What is some of your Pet Peeve's

[Too many Kubotas]

It really surprised when after 10 years I got my California commercial license renewed by mail.

Of course, paying $7 or whatever it was sure beat spending the better part of a day taking a test again.

 

[WinterDeere]

I often wonder if we should be retested occasionally.

Maybe not the driving component, as moving violation history is probably a better indicator of competence there, than any 15 minute driving test. But yes, I think most people could use a refresh on the written component, every 10 years. If nothing else, it'd force everyone to pull up a copy of the study guide to refresh the old, and learn what new laws have passed/changed.

 

[bcp]

The last written test I took had many non-driving questions.

"What is the minimum fine for 2nd offense drunk driving?"

Bruce

 

[JasperFrank]

Maybe not the driving component, as moving violation history is probably a better indicator of competence there, than any 15 minute driving test. But yes, I think most people could use a refresh on the written component, every 10 years. If nothing else, it'd force everyone to pull up a copy of the study guide to refresh the old, and learn what new laws have passed/changed.

True that. We have got all these Ped crossings now. Some just give a RED. Which I think says you stop till it changes to Green. Some give a flashing RED, like you need to Stop, but then can proceed. And some give a flashing, Yellow. I stop for solid and flashing Red. Most people don't stop for flashing RED, they read it as a flashing Yellow. And no one has any idea how to deal with the Yellow light Peds crossings. Do you wait till the lights go off? Is there a traffic infraction, if you see no one and proceed? Even the DMV could not clear this one up.

 

[WinterDeere]

True that. We have got all these Ped crossings now. Some just give a RED. Which I think says you stop till it changes to Green. Some give a flashing RED, like you need to Stop, but then can proceed. And some give a flashing, Yellow. I stop for solid and flashing Red. Most people don't stop for flashing RED, they read it as a flashing Yellow. And no one has any idea how to deal with the Yellow light Peds crossings. Do you wait till the lights go off? Is there a traffic infraction, if you see no one and proceed?

Keep in mind that these systems are all created by very fallible people! It's possible it's a non-conforming system, which made sense in some planner's head, but isn't technically legal.

Around here, we have a lot of right-turn signals, essentially a right-turn arrow that changes from green to yellow to red. Most people treat a red right arrow as, "Ye shall not turn right." But this is wrong, you can always turn right on a red light in PA, no matter whether it's round or shaped like an arrow, as long as the crossing is not posted with a "NO TURN ON RED" sign.

Routinely, I get stuck behind someone waiting on a red arrow, somehow confused that they cannot turn on it, because the right turn signal is red. Bad signage, combined with people who haven't kept up with changes in signage over the last 40 years.

Other intersections just have the green and yellow arrows, defaulting back to the red circle when the green or yellow arrow aren't lit. Same meaning, but much less confusing. Wouldn't it be nice if the people building intersections were at least remotely consistent, in making these things?

 

[JasperFrank]

Keep in mind that these systems are all created by very fallible people! It's possible it's a non-conforming system, which made sense in some planner's head, but isn't technically legal.

If some people were so minded, they could shut the entire city traffic down, just by setting off all the Ped crossing lights.

 

[Jstpssng]

Something I just learned (or perhaps relearned) is that, in this state all of those yellow and black speed signs for curves and other blind spots are merely advisory. Statute speed limits of course are in Black and White.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Something I just learned (or perhaps relearned) is that, in this state all of those yellow and black speed signs for curves and other blind spots are merely advisory.

To me those mean that I should be able to take the turn at about twice the speed posted on the yellow warning sign.

But there's one 35 mph curve in particular where I know I can't exceed 35, even with good tires and AWD. When there's snow covered ice on the road, that is.

 

[masseyrider]

Agreed. There isn't much that European countries do better than us, but this is definitely one place they have us beat, as they make it much more difficult and expensive to get a driver's license.

You haven't driven in Italy or France in the big cities.
The gas pedal, the brake pedal, are all connected directly to the horn and expressive middle finger.
You don't want to drive anywhere in Ukraine.

 

[WinterDeere]

You haven't driven in Italy or France in the big cities.
The gas pedal, the brake pedal, are all connected directly to the horn and expressive middle finger.
You don't want to drive anywhere in Ukraine.

Hah... actually, I have! And you're right, they're terrible.

When I say "Europe", my mind so often goes back to Germany, as I've spent more time in that country than all others combined.

Italy is a mess:

Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

An Austrian with only his Steyr T80 available for corn hauling... i hope he doesnt pull up to an intersection without air brakes on the tractor... Yeah. Urban New Delhi 2004. :oops: Well at least he has a horn - maybe. Those are concrete fence segments.

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[bigtiller]

Something I just learned (or perhaps relearned) is that, in this state all of those yellow and black speed signs for curves and other blind spots are merely advisory. Statute speed limits of course are in Black and White.

You're right, until you meet the leader of the blue click.

I was stopped by an Iowa trooper one day and I was loosing that discussion. So I just shut up and let him scold me until he was happy.

Later I asked a friend who also was an Iowa trooper if the signs were law or advisory. His answer...what ever that trooper said, would be the law. AND he could also right me up for careless driving.

 

[BravoXray]

When my daughter's family lived in The Netherlands a few years ago, my SIL got a ticket for not waiting until the gates were all the way up and the flashing lights off before crossing at a rail crossing. My daughter go a ticket when she got confused and got into a bus only lane.

