Are You An Aggressive Driver?

[TwiceStung]

A not too long ago piece of local legislation says (words to the effect): if you are in the left hand lane on the freeway, and other vehicles are going faster than you, and you don't get out of their way or increase your speed, you can be cited for obstructing traffic. I have never heard of anyone receiving such a novel citation; but it does delight the imagination.

Shoot Merlin, if the NC highway patrol enforced that law around here in Asheville (law “exists” here also), they would have enough money to pay off the national debt!!

 

[Registered Member]

I am more aggressive on my bike than my car. Cannot stand it when cars in both lanes are driving the same speed with no one in front of them and don't move over to let me ride by. I'm tamer in my car. As for your partner driving like a girl... We aren't nearly as useless as your comment suggests.

 

[OliverNuther]

Hands down, compared to me, this guy is tame. I've grown to absolutely hate the forward Collison avoidance on this car!

Yes, that red flashing collision warning persists long after I’ve changed lanes to avoid the slowster.

 

[Waynerm002]

KIA needs to take a page from Volvo's implementation of that system for the Stinger.

 

[mldavis2]

Couple of late comments:
I was a cop for over 20 years. Most states have a law that outlines the term "aggressive" driving. Others simply rely on other violations such as tailgating, speeding, etc. Depends on the state laws and how they are written.

I am what I call an "opportunistic" driver. I may speed up to make a yellow light intersection. I drive with the traffic which can be considerably over the speed limit (especially in PA, NJ area in the U.S.) to avoid being a "rock in the stream" and hence a danger to others. I will speed up to get away from a tailgater which pisses me off more than about anything. But I draw the line on cutting in front of people or racing to a merge point, or even (knowing my passenger) doing something that causes my passenger(s) to feel uncomfortable.

 

[BlaydeX15]

...Maybe? Lol.

I tend to be the fastest guy on the road out here, but I leave plenty of room, like 7-8 car lengths. Sometimes at night, when there's very little traffic, I like to stick far enough back that my headlights don't even touch the bumper of the car in front of me. Lol. I don't lane change fast, I even had to set the blinker to 7 blinks on a short tap because 5 was too quick.

Buuuuut, I will floor it to pass a semi truck over the dotted yellow. Old habit, born out of safety (Spend as little time in oncoming traffic as possible), but now it's just unnecessary fun. My cruise control is always set at +8 or more at highway speeds, because fast. I don't slow down for turns, unless weather. I'll drag down empty back roads, and if I happen to get caught at one of the 2 stoplights on my way to work (highway lights), I go out of my way to be the first one through the intersection (Though not crazy enough to get a racing citation). Lol.

Oh, and here's the bad one: I drive in the left lane most of the time, because the left lane on my route to work was recently refinished and is waaaaay smoother than the right lane. Lol. I still move over for anyone that seems like they're catching up to me, but considering my remote location, driving speed, and commute timing, I haven't had to move over for anyone in like a month.

If a driver is in the left lane, and there aren't any cars for a mile behind him, is he still an a**hole? I say no, because that's me.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I am more aggressive on my bike than my car. Cannot stand it when cars in both lanes are driving the same speed with no one in front of them and don't move over to let me ride by. I'm tamer in my car. As for your partner driving like a girl... We aren't nearly as useless as your comment suggests.

For sure. When I read that last line in the OP, believe it or not, I instantly thought of you and your reaction. And, well, here it is!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I even had to set the blinker to 7 blinks on a short tap because 5 was too quick.

I'm on the fence with this one. Usually 5 blinks are enough. But I too am a deliberate, even sedate lane changer. And if I want to signal more than 5 blinks I just pull the signal stem down for the duration. For instance, yesterday, I was in the carpool lane coming down the "point of the mountain" on I-15 back into the Valley. I wanted to get onto the "Bungler" Hwy, which was only a mile ahead. Traffic was thick and slow. I signaled continuously right and didn't take it off until I was completely over to the right; took about a minute of continuous signaling. But, nobody behind me was in any doubt what I was wanting to do. And each lane switch was preceded by someone holding back enough to let me in. People are almost always nice, if you ask them to be.

