Like most of you I drive to work in the morning and return in the evening and not much happens. I like to think I share the road evenly with other users. However, during the last few weeks I have noticed some drivers playing "delaying games" with the traffic or is it just a coincidence? When stationary at a stop or giveway intersection the car in front of me waits to make a left or right turn. On most occassions when there is a reasonable break in the moving traffic the car in front will make their turn and there is often enough of a break for a second car to also turn. The new trend I have noticed is that the car in front of me will delay making their turn until the last second even when there was ample time to make the turn earlier. That is, hold everyone up until only they are able to complete the turn. I have also noticed that it is becomming more common at a set of turning traffic lights, that the car in front on seeing a green turning light waits for many seconds to actually make the turn....delaying to the point where the second vehicle is met with a red turn light and cannot make the turn. I'm not an impatient person and I'm in no more of a rush to get to work or home than anyone else but is it me, just a coincidence or have others noticed this increasingly common and selfish behaviour? Just curious. Cheers
It doesn't make sense to me This behavior has no benefit, that I can see, so why would they intentionally choose to do it? Keep in mind that not all cars can take off like a Zed or perhaps you're becoming more alert as you get older and a 1 second delay may seems like 5 seconds.
My theory is this...... When we are in our Z's, (least when i'm in my Z) without trying, we get around corners, through traffic lights AWAY FROM POLICE As quick as we can... It's just a Z thing. Fate... Tellin it like it is.
I think a lot of drivers have their brain in neutral and the gear stick up their arse:wacko: I am amazed at how long it takes some people to move once the light goes green, and if you're the 5th car back it can sometimes be what seems like 20 seconds before you get to move. Cliff
The thing is, even at a 20 second delay, over say, 10 sets of lights, you've still only added 3 minutes to your journey. What's the big deal. At least the arsehole who delayed you is now well gone. However, John, I agree that if the people in front are deliberately delaying those behind, their mean-minded attitude is disturbing.
No big deal Doug But I am looking forward to retiring to a town without traffic lights:LOL::LOL::LOL: Might be even safe to ride my pushbike again.:thumbsup:
I'll have you know that I was quite dashing in my early days when I used to race. (not quite as good as Lance Armstrong though:LOL
Deliberate - or lacking confidence? I prefer to think that when this happens it is not a deliberate delaying tactic (??? - why!!??) but a driver who doesn't know or trust their own spacial judgement to determine whether the break in traffic is long enough or traffic is approaching slowly enough for them to move into the gap.
Re: Deliberate - or lacking confidence? I live near a very busy corner and Ive seen so many T-Bones because people misjudge the break in traffic. Or when the lights change someone runs the orange/red. Better to be safe and wait than be a spot on the road IMHO.
INTERESTING FACT: I read somewhere, a study proved that females are worse at judging the on coming speed & distance of objects than males.
Yes. Females don't have the same spacial grasp as men. Not a sexist comment but fact. The area of the brain associated with space and direction is larger in a males brain. Though, women are often better drivers then men as they're not as reckless or over-confident! Back to the point, I think it's just folks being cautious
Agree there egg, being female and a fairly confident driver I still like an 'obvious' gap when pulling into moving traffic, the amount of times I have been told "you could of gone then" :angry: or the all time favorite "Waiting for an invite?".AND if you try to get out too quick you go nowhere then everywhere! messy
Yep, it's hard for females to judge the gap in traffic..... especially when their concentration is set on what colour seat covers would look best in the oncoming car[/COLOR=blue] :LOL:
I coined a phrase for this ages ago I called it spacial deficit syndrome "SDS". I am always in total awe at the total inability of a lot of women and old folks to judge time and distance. Also their inability read the requirements of being able to put themselves in a position to take advantage of breaks in traffic. I have got a lot more tolerant than I was a few years ago. But it still peaves me how people can be so unconcerned about the time taken to negotiate traffic situations that hold other motorists up. Keep in mind the alternative though. If they thought they where tuned in properly and took risks. Imagine how many accidents there would be!! Bloody hell they would be dropping like flys. Maybe better to tolerate them, as the alternative is disasterous.
I've just accepted the fact 80 is the most I can go in any 100 zone to & from work - people just don't care about the dozen or more cars banking up behind them. Also, roundabouts, people are so desperate not to have to give way to one car that they will come hurtling onto the roundabout, hit the skids, then drive off at a normal pace, happily having made someone else wait. Oh, and if you get held up at 10 sets of lights it can be anywhere from 20-50 minutes depending how long the light cycle takes to come back a full circle, NOT 20 seconds per set of lights. end rant.
Road Rage symptoms ? So long as State Government's focus on revenue raising instead of old-fashioned policing of basic road rules, poor driving etiquette will increase & is IMHO, the primary cause of Road Rage. I see similar examples on the GC>BNE M1 ... drivers hogging the RH lane [of 4!!!!] doing just on & sometimes below the posted limit. It will no doubt get worse until motoring groups rally together and lobby Parliamentarians. Where better to start lobbying support than yr backyard???
traction sometimes it is slightly hard to judge the distance and gap in traffic but then us all being z owners we know we have to allow for wheel spin time and to actually get traction and make it thru the gap, but it does bring a laugh at time to see the reactions of ppl's face in the oncoming car
