Common driving Laws that are rarely followed

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Easy. The driver going straight through. Interesting that not many people know this.

I think it's probably because you get harped on for 4-way stop procedures, then you just automaticall apply it to two way (guy who gets there first).
I seriously drove like that for about 5 years until my g/f corrected me. Now it's so obvious.

[awildermode]

since this has not quite died yet, i wrote these a while back (so far three entries):

Tips From An Asian Driver

I think I am going to start a series. It may well be a series of one. Let me start with a little introduction.

I am Asian...and when I am driving my Asian Import car, that makes me an Asian Driver. So, I am an expert on the subject. I really do not care about the stereotypes of Asian drivers...actually, they are all true. With that in mind, I will give tips to other drivers. Like you, I usually give these same tips to drivers on the road as I am driving. Because we all know that the best driver on the road is yourself and everyone is stupid or crazy.

Without further delay, I present you with...lane changes.

First rule, LOOK BEFORE YOU CHANGE LANES!!!

Signal before you make a lane change. Give at least three clicks of the signal light before making your move. Then, look again and make sure you have enough space and driver in other lane gives you the opening. Make your lane change, thank the car behind you with a simple wave. Pretty simple.

There are other factors involved. When merging into another lane, do it smoothly. If I can see through your driver's side window and through your passenger window, you are doing it totally wrong. Move back two spaces, lose a turn.

You should also only cross one set of lane dividers. If at any time your vehicle crosses more than one set, two things happened. You did not look, and you most likely did not signal. Lose a turn.

Conversely, if it takes you more than five cars lengths to merge into the lane. You are moving way too slowly. Drivers in said lane have the right to honk at you and flip you off. You also must stay in the lane and let the car behind you pass you and give you a dirty look.

Now that you know what to do, keep an eye out for other drivers that may want to merge into your lane. Hey, let them in. You can afford to be one car behind.

One more thing, when you have settled into your desired lane...TURN OFF YOUR SIGNAL LIGHT!!!

Remember, you may not be Asian, but there is a chance that other drivers are.

[awildermode]

Tips From An Asian Driver Part II

I find that some drivers, usually in a one lane road, tend to take the middle and do not signal. Are you going straight? Right? Left? Meanwhile, there is a line of cars behind you waiting on you for your next move. Remember to signal to let others in on your big secret.

Here is an idea that may be helpful. If you are going to make a left turn...stay to the left. And, and...get this, if you are going to make a right turn...you guessed it, stay to the right. Remember to signal to let others in on your big secret.

Just because you are Asian, does not mean you have to drive like one. And if you are not Asian...you have no excuse.

[awildermode]

Tips From an Asian Driver Part III

Well, it has been a while since the last driving tip. Actually, it has been a long time since my last post in general. I was talking to a friend earlier decided that ranting is a great way to express yourself. What better way to rant than to talk about the driving tip of the day...and when I say "of the day", I mean every damn time you drive.

What to do when there is more than one turning lane. For this lesson I will use the example of making a LEFT turn. I am sure you can figure out how to use these tips for a RIGHT turn. This is the easy kind of left turn...the kind that has a specified turning lanes and signal lights.

Here is the situation. There is are two turning lanes to make a left on to the perpendicular street (remember left turns for this example) with three or more lanes. First of all signal to let others know that you are turning, especially if you are in a lane that allows you to go straight or turn.

Now, here is the tricky part. STAY IN YOUR LANE!!! If you are in the left-hand lane, you take the inside of the turn. When you finish your turn, you should be in the far left lane...start in the far left, end up on the far left. No drifting into other lanes. Really, this is not that hard. Sometimes, they even have dotted lines (occasionally solid lines) to assist you in making your turn. But really, any driver...including Asian drivers such as myself...can make this turn without the lines. There is no reason why you cannot execute this turn.

Now, if you are in the right-hand lane making a left, things change a little. You can take any lane that is SAFE, other than the far left-hand lane (see paragraph above). Again, there may be lines and markers to assist you on this, but you should be able to do this without those lines. Also, watch out for cyclists that maybe making the turn with you, they will take the far right lane.

Too many times, I have seen people in the left-hand turning lane cut across up to five lanes and end up on the far right after the turn, cutting off other drivers. WRONG! You are an idiot! You are a danger to yourself and other drivers. This is not only dangerous, but very annoying. Please follow this simple rules of the road...you know, since it is the law and all...and be careful out there. There are lots of Asian drivers out there. Even worse, there are non-Asian drivers that drive like Asian drivers.

...and please, leave the crappy driving to us Asians.

