Road Rules Semi-Rage - Cutting Corners on Left Turns

[MineralMan]

Yesterday evening about 6 PM, I drove the four blocks to a local restaurant to pick up "Three gyros, two fries." All residential streets. As I approached the last right turn onto the street the restaurant is on, a driver turned left from that street and almost hit me. There's a stop sign on that corner, so I was almost stopped, going no more than 5 MPH.

Why? I was as far right on the intersecting street as was possible and well to the right of the center line, if there were a center line. What almost caused that accident was yet another driver cutting the corner to turn left.

Cutting corners on left turns is a really, really frequent cause of accidents. While it lets the turning driver go a little bit faster, there's always the chance that someone will be approaching that intersection in the right lane.

In my case, the offending driver wasn't on a cell phone, and swerved just in time to avoid hitting my car. I could do nothing to avoid the driver. There was no room to my right and I was almost at the stop sign.

Please! If you're turning left where there is no stop sign for your direction of travel, please do not cut the corner. Just slow down, and make a proper turn. It might delay you five seconds, but if you hit a car on the intersecting street, it's going to delay you a helluva lot more.

[Turbineguy]

1. I like the ones

who pull into the intersection so far that I have to go around them which means they get to wait longer for me to get out of their way.

[MineralMan]

2. Yes, those people are a problem, too.

These days, I see so many people run red lights, too, that I never go until I'm sure everyone is stopped in an intersection. I don't know what it is, but in Minnesota, a yellow light means accelerate so two or three cars can go through after the light changes. It's getting worse and worse.

Then, there are the cell phone drivers who never see the traffic signal in the first place. They're the scariest of all. That number is growing, too. It's gotten more and more important to drive very defensively these days.

[CrispyQ]

31. "Starman" with Jeff Bridges

[Starman is driving the car, and speeds across a recently turned red light, causing crashes for the other motorists]
Starman: Okay?
Jenny Hayden: Okay? Are you crazy? You almost got us killed! You said you watched me, you said you knew the rules!
Starman: I do know the rules.
Jenny Hayden: Oh, for your information pal, that was a *yellow* light back there!
Starman: I watched you very carefully. Red light stop, green light go, yellow light go very fast.


===
I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't made a sequel to that movie.

[3catwoman3]

39. I wish they would.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[CrispyQ]

44. "What is kid-nap-ped?"

I loved it too!

[Populist_Prole]

33. Or they come FLYING up to an intersection with a light or stop sign so fast

That you swear that they have no intention of stopping, and that it so rattles you that you slow down to avoid would would surely be a T-boning, only to have said vehicle pull out in front of you because you slowed down; which was probably their intention in the first place.

It's like they were deliberately bullying your right-of-way away from you.

It's so so very common anymore.

[meaculpa2011]

3. I was travelling south on I95 approaching Miami last week...

when I looked into my rear-view mirror to discover a car about six inches off my rear bumper.

The young driver had a cell phone in her left hand, her left pinky grasping the wheel, and was applying mascara with her right hand.

Looking into the rear-view mirror is often more horrifying than the worst slasher movie.

[MineralMan]

4. Scary, isn't it?

It's hard to know what to do in such situations. You know that if you try to slow down, there's a fair chance the inattentive driver may rear end you. If you speed up, the follower will probably just do the same.

If possible, I change lanes when that happens, let them go by and then change back to the lane I was in. That's not always possible, though.

It's no wonder our car insurance rates just keep going up. Plus, these days, the most minor collisions end up costing $$$. I'm just driving less these days. That's sort of my answer, and I never drive during rush hour any more.

[meaculpa2011]

7. I try, but rush hour here in New York...

has turned into an all-day affair.

I hate the crush, but I don't want to retire... EVER.

I was in Miami for work and enjoyed every minute of it.

[MineralMan]

9. Yes, that can be a real problem in cities.

It's pretty true here in the Twin Cities, too, especially on the freeways. It's always rush hour, it seems.

[Lochloosa]

18. Try my technique....put your foot on the brakes just enough for the lights to come on...

but not slow you down. The reaction can be interesting.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. This happens with people walking through hallway crossings, too.

I'm forever getting nearly smashed into by people doing the exact thing you describe but on foot. I tell them "if we were driving we'd be exchanging insurance info now."

[MineralMan]

6. Yup. People seem to be growing more and more oblivious

of their surroundings. Cell phones are part of the problem, but not all of it. Situational awareness is becoming a lost art, I guess. You encounter it all the time. In the supermarket, people position shopping carts in the middle of the aisle and walk away so nobody can pass. On busy sidewalks, walkers suddenly stop in the middle of the walk to take a cell phone call or look at a text.

I guess everyone is so wrapped up in their own activities that they simply aren't aware of what's going on around them. Either that or they truly believe that what they are doing is the most important thing happening on the planet. It's not a good thing.

