Racing Towards Red Lights

Flint · 02-13-2008, 11:41 AM

Every day, at the same exact place, at the same exact time, the same exact thing happens.

Panel A. This is a four-lane road, there's no turn lane. So the people (green arrow) who are turning (against traffic) into the parking lot of their work, are nearly rear-ended by Speedy Gonzales (red arrow), who by God has important places to be RIGHT NOW. These VIPs usually swoop right back in front of "the obstacle" just to...teach them some kind of lesson, I suppose. And, invariably, they accelerate.

Panel B is even funnier, because no sooner than they swoop back in to lane 3, there's ANOTHER set of people turning into ANOTHER parking lot! Again, they SWOOP around, barely avoiding a collision, as they bury the accelerator through the floorboard. Vroom! That'll teach 'em!

Panel C...straining their shitty four-cylinder to it's breaking point, they come face-to-face with...a RED LIGHT. They SLAM on their brakes, and barely avoid ANOTHER collision. Now...I always thought that the reason why they have red lights is to let you know that you'll be stopping soon.

Don't accelerate towards a red light, Einstein! Speedy Gonzales almost gets into three wrecks, burns up his engine, his gasoline, and his brake pads, all so he can sit at a red light. And this shouldn't be a surprise: the same cars turn into the same parking lots at the same time every day.

Cicero · 02-13-2008, 12:05 PM

They just like to stop and take off really fast because it's cool. You aren't seeing how cool that is? Is that totally lost on you?!?

Of course, see thread: So what's so hard about driving?
No really...I get it. I was just saying this morning how people on the highway speed up really fast to get around me when they can see that the cars ahead of me are going just as slow. So they run around me to only put on their brake lights because the car ahead is guess what? Going just as slow...They can see that, but it doesn't seem to register until they are wedged between the two vehicles and have to get back in the other lane and hop in front of the car ahead, who of course, has a car in front of them moving slowly as well......They don't seem to be able to look ahead at all. I'm not sure how you drive staring at your steering wheel. They must be, because some people do not take into account what is going on in front of them by 10 feet or less. Over 10 feet is way out expectation. Where are they looking that they don't see anything that's actually going on? I would like to know where to look in case I want to ignore reality too...but I don't see that place. I can understand if people get lost in thought while driving or have a minor error in judgement while driving. But to be driving intently, and be such a screw up...I don't know...

Rant.

Must be like one of those "Zoolander" aberrations where he couldn't make a left turn. "I have never been able to plan ahead."

Cloud · 02-13-2008, 12:09 PM

they're pretending they're flying!

Cicero · 02-13-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

they're pretending they're flying!

See thread: What's so hard about driving?

So Cloud, when am I supposed to be driving you around?
:p

barefoot serpent · 02-13-2008, 12:20 PM

why do you hate Hispanics?

j/k

I then slowly glide up next to them waiting at the light (in lane 4, Panel 1) and give them that yer an azzole look.

glatt · 02-13-2008, 12:30 PM

Flint, one time, like three weeks ago, they floored it and made it through on the yellow, and they keep chasing that dragon, because it will happen again some day. By God.

classicman · 02-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Problem: When they crawl up right behind you and try to push you forward.

Solution: Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator till a speed of appx 20 mph has been achieved.

jinx · 02-13-2008, 02:46 PM

Alternate Solution: Get your slow ass out of the mother fucking passing lane you passive aggressive piece of shit!
*cough*

classicman · 02-13-2008, 02:54 PM

lol @ Jinx

Flint · 02-13-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicman

Problem: When they crawl up right behind you and try to push you forward.

Solution: Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator till a speed of appx 20 mph has been achieved.

Bonus: Watch as they blast into the next lane, only to be immediately confronted with the line of 50 cars that you could clearly see from a mile back. Since, as Cicero pointed out, they can't see past 10 feet in front of them, they make dumbass decisions, and end up 50 cars behind you.
__________________

I've mentioned this before... my theory is that they are "selling low" in traffic. We all know to buy low and sell high.

But they switch lanes every time something bad happens in their lane. This guarantees that they will not see the good events in that lane. They pick another lane, absorb the impact of another bad event, and switch lanes again.

They are "selling" their lane at a low point and "buying" another lane at a high point! They consistently make bad deals in the traffic market.

I watch these people, as I cross town, and after a few miles of spastic lane changes and rapid acceleration/deceleration, they fall so far behind that I can't even see them in my rearview mirror anymore. For all their effort, they only fall further and further behind the flow of traffic.

classicman · 02-13-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

Alternate Solution: Get your slow ass out of the mother fucking passing lane you passive aggressive piece of shit!
*cough*

I do this when I'm not in the passing lane.

BigV · 02-13-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

Alternate Solution: Get your slow ass out of the mother fucking passing lane you passive aggressive piece of shit!
*cough*

So, is it the passing lane (my preference too) or is the left hand turn lane? I sense a built in conflict here.

Cloud · 02-13-2008, 04:03 PM

we have red-light cameras being installed on our town. While not specifically addressing this issue, I do notice that there are a lot fewer people racing toward the lights on these intersections.

