To the dude leaving the Kings game in a truck

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Depends if I'm in text-messaging or not. But if you don't signal, you're not getting in 100% of the time

Fixed.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Thats one of my big pet peeves as well. you can fail a driving test for nudging a curb when parallel parking but who gives a hoot if you can merge or not.

You can say that again. Merge lane stoppers are the most annoying thing on the road. And you're so right about the emphasis placed on parking on the drivers test.
On my test, I didn't even have to merge or make a left turn. In fact, when I parallel parked on the first try she told me I passed and to head back to the office. My test lasted 10 minutes. I mean, maybe she could tell that I was a capable driver, but really, 10 minute driving test? No merging or left turns?

I remember that all the emphasis was placed on uncontrolled intersections and parking. Lame. People that can't parallel park generally try to avoid street parking. People that can't merge are simply oblivious to that fact and still stop in merge lanes.

I think drivers ed should be mandatory and the drivers test should at least involve a main road, a left turn and a merge.

[Dion]

[ken0042]

Whereas Fotze's mom hasn't had occasion to use the word "tight" since she was in grade 5.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You can say that again. Merge lane stoppers are the most annoying thing on the road.

One of the worst spots in the city is northbound Sarcee merging onto eastbound 16th Ave. I bet there isn't a dozen people in this city who know how to take that ramp. I use that route almost every day and it's somewhere between a blue moon and pigs flying when I come out there behind someone who is doing a proper merge. Speed limit there is 80, I know one day I was stuck behind a woman doing 20, my life flashing before my eyes as I envisioned being run over as I tried to get out of the merge lane. Brutal!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Whereas Fotze's mom hasn't had occasion to use the word "tight" since she was in grade 5.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You can say that again. Merge lane stoppers are the most annoying thing on the road. And you're so right about the emphasis placed on parking on the drivers test.

I remember not long ago, was along john laurie on one of the east bound merges between shaganappi and mcknight. I am hauling a heavy load for a friend and i know the merge lane ahead is both short and uphill so i carry more speed then normal round the corner into the merge lane, when what to my wonder eyes did appear, some dumb broad at full stop 30 feet around the corner.

So i have to hammer the breaks and even though i am going uphill i am pretty damn sure i am going into the back of her because i can't stop for with that much weight. I end up so close to the broad i don't think you could walk between our vehicles, hopefully a grill that close in her rear view will teach her a lesson on merging but alas i don't hold out much hope.

So anyways she finally goes and now here i am, can't accelerate worth a damn and stuck 1/4 way up a uphill merge lane in relatively heavy traffic. Super happy fun times i do say, needless to say that broad made my day.

[4X4]

Dude, that pizzed me off just reading it.

The absolute worst is westbound Heritage to northbound Mcleod. The merge lane is at least 150 meters long, plus the approach lets you see all the traffic you're about to merge with. HAs to be the easiest merge in the city. But I kid you not, 25% of the times I drive thru there, some ###### is stopped.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by 4X4

The absolute worst is .......

What I find the worst is southbound Blackfoot. There are a series of yields there that because the yield is slightly longer than normal; people feel it's their right to merge- even though the signs say yield. Classic example is 58th ave. Now by this point I've been stuck in traffic since Manhattan road. 58th has lights so it's not like there isn't ample opportunity to turn when opposing traffic has a red. Now the traffic jam that goes from Manhattan to 58th is actually caused by idiots trying to merge when the sign says yield.

Next worst is the Glenmore interchange. People going from WB Glenmore onto SB Blackfoot also have a yield, but nobody does.

[OracleOfCalgary]

Originally Posted by kdoir345

can we add to this the always ever present drivers who seem to think merging at 10-20 kph below the posted limit is always a good idea.

These people are annoying, that is true, but if they are in front of you and signalling, then they have the right of way to make that lane change/merge before you do.

Show some patience and drive defensively... giving someone's grandma "the finger" is not cool.

[kdoir345]

Originally Posted by OracleOfCalgary

These people are annoying, that is true, but if they are in front of you and signalling, then they have the right of way to make that lane change/merge before you do.

