Do other drivers ever get pissed off at you?

[diamondlarry]

Welcome to GasSavers jkandell! Make sure you introduce yourself in the intro thread so we can learn about you and your car.

[Snax]

I had a dream last night that while riding my bicycle, drivers were pissing me off. No wait, that was real.

Does that count?

I've found that we are able to save about 10% on our fuel economy without sacrificing ourselves to the epithets of road ragers. We speed less, but that's not the main factor, so the people behind us are rarely inconvenienced much.

[MorningGaser]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

This was kind of my position when I stirred up so much trouble on that other forum. I even went so far as to say that I thought it was OK to go the speed limit in ANY lane. After all, I'm obeying the limit. I had one person go so far as to threaten my life for that comment. What does anyone else think? Now generally, I try to stay in the far right lane but sometimes you may have to get over for someone who ACTUALLY is going slow or merging into traffic. In those cases I don't feel obligated to to go over the limit while I'm getting around them.

It was wrong for someone to threaten your life over what you wrote...HOWEVER, law or no law, if you want to drive slow, be curteous and stay in the far right lane/s. The law is the law, but we must all have a reasonable sense of curtesy...if the idiots want to waste their gas, let them. Forcing others to obey the law by clogging up the left lanes is plain wrong....and this coming from a fellow driver that drives for highest MPG, and slow too ;-)

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by Snax

I had a dream last night that while riding my bicycle, drivers were pissing me off. No wait, that was real.

Does that count?

Sure, why not? :P I have problems like that all the time - I even have helmet cam video of someone cutting me off (on my bike) and then running a red turn light (we both were going to make a left).

-----
I have some problems.... When it comes to tailgating me on the highway... I just spray washer fluid on my windshield. If they're too close, the tailgater will get a spray too. Most of the time, they back off, change lanes or pass me. Sometimes venting rage as they pass. One person actually confronted me on it at a stop light....

Something like this:
tailgater: [yelling]Why'd you spray water all over my car?
me: hit a big bug - did you get sprayed too?
tailgater: ----
me: you know, that would mean you're too close to me right
tailgater: FU

and at that point - I I rolled my window back up and waited for a green light :P

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by MorningGaser

It was wrong for someone to threaten your life over what you wrote...HOWEVER, law or no law, if you want to drive slow, be curteous and stay in the far right lane/s. The law is the law, but we must all have a reasonable sense of curtesy...if the idiots want to waste their gas, let them. Forcing others to obey the law by clogging up the left lanes is plain wrong....and this coming from a fellow driver that drives for highest MPG, and slow too ;-)

You see, there is that sentiment again that the person obeying the law is in the wrong. As I mentioned before, I DO stay to the right 99% of the time and try to be as courteous as possible. When I do have to get into any other lane than the far-right one for slow/merging traffic, I do go the speed limit(not minimum) and occasionally a few over, while I'm getting past the obstruction. Now, if anyone would like to pay my fine and extra insurance, we could talk. When I'm out-of-state I'm especially careful not to speed if at all possible.

[MorningGaser]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

You see, there is that sentiment again that the person obeying the law is in the wrong. As I mentioned before, I DO stay to the right 99% of the time and try to be as courteous as possible. When I do have to get into any other lane than the far-right one for slow/merging traffic, I do go the speed limit(not minimum) and occasionally a few over, while I'm getting past the obstruction. Now, if anyone would like to pay my fine and extra insurance, we could talk. When I'm out-of-state I'm especially careful not to speed if at all possible.

It's not about perceiving the law-abider as being "wrong"...it's about dealing with a society full of angry horrible people that drive like demons on the road. Pragmatism. Don't get stuck on "obeying the law"....sadly people get hurt or dead for "obeying the law"...it's not right, it is wrong, but at the end of the day, we all have to live with idiots (not you or me)...this is the real world, so enter "Natural Law", which means regardless of the law of the land, we behave in such a way as to allow idiots to speed if they must, and at the same time stay out of their way...in other words, the law may well be on one's side, but that will not stop a fist or worse, a bullet from entering one's skull. Don't get me wrong, I drive as you do, striving for high MPG, etc, but I also am mindful of keeping out of the way of others that have no care for saving $$ or the environment.

