Close Encounter with IDIOT

[mercman1951]

First off, this is not a 'kill' story of sorts. Stop reading now if you're looking for some story about how I outran the cops or 'beat on' a ricer in a two ton barge in downtown anytown USA. An OLD man who liked to drive fast once told me, "there is nothing wrong with driving fast, you just have to do it safely", and that phrase has stuck with me for the last 15 years. I find a lot of the stories posted here (if even true) to be a bit reckless, but I digress...

I love to drive, I love to drive fast & I love to accelerate. Unfortunately, I find that since any idiot can get a license, and given the general state of congestion and constant road construction around here, it prohibits me very often from enjoying driving, accelerating quickly, or driving fast. As I was reminded the other day, regular commuting traffic is hazardous and adrenaline-pumping enough.

We have a few sporadically-placed intersections around here that let the left turn lanes go first, before regular traffic. This is designed (in theory) to improve traffic flow. All of them are used on 4 lane roads, with a middle turn lane. If North-South traffic clears and gets the red, the West-East left lane goes next in the opposite direction. Lots of folks around here are just plain clueless, talking or texting, inconsiderate, and just plain drive with their HUTA's (head up their asses). They don't BOTHER to pay attention to the particular TYPE of intersection they are entering. Most assume they are the traditional-style 4 lane intersections (where cross-traffic goes first, and the left lane-turners fend for themselves or have an arrow board), and pull some scary maneuvers as a result. I've seen plenty of accidents and near-accidents, and heard plenty of horns honking at these types of intersections due to people not paying attention, cutting people off, or going when they are not supposed to be going anywhere.

Despite my best efforts to pay attention here, yesterday coming home from work, I was ALMOST another case study in HUTAism. I'm heading Southbound, and in the left turn lane (to go Eastbound for you non-directional types :D), sitting at the light--- waiting for N-S traffic to clear and get my left turn green arrow (proceed ahead of all other traffic in my direction.)

I get my green LT arrow, and hit the gas and proceed into the intersection. As I do this, across the intersection out of the corner of my eye, I see a Northbound POS older Oldsmobubble 4 door in the right turn lane (to head East) ASSUMING that the light is going to turn green for him, and regular North-South traffic will be let go from the lights.......HOWEVER, the LEFT TURN LANE traffic (ME) is allowed to go first. He is supposed to STAY PUT. :mad2:

As I am midway thru my left turn, I realize he isn't creeping up to the light; he is MAKING HIS RIGHT TURN into MY (Eastbound) direction. :depress:

I carry on with completing my left turn through the intersection; most people who attempt his maneuver stay in their curb lane after they complete the turn, but NO! Not this Darwin superstar! This guy makes a right turn into the right lane, and then is gradually creeping towards me as he is accelerating to the left into MY LANE...ALONGSIDE my car! I can see his doorhandles out of my passenger side windows maybe a foot from my car as I am turning! I can tell he doesn't see me, so I hit the gas a bit to get ahead of him and avoid a side-swipe, and in my passenger-side rear view mirror again I glance and watch in horror as the front of his continues swinging left and his car is about to make contact with the rear of MY CAR! In a split second I expect the inevitable crunch or bump......I brace myself...the thought of pulling over to inspect the damage....call the cops.....dealing with the insurance company.....car laid up for a week at the body-shop..........but nothing happens. I then watch as the front of his car clears my back bumper...headlights and bumper is all I see in the side view mirror....by what MUST have been centimeters. :mad:

I continued to accelerate- and from what I saw in my rear view mirror, the guy was a bit stunned... (where did that guy come from? he's probably thinking-and blaming...me). He wavered into his new lane for a moment, slowed down, and eventually got into the left turn lane to turn into--- A BAR.

I was a bit shaken up, as I was sure he was going to hit me, but somehow, he missed. I was thankful.

For the past 3 months since I've had my car, I have felt like there was a target on it for all shopping carts, door-dingers, inconsiderate, inept, and generally STUPID drivers. I have had several close calls; this had to be the closest to date. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. Anyone else feel the same?

[Blackened300a]

For the past 3 months since I've had my car, I have felt like there was a target on it for all shopping carts, door-dingers, inconsiderate, inept, and generally STUPID drivers. I have had several close calls; this had to be the closest to date. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. Anyone else feel the same?

