1. More than one lane; same speed.
The problem:
You are just trying to make your way through town, or maybe you are cruising the highway and there are two lanes and the two cars in front of you (each in a separate lane) are neck and neck going the same exact speed as if in a silly race to see who can cause more road rage. You then, are forced to go their speed. How inconsiderate! There are many speeds at which people travel within respect to the actual speed limit. How dare a few cars decide the pace at which all traffic behind them must travel.
What my roommate calls this:
Hands Across America - "you'd think that two people seeing a car jumping lanes behind them trying to get around might cause them to change lanes or speeds."
Why it drives me crazy:
The first and most important answer to all of these situations is that I am typically the best driver on the road at any given time. But beyond that, I typically drive a few miles over the speed limit and if traffic is sort of heavy, I like to go even faster. Coupled with the fact that 'on time' for me is what it is - showing up exactly when you should be there - I don't have a lot of time for this silly game of Block All Faster Traffic Behind You.
Solution:
Slower traffic to the right. I know. Groundbreaking. More importantly, look in your dang rear view mirror and if there's a Matrix practically touching your bumper, MOVE!
2. Missing the green light because something more important that travel is going on in the car in front of you.
The problem:
People get bored while sitting at stoplights. This is normal. Some people have a million things to play with WHILE at a stoplight. This is stupid. If traffic is light, no big deal but where I live turning left with a green arrow is usually only a few precious moments and the maximum of 6 cars are getting through no matter what. This means all 6 people must be on their toes or there is going to be some seriously angry left-turners.
What my roommate calls this:
Getting Stranded.
Why it drives me crazy:
Sometimes its very predictable. I notice the driver in front of me is talking on their phone/pushing the dog into the back seat/screaming at their kids or whatever, and it gets my blood boiling b/c I know I'm going to have to honk my horn to get them to notice it's our turn to go. Usually by then I'm happy to lay on that horn anyway. What's even worse is when you are the 5th or 6th car in that short turn lane and you see the green arrow and then nothing. Seconds that feel like minutes fly by before you see anyone actually moving. Then the light turns yellow and you never had a chance. You are forced to watch the cycle all over again and hope the person in front of you doesn't get a phone call.
Solution:
When that light turns green the first person should bolt like the car behind him is on fire. Also everyone should take off their break at the same time and maintain a very tight distance to the person in front. You can't go one at a time...this kills the flow. Also banish semi trucks from getting in turn lanes.
3. If you would've driven just a liiiiiiiiiittle faster we would've made it.
The problem:
Some people just don't drive like normal. It's like they cannot see beyond the current situation to analyze the string of stoplights ahead AND figure how fast they need to travel in order to catch them. They just hum drum along and are perfectly okay with stopping at every light. And these people are everywhere!
What my roommate calls these people:
Light-catchers.
Why it drives me crazy:
Mostly I like to stick to highways or routes that don't include a lot of unavoidable stopping, but its getting more and more difficult as stoplights continue to grow in population. I'm OK w/ stopping at them when there's nothing I can do to determine the outcome, but there are times where clearly you can get through if you just give it a little more gas. But not always being in front (see situation #1) means that I have to rely on terrible drivers to understand it all. When they don't its infuriating.
Solution:
Pay attention to the lights BEFORE you get to them. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to predict whether or not you are going to make it. If you are the first in a string of cars and there's no way around you, you have a responsibility to be the second best driver on the road.
4. Having to stop because yellow = red to some people.
The problem:
The light turns yellow, and the people in front of you SLAM on their breaks when they had plenty of time to get through the light.
What my roommate calls this:
Getting stomped.
Why it drives me crazy:
Most people are okay with going through a yellow light. Most of those people are also okay with getting into the intersection when it changes red, because they are perfectly aware of the delay b/w red and green lights. There are a few seconds where everything is red - if this wasn't the case there would be far more accidents. But it drives me bonkers when people do not drive accordingly - when they freak the second the light turns yellow when 3 more people could easily have fit through. In heavy traffic, this is the pits.
Solution:
Only stop when you are in fear of getting in an accident. Or if the light is photo enforced. Otherwise, please plow through because I am about 5 feet behind you.
5. Trying to drive perfectly because there is a cop.
The problem:
People speed all the time. You can fly by a cop who is purposely using a radar to catch speeders and he won't pull you over unless you are excessive in your speeding. But when the cop is actually driving somewhere everyone turns on best behavior mode and refuses to drive anything but the speed limit slowing all traffic down.
What my roommate calls this:
"They must have a bunch of cocaine in their trunk"
Why it drives me crazy:
I know this will come as a surprise, but when squad cars have to travel from point A to point B they have to DRIVE!! They are not on the lookout because they have to do all sorts of other things like pay attention to the road. Try it yourself. Get out on the super fast highway and instead of watching the road, watch everyone else to see if there is any illegal activity going on. Actually don't do that because you are likely to end up rear ending someone. This doesn't mean you can drive like a reckless fool in front of an officer of the law, but you don't have to pretend to be perfect.
Solution:
Drive as normal. Chances are the cops aren't even paying attention to you. Speed up. It only takes one brave soul and when everyone else sees that the cop isn't responding to 5 miles over the speed limit we can all get about our lives about 5 mph faster.
