I am apparently one the few people who understands that if someone has to make an immediate lane change on the freeway they are probably doing it because they need to get somewhere and has somehow miscalculated their position. The thing that pisses me off is when I accommodate someones error by slowing down or maneuvering into a position that makes it more convenient for them without a 'thank you' from them. I don't need them to lower their window, hit me with high beams or flash their t*** in exchange for my allowing their safe passage, but a casual wave as I pass would be nice. No, it's NECESSESARY! And yet when I need a similar favor it seems that people would rather see me in a fiery crash than to slow a mile per hour so that I can safely pass. This is a rant, not a joke. (sometimes I feel the need to clarify) Thanks for your attention.
This happened to me yesterday, so I feel your pain. I was in a new area and the exit arrived sooner than I had expected it to. The guy was purposely matching my speed so that I wouldn't be able to change the lane. I had to speed up and get in front of the car which was in front of his.
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Cool story, another bro. I'd say the majority would do what you mentioned - try to run you into a ditch rather than let you merge in. I usually try to help people out, especially in those circumstances. At the same time I'm so jaded I don't expect them to realize or acknowledge it and they maybe even feel entitled that I should move for them. So I don't expect or look for any thanks coming my way. I just rationalize that it's good karma and I'll get help if I find myself in the same situation eventually. This goes out to you and everyone else who still tries to engage in courteous driving. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P2UUvG-XuQs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P2UUvG-XuQs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I have seriously never understood the rationale of people, when they see me signaling to move over into an "Exit Only" lane, and instead of letting me go, they F****** SPEED UP to not let me go. You would honestly rather see me crash into the person in front of me, or into the median instead of just freaking slowing down for 2 seconds to let me in?? The deepest pits of hell are reserved for people like that.....I'm convinced.
By the way, sorry for the double post, but I just wanted to say......I saw you live for the first time the other night when you opened for Robert Schimmel. You were fantastic, man. Keep up the good work. Also, was that guy who was heckling you for real? Either way, your ownage of him was pretty epic.
Not as easy as it seems, bro. Sometimes you slow down to let them in and the dude slows down, too. That's why I try not to change speeds when I come upon a known exit only or lane ending entrance ramp. Besides, it's exist only, not a merging lane. You do have option to slow down, not too much, in order to change lanes. Just saying.
Shouldn't your good deed be enough? Honestly though, I try really hard to be considerate like that when I'm driving. I usually let people merge, I don't camp in the right lane when I'm not turning, I get out of the left lane on the freeway if someone behind me is going faster. Only about 20% of people acknowledge these things in any way. Out of the other 80%, I'd say half of them don't realize what you did (I'm guilty of this sometimes, thinking I'm a driving ninja for sneaking over a lane) and the other half are just dicks.
AB, I totally agree with you. I don't know why it is so hard for some people to give a a quick sign of thanks when you let them in. Same when you let a pedestrian cross the street, etc. (I know that doesn't happen too much in Houston, but... ).
As an extension to this thought, I often let people change lanes and what I always find funny is that they OFTEN don't take it or are REEEAAAALLLLYYYY slow before they finally get in. Just yesterday I had to finally honk at the guy to let him know ...as if the two car lengths I just opend up wasn't enough. Often I run out of patience and just speed up again. What are they waiting for, a written invitation to merge?
I get it. More and more...common courtesy on the roads is elusive. I was driving on the freeway yesterday and proceeded to exit to a three lane feeder road and I need to get over right to turn right on the road at the intersection just after the exit. Well, I exit and there were three cars on the feeder road in each lane. They all had a Yield sign which they all conveniently ignored. So, I said screw it...I'm getting over because they are supposed to be yielding. I proceeded to barrel my way over so I could turn right...while at the same time I threw both my hands in the air with a WTF gesture directed at all of them...because not a single one of them yielded or planned on yielding until I forced them to yield or hit me. It was a close call but to hell with them. I had no choice if I want to make my turn. The timing was such that they should have yielded and let me over. They did not...so screw them! Bastards. And, I see that garbage all the time what you are talking about. People always bolt from far left lanes to exits...like they were completely out of position. And, the way they abruptly get over...they just expect to inconvenience everyone by basically veering over with no blinker on and everyone has to brake for these idiots. I've never seen anyone wave or be thankful everyone accomodated them. I interpret this that most people out of position who do this type of thing are idiot pricks who generally drive like crap anyway. So, to hell with them mofos. It seems to happen daily, too. I think they do know where their exits are but they are basically driving lazy minded, aka zombie driving where they are not paying attention.
