Really bad and terrible drivers

[Bigblockyeti]

I don't know how y'all in a big class A do it. Navigating between arrogant (and often underpowered) semis, folks that simply aren't paying attention, those who seem intent on keeping you from being able to change lanes (I suspect more often than not this is pure ignorance than malice) and those who are impatient enough to pass immediately on the right as soon as they have inches to spare.

My big vehicle experience is mostly with a 2006 26' flatbed International 4300, ~200hp DT466E w/Eaton 6 speed manual. That I put maybe 40K miles on in a few years. Later was a cranked up Dodge 2500 Cummins pulling a 45' Featherlite @~ 25K GCW. That was down right scary pulling through Chicago where malice was likely present as there's no way that many people could be ignorant. Neither of these I would want to have to drive regularly anymore given the poor quality of drivers on the road today.

It seems every time I hit the highway people are getting worse and worse. Last Saturday I hit the road for the beach (in a minivan with ample power to not slow down on hills) at 4:28am and it was the most pleasurable drive I've had in a while due to the low traffic and abscence of a holes on the road. Coming home early today was better than expected but I did have one semi passing another (in a no trucks over 6 wheels in left lane zone) at 67mph in a 70 zone at +1mph over the slower semi. I can't understand why these drivers feel the law written and displayed specifically to them isn't something they need to adhere too, perhaps a minimum $1000 ticket along with better enforcement would help? Then an impatient Silverado 2500 driver passed me on the right on an onramp because the silver Highlander in the left lane was only going +3mph faster than me. The Silverado had handicap tags too, apparently their handicap is not driving recklessly?

I'm sure several of you have stories if not video of some truely terrible drivers completely ignorant of the danger they're putting others in because of their self entitlement.

 

[Rich W.]

I’ve come to realize that going slower than the flow of traffic can actually be beneficial rather than dangerous if done right. The fast, impatient, and/or reckless drivers (some obviously racing each other) seem to run in packs and they pass me rather quickly as I plod along around 60 or so in the slow lane. If I’ve irritated them I never know because by the time they realize they’re PO’d at me they are already a mile down the road - too far for me to see any birds flying. I do have to wait it out behind slower trucks from time to time waiting for a hole to open up in the traffic so I can get around and be on my way but I’m not in a hurry so I just roll with it. Literally.

One thing that does trouble me, and that I really watch out for, is people cutting across in front of me at literally the last second to make it to an exit (I’ve had to brake hard for them more than a few times), and people crossing a gore point (in either direction) in front of me, which has caused a couple sudden braking episodes. This is a troubling trend because once you are several hundred yards down an exit you are concentrating on the traffic in front of you and you’d think you no longer have to worry about folks still on the freeway. But I’ve been wrong about that a couple times. My strategy is to cover the brake and try to keep 4-6 seconds stopping distance, but in heavy traffic that is a challenge too.

Best thing for me is to avoid the heavy traffic periods around cities which I factor in to my trip planning. That and choosing a truck in front of me that is on a long leg going about my speed and just staying behind him for as many miles as possible keeping my preferred stopping distance. People recognize that we’re going the same speed and pass us both. And if its a little slower than I want to go and I start to get impatient, I just do the math and realize that the extra 3 or 4 miles per hour will only save me about a half hour in a 400-450 mile day, which is the most I try to accomplish these days. Also better on fuel that way.

So yeah there are a lot of crazy people and I use a dash cam just in case, but I’ve developed a strategy that pretty much makes me invisible, or at least not a factor, in the race to the next gas station that seems to take place on the freeways. I also often notice the same vehicles passing me two and sometimes three times in the same day since I don’t have to stop for fuel all day.

 

[Neemer]

Let me grab my grumpy old man hat before posting this.

Cruising along in the slow lane at a MPH or two below the speed limit opens up a whole new world in that you can see how the general public really drives. If I was restricted to driving along the eastern seaboard, I would sell my rig and do something else. I really do not enjoy driving I-95, I-81, I-85, or I-75 anymore. And I won’t even address heading north into or around that DC mess. It’s discouraging to say the least.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

You didn't hit the topic yet! Due to restrictions on travel when pulling a oversized load, avoiding rush hour is not always an option (did you guess I'm a DIYer?). In places like San Diego, where lanes come and go, and you must stay on the route on your permit! Changing lanes is nessisary!

However 55, the legal speed, has you needing to change lanes with the people (I have my own choice of names), flying around both sides of you!

