i just dont understand how difficult it is for people to let people merge into a lane. I like to think of it as a zipper. You just let a car in everyother car. Likhow a zipper goes together. Its the easiest way for me to describe it. I just think of 2 lanes of traffic as the 2 sides of the zipper and and there has to be proper spacing for the 2 to merge. I just dont get why people can let go of their ego and just let one person in front of them. Im not saying let the whole lane in front of you cause that just slows everyone else down too. But just let off the gas and let the guy go, or speed up and let him in behind you. Ok my rant is over for now

 

So, you must be one of the guys who never lets anyone merge.. I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY!

So let me get this straight, it's 5 0'clock in Dallas traffic. It is bumper to bumper with the posted speed of 55 but it is running about 40. I am entering the freeway, I should come to a stop instead of trying to gracefully force my way into the moving line of traffic.

With your way of driving you would have an accident behind you because you came to a stop because you had a yield sign.

I would suspect more accidents happen because someone is drunk or is too passive of a driver. We've all seen the idiots who can't pay attention or are driving without idea of what is going on around them. These are the guys causing accidents and getting people killed. The slightly aggressive sports car driver is rarely seen in a fender bender.

 

Dammm straight!!!

Idiot drivers! It's a plague, a vicious plague going around. I wish I had a sunroof and a Bazooka in my Z... that would fix a few problems. I absolutely hate driving in the city because everyone is too busy talking on their MF'ing CELL PHONE, or putting make-up on, etc.etc... You have to be an aggressive driver to survive the commute everday! Being an apathetic driver does nothing but fustrate you more and double the time it takes you to get anywhere.

4 words of wisdom(if not on hands free )

HANG UP AND DRIVE

 

OK DAD

 

What you seem to be saying is that to you the yield sign means "gracefully force" your way into traffic. OK, but on the driving exam choose the answer that says that the other drivers have the right of way.
Conditions can change and laws regarding specific areas of traffic may need changing. But my guess is those in the know where you live believe that the yield sign you face is safer for traffic than a sign that says traffic should merge.
I've seen this attitude before. "There are idiots out there. Therefore I am justified in driving however I choose." Did you ever stop to think that while you drive the way you choose, ignoring the laws, that other drivers who see you may be saying to themselves, "There are idiots out there so I'm going to drive the way I want."? It's an interesting thought. If someone gracefully forced their way into traffic in front of me I would be using words a bit stronger than idiot. Wouldn't you?

 

Yield does mean the other driver has the right of way, I guess you've only driven in rural CO your entire life. There are numerous times when driving where the "commen sense" way to drive is to do something that is in the "gray area" of the law.

I guess you would never ever ever accelarte above the speed limit to pass someone?

So you did not answer my question? If you had to enter the freeway and there was a long line of traffic you would just "STOP" on the entrance ramp? I've seen "IDIOTS" do this, I did not realize some of them drove vettes. In Dallas if you put your blinker on most people notice then that you are trying to get over and will close whatever gap is in front of them.

It is moronic to think that you would YIELD until there was a perfect spot to merge where no drive would have to back off the gas a little or change lanes to let you over.

Do me a favor shoot me PM with the color of your car and license plate so I can stay along ways away from you.

 

I agree that justifying irresponsible behavior is not productive. I don't think it can be justified by claiming to be a good enough driver to behave irresponsibly; by noting that others do worse things; or by claiming that another deserved the brunt of the irresponsible behavior.

I think that one needs to take responsibility as the poster did and to decide whether he will behave that way again. It takes a lot of practice to completely lose the kinds of urges he gave into. And, it takes a thoughtful person to admit a mistake and to apologize to the world publicly.

I do some irresponsible things that are not based on sudden urges. I just do them. For example, I engage in occasional street races when I think it is safe enough. And, I drive well over the speed limit on highways. There is no justification for doing these things. And, I have not resolved to do better on these things--as Robert soundly recommends. But my resolve is firm on other things, and has been successful, in many areas,

Given that virtually all of us do some things on the road that are irresponsible, I think the best thing that we can do is to deal with our own foibles and let others deal with theirs--not judging them in the process. Some examples of things that some of us might take responsibility for are drinking and driving (whether or not feeling the effects); cell phone usage; computer usage; putting makeup on; arguing with one's spouse; reading while driving; etc. etc.

 

Im older and have more and better insurance!!

BC

 

Let's examine your thinking for a moment. You say there are idiots out there, talking on the cell phone, not fully paying attention to their driving right? Did you ever stop to think that when you unexpectedly and wrongfully fail to yield the right away, that the other person you are counting on to be alert might be one of those idiots not paying attention? I am not saying that you are one of those idiots. But if interviewing for a job, and asked to give an example of your best thinking, I would suggest you choose another example.
I think some of the other members have answered one of your questions for me. I may not wait for a perfect opportunity to merge, but I am not going to get into a peeing contest and try to force my way into traffic when the other driver might not want me to. If I have to stop I stop. Getting the car scratched or dented is not worth it. Thank you for your kind offer to "stay along ways away" from me while driving. The way you drive I wouldn't be surprised if you get dozens of pms from those who read your posts.

 

The true and lawful intent of the words "Merge" and Yield" have all but been lost on our roads these days. I am certainly not a perfect driver, but I do my best to drive responsibly. The things I see regularly on CA freeways and streets beggar description! People pulling out in front of you when you have the right of way and just not looking at you as if to suggest "run into me if you want to, but I'm going ahead anyway"!

