Incompetent driving annoys everyone

Lousy driving is not only dangerous, it’s an impetus for road rage because it really ticks us off. A recent study at Harvard University showed that bad drivers are near the top of the people’s general aggravation lists. In this research project to determine what gets our goats, many respondents deemed that dreadful driving deserves the top spot.

So if bad driving is such an irritant for most of us, why do we see so much of it? I suppose it’s because we all think that others are doing the bad driving. But some of those “others” must be us, so do a self-check — be certain that you are not committing the same offenses that others bug you with.

In this column, we have learned of our biggest road repulsions via reader input. Our faithful readership continues to send in pet peeves on a basis as regular as Big Ben. These auto annoyances have come to me with such fury that I feel compelled to repeat the earlier ones, and report some new ones, to aid in diminishing their occurrence.

Priority Peeves, in No Particular Order:

•Going slow, or even stopping on entrance ramps. In a new twist on the too-slow highway entrance, I’ve received complaints about motorists stopping at the end of the ramps — specifically, on the chutes that lead to I-90 eastbound from U.S. 95, and from Riverside to the Maple Street bridge. Both drivers merging onto the road and those already on it need to concentrate on the tasks at hand — merging, and accommodating merging — to make these shorter-than-normal on-ramps work smoothly.

•Tailgating. The Golden Rule applies here — if you don’t like it done to you, then please get off of others’ rears.

•Stopping in roadway. This mistake often occurs as a result of another mistake. For example, when drivers are in the far right lane when they wish to turn left, there are many who then stop in the middle of the road, waiting for traffic to clear. I’ve got an idea: How about just turning right, going around the block, and doing it properly (get in left lane ahead of the need to turn left) the next time?

•Perpetual left-lane travelers. I guess I can’t say it enough — unless you are passing a vehicle, moving left to allow a merge, or about to turn left, STAY OUT OF THE LEFT LANE. It is illegal to be there except for the purposes just mentioned, and unsafe to block it for emergency vehicles.

•Unaware of or fluctuating speed. This one is easy to do right — just be aware of your vehicle speed, and maintain it around the posted limit.

•Not signaling intentions. All that the peeved drivers ask is that you use your signals in advance of turning. Is that such a chore?

•Parking in wrong direction. Here’s another habit that shouldn’t be too hard to break. When you park on the side of the road, simply face the traffic’s direction of travel.

•No free turns taken. In the absence of a “no turn on red” sign, go ahead and take the free rights and lefts that are allowed upon a red signal indication — it improves traffic flow, and lowers the blood pressure of those behind you.

•Driving too long in blind spot. It makes for a safer, more efficient pass if you expedite the overtaking of another vehicle — there really is a spot at a vehicle’s rear flank where objects are “invisible.” Try not to be there too long.

•Stopping past sign or line. This practice often makes other drivers wonder if you are going to stop at all. If you stop at the line (or the sign, if no line exists) you are being predictable, and being so makes you safer.

•Improper turns. This one runs the gamut — moving left before turning right, using wrong radius, turning into wrong lane, and taking free turns when not allowed. You have the power to avoid these failures — concentration and practice is all it takes.

•Blocking the intersection. This is another faux pas that can be avoided with thought and pre-planning. If there’s no room at the other side of the intersection, don’t drive your car to the middle of the crossing and stop; wait for clearance.

•Pulling out in front of others. Many drivers need work when it comes to judging speed and distance. If you have any doubt about the speed of the oncoming vehicle, don’t take a chance, just wait for it to pass.

•Too much space left between vehicles while stopped. Excessive spacing between stopped vehicles is not necessary, and greatly reduces the number of cars that can proceed through an intersection when the light turns green, for example.

Since bad driving evidently makes most of us mad, and the listed examples get our local blood boiling, let’s all work to avoid these pratfalls — it can be our contribution to the relief of societal stress and anger.