So I developed my own strategy for lane changes!!!
First and foremost prepare your plan!
Memorize the lane you must be in for safe travels!
Get in those lanes as soon as they become avaliable!
And when the "people" won't let you change lanes to make your turn! Act like you are having trouble keeping your rig under control! I do this by swerving just enough to make the "people" behind me afraid to pass!

It amazes me to see when someone fears for their life, how considerate they become!!!

 

[Wemustrv]

I have figured out that driving through the big cities can be a bit challenging. I just get in a mind set that it may take some time and there will be those Other drivers out there and just adjust my brain and go on. What does get me steamed up is anyone who decides to cut me off for no reason. You know the ones there is traffic around and no ramp or need they just do it. I am at or over 70' long and I do not stop quickly. I now travel with my Garmin 890 RV GPS dash cam running in case of one folks causes an issue. Happy Trails to You!

 

[jbh]

The best ways to avoid horrible, crazy drivers is to avoid Interstates and avoid large cities.

 

[team bradfield]

Over the years it does appear to be worse, people don't follow common sense rules, guess they were raised without a Daddy to teach them the rules of the road. I get by with being prepared to be amazed at the idiots out there, as @Rich W. mentioned the worst are the drivers that cut in front of you at an exit, my Bus goes into "prepare to die" mode and brakes hard, not fun

 

[GypsyR]

Most of my peeves are demonstrated on the five lane state highway that is my commute to work.
Firstly, left lane campers. One time I was in a fully marked police cruiser (not mine) tailing a Honda in the left lane. I was so tempted to hit the lights. I watched them steadily and apparently nervously eyeing me in their rearview. At the point we were both passed on the right by a big yellow school bus full of kids I gave up and went around the idiot. No idea what the obsession is with slow drivers and the left lanes. I've even thought up bumper stickers:
"South Carolina Slow Lane" with an arrow pointing left.
Or an arrow pointing left that says "NOT the slow lane".
Haven't done it because I assume the people doing this probably can't read anyway. Like the signs already on this road that say "Slower traffic keep right."

Second is exit fiends. Since I drive this road all the time and have for many years, I'm well aware that sometimes we get surprise speed traps. So while I'm not a slow driver, I don't fly. (They already got me at 20 over once.) So though I'm not going really fast, I'm not loitering either. In the right lane. So there's a sort of exit that's heavily traveled on this road. I can't count how many times someone's come around me just in time to brake to make that exit. Forcing me to stand on MY brakes for no other good reason. We're talking tenths of seconds they might have gained by not just hanging behind me. Someone did it this morning.

Kind of puts me in between a rock and a hard place. These people braking right in front of me annoy the heck out of me yet I don't go fast enough to feel I need to be in the left lane. After preaching about other people loitering in that lane. Sometimes I take the scenic route home just to avoid the left lane idiocy.

 

[Rich W.]

This is why I try not to use the far right lane when traversing cities and I’m pretty sure its why the truckers don’t either. There are times when I end up in the far right lane where there are exits and when I do I’m really on my guard for this because it is common and dangerous. Its also how I found out that while the ABS works fine on the coach, my jeep brakes lock up under hard braking (M&G air brake system, jeep key off) creating a lot of noise and smoke.

 

[Amartinrolly]

The number of terrible drivers seems to increase every year. No wonder costs for everything keep going up.

 

[Fish]

I've got state farm drive safe and save on my terrain, saves me $300 is the only reason I put up with the aggravation. So I have to drive the speed limit. Other people really hate that. I seem to be the only person on the road driving the speed limit. Luckily I don't drive it much, it sits in my shop all winter with a battery tender on it.

In the Camelot I'm in the right lane never going more than 65 and that also makes a lot of people mad. If I'm in a city with lots of on ramps I'll move into the middle lane, since people don't seem to know how to merge on the interstate.

 

[LMHS]

I try to avoid the interstates and run US and State highways. That said, I also understand that there are a lot of slower drivers on the rural highways. I understand that there are a lot of people who think the speed limit doesn't apply to them. I understand there are a lot of drivers that are driving "distracted" due to cellphones, pets, kids, radios, passengers, etc. I figure I need to drive defensively. And expect stupidity from all drivers. If someone gets near me, I keep a sharper eye on them.

As for truckers... like any one driving any vehicle, there are good drivers and bad drivers. Generally I feel safer with a trucker than I do with another RVer (unless it's a logging truck or a Swift driver.... which seems to be the same thing or they just drive the same). I've had far more near misses with RVers than I've had with truckers. And there's more truckers on the highways I travel than there are RVs.

