It never fails. You're having a peaceful drive when some idiot driver does some idiot thing, and suddenly, you find yourself fuming over how stupid of a driver others are while you're, apparently, the only one who really knows how to drive correctly. We all have our pet peeves, especially when it comes to other drivers. So, here are some things that most people, including myself, cannot STAND about other drivers.
1. Having LED headlights in the city.
I hate when I’m driving home from work at 11pm on a Saturday night, and then I see it from a mile away in my rearview mirror. Some idiot driving a massive truck, flashing his brand spanking new LED headlights. These headlights are designed to give a great range of vision for the driver, but I suppose they’re also designed to blind every other driver around.
Seriously, these LED headlights are just as powerful as driving with your high beams on all the time. I’d hate to see what it’d be like if those cars turned on their brights as well! Now, if you live in the country and are always driving on rural roads, I understand the desire for LED headlights. But if you live in the city, number one: the streets are more often than not pretty well lit, and number two: turning on your headlights is more of a benefit for other drivers to know where you are on the road. If you have LED headlights in the city, change them out for regular ones. You’re blinding the rest of us.
2. Driving with a headlight out.
I’ve also seen this a lot while driving home at night. Too often, people have only one operational headlight. Really? It’s usually just a matter of changing a lightbulb, how hard is that? Plus, what if your other headlight goes out for some reason? Make sure both of your headlights are working.
3. Turning headlights off in overcast weather.
People, headlights are not just for nighttime driving. You should turn on your headlights when it’s raining, snowing, or just plain ugly outside. You know what I’m talking about. If the sun's not shining bright, turn your headlights on. If you live in a state where it’s illegal to have your headlights off while driving, then obviously, keep them on at all times.
4. Putting license plates in the wrong spot.
I’m not sure if people are aware of this, but there is a special place on the backside of cars that is specifically made to hang a license plate. Too often, I see people put their license plates in the back of their windows which, one: obstructs their view, and two: is just plain LAZY!
I especially hate it when the person’s windows are tinted so you can see that there is a license plate there, but you can’t actually read it. The only thing I have to assume if your license plate is not in the designated spot is that you’re using the car for criminal purposes, or you’re lazy beyond all comprehension. Either way, just put the plate where it goes, man!
5. Failing to use turn signals.
Turn signals are great! They notify drivers and pedestrians around you of your intentions, and they help you think about where you are driving to and where you need to go. Use them when you’re turning, and especially use them when you want to change lanes. There is nothing more frustrating than having to suddenly slow down because the person in front of you is about to turn, but they aren’t signaling that they want to turn. You also never know when the person behind you will want to suddenly bullet past you, or when you might miss an idiot lingering in your blind spot.
6. Lingering in other peoples’ blind spots
Get out of my blind spot!!!! If you are going to go into the left lane to pass me, fine. Pass me, then get back into the right lane. If you linger in my blind spot, there is a chance I cannot see you, and if I have to quickly swerve because a deer jumps out in front of me, you are going to DIE. For the safety of both of us, stay out of my blind spot, and I’ll stay out of yours.
7. Positioning side mirrors incorrectly.
Your side mirrors are not meant to be positioned so that you can see behind you. That’s what the REARview mirror is for. The SIDE mirrors are to be positioned so that you can see the sides of your car. If positioned correctly, you can almost eliminate blind spots. Don’t always rely on those blind side monitors to beep when someone lingers in your blind spot. Angle those mirrors right.
8. Tailgating to no end.
And I’m not referring to people who cook out at football games. You know, people who ride their car on your bumper for God knows what reason, besides to drive you insane. Everyone who has had a tailgater has wanted to tap the brake so that they could claim a minor wreck from behind and collect the insurance money. But seriously, why are you riding on my bumper? Did I tick you off a few miles back? If so, sorry, but you’re running a huge risk here.
P.S. if you tailgate me then think you’re going to quickly pass me on the left, think again. I’ll match your speed for a few seconds just to reinforce how stupid your tailgating decision was. See? This is how road rage escalates, just don’t tailgate people. You can’t possibly be in that big of a hurry!
9. Parking like an idiot.
People who park incorrectly should be automatically ticketed. The lines are drawn right there on the ground for you. Park inside the spaces, like an adult! If you can color inside the lines of an adult coloring book, you should be able to park inside the lines. I hate it when people intentionally park incorrectly so that they take up two to four parking spaces. Even if they are parked way out on the outside perimeter of the lot, if they are parked incorrectly - ticket! Park correctly, it’s not rocket science.
10. Booming the bass too loud.
I can sympathize here. I, too, enjoy dropping sweet beats at a decent volume in my car. But I don’t keep it loud enough for others outside of my vehicle to hear, nor is it so loud that I can’t hear oncoming emergency vehicles. I love my music, but have a good respect for others who don’t want to hear it. Noise pollution - it’s a law that says “we don’t wanna hear your trash, so keep it low.”
11. Honking for longer than three seconds.
A short “beep” lets another inattentive driver know that the light has turned green. A horn honk from two to three seconds is an appropriate way of letting someone else know that what they have done has soured your mood. Honking longer than three seconds makes the other driver want to run you off the road for being a prick. We all make mistakes, and sometimes honking the horn is necessary. But laying on the horn for “one second…two second…three second…fo..” is just way too long and unnecessary. Chill out man!