[4X4]

Just to clarify your dual left turn rules, the guy in the inner lane is supposed to take the first straight through lane. Example: turning west (left) onto 16th ave from 14th st NB. If you're in the left lane of that dual turn, the first available lane is for WB 16th ave traffic to turn south onto 14th. Therefore, the guy in the inner lane of the NB to WB left turn takes the second lane and the guy in the right lane can have either the 3rd or 4th.

[WinColumn]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

This is true to my knowledge and the way I have always treated it.

My challenge from earlier on still stands. Can someone show me the passages that apply to the 2-way stop scenario? 2 cars facing each other, person making a left arriving first. Person going straight arriving second. Who has the right of way?

Link to drivers manual here

So far a couple of people think the first person to arrive goes. A couple think that the person going straight through does.

I'm leaning towards the person going straight through has the right of way now. It does make sense from a practical and safety stand point. Treat it like a scenario where 2 cars are facing each other without the 2-way stop sign. The order is the person who goes straight is first, then the person making a right turn, then the person making the left turn.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by WinColumn

My challenge from earlier on still stands. Can someone show me the passages that apply to the 2-way stop scenario? 2 cars facing each other, person making a left arriving first. Person going straight arriving second. Who has the right of way?

Link to drivers manual here

So far a couple of people think the first person to arrive goes. A couple think that the person going straight through does.

I'm leaning towards the person going straight through has the right of way now. It does make sense from a practical and safety stand point. Treat it like a scenario where 2 cars are facing each other without the 2-way stop sign. The order is the person who goes straight is first, then the person making a right turn, then the person making the left turn.

If the cars get there at-or-near the same time then that make sense.

If the left-turning car always has to yield then there is a hypothetical where a line of fifty cars going straight through have the right of way while the left-turner (and everyone behind him/her) has to wait.
That doesn't make sense to me.

[Bill Bumface]

^It doesn't make sense, but that's how it is. The left turner at a 2 stop sign intersection is lowest on the right of way list.

Really though, if the cross road has a gap in traffic, one guy goes straight through, the next guy has to stop before he can go straight through, so you should have time to feed that gap.

Timid drivers will probaly sit there for an hour though.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I think this has been covered in this thread already... but this is perfectly legal (although not recommended). I found out this was allowed a year after getting my licence, and it was glorious.

Changing lanes in an intersection may be legal, but it's dangerous. People turning - either left across the intersection, or right and into the traffic flow - cannot anticipate that someone is suddenly going to be moving through, especially when that someone is usually jerking the wheel and hammering on the gas to get around someone doing the "oh yah I *did* want to turn left here" move.

Properly anticipating what's happening ahead of you means you should never have to change lanes in an intersection unless stuck behind a late left-turner; and if that's the case, easing your car around and double-checking to make sure nobody is taking the opportunity to turn through the intersection is the way to do it.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Yeah, I know. Obviously I take driving way more seriously than most people. Probably because I drive so much. Just because I rant about the stupid things that people do, doesn't mean I'm out there freaking out all day. I just hate stupid people and like to rant about them. Maybe I hope that some of these morons that do stupid things will read my rants and realize that they're strugglers.
I've learned plenty from other peoples' rants here. Hell, I actually bought winter tires this year. I bet if we pull up the thread from last year, I was probably one of the "all seasons are fine" guys.
There's no shame in learning. As soon as people stop doing severely aggravating things like holding up traffic to turn left over a double solid, or poking along in the left lane on deerfoot, or pedesting in front of me when I have a green arrow, I'll stop bitching about it.

BTW, I just invented a word.

I think we are on the same page here. I just thought you were ranting about something different from V's post then what I got from it. I use to get pretty infuriated on the road when I was younger. Mostly just swearing, flipping people off, and the old cut in front of someone really close when they were driving slow as crap in front of you routine. But I also drove kind of like an asshat. So I am sure the two went hand in hand for me. I am probably still considered an "aggressive driver" but that is more of my driving style and not my anger level.

But, like Antithesis, I just one day made the decision that I wouldn't let it bother me so much. My girlfriend on the other hand gets pretty hot under the collar when driving around stupid drivers. Hell, she even flips off other drivers when she is the passenger. Which is just dandy for me because whose ass as they going kick? Hers or mine? Probably not the little blonde's.

I can say for sure that the biggest push for me getting winter tires for the first time this year was CP. All that ranting helped me for sure. But I don't think those things will stop happening anytime soon so I don't expect the ranting to stop. Also your invented word sounds like it should be illegal so I hope people stop doing it immediately, especially in public.

[V]

Originally Posted by 4X4

And another thing... Nothing annoys me more than a person that accepts crap or mediocrity as status quo. I see enough good driving in a day to get really freaking annoyed by buttsteaks that cannot keep up with the rest of us. Do me a favour and move to the country.

