection when the light is changing even though it is blocked ahead and they can't get through, blocking the intersection for the cross-traffic. IL drivers think that if they can get ahead of one or two more vehicles that will make all the difference in the world in their commute, whether that is forcing themselves into the intersection, passing on the right shoulder/where there isn't a lane, not merging until the last second, you name it.

 

I actually moved out of the Chicagoland area because my commute drove me so crazy. I'll caveat that you are supposed to merge at the end (i.e. zipper merge), but Chicagoland drivers refuse. You have to be aggressive and take your spot or the next car will take it. Thus, the merge runs at half the speed because cars are braking to prevent running into each other.

 

And yes, blinkers might be more prevalent in Chicago, but only because they are a warning. I'm coming IN - I don't care where you are - Look out!

 

And if you are driving on I94 North or I43 North and someone passes you at 15-20 MPH over the limit, they are always ILL drivers. And yes, that has happened to me many times.

[FVBrewerFan]

WI drivers aren't perfect either. No clue how to merge onto a freeway, what a passing lane is for, or how to drive through a round-about. (I'll give people a pass on the the round-abouts since they're relatively new.)

[sveumrules]

WI drivers aren't perfect either. No clue how to merge onto a freeway, what a passing lane is for, or how to drive through a round-about. (I'll give people a pass on the the round-abouts since they're relatively new.)

 

I've had the driver in front of me come to a complete stop before entering a roundabout with nary another car in sight.

[FVBrewerFan]

WI drivers aren't perfect either. No clue how to merge onto a freeway, what a passing lane is for, or how to drive through a round-about. (I'll give people a pass on the the round-abouts since they're relatively new.)

 

I've had the driver in front of me come to a complete stop before entering a roundabout with nary another car in sight.

 

Happens to me several times a week. Also, it;s comical how many people put their right directional signal on. More funny than annoying.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

People also love continuing to go straight out of the left turn only lane in the roundabout.

[CheezWizHed]

WI drivers aren't perfect either. No clue how to merge onto a freeway, what a passing lane is for, or how to drive through a round-about. (I'll give people a pass on the the round-abouts since they're relatively new.)

[sarcasm]That is a bannable offense sir![/sarcasm]

 

I keep reminding my son not to stop at a round-about if no one is coming (he is just learning how to drive). But yeah that is new for a lot of people.

 

Technically you are supposed to use the blinker when exiting a round-about so people know you aren't continuing, but I find myself putting it on while going in if doing an immediate right turn if the round about is new (i.e. still used to a normal intersection).

 

Speaking of merging onto a freeway, I nearly was obliterated from the face of this earth on a cloverleaf exchange in MN. Semi-truck trying to exit as I was entering. He wasn't paying much attention to incoming traffic as there was a huge stream of exiting traffic. But otherwise it was neither of our faults... just a terrible ramp design for a large highway exchange (I94 and I694).

 

People also love continuing to go straight out of the left turn only lane in the roundabout.

The tricky part of this is that not all round abouts are designed this way. There does need to be consistency on a two lane round about for people to do it right.

[owbc]

Have people in Wisconsin learned how to properly zipper merge yet? From what I remember, everyone would get over about a mile ahead of time and then throw a fit if you tried to follow proper zipper merging protocol. And just not letting people merge in general including speeding up to block them.

 

If I've learned anything from the current situation it's that commuting 45 min 2x/day at the exact same time as everyone else was an incredible waste of time. Now I spend my AM commute time on a leisurely walk to the coffee shop and go for a run or bike ride immediately after work.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Have people in Wisconsin learned how to properly zipper merge yet? From what I remember, everyone would get over about a mile ahead of time and then throw a fit if you tried to follow proper zipper merging protocol. And just not letting people merge in general including speeding up to block them.

 

If I've learned anything from the current situation it's that commuting 45 min 2x/day at the exact same time as everyone else was an incredible waste of time. Now I spend my AM commute time on a leisurely walk to the coffee shop and go for a run or bike ride immediately after work.

Did the semis ride the middle of the lanes to prevent people from getting to the actual zipper as well? Where I live in western Illinois was the same way, but before a recent multi year construction project they did a big public information campaign on zipper merging, and to my surprise it did make a difference. It isn’t perfect, but it is better (not that it could have been much worse).

[FVBrewerFan]

Speaking of merging onto a freeway, I nearly was obliterated from the face of this earth on a cloverleaf exchange in MN. Semi-truck trying to exit as I was entering. He wasn't paying much attention to incoming traffic as there was a huge stream of exiting traffic. But otherwise it was neither of our faults... just a terrible ramp design for a large highway exchange (I94 and I694).

 

Yea, I know it well. That interchange is terrible!

[MrTPlush]

Cheesewiz, I’m pretty sure the twin cities have some of the worst cloverleaf exchanges in the country. The one you reference is absolutely horrendous and there is another one (Highway 52 and 494) that is just as scary. Take both of those back to back and see if you haven’t aged 10 years.

