Highway Driving

[the_big_E]

I know driving issues have surfaced before but these are my primary beefs:

a) Please indicate. Is it really that hard to flick your wrist, or are people just ignorant?

b) Indecisiveness. If you know your exit is coming up, please dont wait until the last possible second to swing 3 lanes over.

c) Don't follow too closely. Is it really necessarry to ride my ass at 110, even moreso when you can easily go around?

Driving habits of some will always continue to baffle me!

PS The QEW from Oakville to Burlington has way too many interchanges.

 

[drstrangelove]

The much bigger issue is drivers, especially ones driving slower than the rest of the traffic, who refuse to keep right! They think it's perfectly okay to stay planted in the middle lane, little realizing the inconvenience and danger they are causing by forcing others to pass them on both the left and right sides. I wish the police and courts would enforce this law.

 

[Mr. Black]

It's so bad I know where all the slow downs are and they never change!

QEW eastbound just after Burloak Dr., after Third Line & Dorval Dr.

 

[shack]

It's so bad I know where all the slow downs are and they never change!

QEW eastbound just after Burloak Dr., after Third Line & Dorval Dr.

The biggest and most consistent backups are approaching and just after on ramps because so many people do not grasp the concept that you have to accelerate as you get on the highway. When drivers enter the highway lanes going too slowly it causes the cars already travelling in those lanes to slow down and then little by little it starts backing that lane up and as cars try exiting that lane it slows down the other lanes as well.

The approaches to on ramps are notoriously bad.

 

[gww]

The much bigger issue is drivers, especially ones driving slower than the rest of the traffic, who refuse to keep right! They think it's perfectly okay to stay planted in the middle lane, little realizing the inconvenience and danger they are causing by forcing others to pass them on both the left and right sides. I wish the police and courts would enforce this law.

If I happen to be in the left/center lane and going slower than you would like.. i move EXCEPT when you get so close I can't see you lights so I cannot tell if you also are going to switch lanes - back off a few meters or so then I can see your turn signals.

 

[CapitalGuy]

The much bigger issue is drivers, especially ones driving slower than the rest of the traffic, who refuse to keep right! They think it's perfectly okay to stay planted in the middle lane, little realizing the inconvenience and danger they are causing by forcing others to pass them on both the left and right sides. I wish the police and courts would enforce this law.

You're partly right. But one should not pass on the right, no matter how pissed off one is that the guy in the middle lane is "only" doing the speed limit. Personally, I would rather see the police enforce "no passing on the right", than hassle people who drive in the middle lane at the speed limit.

But I understand your point.

 

[zekestone]

I know driving issues have surfaced before but these are my primary beefs:

a) Please indicate. Is it really that hard to flick your wrist, or are people just ignorant?

b) Indecisiveness. If you know your exit is coming up, please dont wait until the last possible second to swing 3 lanes over.

c) Don't follow too closely. Is it really necessarry to ride my ass at 110, even moreso when you can easily go around?

Driving habits of some will always continue to baffle me!

PS The QEW from Oakville to Burlington has way too many interchanges.

a) Yes people are just ignorant. At least half of the drivers out there don't know what to do at a Yield sign, don't know how to check their oil or change a tire and have little concept of road ettiquette.

B)Caused by a) combined with doing other things like talking on the phone or fucking with their radios.

C)Caused by a lack of enforcement and bad driver training.

The only solution I see to this is mandatory driver RE-training every 5 years or so. Sure it would cost a bit, but it would flush out many of the marginal drivers...

 

[the_big_E]

I take the 407 in the morning usually, if I dont I'd be late pretty much everyday.

The Oakville/Burlington commute in the AM/PM peak is just brutal. 95% of the time I never see an accident,yet you go from 100 to 0 in a matter of seconds. Damn volume.

 

[Mr. Black]

a) Please indicate. Is it really that hard to flick your wrist, or are people just ignorant?

This is the one that pisses me off the most.

75% of the people drive nice cars, you think they could signal for me when they change lanes so I don't run into their fat ass.

I'm not psychic.

 

[jaycam]

I take the 407 in the morning usually, if I dont I'd be late pretty much everyday.

The Oakville/Burlington commute in the AM/PM peak is just brutal. 95% of the time I never see an accident,yet you go from 100 to 0 in a matter of seconds. Damn volume.

All of that is changing the MTO has started expanding the infrastructure to accommodate more lanes through to Niagara. The problem through Oakville is the bridge over 16 Mile creek was built for two lanes in each direction, and then squeezed to three. Now they are building a second bridge on the north side of it. Again they are doing the same thing to the bridge over Bronte creek.

Once those two key bridges are built there will be some serious lane expansions to Hamilton 403 exchange, then Niagara

 

[tboy]

The much bigger issue is drivers, especially ones driving slower than the rest of the traffic, who refuse to keep right! They think it's perfectly okay to stay planted in the middle lane, little realizing the inconvenience and danger they are causing by forcing others to pass them on both the left and right sides. I wish the police and courts would enforce this law.

