The official idiot driver thread

[97' 4 Popper]

I agree that it doesnt make sense to be ticketed for being in the left lane going a mph under the speed limit. If a commercial vehicle is going 75 in the right lane and you're going 79 you should have every right to pass.

It should be keep right except to pass, and also there should be a minimum of a 2.5 mph speed differential while passing on the interstate. There should also be a higher speed minimum.

Im tired of commercial trucks playing speed governer wars. Just because one has a governer that is set 1 mph faster they clog up the highway? Only to have to get back into the right lane again behind the lower governed truck that has better gearing to make it up the hill.

My area is undergoing the biggest infastructure project in 50 years. Its chaos, the DOT is trying to kill us and no one has the mental capacity to drive though construction zones. Just because the interstate is one lane at 55mph people are dropping down to 35 with no one in front of them? How do they handle driving in a two lane road that is 55?? Ive lost all faith and trust in other people as drivers but I still try to keep my cool.

 

[Zorba]

Yep, last few years I've changed how I travel on crowded interstates. I now hang back and stay out of the packs whenever possible. It makes for a much less stressful trip anyway and if the poop hits the fan at 75 MPH I don't want to be in the middle of the pack.

Yep. I don't know what's up with the pack mentality on the freeway... I would also think that adaptive cruise would make that even worse.

But the idiot driver situation has gotten FAR worse post CCP virus. I take a LOT more back roads now, and just allow more time to "get there". I can take the freeway to my Thursday nite dance class and get there in about 35 minutes, or I can take the back roads and be there in about an hour. I generally take the back roads. And I *NEVER* take the freeway if its been raining - these Florididiots will have it screwed up inside of 5 minutes. I thought that moving to Florida would put me on the roads with people who knew how to drive in the rain. Nope.

 

[bucky]

I hate the guy who has to get that extra 10’ and swerves through bumper to bumper traffic.

 

[Zorba]

I hate the guy who has to get that extra 10’ and swerves through bumper to bumper traffic.

Years back, my father was commuting over California Highway 17, for those who may be familiar. 17 is famous for "jam and slam", you can be going 65 one minute, and dead stopped the next. He saw there was dead stop about a half mile ahead, so he eases out of the accelerator to roll up to where he'd have to stop. An "AFO" in some kind of a Mercedes was doing the swerving thing, swerved around my dad, got in front of him and plows full speed into the back of a stopped pickup truck. Never even touched the brakes. Guy gets out and is pounding his fists on his hood, my dad gets out, walks past him to the driver of the pickup and tells him "I saw that, here's my into..." Dad never did get a call, I guess it was pretty much cut and dried so no witnesses were even needed.

 

[mxz800]

https://www.wcjb.com/2025/08/05/fhp-17-year-old-arrested-crash-i-75-after-teen-dies-others-hurt/

 

[cliffish]

Dodge Chargers have replaced BMW drivers as the biggest A-holes from what I am seeing in the last couple years.

 

[Zorba]

https://www.wcjb.com/2025/08/05/fhp-17-year-old-arrested-crash-i-75-after-teen-dies-others-hurt/

Florididiot!

 

[Mhass]

Y'all need to come drive in Italy!
There are no rules that aren't violated daily here. It's a free for all and the only surprising thing is that there aren't more accidents.
Its a different vibe though-with very few exceptions, driving here is cooperation, not competition.
Everybody cuts you off, everybody tailgates, lines, where there are still lines mean nothing. Roundabouts are everywhere and flow smoothly, all the motorcycles and scooters split lanes and use the shoulder.
Thing is, there's nearly zero road rage, nobody takes it personal.
All that being said, I just ordered dashcams for all the cars and bikes!

 

[Zorba]

Y'all need to come drive in Italy!
There are no rules that aren't violated daily here. It's a free for all and the only surprising thing is that there aren't more accidents.
Its a different vibe though-with very few exceptions, driving here is cooperation, not competition.
Everybody cuts you off, everybody tailgates, lines, where there are still lines mean nothing. Roundabouts are everywhere and flow smoothly, all the motorcycles and scooters split lanes and use the shoulder.
Thing is, there's nearly zero road rage, nobody takes it personal.
All that being said, I just ordered dashcams for all the cars and bikes!

Its similar in Greece - the lines and signs are suggestions. But the cooperation is obvious.

 

[suicideking]

I think box trucks should not be allowed in the #1 lane (unless they can keep up with traffic). Maybe #2 also. I don't know how many times I'll be stuck behind one going under the speed limit. Then you have try to pass them. End up with someone in lane #2 going the same speed.

I'll also add to the idiot driver (and passenger) list: Any driver that doesn't wear their seatbelt AND require all passengers also wear them. I used to be an EMT around 30 years ago and saw what happens when people become a projectile from not wearing their seatbelt.

