OT: Pet peeve.

[BillinDetroit]

I wave'em through. That way I KNOW what they are going to do because they've already done it.

[BillinDetroit]

Yep, morons are the great leveler. That's probably why no civilization has ever been able to rule the whole planet.

[BillinDetroit]

That's where The Darwin Awards kick in.

[Mark & Juanita]

yep One of my pet peeves. Sign says "lane ends, 1/2 mile" So, even though most people merge into the other lane in plenty of time, there are those "special drivers" who stay in that lane until the bitter end, then force their way into the line that has been patiently waiting in the lane that didn't end. One of those times when one develops tunnel vision and the habit of tailgating the car in front of them.

[Mark & Juanita]

Well, since we are engaging in hypotheticals, I suspect that one would be in much greater danger pulling to the side of the road and making an emergency call if the subject of that call were the fact that one was being followed down a dark road by a suspicious vehicle. Would think that it might be best to keep moving while making that phone call.

[Doug Miller]

Another example of the usefulness of making 911 calls while moving -- not merely hypothetical, but drawn from my own multiple experiences -- is calling the State Police to report a dangerous driver (usually an apparent drunk, but most recently a bozo driving 75mph on the interstate at 9pm with no lights), and being able to give the dispatcher continuous updates on the vehicle's location until they're able to get a patrol car out there to pull him over.

[HeyBub]

It's getting better. As of Sept 1st, righteous Texans may now carry a firearm in their car.

We have very few instances of "road-rage" here. But one of the best was the first shooting by a concealed handgun license holder.

Happened in Dallas traffic. Two vans scraped mirrors and the dude in van #1 got all punchy on the driver of van #2. The driver of van #2 smoked the #1 van driver.

Now here's the even funnier part. The (deceased) driver of van #1 was a trainee, first day on the job, supervisor riding with him to show him the route.

Imagine, if you will, later that day as the supervisor made his way to the coffee-shop back at headquarters. Some of his mates gather around and ask "How's the new guy working out, Stan?"

As Stan fills his cup, he shakes his head and says: "KIA. We need another."

[Peter Huebner]

Not that special, except that many highways here really are quite windy (although not as windy as some mountainous roads in Italy that I've been down) but nowhere else have I seen this many 'little old ladies' tailgating. In most countries where I've driven (practially all over Europe) it's young and/or aggressive drivers doing the tailgating. Little old ladies there keep a safety distance so you can cut in.

cheers, -P.

[dpb]

Try Tennessee/Kentucky/West Virginia hill and coal country for windy... :)

I'll nominate California or any of the other mountain areas near the National Parks in the US up for the "old codger vacationing tailgating award" w/ anybody, unfortunately. These will have the occasional turnout for them to pull over to allow for backed-up traffic to pass, but no, 80% can't be bothered... :(