It goes in spurts for me especially driving in NY. Sometimes I get a whole day where my car is the target to get hit by some clueless driver or somebody on the phone. Thats why I have a beat up Crown vic as a daily driver so I dont care about the damage and can actually hit back. :D

[justbob]

Atleast you stayed on the gas. This usually helps more than hurts. As far as being a target, no. I no longer park in BFE unless I just detailed it, so far so good. The only vehicles I don't park next to are ones that the back doors aren't quite shut all the way, indicating a careless child and a parent who doesn't even care about their door enough to check after their kid. Also most cars with damage, or any car next to my kids schools, here you see countless kids swinging their damn bodies around with backpacks bigger than their bedroom sliding up and down the parked cars.

As far as traffic, I just stay "ahead of the competition" from light to light.:coolman:

[mercman1951]

It goes in spurts for me especially driving in NY. Sometimes I get a whole day where my car is the target to get hit by some clueless driver or somebody on the phone. Thats why I have a beat up Crown vic as a daily driver so I dont care about the damage and can actually hit back. :D

I had a hard enough time convincing the wife that the Marauder was 'not a cop car', although my first choice for a DD would be a retired P71. :D

[dakslim]

I always park out in the middle of "no man's land" and invariably when I come back some a-hole is parked right next to me...5,000 parking spots and he had to park next to me.:mad2:

[jonroe]

My "favorite" turning experience happens on my way home from work each day. There is an intersection with TWO right turn lanes which are CLEARLY marked on the pavement and with signage well before the corner. I always take the left of the two lanes because the right of the two lanes turns into the far right lane of the intersecting street which is nearly always a line up to get onto my interstate heading east. I want to go west on that interstate which is a right exit after passing through under the interstate.

When things go well (sometimes) I make my turn and proceed toward the interstate. The far right lane (I'm in the next one) is lined up to take the east interstate. So, I proceed past the line up and safely move to the far right lane after the east interstate ramp and am ready for the west interstate ramp. Very often the genius next to me at the turn will try to drift over into my lane as I'm turning right and I have been nearly hit several times and was grazed one time (not in the MM, thankfully). And, of course, it's my fault that this azzhat is surprised that I am in the lane he/she is drifting toward. There have been quite a few choice words and gestures. You might say, "take a different route". Well, there really isn't a good choice for me on the way home to get onto the Washington D.C. BELTWAY which is a challenge in itself the rest of the way home.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Jon

[mercman1951]

When things go well (sometimes) I make my turn and proceed toward the interstate. The far right lane (I'm in the next one) is lined up to take the east interstate. So, I proceed past the line up and safely move to the far right lane after the east interstate ramp and am ready for the west interstate ramp. Very often the genius next to me at the turn will try to drift over into my lane as I'm turning right and I have been nearly hit several times and was grazed one time (not in the MM, thankfully). And, of course, it's my fault that this azzhat is surprised that I am in the lane he/she is drifting toward. There have been quite a few choice words and gestures. You might say, "take a different route". Well, there really isn't a good choice for me on the way home to get onto the Washington D.C. BELTWAY which is a challenge in itself the rest of the way home.


Oh, we have those here too...and same experience as you; two left lanes going the same way, or two right lanes...the people in the outside lanes always seem to think that is the ONLY lane...and try to take over...It's like we are the only ones who GET IT. :banana: Vent away!

[TAKEDOWN]

PhEw, that was close... I'm going outside to hug my car!

[W4LTD]

It's LEGAL to turn right on a RED arrow in Florida.... Talk about idiotic!

[babbage]

Oh, we have those here too...and same experience as you; two left lanes going the same way, or two right lanes...the people in the outside lanes always seem to think that is the ONLY lane...and try to take over...It's like we are the only ones who GET IT. :banana: Vent away!

Yeah, I hear you. Stay in your lane! If I can't accelerate past these idiots (someones in front) I'll match their speed through the curve-turn so they really can see that there are TWO lanes, and I'm on the inside.

[kartherma]

Try driving on Guam for an hour...

You'll need more than a stop at the next bar...

[Bluerauder]

I try to always anticipate that the other guy will do the most stupid maneuver possible. In Northern Virginia, you kinda get used to it. Seems that the HUTAs are rampant here.