Show some patience and drive defensively... giving someone's grandma "the finger" is not cool.

Never said that i wouldnt let this person in, but im just wondering what so hard about merging into traffic at the speed that the traffic is already traveling in. Just because you put your signal on doesnt give you the right to cut in front of me when im going with the flow of the traffic. Im just saying people need to grasp the concept that it would be so much easier on them if they were to merge at the proper speed instead of trying to wedge themselves in while in the process of holding everyone up.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by ken0042

What I find the worst is southbound Blackfoot. There are a series of yields there that because the yield is slightly longer than normal; people feel it's their right to merge- even though the signs say yield. Classic example is 58th ave. Now by this point I've been stuck in traffic since Manhattan road. 58th has lights so it's not like there isn't ample opportunity to turn when opposing traffic has a red. Now the traffic jam that goes from Manhattan to 58th is actually caused by idiots trying to merge when the sign says yield.

Next worst is the Glenmore interchange. People going from WB Glenmore onto SB Blackfoot also have a yield, but nobody does.

This pisses me off too. People that can't read signs.

Some of the lanes are actually yields instead of merges, and so I have to yield (and sometimes stop). I get honked at for doing the merge lane stopping thing, yet they just don't realize they're the ones being the idiot as the sign clearly says otherwise.

Other signs like "No left turn between 3:30-6:30PM" and "Do not block intersection" are also notorious.

[gordo67]

I guess I have to go out and buy a smart car now just to go downtown.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by kdoir345

Never said that i wouldnt let this person in, but im just wondering what so hard about merging into traffic at the speed that the traffic is already traveling in. Just because you put your signal on doesnt give you the right to cut in front of me when im going with the flow of the traffic. Im just saying people need to grasp the concept that it would be so much easier on them if they were to merge at the proper speed instead of trying to wedge themselves in while in the process of holding everyone up.

that describes virtually every on-ramp onto deerfoot. it baffles me why people feel the need to wait until they're actually ON deerfoot to speed up to 100, instead of doing the common sense thing and doing that on the merge lane so they don't cause backups all along that road

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

it baffles me why people feel the need to wait until they're actually ON deerfoot to speed up to 100, instead of doing the common sense thing and doing that on the merge lane so they don't cause backups all along that road

There's two reasons; which both go back to driver training. First is people see the sign when they start to exit that says "Ramp speed 60 km/h." Because of a lack of training, they think if they exceed 60 prior to seeing a 100 sign on Deerfoot; that they are speeding and could get a ticket. The second factor is that so many people are so set in getting where they are going; is they do not realize that their one action can cause 20 people to slow down. Then 2 out of those 20 do something else that causes another 40 to slow down, then 4 out of 40, then eventually you have gridlock.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by ken0042

The second factor is that so many people are so set in getting where they are going; is they do not realize that their one action can cause 20 people to slow down. Then 2 out of those 20 do something else that causes another 40 to slow down, then 4 out of 40, then eventually you have gridlock.

Indeed, its always amazed me how a road like deerfoot with no lights can end up at a dead stop so often.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by zarrell

And you'd be wrong. My sister is a cop and while driving down 22x, off duty, she noticed some guy go right to the end of the merge and force his way into the other lane. Kind of the opposite of what is being discussed here, but the same in principle. The offense I believe is driving without consideration for others on the road. So by purposely not letting people into your lane it is in fact against the law.

Can you please show me where this offence is in the highway safety act?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Actually diesel is really cheap

Unless you are buying your diesel from the flying J or running purple it is the same price as gas if not more at some places. I wouldn't consider that really cheap.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Can you please show me where this offence is in the highway safety act?

From: http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/h-...217/whole.html:

Careless driving
123. A person who drives a vehicle on a highway (a) without due care and attention, or (b) without reasonable consideration for persons using the highway, is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by getbak

From: http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/h-...17/whole.html:

Thanks for that. Although the link you posted was to the old act but I am sure the offence of careless driving is the same in the Trafic Safety Act. I was quite sure there was no offence called: driving without consideration for others on the road which there isn't. It is simply an element of the offence of careless driving.