Driving philosophy: "Let them win"

[ERawk]

I drive like the daughter of a man from Queens.

Read that as you will.

At least I don't drive like my Jersey mom.

There is a thing people do here that we call the "Chicago," where cars pull halfway across the intersection, blocking shit up until they can turn left or get the rest of the way across if they are going straight. It's the only place not in Italy I've seen people do this on a regular basis, and only rarely does anyone give a shit. It's usually, like, 'oh, yeah, dude had to Chicago, I get it.' It's weird.

One thing that really pisses me off about Chicago drivers is that they hardly ever attempt to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, despite the fact that it's Illinois law. They are better about this in New York (I'm talking about the state in general though drivers in NYC are better about it too).

Oh and the times I'm driven in IL when I've been honked at for not immediately making a right turn, despite pedestrians crossing the perpendicular crosswalk. I don't think they do that Massachusetts.

[projectMalamute]

Confidential to buzzsaw: You have some serious driving issues, man. Holy shit.

haha. Yeah, I know. I realize that the guy I am tailgating does not know the difference between my (self appointed) polite way and any other asshole.
I drive like it hurts me. I have no idea why..... the Alpha Male thing, no patience, etc?
I make all these rules also. I use them to justify my actions, but some of the things I do are good. I ALWAYS signal when turning. I always let a car in when lanes merge to one lane. I guess the brake check is my hot button issue. I have gotten better, though. really.

Tailgating is one thing I cannot tolerate.

[AnthonyVillalobos]

There is a thing people do here that we call the "Chicago," where cars pull halfway across the intersection, blocking shit up until they can turn left or get the rest of the way across if they are going straight. It's the only place not in Italy I've seen people do this on a regular basis, and only rarely does anyone give a shit. It's usually, like, 'oh, yeah, dude had to Chicago, I get it.' It's weird.

This happens at almost all intersections driving around in downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood.

Doing this on Sunset Dr. is necessary to get moving at all.

[louissandwich]

Nothing makes this approach seem like the best one like strapping a kid or two into the back seat. I only wish so many of the drivers screaming past didn't also have little kids in the car.

As an aside, I do most of my commuting by bicycle & train, and I'm always amazed by other cyclists (often dressed in racing garb and checking heart rate monitors) who pause at red lights and then keep going when the coast is clear, especially when I catch up at the next light. What's the point? I roll a stop sign now and again in quiet neighborhoods (in front of a cop this morning..eeek..not worth his time I guess), but an actual red light? Bizarre..

[tmidgett]

One thing that really pisses me off about Chicago drivers is that they hardly ever attempt to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, despite the fact that it's Illinois law.

Oh God no. Cars rule Chicago.

Other drivers pull around my car half the time if I stop. So I don't stop much anymore. I figure waiting to cross is better for the pedestrian than getting squashed by a car.

[eliya]

Tim Midgett, they're going to have you fight road rage all over the country.

Not Crap.

[FuzzBob]

There is a thing people do here that we call the "Chicago," where cars pull halfway across the intersection, blocking shit up until they can turn left or get the rest of the way across if they are going straight. It's the only place not in Italy I've seen people do this on a regular basis, and only rarely does anyone give a shit. It's usually, like, 'oh, yeah, dude had to Chicago, I get it.' It's weird but occsionally very necessary.

I picked up "The Chicago" very quickly after spending 1½ weeks driving there. Thing is, you can sometimes be an asshole to traffic behind you if you don't Chicago. I've never considered it a dick move, just something people have to do on occasion.

The Chicago has served me well in plenty of cities. Salut, Chicago.

[RSMurphy]

That's done in Portland on a very regular basis.

Interesting. Maybe it's common and I just noticed it here.

Tim, "The Chicago," as you call it, is completely normal driving behavior. I don't see how else you can position yourself on making that left turn if you don't edge yrself into the intersection. Plus, I believe it's just common courtesy for those waiting behind you wanting to make the exact maneuver.

The Chicago is not crap.

[154]

Haven't you people heard of making a right, then turning around when it's clear? Expecting to turn left on a weekday afternoon across 3 lanes of traffic is some entitlement bullshit. Fuck "the Chicago"..

Makes me miss the Jersey roundabouts.

[FuzzBob]

Haven't you people heard of making a right, then turning around when it's clear? Expecting to turn left on a weekday afternoon across 3 lanes of traffic is some entitlement bullshit. Fuck "the Chicago"

That's not the "Chicago," that's the "Kentucky."

[Luzwei]

Driving here has become horrific. Cars cutting you off, turning in front of you, turning without any signals. People gesturing in their cars, which is totally funny and moronic. As if I can hear them and like I care. That is some fucked up shit that has happened in this world. And I remember, things weren't like this 10 years ago when I started driving.

So I will vote NC as I am probably the most passive driver you can find. Life is not worth it.