Around 5 years ago, I was on my way to pickup my Jeep from Blaine. It was 4th of July weekend and around 100 degrees. In front of me, a lady driving a big SUV with 3rd row seating, Chevy Suburban or something like that. 3 adults, 3 children. Rear tire blows out, she over corrected the steering and started to roll at about 65 MPH. The SUV rolled around 10+ times, from the fast lane, to off the right shoulder before coming to a stop. 4 people ejected, one dead. The one that died was an 18yo boy. His two brothers and father also ejected. Mom and aunt were the only ones not ejected.

I stopped to help. The two boys were shaken up, and lots of road rash. One had a broken arm, but otherwise ok. 18yo was partially ejected and looked like the SUV rolled on top of him. Dad had a pretty good concussion, not verbally making sense, pacing around, etc. So I stayed with the mom and the 18yo until police and ambulances got there. Really wanted to chew her out for not having people wear seat belts, but didn't say anything.

I know Jerry Bransford watched someone die on the trail. Didn't ever wear a seatbelt. Tried to jump out when he was about to roll, Jeep rolled on top of him. Darwinism I guess.

 

[Zorba]

Tonite's tale: Coming up to a RH turn (in the Jeep), light is green (for at least 15 seconds), and there is a golf cart sitting on the sidewalk right at the corner. Of course, the fucktard decides to go (straight) right when I'm starting my turn. I honk, he yells something about the light. Fine - technically he was correct - BUT - he was NOT moving and how the fuck was I supposed to know what the Hell he was doing? Most likely fiddling with a PHOOOOOONNE would be my guess.

 

[bucky]

I worked for 10 yrs in the ER of a level II Trauma Center. Our territory was the Mojave Desert from the Nevada border with Vegas, the Colorado River to the Mexican border. You learn 2 things real quick. Seatbelts and quality helmets save lives. The most common car crashes were a tire blowout or falling asleep, swerve of the road, hit the soft sand and roll multiple times. Hell on Earth is waiting for help to arrive, which could take an hour or so, being placed on a backboard then an hour plus ride to the hospital. Even when you got to my ER you stayed on that backboard until I got done taking my X-rays and you went to CT for scans. That could take another hour. By the time patients were removed from the backboard every hole and recess on the board was imprinted on their backs.

 

[Dr. Internet]

There seems to be a lot of complaints about people driving too slow in the fast lane. I understand if someone is going 30 mph below the speed limit, but I don't understand why you're getting upset at someone driving 5 under.
Here's a little chart some of you may remember from driver's ed, assuming you took it in high school.

distance​	speed​	time (h)​	time (m)​
5​	60​	0.083333​	5​
5​	70​	0.071429​	4.285714​
5​	80​	0.0625​	3.75​
10​	60​	0.166667​	10​
10​	70​	0.142857​	8.571429​
10​	80​	0.125​	7.5​
20​	60​	0.333333​	20​
20​	70​	0.285714​	17.14286​
20​	80​	0.25​	15​

If you have 5 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 1.25 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 10 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 2.5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 20 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
The greater the distance, the greater the spread between time based on 60 mph vs 80 mph.
Most people drive between 5 and 20 miles at a time. My question is this: is saving 5 minutes worth the ticket or possibly the accident that takes a life?
I used to know a traffic court judge and he told me the words he heard most often were, "I didn't mean to kill anyone!"




On the other hand, when I'm driving a few hundred miles, the time is significant and if I want to drive 80 in the fast lane, I just go back to Texas where it's legal. Also:

And finally, the first mod you should make on your TJ is to go out and buy some decent horns. The stock horn in my TJ is useless. I've heard beer farts louder. I bought two horns that were advertised as the loudest and installed them. Then I went back and bought two more. Now, when I honk, people jump.

 

[Apparition]

There seems to be a lot of complaints about people driving too slow in the fast lane. I understand if someone is going 30 mph below the speed limit, but I don't understand why you're getting upset at someone driving 5 under.
Here's a little chart some of you may remember from driver's ed, assuming you took it in high school.

distance​	speed​	time (h)​	time (m)​
5​	60​	0.083333​	5​
5​	70​	0.071429​	4.285714​
5​	80​	0.0625​	3.75​
10​	60​	0.166667​	10​
10​	70​	0.142857​	8.571429​
10​	80​	0.125​	7.5​
20​	60​	0.333333​	20​
20​	70​	0.285714​	17.14286​
20​	80​	0.25​	15​

If you have 5 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 1.25 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 10 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 2.5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 20 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
The greater the distance, the greater the spread between time based on 60 mph vs 80 mph.
Most people drive between 5 and 20 miles at a time. My question is this: is saving 5 minutes worth the ticket or possibly the accident that takes a life?
I used to know a traffic court judge and he told me the words he heard most often were, "I didn't mean to kill anyone!"




On the other hand, when I'm driving a few hundred miles, the time is significant and if I want to drive 80 in the fast lane, I just go back to Texas where it's legal. Also:
View attachment 635432





And finally, the first mod you should make on your TJ is to go out and buy some decent horns. The stock horn in my TJ is useless. I've heard beer farts louder. I bought two horns that were advertised as the loudest and installed them. Then I went back and bought two more. Now, when I honk, people jump.