 

On another note people not knowing passing lane etiquette is a populated suburb thing. I figure people are used to their 3-5 lane freeways and being in a middle lane isn’t a big deal. Not to mention it is expected for people to pass on the right. In Wisconsin I really don’t have much of a problem though. Usually only on 39 and 94...and it is almost always Illinois drivers to be exact. Sometimes Minnesota drivers that I am sure are from the Minneapolis burbs.

[CheezWizHed]

Have people in Wisconsin learned how to properly zipper merge yet? From what I remember, everyone would get over about a mile ahead of time and then throw a fit if you tried to follow proper zipper merging protocol. And just not letting people merge in general including speeding up to block them.

 

If I've learned anything from the current situation it's that commuting 45 min 2x/day at the exact same time as everyone else was an incredible waste of time. Now I spend my AM commute time on a leisurely walk to the coffee shop and go for a run or bike ride immediately after work.

Did the semis ride the middle of the lanes to prevent people from getting to the actual zipper as well? Where I live in western Illinois was the same way, but before a recent multi year construction project they did a big public information campaign on zipper merging, and to my surprise it did make a difference. It isn’t perfect, but it is better (not that it could have been much worse).

 

This is true. WI drivers do prefer to get in line early and bark at others not doing so. I've been guilty of the same.

 

MN actually teaches it when you take your test (moved to MN 3 years ago). I've seen signs about using both lanes too.

[nate82]

The center lanes are travel lanes. The left lane is a passing lane and only should be occupied if you are passing or if traffic has slowed down. The right lane is for slower vehicle traffic and exiting and entering traffic. The right lane should only be used that way unless traffic is moving slowly.

 

If there are only two lanes the right lane becomes the travel lane.

 

I am probably wrong about this but this is what I was taught in drivers ed

[FVBrewerFan]

The center lanes are travel lanes. The left lane is a passing lane and only should be occupied if you are passing or if traffic has slowed down. The right lane is for slower vehicle traffic and exiting and entering traffic. The right lane should only be used that way unless traffic is moving slowly.

 

If there are only two lanes the right lane becomes the travel lane.

 

I am probably wrong about this but this is what I was taught in drivers ed

 

No, you have it right. Sounds like even some of our own here may be the ones camping out in the passing lane.

[homer]

Reindeer herders in Finland are coating their antlers with florescent paint to reduce collisions with cars. The result is very metal:

 

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/02/20/280220511/these-reindeer-really-do-glow-and-its-for-their-own-good

[CheezWizHed]

Are there wolves in Finland? Seems like this would give predators a bit of an advantage. But maybe reindeer don't have natural predators there?

 

Also, that would be killer with a Rudolph nose!

[logan82]

The center lanes are travel lanes. The left lane is a passing lane and only should be occupied if you are passing or if traffic has slowed down. The right lane is for slower vehicle traffic and exiting and entering traffic. The right lane should only be used that way unless traffic is moving slowly.

 

If there are only two lanes the right lane becomes the travel lane.

 

I am probably wrong about this but this is what I was taught in drivers ed

 

No, you have it right. Sounds like even some of our own here may be the ones camping out in the passing lane.

There are 3 types of drivers that drive me absolutely nuts. The ones who sit in the left lane right next to someone in the right lane going the exact same speed blocking both lanes of traffic. People who try to merge into traffic at a way slower speed than traffic. Don;lt merge at 45 when the speed limit is 65. People who travel at 50mph no matter what the speed limit is. 5 under in a 55. 15 over in a 35.

[AKCheesehead]

Another passing lane issue I encountered repeatedly driving the Seward highway yesterday is this: the road is a 2 lane, 55 or 65mph depending on area. There are sporadic passing lanes. People will drive 5-10 under the speed limit until there’s a passing lane then suddenly they go 5-10 over. So if you don’t want to be stuck behind a slow poke you’re passing at 80 and risking a ticket.

[CheezWizHed]

I hate the guy that when you pass them on the a freeway and then they speed back up because they don't want to be passed. Or after you pass them, they speed up and are on your bumper.

[Outlander]

Another passing lane issue I encountered repeatedly driving the Seward highway yesterday is this: the road is a 2 lane, 55 or 65mph depending on area. There are sporadic passing lanes. People will drive 5-10 under the speed limit until there’s a passing lane then suddenly they go 5-10 over. So if you don’t want to be stuck behind a slow poke you’re passing at 80 and risking a ticket.

That drives me nuts. I can be patient and drive safe behind a slower person then there is a passing lane with instructions for slower drivers to go right but they stay in the left and speed up while there are two lanes and immediately go slower when back to one.

[homer]

I hate the guy that when you pass them on the a freeway and then they speed back up because they don't want to be passed. Or after you pass them, they speed up and are on your bumper.

 

I hate that too.

[young guns]

I hate the guy that when you pass them on the a freeway and then they speed back up because they don't want to be passed. Or after you pass them, they speed up and are on your bumper.

This reminds me of a situation I had a few years ago. In a short stretch I ended up passing the same person at least 3 times while being on cruise control the entire time. It was really weird.