RVers tend to think they are either entitled or they are unconscious as to what size their RV is. I'm leaning towards "entitled". I generally assume that if they are traveling with a little dog/cat (or two) wandering around on the dash, then they are an accident waiting to happen. I try to stay as far away from them as I can.

Another good example are the idiots that are currently parked next to me. When they backed in, they took out the 4X4 post with the site number on it... along with my now flattened solar stick light ON a thin pole that stuck up about 40" above the ground. I've noticed they haven't bothered to apologize for running it down and they've been here 3 days so far. Currently their big truck used to tow their fiver is parked so it is into the single lane drive by about 3 ft. How considerate of them. My old jeep is parked across the drive in the overflow parking and it's a good thing because they would have taken out my jeep otherwise. As it is, I checked to see if they had hit it when they backed their fiver into the site. And I will check every day while they are here. It's THIS mindset that indicates a bad driver.

I live in an RV park and have since 2005. I've watched a lot of bad drivers on interior park roads. I cringe to think they are out on the highways.

 

[AbdRahim]

Drivers education, at least, as I remember it from the days of brontosaurus, does not spend enough time on the subject of driving around large vehicles. And worse, I would guess that most RVers are not only missing this, they have no training or education with regard to driving their rigs.

When I bought my first trailer, never having pulled anything before. My training was twice around the parking lot and an attempt to back up. I informed the tech that I could not see the back of the trailer. His response (sitting in the passenger seat) was that he could see it just fine. ”Ok, enjoy your trailer”. Training over.Makes you feel real safe. Fortunately, I have been on the road with, talked to and studied the movements and challenges of truck drivers fir 40 years before this experience.

When I bought this rig, I took the RV Driving School course. Though I was driving it well, by then, it was greatly helpful, as the instructor took me to some more difficult places. It was nice to know ahead of time how to successfully maneuver in these situations without damaging anything. It was also reassuring to hear the instructor tell me that most of what he had to teach me, I already knew.

There is no excuse fir ignorance today. One can learn any subject today on the internet. There is enough info on the internet such that one can be well prepared, knowing how these things move, how long they take to stop, safe distances etc, before ever getting in the driver’s seat. But, I guess to some, ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, also very dangerous and sometimes fatal.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I try to avoid the interstates and run US and State highways. That said, I also understand that there are a lot of slower drivers on the rural highways. I understand that there are a lot of people who think the speed limit doesn't apply to them. I understand there are a lot of drivers that are driving "distracted" due to cellphones, pets, kids, radios, passengers, etc. I figure I need to drive defensively. And expect stupidity from all drivers. If someone gets near me, I keep a sharper eye on them.

As for truckers... like any one driving any vehicle, there are good drivers and bad drivers. Generally I feel safer with a trucker than I do with another RVer (unless it's a logging truck or a Swift driver.... which seems to be the same thing or they just drive the same). I've had far more near misses with RVers than I've had with truckers. And there's more truckers on the highways I travel than there are RVs.

RVers tend to think they are either entitled or they are unconscious as to what size their RV is. I'm leaning towards "entitled". I generally assume that if they are traveling with a little dog/cat (or two) wandering around on the dash, then they are an accident waiting to happen. I try to stay as far away from them as I can.

Another good example are the idiots that are currently parked next to me. When they backed in, they took out the 4X4 post with the site number on it... along with my now flattened solar stick light ON a thin pole that stuck up about 40" above the ground. I've noticed they haven't bothered to apologize for running it down and they've been here 3 days so far. Currently their big truck used to tow their fiver is parked so it is into the single lane drive by about 3 ft. How considerate of them. My old jeep is parked across the drive in the overflow parking and it's a good thing because they would have taken out my jeep otherwise. As it is, I checked to see if they had hit it when they backed their fiver into the site. And I will check every day while they are here. It's THIS mindset that indicates a bad driver.

I live in an RV park and have since 2005. I've watched a lot of bad drivers on interior park roads. I cringe to think they are out on the highways.

Having been a camp host for a few years has taught me that you are correct. Watching a lot of folks in action trying to maneuver their rigs down "narrower" but not really narrow roads and then attempting to back into a site (and not just trailers) at times had me running for cover. We never buried posts deeper than 6 - 8 inches because they wouldn't break off at such a short depth. Buying new posts all the time is expensive. Concrete filled steel tubing or big rocks are used to protect services for a reason. I have rarely seen this type of armor used where truckers hang out

Darrell

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Sorry guys! I don't think size matters. My trips to the stores seals that opinion. Seems observation in a store gives one an idea who to stay away from on the road!

I believe you learn at home to respect life, or things.