 

[WinterDeere]

You're right, until you meet the leader of the blue click.

I was stopped by an Iowa trooper one day and I was loosing that discussion. So I just shut up and let him scold me until he was happy.

Later I asked a friend who also was an Iowa trooper if the signs were law or advisory. His answer...what ever that trooper said, would be the law. AND he could also right me up for careless driving.

In situations like this, you're always best to just keep your mouth shut, and let him write the speeding ticket. You can have it thrown away when you go to court, if the reported speed was not actually above the limit.

Argue, and the ticket may morph into something you can't argue out of. Careless and wreckless driving both pack a bigger punch than typical speeding, at least in PA.

 

[Eagle1]

In situations like this, you're always best to just keep your mouth shut, and let him write the speeding ticket. You can have it thrown away when you go to court, if the reported speed was not actually above the limit.

Argue, and the ticket may morph into something you can't argue out of. Careless and wreckless driving both pack a bigger punch than typical speeding, at least in PA.

As a ticket collector in my youth that was the lesson I passed to my kids. The side of the road is not the place to argue with a cop. Pleasant conversation may get you a lesser charge or warning. Being difficult and unpleasant will not help. If the cop was wrong you go to court and win or the cop won't show and you get it dismissed.

 

[Oaktree]

It really surprised when after 10 years I got my California commercial license renewed by mail.

Of course, paying $7 or whatever it was sure beat spending the better part of a day taking a test again.

$7 to renew your license? And a commercial one at that?
I just paid $65 to renew mine and upgrade to a real ID license.

True that. We have got all these Ped crossings now. Some just give a RED. Which I think says you stop till it changes to Green. Some give a flashing RED, like you need to Stop, but then can proceed. And some give a flashing, Yellow. I stop for solid and flashing Red. Most people don't stop for flashing RED, they read it as a flashing Yellow. And no one has any idea how to deal with the Yellow light Peds crossings. Do you wait till the lights go off? Is there a traffic infraction, if you see no one and proceed? Even the DMV could not clear this one up.

I don't know if they still do it, but in Mass. I've seen flashing green lights at some intersections or crosswalks. No idea what that means.

 

[Oaktree]

As a ticket collector in my youth that was the lesson I passed to my kids. The side of the road is not the place to argue with a cop. Pleasant conversation may get you a lesser charge or warning. Being difficult and unpleasant will not help.

Yeah. I totally don't get people who think they're going to gain anything by arguing with a cop.

Being polite and deferential has paid off for me...once got pulled over for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Cop ran my license and saw no priors on it. He told me he wasn't about to be the one to ruin that record and just told me to take it easy next time.

 

[masseyrider]

Hah... actually, I have! And you're right, they're terrible.

When I say "Europe", my mind so often goes back to Germany, as I've spent more time in that country than all others combined.

Italy is a mess:

Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

An Austrian with only his Steyr T80 available for corn hauling... i hope he doesnt pull up to an intersection without air brakes on the tractor... Yeah. Urban New Delhi 2004. :oops: Well at least he has a horn - maybe. Those are concrete fence segments.

www.tractorbynet.com

One of my neighbors was originally from Italy.
When he had his outlaws visit for a few weeks his father in law couldn't get over how orderly the nearby 4 way stop intersection was.
He watched it for hours, totally transfixed.
People stopped, waited their turn and went.
He said in Italy nobody would have paid any attention to the stop signs.

In Eastern Europe almost everyone has a dashcam. Only way to prove who hit who or caused what.
If you want to trigger a heart attack just go for a Taxi ride in Kiev.
I don't recommend country roads as they'll jostle you innards so badly sea sickness would be welcome.
Hit my head on the roof more than a few times. No snide comments please.
Probable reason the Ruskies haven't won the war is their tanks can't handle the roads.
Might be better off mounting 50 calibers on the roofs of old Ladas sort of like the jeeps in The Rat Patrol.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

$7 to renew your license? And a commercial one at that?
I just paid $65 to renew mine and upgrade to a real ID license.

Okay, it could've been $17, I don't remember.

To me, anything less than $100 in California felt like a bargain.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

In situations like this, you're always best to just keep your mouth shut, and let him write the speeding ticket. You can have it thrown away when you go to court, if the reported speed was not actually above the limit.

Argue, and the ticket may morph into something you can't argue out of. Careless and wreckless driving both pack a bigger punch than typical speeding, at least in PA.

Many years ago I was WAY over the speed limit. I just knew court was going to be bad so in preparation I took drivers ed classes because in Virginia that knocks off 3 points. Easy class and I passed. Last day I told instructor what happened and she said "well if you get a nice judge he won't charge you".
So I go to court handing the judge my drivers ed certificate marked "A+" saying I spoke with the instructor. Judge asked "And what did she say?" "She said if you were nice you'd let me go". He started laughing and said case dismissed as he hit with his gavel.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

You can have it thrown away when you go to court, if the reported speed was not actually above the limit.

Hmm. I used to get my (well deserved) share of speeding tickets, but would've definitely went to court if the reported speed was lower than the speed limit.

EDIT: Went back and read the prior posts. Yeah, no kidding, if you exceed the warning posted for high loads etc. so what? Those warnings are not speed limits.