What irritates you on the highway?

CloneIce

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
37,775
21,154
113
People who are driving 20+ mph faster than the rest of the traffic and use the "on lane" where others are merging onto the interstate as a passing lane. Weaving in and out and passing on the online, totally stupid, risking everyone's life to get to work 2 minutes earlier. Once I had a sports car going 85+ almost blast my Jeep as I was merging in a wrap around merge lane where you can only go about 45 max if you are merging.
 

GoCubsGo

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2008
1,409
172
63
Just thinking about all the drivers on Highway 65/69 between Des Moines and Indianola that use the left lane as their own personal leisure lane makes my blood boil. It also completely baffles me. Were these people never taught about the differences between the lanes, are they just spaced out and not paying attention, are they complete ******* morons, etc. That stretch of road has to be the worst in the state for that problem.
 

ThurgoodMarshal

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2011
1,657
35
48
36
Ankeny, IA
8x6wfiowa.jpg
 

Prone2Clone

Well-Known Member
Oct 20, 2006
10,820
10,674
113
Buicks. They all have miscalibrated speedometers in them that read 4 to 6 mph higher than actual speed and their owners are obsessed with not exceeding the speed limit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doc

twistedredbird

Well-Known Member
Apr 26, 2008
3,371
85
48
54
Midwest
People who "park" in the left lane and block drivers behind them.

MOVE THE Fxxx OVER!

Conversely, people who tailgate me in the left lane thinking it will make me speed up, when in fact, I am behind another car. I always get very humored by these people trying to whip around me then realizing there is another car there, then try to cut in front of me anyway.

Can you tell I commute in Chicago?

Of course, for me, nothing is worse than I-80 between the Mississippi River and Iowa City. HATE IT. Slow drivers, lots of semis, and a whole bunch of people that don't understand the concept of passing and moving over. Cruise control is fine for the right lane. But, if you are passing, speed the hell up, and then move back over.
 

ca4cy

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2009
7,101
9,118
113
North Central IA
People thinking there is a fast lane/slow lane.

It's driving lane. And passing lane.

Pass in the passing lane...and then get back over into the driving lane.

So do you generally go faster in the passing lane? Call it what you want, but the point stands.
 

Cyclonepride

Thought Police
Staff member
Apr 11, 2006
98,858
62,435
113
55
A pineapple under the sea
www.oldschoolradical.com
Just thinking about all the drivers on Highway 65/69 between Des Moines and Indianola that use the left lane as their own personal leisure lane makes my blood boil. It also completely baffles me. Were these people never taught about the differences between the lanes, are they just spaced out and not paying attention, are they complete ******* morons, etc. That stretch of road has to be the worst in the state for that problem.

Amen brother. I've lived in Indianola for about 14 years, and it's easily the worst area of the state for left lane drivers. It's almost impossible to make a trip down that road without getting stuck behind one (or three). I usually drive between 70 and 73, and wait patiently for them to get over before passing them on the right, and most of them never do, so I almost always pass one or two on the right on every trip through.
 
K

KFitzy87

Guest
People thinking there is a fast lane/slow lane.

It's driving lane. And passing lane.

Pass in the passing lane...and then get back over into the driving lane.

THISSSSSSSS

Want to know why people "camp" in the left lane? Probably because they think they're going "faster" than people in the right lane... So they think to themselves, "oh I think I'll stay in the fast lane"........

I don't care how fast you're going... If you have room to get back over to the right lane, do it

Also, tailgaters in general are annoying... The ones that you speed up, when they get on your bumper when you're passing someone, because you feel like they have an unearthly desire to pass you... And then stay on your bumper when you merge back to the right lane...
 

geek4cy

Member
Jan 25, 2007
82
16
8
Des Moines, IA
When you speeders fly up on us driving company vehicles and get ****** because we are going the speed limit. What you don't realize is that if we get a ticket, we lose our job. Slow down and lose the attitude!
 

BKLYNCyclone

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2007
2,122
104
63
Twin Cities, MN
Actually, people are supposed to use both lanes up to the merge point, then "zipper" together. Traffic moves a lot better when that happens.

Now, does that ever happen? No. Humans use their common sense, they move over when the signs say a lane is closed ahead. Then we get mad at the people who "cut in line" by zipping up the open lane and cramming in ahead of us.

I move over early too, and I get mad at those guys as well. I do know people are supposed to use both lanes, until they can't. It just doesn't seem polite.

Okay, full disclosure. I lived and drove in NYC for almost 10 years of my life. In NYC, zipper merging is a fact of life. All lanes are slow as they are all completely full.

I now live in St. Paul. Driving in MSP is a breeze now, except no one knows how to merge correctly. I love the fact that lane closures get people all lined up for a mile or so ahead of the actual merge. Yes, I'm one of those guys that flies by everyone in the open lane and merges in at the last second (typically without any issues as the gaps in the midwest are already typically big). Use to feel bad about it, but when getting my MN license I saw the zipper merge link on the FRONT PAGE of the MDOT website... As far as I'm concerned, people can continue to be polite, but I'm going to do it right. Knocks 5-10 min out of my commute every day. Also, unless the idiot I merge in front of slams on their brakes without reason, I assure you that I don't slow down the column of traffic. As mentioned previously, people leave big gaps here, so it's easy to get in and out. The slow down is typically due to semis and slow acceleration when they get going.

The best part is the people that see you coming and pull into the lane half way to try and prevent you from passing. (I actually used to do this when I didn't know better.) Usually they aren't aggressive enough to block the whole lane so I typically drive right around them and honk.

There's polite, and there's not being educated... Until everyone catches on, I plan on taking full advantage.

Also, the left lane cruisers in Iowa are incredibly bad... It really is an epidemic. At least they merge right away, though they usually come to a full stop when they do.
 

BKLYNCyclone

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2007
2,122
104
63
Twin Cities, MN
THISSSSSSSS

Want to know why people "camp" in the left lane? Probably because they think they're going "faster" than people in the right lane... So they think to themselves, "oh I think I'll stay in the fast lane"........

I don't care how fast you're going... If you have room to get back over to the right lane, do it

Also, tailgaters in general are annoying... The ones that you speed up, when they get on your bumper when you're passing someone, because you feel like they have an unearthly desire to pass you... And then stay on your bumper when you merge back to the right lane...

Also, for speeders, it's a lot better to be in the right lane than the left all the time. Much less likely to be spotted from a distance. I stay in the right as much as possible even if I'm passing a ton. So far, this strategy, combined with the "always make sure one car still passes you every now and then" has been very effective in preventing speeding tickets. I'm almost 32 and have never been pulled over.
 
Last edited:

CycloneYoda

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2009
6,091
350
83
I hate in when people pass me. I already have my cruise set somewhere between 90-95. If you pass me, then you are obviously traveling at unsafe speeds.
 

Angie

Tugboats and arson.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
28,610
13,611
113
IA
Also, tailgaters in general are annoying... The ones that you speed up, when they get on your bumper when you're passing someone, because you feel like they have an unearthly desire to pass you... And then stay on your bumper when you merge back to the right lane...

I couldn't agree more. It always crosses my mind, "What if they're trying to get somewhere because of an emergency, I'd better hurry and get out of their way" - until they follow me back to the other lane and still tailgate, when I realize they're just a jerk.