Top Ten Most Annoying Drivers

The other day I was run off the road while driving my kids to the pool. The driver of the other car was driving in my lane at full speed. After I pulled to the side, I quickly glanced in my rearview mirror to see that the other driver was continuing in the wrong lane, so s/he was oblivious to the fact that s/he could have just taken the lives of me and my three kids. 

My dad dreaded the day he had to teach me to drive. He took vehicle usage very seriously and passed that awe down to me. Rule number one was always to drive defensively. "It's not you; it's all the other idiots you have to watch out for."

Some people today, it seems, are missing some of the fear-of-what-can-happen-in-a-car attitude. Do they not remember the driver's ed. videos showing detailed accidents? Too many people today treat their cars like an extra appendage rather than a 2-ton trap of combustibles, glass, and steel.

Probably the most dangerous thing you can do in the car (other than not pay attention to what you are doing by using a phone or texting!) is to get angry. Anger leads to hate... hate leads to the Dark Side... wait, wrong movie again. 

So rather than get mad on the road, I will just tell you what some people do on the road that make me angry. 


1. Handicapped Turn-Signal Users: 
I will assume these folks are handicapped, and that there is some legitimate reason for not letting others know what your driving plans are. Because I really hate surprises.

Why it drives me mad: I've been taught to be overly-cautious. You know, never assume that what people indicate is really their intention, or vice versa. Case in point, if a person is driving straight along a road, I will wait for them to pass me before turning onto the road. It would be rude of me to pull out in front of them. Only, it seems that half the time, the person changes their mind (or whatever) and turns onto my road instead. Really? I just waited for you so that I wouldn't be the rude one, and you gave no indication that it wasn't necessary. Consideration, please!


2. Timid Mergers:
This is the person in front of me on a highway entrance ramp who literally stops before merging in. 

Why it drives me mad:
There is sometimes a need to stop before merging, most especially in high traffic. But frequently, you come across folks who just see the triangular "yield" sign as a "stop," even when their lane is wide open. The person behind has already made their merging plan, found the spot where they will fit, and ... oh no stop the car! The guy in front isn't moving!

3. Forceful Mergers:
Now we have the opposite. Those who don't see an opening and decide to make one anyway. 

Why it drives me mad:
I drive a smaller car and lack much of a spine when it comes to playing it safe. When a car is coming at me, I move over! But sometimes I can't. I guess the other driver just figures that's my problem. (A problem I wouldn't have if s/he didn't create it for me.)


4. New People:
Again, I am assuming these folks are either new, blind, or 90 years old. These are the people who stop at intersections when they do not have a stop sign. You find them often in those horribly designed mall parking lots. But there are a few in my neighborhood as well. 

Why it drives me mad:
Not only does it throw off the person behind them, who was planning on following the traffic pattern by not stopping (who then needs to slam on brakes), but it throws off the other people who DO have the stop signs. "Wait, are they letting me go? Or are they just clueless? Should I go? Does he even know I'm here? If I start, is he going to go anyway? Is it some crazy game of chicken?"



5. Overzealous Honkers
Not the biggest problem, but any honking makes me jump and wonder what I've done.

Why it drives me mad:
It can also cause me to go, even if I am sitting at a red light. This is also the worst when I am on a bike - the wind from the passing car is hard enough to deal with, but the noise from the horn can put me on edge enough to lose my balance and fall off. Horns are in cars to warn another that you are there because, possibly, you have not been seen, not to let others know you are angry, or to try to make cyclists jump.



6. Bullies
SO many categories of people fit here. I have addressed a few. But how about those who tailgate at 70 mph? Or those who are keeping you out of their lane at all costs, including running you into a median or off the road.

Why it drives me mad:
No one likes a bully. I've been run into and off of things. Although it wouldn't for me, this kind of behavior could incite deadly occurrences of road rage.

7. Multi-Tasking Red-Light Waiters
It has become so common these days I rarely see someone with their head up during a traffic stop. 

Why it drives me mad:
OK, it's better than texting or calling WHILE driving, but if I am not involved in your conversation, I don't see why I need to wait for yours to end before I can go through that green light.

Also, I have noticed that these people often don't pay attention to where they have stopped. They might be taking up more than one lane, or more often in the crosswalk. While trying to cross in a crosswalk the other day (when I had the light), I had to knock on the window of a car preventing me from using the crosswalk. The teen girl driver jumped a mile and nearly dropped her phone.


8. Non-Observant Lane Changers
I'm talking about the guy you see floating between lanes, doing everything he can not to be stuck behind a slower driver. You usually see him just pull into any lane where he thinks he fits. (Much like the Forceful Merger.)

Why it drives me mad:
Well this is obvious; it's dangerous as there will be high-speed braking involved. And since many people don't keep a safe following distance... you can imagine the rest. (I'd rather not!) I'd like to know what happened to the rule that said you need to see both headlights in your rearview mirror before pulling in front of someone. (And use your turn signal.)


9. Lane Drifters
How is this different from the one above? This is the person who doesn't commit to a lane. H/she makes you think s/he is pulling into your lane, but really is just drifting. I wouldn't think it's not a conscious decision (unlike above).

Why it drives me mad:
You know it's safer to be in front of this person. S/he could throw on the brakes at any moment. But is isn't quite safe enough to pass either. You're stuck.


What? I have only included nine? This is my gift to YOU, so that you can even it out with the 10th annoying driving habit. I know you have one; I left plenty. Comment what YOU would include for number 10.