warrrreagl

I found it through Fark.

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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...tion-headlines

Most Drivers Admit They're Road Risks

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
Associated Press Writer

May 27, 2003, 6:59 AM EDT


WASHINGTON -- A majority of drivers admit they routinely speed, eat or even read while driving in a new poll designed to measure drivers' attitudes about safety.

Ninety-one percent of drivers of all ages acknowledged at least one risky activity in the previous six months, including 71 percent who said they sped; 59 percent who ate while driving; 37 percent who used a cell phone; 28 percent who wore no seatbelt and 26 percent who used no signal when turning. Fourteen percent admitted to reading while driving.

At the same time, drivers were likely to say that someone else on the road is more dangerous than they are. Drivers ages 26-44 were most likely to engage in risky driving, but when that age group was asked which drivers should be retested to make sure they're driving safely, 83 percent said seniors and 69 percent said teens. Only 56 percent said everyone should be retested.

"We worry about the car, the weather, the driver in front or behind us. But we don't spend nearly enough time worrying about our own driving habits," said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

Of those 65 and older, 68 percent said teens should be retested and 59 percent said seniors should be retested. Of those under 26, 83 percent said seniors should be retested and 47 percent said teens should be retested.

The survey, released Tuesday, was conducted for Volvo Cars of North America, AAA and Partners for Highway Safety as part of a new safety campaign.

The groups plan a Web site that invites drivers to test their knowledge of safe driving habits and learn about safe driving techniques. The group also plans to air a half-hour television special this summer on safe driving.

"So far, the focus has been on making cars and roads safer," AAA Vice President Susan Pikrallidas said. "But driving is a complex task and many of us have poor driving habits."

The drivers polled also said drivers have gotten more dangerous. Of those polled, 81 percent said cars are safer than in the past and 57 percent said roads are safer, but only 27 percent said drivers are safer.

The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. from May 13 to 16. It questioned 1,100 drivers ages 16 or older and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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What things do you see other drivers do that should be hanging offenses?

I have a long commute everyday, and it is often through construction areas. There are several wrecks each week caused by goofbags in a hurry, and as soon as the traffic clears a wreck site, the goofbags behind me nearly kill me and each other trying to jockey for position as soon as we pass by. It's like they don't even see the carnage or wonder how it got there.

Anything that makes another driver have to slam on the brakes should be a hanging offense.

__________________
Living is easy with eyes closed.

mtsgsd

Well, that should reduce the traffic congestion by about 80%. I see way too many people reading or doing makeup/hair while driving. A guy I saw recently was using one hand to hold his cell phone to his ear, and the other to gesticulate, or hold his head up. He was drivng with his knees. Badly. At 70mph. I don't mind people using a cell phone as long as they use some common sense for crying out loud!

warrrreagl

Hey, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you old fart!

__________________
Living is easy with eyes closed.

World's King

It really pisses me off when I get run over.

__________________
heavy is the head that wears the crown

icy_ca

No matter what speed you travel, the moron sitting right in your blind spot.

__________________
After all is said and done,
more is said than done.

Glory's Sun

well I speed, talk on the phone, and I don't wear a seatbelt..but I'm a good driver. I can drive the same if I'm on the phone or not. I think the thing that bothers me the most is people that don't know how to merge. Damn already push the gas pedal. Oh and old people that are afraid to go over 45, get off the interstate geesh. people that speed up and slow down constantly, people that hit the brakes every 2 seconds, and like icy_ca said.. those that stay in the blind spot.

spectre

People that cut me off just to drive slower then I am.
People that want me to drive faster (even though I'm driving well over the speed limit) so they tailgate me. (expect me to start driving at least 10 under the speed limit if you start that shit)
People who don't use turn signals properly!

__________________
"Fuck these chains
No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

mtsgsd

Thanks, I feel old. Hey, guess I what I got for a present? A lay-off notice! Whoo hoo!

Leander

The whole merge thing really gets to me. The freaking sign says yield, it doesn't say come to a complete stop and make sure there is no oncoming traffic for at least three miles.

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Just me and God, watching Scotty die..

warrrreagl

Oh, shit.

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Living is easy with eyes closed.

Daval

I routinely drive 20 km/h over the speed limit. But then again so does everyone else.

I do use a cell phone in the car - but I use a hands free thingy.

I do occasionally eat a burger or something in the car, but I limit it to things I can eat quickly and easily with one hand thats not messy.

I don't read in the car, but I have looked at a map that I have open on my lap or something to check a street or something if I am driving to an appointment.

