Which Driving Habit Annoys You The Most?
June 5th, 2007 | by Brian Carr |While most of us try our best to avoid getting too worked up while we’re driving down the road, it seems that nearly all of us have that one pet peeve that will push us over the edge and turn a mundane commute into a terrible case of road rage, action packed full of swearing, hand gestures and white-knuckled driving.
Not surprisingly, it seems that we find it pretty difficult to agree on the one item that annoys us the most.
Here’s the breakdown of how people responded when Daily Fuel Economy Tip asked, “What’s the one thing that other drivers do that bothers you the most?”:
- 28% of respondents stated “tailgating”
- 23% of respondents stated “driving too slowly in the left lane”
- 21% of respondents stated “talking on their cell phone”
- 19% of respondents stated “waiting until the last second to merge”
- 9% of respondents stated “constantly tapping their brakes”
After listing out the five possible choices, it’s easy to see why the vote was so close. All of the choices are ridiculously annoying, so having to pick out the most annoying or bothersome of the lot was a pretty tough task.
That being said, I figured that “driving too slowly in the left lane” would have been the run away winner. For my money, there aren’t many things in life more aggravating than being in the “fast lane” stuck behind a slow driver.
And don’t even get me started on how enraging it is when another driver combines two or more of these annoying habits…
9 Responses to “Which Driving Habit Annoys You The Most?”
By cc on Jun 7, 2007 | Reply
Where do I begin? EVERYTHING about traffic annoys me. School busses annoy me. People that don’t use their signals to change lanes annoy me. Merging lanes drive me insane. Slow drivers in the left lane. People on their cell phones. I could go on. I think what annoys me the most if that there just is TOO much traffic. Northern Virginia is way overpopulated and the traffic shows that.
By Aaron on Jun 7, 2007 | Reply
19% of respondents stated “waiting until the last second to merge”
My city is full of 4-lane roads that quickly merge down to 2 within a quarter mile after passing through a traffic light. Your choices are either get in the left lane and sit through the light 4 times and increase the traffic congestion or go to the near-empty right lane and hope someone will let you merge. Often, you’ll come to the end of your lane and people still won’t let you through, forcing you to stomp on it and make your car fit in the line of traffic somewhere. It’s not so much bad driving as a bad road planning, and I’m sure both sides get fully annoyed with the other.
By Brian Carr on Jun 7, 2007 | Reply
Aaron - after sitting through all of that traffic and congestion, why are other drivers obligated to let you in simply because you chose to take the lane that you knew was about to end?
By cc on Jun 7, 2007 | Reply
Aaron - I agree with Brian. What you’re doing is just creating more aggravation. For the other drivers AND for yourself. I do agree that merging lanes cause road rage. It’s my major traffic pet peeve.
By Andy on Jun 9, 2007 | Reply
I talked to a “Traffic Engineer” about this. He said drivers are supposed to use both lanes up to the merge point and then “zipper” together. Merging early causes one long line instead of two short ones, and the ones that got into the long line end up getting mad because others are not. It is actually a case of drivers being too polite by not trying to anger others by merging early. If everyone was driving in both lanes to the merge point in comment 2, most likely no one would have to sit through four traffic light cycles.
By Baz L on Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
Let’s not forget sitting in the right lane at a light when you’re not turning right.
I usually take full advantage of turning right at a light to speed things up around town. I hate when people know they go straight and sit in my right lane.
The cell phones also piss me off.
By Brian Carr on Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
I agree, that’s pretty annoying. Funny how you said “my right lane.” It seems to be a common belief that we own the road and everyone else out there is lucky we’re letting them use it!
By Fuel Additive on Jun 22, 2007 | Reply
I have one for you that isn’t on the list. This might only be a Utah thing, but it drives me CRAZY when I signal to move over (with plenty of room to do so) and then the person speeds up so I can’t get over. Makes my blood boil every time….
By Matt Keegan on Jun 25, 2007 | Reply
Talking on the cell phone annoys me the most, even if it is legal in the area where I am driving. It just seems that drivers are not concentrating on driving when talking on the phone — how ridiculous is that? I am personally okay with hands free talking, but pulling over and chatting would be the best and safest option for all.