[meaculpa2011]

8. The supermarket phenomenon is maddening. n/t

[MineralMan]

10. The other supermarket behavior that drives me nuts

happens at the entrance to the store. People pick up a shopping cart, go though the automatic doors and stop as soon as they are inside. They're looking at coupons or trying to decide which route to take through the store, as if they had never seen the store's layout before in their lives.

Meanwhile, others trying to enter the store are blocked by that person. Anyone who is paying attention realizes that continuing into the store 12 feet before consulting the coupon sheet will fix the problem. I've given up trying to let people know they're blocking everyone's way. I just stand there and wait. Eventually, they'll make a decision and move on. But it's really frustrating.

If I ran a supermarket, I would put the coupon sheets and flyers somewhere else than right at the entrance. Just put them on an end cap on the first aisle across from the entrance or somewhere further inside the store. It's a problem that would be simple to solve, I think.

Either that or put air horns on every shopping cart...

[Fumesucker]

12. Bicycle bells on the carts

[MineralMan]

14. Nah. People would just think,

"Is that my cell phone? Why is the ringtone different?" Then, they'd peer at their phone even longer. Air horns...that's the ticket.

[Fumesucker]

16. I have one of these on my ebike but rarely use it, it startles the hell out of people...

Which of course makes them less predictable..

Pump it up with a bicycle pump...

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound-Bike-Horn-colors/dp/B000ACAMJC

[MineralMan]

17. Nice. As you point out, though,

people behave erratically when startled. It's important to use such horns with caution and only when warning someone sharply won't be dangerous for you. Difficult call, sometimes.

[3catwoman3]

40. Air horns on shopping carts...

...could be fun.

I have often wished my car had 2 horn sounds - polite, softer sound if I just need to remind the person in front of me that the light has turned green, and a really loud "Hey, jackass!" blast. I have also many times wished for thought projection so the idiots around me on the road would know what I think of them.

[MineralMan]

41. I want a button on my steering wheel

that disables all cell phones in a 100' radius around my car. It would also cause the phone to make a loud farting noise when activated.

This button should be standard equipment in all cars. I would use it frequently.

[Fumesucker]

11. Funny, I just put this post up on the self driving car accidents thread on GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7309061

Drivers aren't expecting that other vehicles on the road will obey *all* the rules, complete stops for stop signs, no speeding, stopping rather than speeding up at the yellow and so forth because most drivers don't actually do that.

So for example the autonomous vehicle comes to a complete stop at the stop sign rather than doing the typical "rolling stop", the driver behind isn't really expecting that and ends up plowing into the autonomous car from the rear.

[MineralMan]

13. Good Point!

Self-driving cars do obey the rules. So far, I haven't encountered one, but I suppose I will eventually. It will be behaving just like I do when I'm driving. That will be shocking.

[Fumesucker]

15. As a former long term motorcyclist and current ebike rider I strive above all to be predictable

Which means that I don't necessarily follow all the rules because drivers aren't really expecting that and it makes you somewhat less predictable to other drivers.

Every situation is unique and you have to judge each situation through the lens of experience.

[Glassunion]

19. Agreed. Don't cut the corners... And if you are stopped, don't stop a mile past the lines...

As a motorcycle rider, folks cutting corners scare the crap out of me. As it did this poor fellow... Granted he did stop about 3 feet past the line. However, this truck driver is a major ass hole.

That said, if you are entering the road, don't park your damn car a mile past the line so cars have to do a far too wide sweeping turn to get around you. Or pedestrians have to walk outside of the crosswalk. When this happens I'm always half tempted to practice my Dukes of Hazard Hood-Slides across your car...
Jerks!:

[hunter]

21. Are you one of those bikers or pedestrians who hits cars?

I love modern automobiles because you can punch or kick them hard enough to leave a dent without bruising your hands of feet.

[Glassunion]

35. I have on one occasion.

I lost my temper when a driver ran my motorcycle off the road. They had done it on purpose, with the only intent of passing me in a no passing zone. When they got about 1/2 way around me, they were forced by a road barrier to either hit their brakes and fall back in behind me, push me off the road, or hit the barrier. So, selfish decides that the best course of action was to run me off the road instead of hitting their brakes and remain behind me.

[RobinA]

22. Well This is A Dilemma

for me. If you are turning right, you can't see approaching traffic from behind the pedestrian walk lane, so you can't safely make a right on red. If you don't make a right on red, the guy behind you is blowing his horn and flipping you off for not doing so. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Glassunion]

34. I understand that if making a right on red you may have to inch out.

After you stop behind the line of course... My attitude is always screw the impatient jerk behind me. If they get upset that I'm not turning fast enough for their taste, well... That's their problem, and they can wait while I make sure it's safe. In both of those examples I put up, neither driver was turning, they were going straight.