The chaos at four way stop signs is almost humerous. People just don't know how to proceed when four cars approach the same intersection at similar times and so they choose the "I don't have time to wait" mentality.

I too have to admit that at times my temper almost gets the best of me in these instances and that I do get great satisfaction by leaving this substrata of drivers well behind me in a nano second! I also admit that if I give in to these base impulses, I am lowering myself to the very level that I dispise! But then again, it is part of the reason why I choose to drive a high performance car...because I can leave them in the preverbial dust if I want to!

 

Courtesy is missing as well. What gets me is that I'm the type of driver that is very courteous and it burns me when others just dont co-exist and go out of their way to not let you through, merge or in.

 

 

 

It seems that people don't want to let you in because of the CORVETTE!!! You might as well be driving a BMW lol! I expect to be treated with the same courtesy that I give other drivers. With me, if you have your directional on, you are all set. I will let you go anytime anyday of the week. It's the others that just grab the position in front of you in the lane without signaling that bothers me. People are jerks sometimes, and that bothers me, and it sounds like it bothers you too. I've had people just take the position causing me to slam on the breaks, and have given the medicine right back too, right or wrong.

Sometimes you feel better just letting them know that they suck lol! What alot of these jerks don't know is, if we wanted to be jerks, we could really be huge jerks. We don't even need a real space to fit in, just create one from their lack of throttle and your abundance hehe! The main thing is treat other drivers with courtesy, how you would like to be treated. Sometimes you have the situation where it just doesn't matter to the other person. Take the high road? Maybe, maybe not.
Driving a Vette has it's advantages, this is only the downside. If I'm in traffic in my Z, people around me drive differently than they normally would. Can I prove that? No really, but I think you can tell by their actions.

 

Colorado got the worst drivers. Around here, they try to box you in, when they see you'll end up in front of them. If they succeed, then they'll be in front of you, and proceed to keep driving 5 miles under the posted limit.
Also, around here, the passing lane is the right lane. Seriously, it's so pathetic, that a law was passed last year, although not 100% enforced yet, for "left lane to pass only" they don't want people to hug the fast lane and stay there. Their thinking around here is, if you're on the fast lane doing 65mph on a posted 65mph limit, that you should stay there. Well, what people don't understand is, if you're going 65mph on a 65mph zone, and there are cars passing you on the right, that makes YOU the slowest traffic, and therefore need to move over. [/end of rant]

 

Vettes are different. There's no doubt about it. Other cars, like the Porsche, are also just as recognizable, but Vettes have a different image. IMO nothing produces envy quite as quick, but if you look at it like a compliment it's not so bad. I usually don't move quickly when the light changes, but half the time the car next to me won't move until I do. It's also amusing when Camaros and such catch up to me on the street, but slow down behind me. Most of the time when I'm stopped and need to pull into traffic someone is courteous, but the other cases aren't worth worrying about. I rarely get boxed in, but when it happens there are a bunch of others boxed in around me. When I do move out halfway quickly it is amusing to hear the strains of the few who try to stay with me. It's also amusing when a few try to show off. Most all of the time I let them move on with their ignorance, but occasionally if I catch up to them at the next light I hit it just enough to begin their education. It's all a part of driving a Corvette and it is the basis of the brotherhood (or sister if the case applies) that I think most of us feel. It is one of the reasons why I am greatly bothered when a brother casts all of us in a bad light by ignoring laws and upsetting or endangering others. That and putting another brother down because the hp in their vette isn't as high are the two greatest sins IMO. We do become a target for a few who have lost their way out there, but all things considered I wouldn't want to drive anything else.

 

I forgive ya.. I imagine driving in Miami is a big PITA

 

I think we've all been guilty of road rage at some time or other. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

I was in the middle lane of a 3 lane city street, that merged to two lanes on the other side of the light, the right lane merging into the middle lane where I was. There was no one beside me at the light, and when it changed and I was almost at the end of the merging section when a lady in a Camry came flying by me on the right and squeezed in front of me. I had to hit the brakes to keep from hitting her. What happened next was something to behold. The guy on my left, who was driving a beater and had observed the incident, pulled up beside the lady and matched her speed, which got her attention, and as soon as she looked over at him he swerved at her! She swerved to the right and hit the brakes. The guy then slowed down until he was beside me and grinned and gave me a big thumbs up. I know it was wrong, but I laughed my **** off.

 

i am actually worse when i drive my old ford "tarus" beater...in my Z i'm more cautious most of the time in those situations...but in the beater i almost feel like lets "swap paint idiot"..so thanks for this thread ..its a reminder, to just relax and realize it is stupid and dangerous, and not worth it..the Z's can be replace but we or others cannot.

 

STEVE04Z06

You should have pulled that guy over, shook his hand and offered to buy him a beverage of his choice!!

I have learned that it's more than often better left alone than challenged!!! There are too many crazy people running around that would rather pull up a gun and shoot rather than flee.

I live too close to Hartford and New Haven CT and see the news footage of all the shootings for STUPID reasons. I have mellowed a LOT since my yonger years!!! If I had the Z06 thirty years ago, dont know what would happen.

You have to also remember that, even if the other person is totaly in the WRONG and you do something to counted their stupidity, all they have to do is dial 911 and report you for reckless driving and the state boys will be all over your ****. They might not be able to arrest you but you will get pulled over!!

Bill C