 

[Registered Member]

For sure. When I read that last line in the OP, believe it or not, I instantly thought of you and your reaction. And, well, here it is!

Hahahaha. Yeah you don't need much bait to get a bite from me. I'm pretty predictable in that way.

 

[AV8R]

I say drive it like you stole it!
In Oz there are so many nubes that drive like they got their licences from a weetie packet. I have been driving for nearly 40 years and have good situational awareness and good handling skills. But i can tell you driving down a road with a speed limit of 50km in a Stinger is very frustrating when some dumb ass cuts you off and does 40. That will envoke the steam from me and yes i will find an opportunity to get in front of them just so i dont have to put up with their stupid driving skills. As a pilot i have to get my skills rechecked every two years. If they did that with drivers licences we could ween out the crappy drivers and reduce the agro they cause. It would also create some cash for the government to fix the roads.
How many stories do you see lately where some 70 year old driver mistakes the accelerator for the brake and drives thru the front of a building.
When i was younger I did a pro driver course which was invaluable, and it has saved my life from many dumb ass drivers on the road.
Yep, I may be an aggressive driver but i know how to drive and avoid other mind dead drivers on the road.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I say drive it like you stole it!
In Oz there are so many nubes that drive like they got their licences from a weetie packet. I have been driving for nearly 40 years and have good situational awareness and good handling skills. But i can tell you driving down a road with a speed limit of 50km in a Stinger is very frustrating when some dumb ass cuts you off and does 40. That will envoke the steam from me and yes i will find an opportunity to get in front of them just so i dont have to put up with their stupid driving skills. As a pilot i have to get my skills rechecked every two years. If they did that with drivers licences we could ween out the crappy drivers and reduce the agro they cause. It would also create some cash for the government to fix the roads.
How many stories do you see lately where some 70 year mistakes the accelerator for the brake and drives thru the front of a building.
When i was younger I did a pro driver course which was invaluable, and it has saved my life from many dumb ass drivers on the road.
Yep, I may be an aggressive driver but i know how to drive and avoid other mind dead drivers on the road.

Wonderful "get it off your chest" post.

All it takes is one stupid mistake and you're branded for life. Any age can make that one stupid mistake. The guy who died a few years back on the last turn of the 90 mile Silver State Classic was a veteran of the race and 71 years old/young. There are race drivers in their 90s. I would not expect the quick and the dead to cause me any trouble in this class of drivers.

The general population of "drivers" (heh, people behind a wheel, doing something that you or I would never grace with the word "driving") are mostly intent on other things besides DRIVING, especially women (not your type of woman, @FitR6 !), who are multitasking behind the wheel. Cell phones are the bane of the road. They have ONE redeeming grace: causing much slower reaction times, so I can get the jump from a stoplight and take the lane I want: I can pull up beside the traffic that is lining up to get on the freeway, and almost every time, I can nip in front of the car beside me because the "driver" is looking down at their phone when the light goes green.

The corollary is that they are much more dangerous to be around. That emerging fact on the roadways is the single most reason why I settled on a 3.3TT: to get my flesh and machine out of danger as quickly as possible. This is most emphasized on long road trips, where a lifetime of being denied the maneuvering "window" has turned me into a passing freak.

 

[Registered Member]

Wonderful "get it off your chest" post.

All it takes is one stupid mistake and you're branded for life. Any age can make that one stupid mistake. The guy who died a few years back on the last turn of the 90 mile Silver State Classic was a veteran of the race and 71 years old/young. There are race drivers in their 90s. I would not expect the quick and the dead to cause me any trouble in this class of drivers.