BrianR · 02-13-2008, 05:53 PM

in my extensive experience, it has been decided that a full 60% of car (meaning four and six wheel vehicles) cannot pass the drivers' test if administered right NOW.

I see examples of this and many other foolish things every day...all in the name of grabbing a few feet of space. These are infants functioning in adult bodies. And WHY in the name of GHOD are they ALWAYS driving compact pickups?

ONe of these days I'm going to make good on my threats to install a PA system and a dash camera in my truck so that I can document the stupidity I see every day and also to be able to make my thoughts known to these fools.

I could tell story after story but you'd not believe me anyway.

Aliantha · 02-13-2008, 06:03 PM

Yeah and I want to know when the fuck someone said you don't have to bother indicating anymore! This is really pissing me off locally.

Just thought I'd say...

02-13-2008, 11:41 AM	#1
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Racing Towards Red Lights Every day, at the same exact place, at the same exact time, the same exact thing happens. Panel A. This is a four-lane road, there's no turn lane. So the people (green arrow) who are turning (against traffic) into the parking lot of their work, are nearly rear-ended by Speedy Gonzales (red arrow), who by God has important places to be RIGHT NOW. These VIPs usually swoop right back in front of "the obstacle" just to...teach them some kind of lesson, I suppose. And, invariably, they accelerate. Panel B is even funnier, because no sooner than they swoop back in to lane 3, there's ANOTHER set of people turning into ANOTHER parking lot! Again, they SWOOP around, barely avoiding a collision, as they bury the accelerator through the floorboard. Vroom! That'll teach 'em! Panel C...straining their shitty four-cylinder to it's breaking point, they come face-to-face with...a RED LIGHT. They SLAM on their brakes, and barely avoid ANOTHER collision. Now...I always thought that the reason why they have red lights is to let you know that you'll be stopping soon. Don't accelerate towards a red light, Einstein! Speedy Gonzales almost gets into three wrecks, burns up his engine, his gasoline, and his brake pads, all so he can sit at a red light. And this shouldn't be a surprise: the same cars turn into the same parking lots at the same time every day. Attached Images __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio** Last edited by Flint; 02-13-2008 at 11:56 AM.

02-13-2008, 12:05 PM	#2
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	They just like to stop and take off really fast because it's cool. You aren't seeing how cool that is? Is that totally lost on you?!? Of course, see thread: So what's so hard about driving? No really...I get it. I was just saying this morning how people on the highway speed up really fast to get around me when they can see that the cars ahead of me are going just as slow. So they run around me to only put on their brake lights because the car ahead is guess what? Going just as slow...They can see that, but it doesn't seem to register until they are wedged between the two vehicles and have to get back in the other lane and hop in front of the car ahead, who of course, has a car in front of them moving slowly as well......They don't seem to be able to look ahead at all. I'm not sure how you drive staring at your steering wheel. They must be, because some people do not take into account what is going on in front of them by 10 feet or less. Over 10 feet is way out expectation. Where are they looking that they don't see anything that's actually going on? I would like to know where to look in case I want to ignore reality too...but I don't see that place. I can understand if people get lost in thought while driving or have a minor error in judgement while driving. But to be driving intently, and be such a screw up...I don't know... Rant. Must be like one of those "Zoolander" aberrations where he couldn't make a left turn. "I have never been able to plan ahead." __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

02-13-2008, 12:09 PM	#3
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	they're pretending they're flying! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-13-2008, 12:20 PM	#5
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	why do you hate Hispanics? j/k I then slowly glide up next to them waiting at the light (in lane 4, Panel 1) and give them that yer an azzole look. __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

02-13-2008, 02:28 PM	#7
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Problem: When they crawl up right behind you and try to push you forward. Solution: Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator till a speed of appx 20 mph has been achieved. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

02-13-2008, 12:30 PM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Flint, one time, like three weeks ago, they floored it and made it through on the yellow, and they keep chasing that dragon, because it will happen again some day. By God.

02-13-2008, 02:46 PM	#8
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Alternate Solution: Get your slow ass out of the mother fucking passing lane you passive aggressive piece of shit! cough __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

02-13-2008, 02:54 PM	#9
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	lol @ Jinx __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

02-13-2008, 04:03 PM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	we have red-light cameras being installed on our town. While not specifically addressing this issue, I do notice that there are a lot fewer people racing toward the lights on these intersections. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-13-2008, 05:53 PM	#14
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	in my extensive experience, it has been decided that a full 60% of car (meaning four and six wheel vehicles) cannot pass the drivers' test if administered right NOW. I see examples of this and many other foolish things every day...all in the name of grabbing a few feet of space. These are infants functioning in adult bodies. And WHY in the name of GHOD are they ALWAYS driving compact pickups? ONe of these days I'm going to make good on my threats to install a PA system and a dash camera in my truck so that I can document the stupidity I see every day and also to be able to make my thoughts known to these fools. I could tell story after story but you'd not believe me anyway. __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

02-13-2008, 06:03 PM	#15
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Yeah and I want to know when the fuck someone said you don't have to bother indicating anymore! This is really pissing me off locally. Just thought I'd say... __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

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