Don't get yourself in a knot about whether or not people actually pay you for your good deeds. That's an ill motivation for doing something nice. Virtue is its own reward. If you do it because you are expecting to be thanked, well, then you are invalidation your virtue. Don't do that, just continue to be good, it will rub off on other people, maybe you won't see the fruits of it, but it will. And since this is going to inevitably turn into a rant thread.. what the HECK is wrong with some people?? GRRR Ok, I am in say either the left or right lane on the freeway, going faster than the other traffic at the moment, not badly speeding or anything, but the upcoming clump in the middle lane is going slower, so I am going around.. and for some inexplicable reason, one of the clump ahead GETS OVER into my lane as I am heading past, and continues going the exact same speed he was already going!!!! Therefore he is now completely blocking traffic behind him. WHAT THE HECK. WHY do people do that? It happens a lot. Why are you changing lanes if you are not going to change speeds??? Do you people get some kind of thrill out of blocking traffic?? Crap like that makes me want to get an IPhone so I can blow everyone away like in that video LOL And a corollary to this is people who drive right next to another car, matching their speed exactly, thereby also blocking traffic. This is especially bad when one of them is in the fast lane, and there are like 12 cars bunched up behind them and they never move. Such inconsiderate behavior is breathtaking.
Jerry: Oh there's a guy trying to get in front of me, he has to ask permission. Yes. Go ahead. Get in, get in. Elaine: Did you get a thank you wave? Jerry: No, nothing. How could you not give a thank you wave? Hey buddy! Where's my thank you wave? (Jerry sticks his head out the window) Jerry: Give me that wave!
I agree with you, AB. In some instances, a wave, point, fist pump or some kind of happy or neutral hand gesture is what you should get.
speed up when you change lanes please. The worst is a freeway driver slowing down to, I don't know, 25 MPH to try to get over and wonder why people in all lanes honk and fly by.
I've seen a lot of road rage incidents but I've got a CSB that takes the cake. My usual morning commute was from the Galleria way out to Channelview from 59 to I-10 East, there are usually all kinds of semi-trucks heading out to the Ship Channel with all kinds of wide loads and huge freights, etc. So one day I'm driving and I witness the stupidest thing I have seen in my life: this little Toyota pickup is trying to merge onto the freeway probably somewhere around Exit 774, and this semi travelling about 45 MPH, hauling a pretty huge load doesn't see him and just stays in the far right lane, not letting him in. The pickup just assumes the the semi will get over, but it never happens and eventually the pickup has to slam on his brakes and wait until the semi passes him so he can finally merge onto the freeway. Then this moron in the pickup really flips his ****, he speeds up and flies past the semi, and then cuts right in front of him and SLAMS on his brakes. The semi is forced to brake hardcore and he's honking his horn like "are you ****ing kidding me?" I mean sure, give the guy the finger or something if you feel you've just been highway wronged, but my God... slamming on your brakes in front of a semi travelling at least 40 MPH? Its like the guy was begging to have his spinal cord readjusted.
The thing I hate most is when you're driving in heavy fast traffic on the freeway in the left lane and you're leaving a car length or so of space for safety between you and the next car, and a d-bag in your lane behind you tries to go around you and get in that space. Because it's so important that they advance one car space in the cosmic human race. If I see this about to happen I frequently speed up to prevent them from filling that space.