You think it's bad now? Wait until they increase the speed limit. Now those that are afraid to do the speed limit are going to be even MORE afraid.

This whole topic was beat to death a month ago but as for the poster that stated "move back so I can see whether you are going to change lanes..." Dude, you're supposed to be aware of what's going on in front, AND behind you! If you see someone approaching you from behind, signal and move to the right BEFORE he reaches you.

BTW: I will repeat this for those that didn't read the other thread, There is a law that states that you can be ticketed for holding up traffic in the passing lanes. Not sure what the charge is but if a cop sees you cruising along at the speed limit, with cars backed up behind you, YOU can be ticketed (just like it has always been in the US, there, they KNOW to keep right.)

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

Getting out of the way of cars that can and need to travel faster than me, I thought that was just driving safely. But some people get territorial about their space on the highway....why? Or maybe they think that allowing someone to pass them will cause them to lose face....some cultures are so weird that way. I always allow people to yield into my lane and I always allow a good few car lengths ahead of me....even when other cars constantly fill that gap and then begin to tailgate the car hitherto in front of me; it's just about being safe. The cure for dumb driving is to get into an accident and suffering consequences from that.

 

[hambone]

.......Personally, I would rather see the police enforce "no passing on the right", .......

I thought this law was changed. I was stopped on the 401 in the 60s and thought it was for passing on the right but the cop told me that was not illegal. ?????

 

[mmouse]

As usual, this kind of thread brings 2 kind of drivers out of the woodwork.

First we have level headed folks who drive with respect for safety and road manners. But they are annoyed by asshole drivers.

Then we have those in the asshole category, who believe they are god's gift to the planet and deserve to get to their destination faster than anyone else.

 

[wildone99]

Drivers

As usual, this kind of thread brings 2 kind of drivers out of the woodwork.

First we have level headed folks who drive with respect for safety and road manners. But they are annoyed by asshole drivers.

Then we have those in the asshole category, who believe they are god's gift to the planet and deserve to get to their destination faster than anyone else.

AMEN!!!!

 

[blackdog]

When touring in my Cordoba i prefer to drive at or below the speed limit in the left lane and and briskly and erraticly when in the middle and right lanes. When changing lanes, I prefer to use the left signal for right turns and the right signal for left turns, this surrounds the cordoba with an "air of mystique" and keeps the other drivers guessing and "on their toes". Saftey is of the highest priority so seat belts are kept tucked into their storage clips and never worn. Wearing the lap belt causes wrinkles and creases in my slacks. Although the cordoba is the safest of sedans in the event of an accident I prefer to be thrown clear a safe distance from any collisions and explosions. This maintains a sharp wardrobe and non scuffed appearance. A must for all gentleman. I also over the years have found that I drive more fluidly and naturaly after a few brisk shots of Crown Royal. This ads a certain "Je ne sais quoi" to my "joie de vivre".

 

[antaeus]

On mandatory retesting... I think people would be able to scam road tests, just drive careful, slow and signal. Pass, now I'm outta here!

I suggest mandatory retesting of the Highway Traffic Act, a written test in classroom and a tough test so everybody actually has to study it. The theory being an educated driver might be a better driver. So often people say "I've always thought..." but the HTA cares none what you think, it just is.

 

[shakenbake]

The biggest and most consistent backups are approaching and just after on ramps because so many people do not grasp the concept that you have to accelerate as you get on the highway. When drivers enter the highway lanes going too slowly it causes the cars already travelling in those lanes to slow down and then little by little it starts backing that lane up and as cars try exiting that lane it slows down the other lanes as well.

The approaches to on ramps are notoriously bad.

Also, those already on the hiighway are supposed to make room for those trying to enter, NOT to deliberately speed up beyond the traffic speed, and to pace themselves to cut off the driver tryng to enter. This has happend way too many times to me, and it is dangerous of the shitheads to do this. Where is a cop to charge them with careless driving and six points? I woudl attend court as a witness!

 

[zekestone]

On mandatory retesting... I think people would be able to scam road tests, just drive careful, slow and signal. Pass, now I'm outta here!

I suggest mandatory retesting of the Highway Traffic Act, a written test in classroom and a tough test so everybody actually has to study it. The theory being an educated driver might be a better driver. So often people say "I've always thought..." but the HTA cares none what you think, it just is.

That's why I said that retesting would flush out *many* (as opposed to all) of the marginal drivers.

But yeah, a written portion as part of retesting would be a good idea.

What really irritates me is the police and the insurance industry talk about being really big on safety, but do they push for mandatory retraining? I don't see them doing this. Having better drivers would mean the police would have fewer revenue opportunities and the insurance industry would have fewer excuses to raise rates.

 

[drstrangelove]

Where is a cop to charge them with careless driving and six points? I woudl attend court as a witness!

You can do it yourself. If someone does something bad enough to drive you to it, you can attend a police station, provide a written account of what happened, and if you're able to identify the driver and be prepared to testify in court, charges will be brought against the driver.

I know this from a situation where someone almost ran me over in a cross walk, but because I couldn't identify the driver, the cops could only send a letter to the owner of the vehicle.