My issue with left laners is when they never or rarely get over. Drove 500 miles last weekend and there are a lot of people who never leave the left lane. Lines of cars have to pass them on the right.

And every now and then you get the person that won't get over yet also doesn't want to get passed on the right.

And the people that won't get over who think all the people behind them should slow down so they pace the car next to them.

I'm a very much stay right unless passing and if passing, get it done. Also don't like people hanging out in middle lanes dicking up traffic flow and getting passed on both sides simultaneously.

 

[Farmergreg]

Also don't like people hanging out in middle lanes dicking up traffic flow and getting passed on both sides simultaneously.

I'm driving the motorhome or the semi truck at or above the speed limit. 3 lanes. I park in the middle lane.
Do I stay in the right lane, slowing down / braking for every boob who can't merge? Or the "sweeper" that comes blasting over from the far left lane to make the exit?

Another fan favorite is the left lane guy hanging out on your left rear 1/4 and along comes the overpass incline. The big rig slows a couple miles an hour due to the incline and now left lane guy starts passing w/o changing their speed. Slowly creeping along your left side blocking you from moving over to allow the slow semi or merging moron coming up the on-ramp to merge. Net result: big rig slows down significantly and has to build up speed again.

How about a hazard on the right shoulder two lane road? (Fixing guard rail, a disabled car, someone rolling trying to get back on thee road) I move left to go around, look in the right mirror to merge back and there's a car passing me on the right.

They test you when you're 16y/o and don't test again until you're 80. 64 years is a long time to develop bad habits.

 

[Apparition]

I'm driving the motorhome or the semi truck at or above the speed limit. 3 lanes. I park in the middle lane.
Do I stay in the right lane, slowing down / braking for every boob who can't merge? Or the "sweeper" that comes blasting over from the far left lane to make the exit?

I can give a little lenience to the big rigs on the road, because they have to deal with the morons that don't realize the physics involved in driving them. There's plenty of cars that just park it in the middle because they are lazy and we all pay the price for that.

 

[Dr. Internet]

I am convinced we will see technology enforce speed limiting within 10 yrs, on the interstate, at least.
We have the tech now, just waiting on the legislation.
I know this won't get the slow driver out of the left lane, but it will prevent his counterpart in a 400 hp p/u truck from passing you on the right at 110 mph.

 

[Apparition]

I am convinced we will see technology enforce speed limiting within 10 yrs, on the interstate, at least.
We have the tech now, just waiting on the legislation.
I know this won't get the slow driver out of the left lane, but it will prevent his counterpart in a 400 hp p/u truck from passing you on the right at 110 mph.

Who is driving these low powered trucks?

 

[suicideking]

There seems to be a lot of complaints about people driving too slow in the fast lane. I understand if someone is going 30 mph below the speed limit, but I don't understand why you're getting upset at someone driving 5 under.
Here's a little chart some of you may remember from driver's ed, assuming you took it in high school.

distance​	speed​	time (h)​	time (m)​
5​	60​	0.083333​	5​
5​	70​	0.071429​	4.285714​
5​	80​	0.0625​	3.75​
10​	60​	0.166667​	10​
10​	70​	0.142857​	8.571429​
10​	80​	0.125​	7.5​
20​	60​	0.333333​	20​
20​	70​	0.285714​	17.14286​
20​	80​	0.25​	15​

If you have 5 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 1.25 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 10 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 2.5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
If you have 20 miles to go and drive 80, you get there 5 minutes sooner than someone driving 60.
The greater the distance, the greater the spread between time based on 60 mph vs 80 mph.
Most people drive between 5 and 20 miles at a time. My question is this: is saving 5 minutes worth the ticket or possibly the accident that takes a life?
I used to know a traffic court judge and he told me the words he heard most often were, "I didn't mean to kill anyone!"




On the other hand, when I'm driving a few hundred miles, the time is significant and if I want to drive 80 in the fast lane, I just go back to Texas where it's legal. Also:
View attachment 635432





And finally, the first mod you should make on your TJ is to go out and buy some decent horns. The stock horn in my TJ is useless. I've heard beer farts louder. I bought two horns that were advertised as the loudest and installed them. Then I went back and bought two more. Now, when I honk, people jump.

The real point: If you REALLY want to go slower than traffic, there's a lane for that. It's not the left lane. SOME people refer to the left lane as 'THE FAST LANE'. It's not so fast with someone going 5 - 15 MPH slower than traffic.

My wife rode with her mom for an hour long trip. She will not go 1 MPH faster than the speed limit because "It's the law and I don't want to go to jail!" My wife watched as dozens of people cut her off. Some more abruptly. She finally convinced her mom to stay out of the fast lane.

Side Note: Wifey is THE WORST backseat driver. We mutually agree that she will drive pretty much everywhere. I go 'way too fast' and she gasps and screams and scares the shit out of me resulting in cursing and arguing. I can tolerate her slower driving.

 

[lBasket]

Who is driving these low powered trucks?

Poor people like me