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"It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
Winston Churchill

Charlatan

People who don't signal a lane change or a turn.
People who do rolling stops.
People that open their doors without looking to see if I might be riding by on my bike.
People listening to walkmans

I've used a cell phone and probably shouldn't.
I've eaten while driving but don't see it as a distraction (it wasn't a steak dinner it was just a hamburger and fries).
I've sped... who doesn't go at least 10Km/h over?

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Cynthetiq

aaargh... I hate all those people... I do my best to be a courteous and concientous driver...

that's it. I don't become an asshole.. i know that when I leave my house, I'm in the world that belongs to the dick, cunt, and asshole. So I do what I need to do and get home or to a safe refuge as soon as possible.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

boatguy234

00

cdwonderful

slow folks in the passing lane and cell phone users without head sets

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Never try to teach a pig to whistle
it wastes your time,
and annoys the pig.....

Phaenx

When people don't let you over. It's not much to ask someone to slow down 2 mph to open up a spot, and they won't even give you that, risking a serious accident. Assholes.

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"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

sierra2774

Just stupid people who dont know how to drive.

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"Every tomorrow brings new opportunities, challenges we must address...A chance to affirm all our wishes and dreams, to seek beauty and true happiness."

Slims

I read another study that said 98 percent of men, and 94 percent of women speed regularly.

And I have also read studies that have shown that speeding slightly actually decreses your chances of getting in an accident. both because you are going with the flow, and because you are usually a little more alert.

I don't have any links, although I can probably find some.

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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

Kllr Wolf

the people that think the passing lane is for matching sppeds with the slowest driver on the road. Tailgaters piss me off, and do the ones who have no clue what a blinker is used for then get pissed at you when they cut you off for not letting them in.
And those that stop when merging are real idiots also

__________________
Caffeine - the molecule of life.

Phaenx

This is probably true, since I slightly speed, and it goes hand in hand with my theory that I'm the greatest driver ever.

__________________
"I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

MSD

-Not signalling
-Waiting until the end of the merging land and only moving over fast enough to avoid the guard rail
-Tailgating
-Tailgating
-Tailgating
-The fifth person to run the red light (hey, maybe the first four genuinely thought they could make it)
-Tailgating
-People who will floor it past you when you're trying to change lanes so as not to let you in front of them
-Not Signalling
-People who don't think that 95mph is fast enough in bumper-to-bumper traffic

I need a sticker that says "If you can read this then don't get any fucking closer to my bumper, asshole!"

Dave Barry fans may recall the phrase "atomic land torpedos"
I think that is pretty self-explanatory.

The worst is when I pull inot the right lane to let a tailgater pass, and they maintain the same speed, giving me the indication that they just don't realize that there's something wrong with folowing so closely.

z1armedman

People that NEVER use their turn signals.

glasscutter43

As a courier driver, I can say that just about everybody out there chaps my ass, however, I always watch for the old man, wearing a hat, driving a Volvo with the blinker on.

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Book 'em Danno

Sun Tzu

Tailgaters

People that spped up when they see the blinker turn on; only to slow down once your over. I guess some take this as someone getting ahead of them in life; when all it truly means is they are in a hurry to stop.

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To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking

HiThereDear

slow drivers in the fast lane. c'mon, 70 on a 65mph freeway does not qualify you for the fastlane on a four lane highway.

Zotz

people who do not use turn signals

people who think using turn signals is an open license to change lanes and cut you off

slow drivers hogging the fast lane

people who litter/throw trash from their car onto the road

Rippley

People who don't commit... Be pedestrians who can't make up their mind to cross the street, drivers who can't commit to merge/turn/lane-change/whatever, after they've started. When I drive I drive consistently and don't hesitate after making a decision. And another thing, there should be a law, globally, recquiring handsfree-sets for those who wish to use their cell-phone while driving. No if's, and's or but's! If you need to talk on your cellphone when you're driving, make the investment. Up until 10 years ago, you didn't have the option, and you got along just fine... Grrrr!!

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roadrazer - 300kgs, 300hp = pure fun.

warrrreagl

Good responses, all.

I have a particular hatred for the people who pass me on the four-lane within a half-mile of their exit. I'm sure they're saving themselves at least three-quarters of a second by doing so instead of just driving behind me and waiting for the exit.

Southern drivers seem to have taken a secret vow to Prevent Whatever You Want To Do. If you want to change lanes, turn, speed up, pass somebody, or whatever, it doesn't matter. Southern drivers will counteract all of your traffic moves with no other visible purpose than to just fuck with you and stop you from doing whatever you're trying to do.