If life is what you protect, you will likely be able to handle your rig.

If things are what you covet, then insurance is your thing, to hell with others.

I had drivers training in junior high, without behind the wheel training. The rest of my training was next to my mom. Other than that I learned as I go. I've hauled some awesome loads, with nair a problem, but I value all life and drive like insurance was nonexistent.

I know someone that had a quote for insurance.

The agent laughed at him when he said he wanted the same coverages, he had maintained. The agent said that coverage would only keep him out of jail!!!
Later that evening he told his wife he was going to need to change the way he drove.

I think that just about says it all!!!

 

[sanda]

I try to avoid the interstates and run US and State highways. That said, I also understand that there are a lot of slower drivers on the rural highways. I understand that there are a lot of people who think the speed limit doesn't apply to them. I understand there are a lot of drivers that are driving "distracted" due to cellphones, pets, kids, radios, passengers, etc. I figure I need to drive defensively. And expect stupidity from all drivers. If someone gets near me, I keep a sharper eye on them.

As for truckers... like any one driving any vehicle, there are good drivers and bad drivers. Generally I feel safer with a trucker than I do with another RVer (unless it's a logging truck or a Swift driver.... which seems to be the same thing or they just drive the same). I've had far more near misses with RVers than I've had with truckers. And there's more truckers on the highways I travel than there are RVs.

RVers tend to think they are either entitled or they are unconscious as to what size their RV is. I'm leaning towards "entitled". I generally assume that if they are traveling with a little dog/cat (or two) wandering around on the dash, then they are an accident waiting to happen. I try to stay as far away from them as I can.

Another good example are the idiots that are currently parked next to me. When they backed in, they took out the 4X4 post with the site number on it... along with my now flattened solar stick light ON a thin pole that stuck up about 40" above the ground. I've noticed they haven't bothered to apologize for running it down and they've been here 3 days so far. Currently their big truck used to tow their fiver is parked so it is into the single lane drive by about 3 ft. How considerate of them. My old jeep is parked across the drive in the overflow parking and it's a good thing because they would have taken out my jeep otherwise. As it is, I checked to see if they had hit it when they backed their fiver into the site. And I will check every day while they are here. It's THIS mindset that indicates a bad driver.

I live in an RV park and have since 2005. I've watched a lot of bad drivers on interior park roads. I cringe to think they are out on the highways.

These people not only lack driving skills but also don't understand campground etiquette.

 

[GypsyR]

Went "to town" on our normal Saturday run. It was like one idiot after another. One sample was us on a literally otherwise empty five lane cruising in the left lane and a BMW comes steaming off the interstate, straight across the right lane and directly in front of us so I had to brake. Causing me to go off a bit. At the third such incident causing me to....comment, my wife said, "Well you're just road raging." I replied that I darn well wasn't there just seemed to be an excess of idiots out tonight.

So we went to a store and nosed into a parking spot like normal. Fairly crowded and busy place. Not easy to find a good parking spot. Came back out to find a car parked almost diagonally across the two spaces facing our car. I just pointed at it with my hand and my wife said "OK, OK, maybe you have a point."

Oddly enough, the trip back home was idiot free. Like a box of chocolates...

 

[MFJ]

I don't know if it's gotten better or worse with drivers. I live in an area that's gotten more populated over time, so when I feel that drivers are getting worse I think it's just that I'm seeing more of them. What legit scares me is when I'm towing and your options to maneuver safely uncomfortably dwindle.

Last summer I went to visit my Aunt and we took our trailer with us to sleep in. Traveling down Rt. 40 near Ohiopyle for those familiar. We're in a line of traffic coming up on a stop light where the road merges into one lane. We have some guy behind us trying to merge over in my lane, which has a line of traffic. Getting up to the merge, now he's hanging out beside out trailer. Not by the truck where I could reasonably slow to give space, but near the axle of our 31' trailer. He decides the best way to merge was to speed up and cut right in front of us, and I mean less than maybe 2 car lengths. I tell you what, I almost wish we hit him so I can get his license off our dash cam and go after him because I was p@#$ed. What I can say is that the trailer brakes worked very well and thank god we were already slowing.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

The best ways to avoid horrible, crazy drivers is to avoid Interstates and avoid large cities.

So my 5 or so years in Deming NM showed me that people on surface streets are kind and considerate(not!!!). I have come to believe foot travel is the only way to avoid the "people" we are talking about!!! well, I don't think that works either, as I hear peds get mowed down too

 

[old timer]

I find that most people are compliant and then there is the ones that never towed anything or driven any thing big.