The general population of "drivers" (heh, people behind a wheel, doing something that you or I would never grace with the word "driving") are mostly intent on other things besides DRIVING, especially women (not your type of woman, @FitR6 !), who are multitasking behind the wheel. Cell phones are the bane of the road. They have ONE redeeming grace: causing much slower reaction times, so I can get the jump from a stoplight and take the lane I want: I can pull up beside the traffic that is lining up to get on the freeway, and almost every time, I can nip in front of the car beside me because the "driver" is looking down at their phone when the light goes green.

The corollary is that they are much more dangerous to be around. That emerging fact on the roadways is the single most reason why I settled on a 3.3TT: to get my flesh and machine out of danger as quickly as possible. This is most emphasized on long road trips, where a lifetime of being denied the maneuvering "window" has turned me into a passing freak.

Thank you for not generalising hahahaha

 

[GRStinger]

Aggressive driver? Absolutely not! Never. And if you call me aggressive again I'll run your ass over!
(sorry, I just couldn't resist)

 

[Ozstung]

Where do these A-holes get the nerve to tailgate at high speeds? If I hit the break they're through me without braking. Drivers appear to be getting more brazen, I always leave at least a 2 car gap, I need that peace of mind for braking.

 

[AV8R]

Where do these A-holes get the nerve to tailgate at high speeds? If I hit the break they're through me without braking. Drivers appear to be getting more brazen, I always leave at least a 2 car gap, I need that peace of mind for braking.

Is this the guy?

 

[Ozstung]

This is him.

Google Image Result for https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BleakHarmfulCopperbutterfly-size_restricted.gif

 

[mldavis2]

How many stories do you see lately where some 70 year mistakes the accelerator for the brake and drives thru the front of a building.
When i was younger I did a pro driver course which was invaluable, and it has saved my life from many dumb ass drivers on the road.
Yep, I may be an aggressive driver but i know how to drive and avoid other mind dead drivers on the road.

At age 74, I respectively take exception with your age-categorization. I was a cop for over 20 years, trained in pursuit driving, and as a young military recruit back in the late '60's I spent a day at the Bondurant Driving School in Arizona throwing Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Daytonas all over a water-slick runway pad.

I love driving and fine cars. I don't play with AV stuff while driving and even on long road trips, often just turn the radio off. I tell people I drive like I'm in an arcade game with the rest of the world trying to knock me off. I keep my cars in showroom condition and never abuse them or risk damage. I don't multi-task well (never have) so when I drive, I concentrate on what I'm doing. I love my car(s) and preserving them is top priority along with my own a$$.

 

[AV8R]

At age 74, I respectively take exception with your age-categorization. I was a cop for over 20 years, trained in pursuit driving, and as a young military recruit back in the late '60's I spent a day at the Bondurant Driving School in Arizona throwing Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Daytonas all over a water-slick runway pad.

I love driving and fine cars. I don't play with AV stuff while driving and even on long road trips, often just turn the radio off. I tell people I drive like I'm in an arcade game with the rest of the world trying to knock me off. I keep my cars in showroom condition and never abuse them or risk damage. I don't multi-task well (never have) so when I drive, I concentrate on what I'm doing. I love my car(s) and preserving them is top priority along with my own a$$.

With your background I believe your are an outstanding driver. Here in Australia there is a huge amount of older drivers over 70 who just don’t have the reactions to drive safe on the roads. They have to be examined by a doctor over 82 I think to get there licences back. Many slip thru the cracks and get back in the road. Young drivers can be just as bad as they take bigger risks or just don’t stick to the road rules. I guess age can be disputed but with all the hoops you have to get thru these days to get a fresh licence you would think there would be better drivers on the road, unfortunately is has got worse. We really need retest people every five years.

 

[AV8R]

This is him.

Google Image Result for https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BleakHarmfulCopperbutterfly-size_restricted.gif

I really have to show you how to insert gifs...lol

 

[mldavis2]

We really need retest people every five years.

I totally agree. Many times a family knows an older member is dangerous but they fight to keep their license, and the license bureau doesn't do a good job of testing in many states. It is very difficult to take the keys away from a parent.