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Living is easy with eyes closed.

protoslacker

"Southern drivers seem to have taken a secret vow to Prevent Whatever You Want To Do. " Speaking as a South Carolina resident I have to say you are right about this. I have also noticed that towing a boat lowers your IQ by about 60 points.

gibber71

People who drive behind you for 10 minutes only to pass you and immediate hit their brakes to make a right turn. Couldn't have waited 5 seconds until the turn came up? No,just wanted to see me come to a grinding stop.

People who watch me approach them from 1500 feet out, only to turn in front of me when I'm 50 feet away.

People merging onto highways going 20 miles an hour only to have their stupidity outdone by the idiot who slows down to wave them in. That one should take the Good Samaritan Asshole Award everytime especially when everyone behind has to brake hard. Any transport drivers out there?

People who pass you on the highway only to slow down in front of you.When this happens repeatedly with the same driver,the pit maneuver becomes an option.

People who insist on parking in front of stores at strip malls blocking half the road when the parking lot is 10 feet away. Please,park in the parking lot and give your fat fucking lard ass the 5 minutes of exercise it gets before it lands back on the couch.

Well I feel better now,..

Big Julie

I pretty much expect the worst from other drivers, so I find I mutter 'dumbass' a lot when I'm driving, rather than get my panties in too much of a bunch.

The person having to park right in front of the store is pretty annoying, especially when I have to stop walking eight feet from the curb, so's they can slide on up to the door. The woman actually made eye contact with me, as if daring me to get in her way....

I do want to add one thing to the list:
People that don't belt their kids in. If you don't want to wear your seatbelt, that's fine by me. But a four year old doesn't understand what it is to become an instant projectile.

Read something a few years back, about some woman driving a Chrysler mini-van getting into a wreck, and either the side or back door popped off. Two of her kids were thrown free, and were killed.
It was a known problem with that particular model, so she sued. Successfully, I believe.
Nevermind that she hadn't had the kids strapped in, and had they been, they would have been fine...
Negligent homicide, anyone?

krwlz

I could pass a reytest no problem, but that does not mean I will stop driving the way I do the rest of the time...

Munku

85 year old ladies, who smoke, with their windows rolled up. Yes, sadly, I saw this lady a while back. The whole care was smoked up. And also people who sit too close to the wheel. Its like Hello Air Bag, please kill me.

Basket Case

I definitely agree with the people who watch you come for a couple of minutes and then decide to pull out in front of you when you are about 40 feet away, making you hit the brakes hard. Oh and also the pedestrians who can't quite decide whether they want to cross or not! Actually a lot of things piss me off when i'm driving, but i try to stay relatively calm.

denim

What chaps my ass while driving? Other traffic. It's my road, dammit.

JStrider

i drive a 93 ford explorer... i get in a lane... and sit there going my speed... i dont drive it like a sports car...
it really pisses me off when people sit in my blind spots...

and i get pissed of even more when someones tailgating me... better be careful... i might see a squirrel or rabbit run across the highway and slam on my brakes....

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-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

Mister Coaster

Speed Freaks... The people who ALWAYS, (no matter HOW FAST the flow of traffic is going) have to be the fastest person on the road. Slow the fuck down, as if 85 mph is not fast enough.

Lane Jockeys... The people who switch from lane to lane to lane (always without warning or signaling) in heavy traffic, in a futile attempt to get into the fastest moving lane. The whole freeway is jammed, you asshat, just acceot it.

Last Second Lane Changes... The road is wide open, nobody around for hundreds of yards. Some Speed Freak comes up and practically rear ends you before switching lanes to pass.

But the WORST one of all has to be the Carpool Lane Cheaters. Either crossing over the double yellow line or the single drivers who just drive in the carpool lane. I see this every day too. It drives me insane.

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If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

stazen

Ha i knew you were from SoCal before I even looked Mister Coaster...

But you describe me to a T

Andric

1) People who let the guy who used the emergency lane to pass a large number of vehicles in a traffic jam merge in front of them.
2) People who use the emergency lane to pass a large number of vehicles in a traffic jam.
3) People who don't use turn signals.
4) Tailgaters.
5) People who speed up and box me in when *I* use turn signals.
6) People who, when I get out of the left lane for them, slow down and box me in behind the slow traffic in the right lane that I didn't have time to get around first.
7) Tractor-Trailer drivers who think they own the road.
8) People who stop at the end of the entrance ramp.

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Wank-free since yesterday. Join the partnership for a wank-free tfp!

troit

People who camp out in the left hand lane and/or drive 50mph.

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I've yet to dephile myself...