[hunter]

20. Our entire economy is powered by the selfish and their idiot minions.

So, why do you hate the automobile industry? First responders, tow truck drivers, auto body shops, wreckers, new and used car dealers, automakers, hospitals, doctors, nurses, insurance industry workers, morticians... they all appreciate your business.

Drivers who cut corners turning left create jobs!

[Taitertots]

42. Let's call it "Moronized Keynesians"

There are whole industries that exist to protect us from ourselves. We can't let coherent thoughts ruin those industries.

[RobinA]

23. This Is A Pet

driving peeve of mine. My niece and nephew are horrible about this and I figured it was an age thing. Although my nephew is an otherwise careful-to-a-fault driver. Then I noticed my sister doing it, so I figured it wasn't age. When I'm sitting at a light I look for this and I do notice that a large percentage of people doing it are on the phone.

[Oneironaut]

24. I think this is mostly accidental.

There's very little incentive (unless it's purely imagined) to cut corners to keep your speed. You would save at most a second or two. I think it's mostly from not paying attention.

On the other hand, I wouldn't doubt some people do it purposely thinking it gets them to their destination faster.

[MineralMan]

25. It's not accidental.

People consistently do it. I never do it. It's no problem turning left properly. People are just in a hurry and think they can get away with it.

There's a great road just outside of Santa Barbara. Very twisty. Very dangerous. Folks in "sports" cars drive it like it was a road race track, taking the best "line" through the corners that often takes them into the opposite lane. Tons of fun, until you head-on with someone going the other way.

People use it as a shortcut on Hwy 101 from Buellton to Santa Barbara and vice versa. It can cut 20 minutes of your drive. Busy as it is, though, there's always some moron who thinks pushing his Porsche or even some dumbass in a Miata and pretending they're racing is a good idea.

I used to drive 101 back and forth between San Luis Obispo and Ventura very frequently. I stopped taking that shortcut after a couple of near misses.

[nykym]

26. I have found that there are a lot

of drivers who are turning right tend to swing out into the left lane.
I guess its just too hard to turn that power steering assisted compact car.
Scares the hell out of me when I am trying to go straight in the other lane.

[MineralMan]

28. I've seen people do that, too.

I write it off to inexperienced drivers. I also see a lot of drivers on residential streets driving right down the middle of the street, and being unwilling to move to the right so drivers going the other direction go by. I think people who do that are completely unable to judge how close they are to objects on their right, like parked cars. So, they leave what they think is "plenty of space." That has them driving right down the middle of the street.

Drives me nuts. The neighborhood where I live has streets wide enough to allow two cars to pass safely in opposite directions, even if there are cars parked on both sides of the street. I can't tell you how many times I've had to wait while one of these middle of the road drivers go past. They absolutely will not move to the right half of the road under any circumstances.

I don't know if this is common everywhere, but it's certainly common here. People do not know where their car is on the road and cannot gauge clearances to their right.

[rogerashton]

27. A left turn doesn't count unless you drive in all the lanes. eom

[MineralMan]

29. Nuts, huh?

[CrispyQ]

30. As a pedestrian, I can tell you it is a danger for us as well.

There's a corner in my neighborhood & the cars are going uphill, gaining speed & there is a huge spruce tree on the corner & they can't see half the intersection, but they still cut the corner. I've had so many close calls I cross in the middle of the street now, so they have plenty of time to see me & react.

[Populist_Prole]

32. A week ago I was very nearly clobbered by a large delivery truck doing the same thing

While I waited at a light to make a turn. He was really moving too. I was almost at my workplace and it was witnessed by some coworkers behind me. One of them said he didn't see any daylight between the truck and my car, it was so close. I didn't have time to be panicky until later, upon thinking about it.

[MineralMan]

36. You were very lucky.

[LannyDeVaney]

37. Cutting corners turning left is just laziness ...

folks are too lazy to move their arm more than a few inches around the wheel.

In fact, putting up some cones to force folks to properly turn left into a polling place would be a great way to suppress the Republican vote.

[MineralMan]

38. True. One-handed drivers have great difficulty

turning the steering wheel to make a proper left turn, I guess. And cell phone users are one-handed drivers. Maybe a brodie knob would help:



Instead of cones, though, I suggest heavy concrete bollards to mark the proper turns. A little front end damage would soon educate them on proper driving procedures. And polling places would be a great place to start, too. You're absolutely right.

Voting Republican? Can't drive safely? Here's a little reminder from your socialistic government agencies to help you.

[3catwoman3]

43. I generally appreciate left turn arrows when...

...I am the one needing to make the left turn. However, when waiting to go straight across an intersection where others are turning left with an arrow, I always, ALWAYS wait for the 3-5 people that I know are going to run that arrow after it turns red.

And how about the people who BACK UP on major roads? I have seen this several times and am incredulous every time.