You've finally driven me to it.
Today, we present the first Back-seat Readers' Top 10 Pet Peeves:
1. Drivers talking on hand-held cell phones
This one sends our readers' exclamation marks flying, especially when drivers team it with some other dumb act.
"When I see somebody doing something stupid such as not keeping up with traffic, or weaving in their lane, I'll look for the cell phone, and more often than not, it's there!" reader Keith Conant says.
Jason Beecroft: "When they're in the fast lane driving 64 mph, my blood boils!"
"Raise the fine!" says Jerry Gonsalves.
2. Windshield wipers on, but headlights off
Are people forgetful about this law, or do they just not care? Reader Norm Reyes bursts into capital letters just talking about it: "Don't these folks understand that it's not for them to see better, but for OTHER FOLKS TO SEE THEM!"
3. Slower drivers who won't move to the right
"There are plenty of traffic signs stating this concept," reader Joel Harrison offers. "If drivers would pay attention, I think there'd be a lot less road rage."
William Hamilton quips: "If road-rage were a disease, driving slow in the fast lane would be considered a 'carrier.' "
4. Not signaling a turn
It's uncool when it affects others. So why do we do it? Reader Donald Petron especially bemoans the drivers who slow to a crawl for seemingly no reason. Are they turning? Looking for a parking space? Did they run out of gas? Fall asleep? Give us a clue!
5. Refusing to let others merge
You signal a lane change, and suddenly the person in the next lane speeds up to block your move. (Maybe this is why some people don't signal beforehand.)
6. Tailgating
Some readers consider this the most assaultive thing a driver can do, short of ramming someone. "It is both deliberately antagonistic and dangerous," Jim Boone says.
7. Nosegating
Not sure what else to call it. It's when a driver slowly pulls in front of you from another street, driveway or parking spot, forcing you to brake. If you don't brake enough, suddenly you're the tailgater, even though you had the right of way.
8. Expired license tabs
"If I had a ticket book, I could write several tickets each day, just on the way home from work," reader J.J. Codd says.
9. "Merge diving"
Reader Mike Lee coined this phrase for freeway drivers who speed past the spot where everyone else is merging, and squeeze in ahead at the last minute. This is cutting in line, Lee points out, which we were taught not to do in kindergarten.
10. Running red lights "They should make that against the law!" reader Karl Tracy – of wry wit – suggests.
More peeves? We've got a handful of odd ones to relate sometime soon. See if they annoy you, too.
Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.
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