Meh, it's a state of mind. Driving is only one part of my day where I run into people that cost me time or convenience. Someone might screw up my work, costing me hours and credibility with the client. They might not fill the coffee pot, leaving me with the task, and the time it takes to get it done. I don't start screaming at them to hurry the hell up then, and neither do most of us, but as soon as we get in a car (or on a messageboard) we get this idea that all decency goes out the window.

I used to be somewhat like that. Then I got older, and realized that if I let everything drive me crazy I'd find myself an early grave.

Sorry, this post annoys me so much, I'm going to reply to it twice.

V, what do you do for a living? Does it involve driving, or do you have to get to your office and then get home? Do you spend any of your workday on the road? If you do, I don't believe it. Unless you work by the hour.
Anyone that makes their money by getting things done hates numbnut drivers that dawdle for no reason. Just because you couldn't care less about your arrival time doesn't mean you need to impede my arrival time.
So how about you just take a minute to remember that not everyone is on a Sunday drive. Some of us are actually on our way to your house to fix something. God forbid they take too long because some loser is poking along in the left lane on Deerfoot.

I'm an engineer. Primarily desk work, but generally 5 times a week I will have to leave the confines of my comfy desk, and brave the raging chaos that is Calgary.

And I'm pretty sure you misunderstood my post. I'm not dawdling. I've had my share of tickets, I don't enjoy being on the road any more than you do. I just don't see the point of losing my freaking mind every time I run into someone that gets in my way. You may get there one day too. Or not, some people never mellow with age.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by Gozer

If the cars get there at-or-near the same time then that make sense.

If the left-turning car always has to yield then there is a hypothetical where a line of fifty cars going straight through have the right of way while the left-turner (and everyone behind him/her) has to wait.
That doesn't make sense to me.

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

^It doesn't make sense, but that's how it is. The left turner at a 2 stop sign intersection is lowest on the right of way list.

Really though, if the cross road has a gap in traffic, one guy goes straight through, the next guy has to stop before he can go straight through, so you should have time to feed that gap.

Timid drivers will probaly sit there for an hour though.

in that manual it only shows that thats the way it is for uncontrolled intersections. Flow of traffic would suggest to me that it would go by who gets there first. thats how I drive and that how I will continue to drive until someone shows me differently in legal terms not just what your aunts friends sisters husbands brothers friend told you

[4X4]

Yeah, I hear you guys. And you're right, getting po'd every time someone does something stupid is a waste of time. But just to keep it in perspective, for me to get pissed over a guy going 40 in a 50, which is going to cost me 5 whole minutes, is not unlike you opening your desk and looking for your stapler and then having to shake down the whole office to find out who gripped it.
And then an hour later, something like that happens again. And repeat.
Hey, at the end of the day, you only lost 15 minutes, right? But the fact that it happens over and over eventually wears on you and finally you question the existence of God and want to punch out the next a-hole that takes your stapler.

Ok, bad analogy. I'll stop now.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I've learned plenty from other peoples' rants here. Hell, I actually bought winter tires this year. I bet if we pull up the thread from last year, I was probably one of the "all seasons are fine" guys.

There's no shame in learning.

Italics and bolded is the important part of this post. Its amazing how much more interested in trucks you become once you have one. A year and a half ago I didn't know anything. Now I know loads about my ride and have saved thousands and thousands of dollars, especially after I crashed it and essentially had to rebuild the entire front end. Learning is cool, especially if it saves you lots of money and you can feel a sense of accomplishment.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by 4X4

But the fact that it happens over and over eventually wears on you and finally you question the existence of God and want to punch out the next a-hole that takes your stapler.

Or burn the whole damned office down.

[Acey]

Just wanted to bump this to curse out some Lethbridge drivers. These intersections are common in Calgary I believe, but we just got our first intersection with dual lefts where turning on opposing green is not permitted. I've seen countless people in 2 weeks turn through the red when there is a gap and are genuinely surprised when I honk at them. It's somewhat understandable because EVERY other intersection in the city operates as protected arrow then yield on green lefts, unlike Calgary.

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by HOOT

It's not about being more talented or not it is about knowing and not being stupid. Some very simple things would save a ton of time and a ton of accidents. The left lane is NOT for cursing at the speed limit and a merge lane is exactly that, a lane to allow you to merge, not stop at the beginning and cut off the poor sucker driving 100Km+.

Please show me the section that exempts the left lane from following the law.

[ZedMan]

The left lane is for passing, not cruising in. Speed limit is irrelevant. If you are not passing a vehicle, GTFOutta the way.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

Please show me the section that exempts the left lane from following the law.

Excellent, I wasn't expecting fireworks tonight!

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Excellent, I wasn't expecting fireworks tonight!

Nah...I am not going to argue. I just get a kick out of their self-righteousness in regards to the left lane.