[warmowski]

http://www.electricalaudio.com/phpBB/viewtop ... 1&start=20

I am immune [from road rage] , thanks to a stint driving in very heavy downtown traffic every day for a living. Now I'm attuned to the rhythms of heavy traffic and have copped many of the moves of the dominant predator in that environment: the taxicab.

Being immune means having the stones to dish out road rage when necessary without ever once feeling it. So I'm not moving fast enough, honky honkstein? Okay. Let's slowwww it waaaaay dowwwwwn so I can watch your adrenaline fight your heart and your stupid face get all red. And then when I ditch you at a red light, that's your fucking problem, ace.

You can cut me off, I don't care. You can turn in front of me, I saw it coming. You can lollygag in front of me all day long and it just rolls off my back. You can speed at me down a sidestreet and I'll never get rattled because I know down to the half-centimeter how much room I have. Do whatever you want, douche, you're dealing with a pro.

Short of truckers in the right lane near the onramp, nothing bugs me.

...and not a few months after I posted that, while merging onto the northbound Dan Ryan, I got pasted by a semi-truck speeding in the right lane. Collapsed the trunk, fucked that car all up. Walked out and raked that trucking company for every dime and then some.

But I'm not tempting fate any more. Fuck not with the lethal power of the EA forum.

-r

[RSMurphy]

Haven't you people heard of making a right, then turning around when it's clear? Expecting to turn left on a weekday afternoon across 3 lanes of traffic is some entitlement bullshit. Fuck "the Chicago"

That's not the "Chicago," that's the "Kentucky."

The Michigan? I remember driving, and being a passenger going through Michigan and you were not allowed to turn left or something silly like that. Messed up my mind.

[B_M_L]

Untill recently I was quite an aggressive driver. Then this year I bought a large car with plush leather seats, aircon (I've never had a car with this before), a sound system that's 100 times better than the one I have at home. I drive very calmly now - I am in no hurry to get out of the car at all. If people toot their horns, over take me or cut in I just wave them on with an inanne grin like an ape on a large dose of valium.

[projectMalamute]

Haven't you people heard of making a right, then turning around when it's clear? Expecting to turn left on a weekday afternoon across 3 lanes of traffic is some entitlement bullshit. Fuck "the Chicago"

That's not the "Chicago," that's the "Kentucky."

This has been formalized in Metro Detroit, the major boulevards are set up for what is known as the Michigan left turn.

[Pibroch]

I will do everyhting I can not to rant on this......
I tailgate to tell the driver in front of me that i am planning on travelling faster than them.
I usually get close until they notice me and then i back off a bit.
I do not tailgate on two lane roads unless someone is travelling over 5mph under the limit.
I do not tailgate if there is no place for them to change lanes.
If you brake check me and I hit you, exit your vehicle and run as fast as you can because I will beat you nearly to death and take my pocket knife and sever your Achilles tendon on both legs. That way, when you recover, every limp will remind you of what you did to get to this point.
If someone tailgates me I let them pass when I can. This is hard for people to cope with because most fast drivers tailgate and then won't get over when it happens to them. I try to reduce my urge to get angry and let them pass.
The rudest thing I am guilty of is not letting people over who don't use their signal. I act like I don't see them until the signal comes on, then i let them in right away. I realize that this looks like I am not wanting to give up my lane, but it is only the turn signal thing that is the reason.

This is exactly how I do it. However, if I am on the receiving end of some major-ass tailgating when I'm already going 15 over, and they won't back off, I usually will tap my brakes once to let them know I am not pleased.

That's if I haven't gotten a chance to get over, and after at least a mile of steady tailgating. I will usually get over and let them pass me, unless they decide to be a dick and weave around me. I have no patience for this.

[tmidgett]

Haven't you people heard of making a right, then turning around when it's clear? Expecting to turn left on a weekday afternoon across 3 lanes of traffic is some entitlement bullshit. Fuck "the Chicago"

That's not the "Chicago," that's the "Kentucky."

This has been formalized in Metro Detroit, the major boulevards are set up for what is known as the Michigan left turn.

You know why I first noticed the Chicago here? Just realized this.

Most places, the city streets are laid out to preference some streets as thoroughfares and some as side streets. It's a bastard to travel any distance on the side streets, so you don't do it. You merge onto the thoroughfares wherever the street layout makes it easy.

Chicago is a grid for the most part, and there are pet byways all around town.

If you are on a pet byway, you will come up on a thoroughfare, and if you got to go straight or turn left, you may well have to bust out the Chicago if there is no traffic light.

If you avoid pet byways or live someplace that doesn't have many of them, you probably don't find yourself Chicagoing that often.

[lemur68]

Pulling into the intersection in anticipation of a left turn? That's standard. They teach it.

[iembalm]

Pulling into the intersection in anticipation of a left turn? That's standard. They teach it.

And if you don't, the guy in the car behind you will let you know about it.

[BeanChilla]

It's definitely hard to stomach when some asshole almost hits me when he cuts me off, but ultimately the smartest strategy... is to let them win