You can't control the bad behavior of others, and trying so could get one hurt, or worse. Yes, it is a sad commentary on our society.

And to be fair, and not saying that it is right, but if I am in a hurry (my fault or not), and I want to hit the throttle hard, I would appreciate any and all HyperMilers to stay the hell out of the left most lanes. I don't think this is being unreasonable....99% of the time I am hypermiling so I stay to the right, because I know how it feels to get to meeting late, or have to rush a loved one to the hospital, or make my plane before it takes off, etc....

[Peakster]

I could get away with 45mph on the Trans Canada Highway in winter, but now that it's April, motorist are REALLY getting impatient with me on 4-lane roads. I still pull over to the shoulder if traffic is heavy on 2-lane roads. I got so sick of tailgators (my pet peeve) that I just turn the rear-view mirror to the floor in those situations. Sadly, the weather is still glum and I only get mpg in the low 50s @ 45mph (speed limit of 62mph returns high 30s in this weather. EPA rating for my car sucks for being so optimistic).

[Erdrick]

I live in Japan. People are MUCH better here than those back in Michigan (USA). Here is an amazing story for you. I was coming home from work one day and there was a traffic jam. Well, this is pretty much an every day thing for me over here. I saw that some people were backed up on the right hand side of the road because a lady was trying to turn right (keep in mind, Japan drives on the LEFT side of the road). All of the people behind her couldn't proceed until she turned.. as there was no shoulder, which is usually the case in Japan. I stopped (since I was backed up in traffic as it was) and let her turn in front of me. Not only did she bow and wave her hand to me for letting her turn, but the person BEHIND her thanked me too!!! Absolutely unbelievable, and unheard outside of Japan. Well, at least you would never see this type of thing in the US.

In addition, people use their horn (a short blast) to THANK people for letting them merge, letting them turn, or letting them through. Hazard lights are also used very often when you let someone turn in front of you. If you get flashed with bright lights at night when you are trying to turn, it is most likely that the person coming towards you is letting you know that you can turn in front of them, and that they won't hit you if you do so. Waves (usually men) and bows (usually women) can be experienced all the time from gracious drivers. Yeah, Japan is an excellent country to drive in.

As for driving slow to get good FE, I definitely do that. My car has terrible acceleration to begin with, and this only makes things worse. However, I have never had a single person get pissed off at me. The middle finger isn't even understood here, so no one can use that. People usually don't tailgate, and those who do are generally just either bad drivers or unfriendly people.

Point in case, if you are living in Japan, feel free to take your time and max out your FE. You will have a pleasant time doing it!!

[cfg83]

Erdrick -

I have a yellow plastic kitchen cutting board in my car with the words "THANK YOU" on it. Sometimes when someone does something nice for me, like let me merge, I will show them the sign.

Does that make me qualify for Japanese driving etiquette ?

CarloSW2

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by Erdrick

...Absolutely unbelievable, and unheard outside of Japan. Well, at least you would never see this type of thing in the US.

In addition, people use their horn (a short blast) to THANK people for letting them merge, letting them turn, or letting them through. Hazard lights are also used very often when you let someone turn in front of you.

To be honest, you need to leave the United States - even N.A. it would seem to realize how nasty/impolite we have become :/ That was a rather big eye opener for me - and I consider myself and the people I keep around me pretty courteous.

I use my hazards (one or two blinks) to thank someone for things like merging - I also blip my high beams to let people know I'm letting them merge/change lanes (some people freak out - others appreciate). Because really, a few car lengths lost over 200 miles is what - 100 feet? I'll even merge into a left lane to help a semi truck change lanes when other drivers feel that a semi's turn signal means "hit the gas and pass before he merges."

I don't think I would use my horn though - I think culturally that would be unacceptable Oh, I also wave - but apparently that's considered bad now as they think you're sticking your hand up in disgust or something stupid like that

Too often I get flashed with high beams because someone wants to go faster (even in the right lane) -- really, am I not breaking the law fast enough for you?

I try to be nice - but it's become a problem that no deed goes unpunished :/