Calgary Drivers and Traffic Stories

[chubeyr1]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Just took great pleasure watching Mr 40km/hr everywhere get photo radared in a playground zone.

This is the fool that insists on doing 40km/hr in a 50 or 60 zone, then fails to slow down even a little for a playground zone. What is wrong with these people? It seems exceedingly common for such moronic behavior.

Every GD day I see this in my neighborhood. Never photo radar though.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

The exit and subsequent merge lane from 130th Westbound to Deerfoot Northbound is terrible as well. People will slow right down for the turn (which is not needed) and then plod along at 60-80 until they get to the dotted lines, then try to merge onto Deerfoot. Meanwhile there are a dozen people stuck behind them wanting to merge as well and then people trying to come off Deerfoot onto Barlow.

This is why I leave at 6am now. I might run into one moron as opposed to a bunch when I use to leave at 7am.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Just took great pleasure watching Mr 40km/hr everywhere get photo radared in a playground zone.

This is the fool that insists on doing 40km/hr in a 50 or 60 zone, then fails to slow down even a little for a playground zone. What is wrong with these people? It seems exceedingly common for such moronic behavior.

Do you mean the smartest and safest drivers out there?

There is no evidence to support that there is increased pedestrian vehicle collisions in school/playground zones than other residential areas.

There is evidence that collisions that occur at 30km/h and below have significantly lower injuries than above and quite a steep change in curve at that point.

If you drive at 50km/h and then 30km/h you are a sheep following the rules without thinking. Instead the person going 40 while increasing risk in the 30km zone is still likely to be able to slow below 30 in an emergency scenario while also significantly reducing risk in areas where collisions are just as likely.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GGG

Do you mean the smartest and safest drivers out there?

There is no evidence to support that there is increased pedestrian vehicle collisions in school/playground zones than other residential areas.

There is evidence that collisions that occur at 30km/h and below have significantly lower injuries than above and quite a steep change in curve at that point.

If you drive at 50km/h and then 30km/h you are a sheep following the rules without thinking. Instead the person going 40 while increasing risk in the 30km zone is still likely to be able to slow below 30 in an emergency scenario while also significantly reducing risk in areas where collisions are just as likely.

What? People that drive slower than the speed the road was designed for, the speed limit, and the speed the majority other drivers are expecting traffic to be going are those causing risk of collisions and incidents.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

What? People that drive slower than the speed the road was designed for, the speed limit, and the speed the majority other drivers are expecting traffic to be going are those causing risk of collisions and incidents.

Right. Unpredictable drivers are dangerous. Changes in speed can increase danger but less so when doing it when expected. I suspect the driver isn't thinking he's being safe; he probably just sucks.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

What? People that drive slower than the speed the road was designed for, the speed limit, and the speed the majority other drivers are expecting traffic to be going are those causing risk of collisions and incidents.

Residential roads don't really have a design speed with minimum sightlines, grade changes, or radius's of curvature for corners. Mostly its firetruck access with cars parked on either side of the road in winter.

Average residential speed in non-school zones is not 50km. The median speed in non-school zones in a Saskatoon study was about 41 - 42 km /h. So the person driving 40km (I'm assuming you arent talking an arterial street here and are referring to real residential) is far closer to average speed and certainly within the +/-30% of average speed that is considered "Reasonable" from a traffic design standpoint.

http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/resou...dfs/lazic2.pdf

The whole study is a good read on what happens to speed when school zones are implemented.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GGG

Residential roads don't really have a design speed with minimum sightlines, grade changes, or radius's of curvature for corners. Mostly its firetruck access with cars parked on either side of the road in winter.

Average residential speed in non-school zones is not 50km. The median speed in non-school zones in a Saskatoon study was about 41 - 42 km /h. So the person driving 40km (I'm assuming you arent talking an arterial street here and are referring to real residential) is far closer to average speed and certainly within the +/-30% of average speed that is considered "Reasonable" from a traffic design standpoint.

http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/resou...dfs/lazic2.pdf

The whole study is a good read on what happens to speed when school zones are implemented.

Nah, drive 50km in residential areas, 30km in school zones, 90 on Crowchild, 60 on Macleod, 110 on Deerfoot. Pay attention to where you're going, focus on your mirrors and surroundings, predict other driver's movements, and react to people, dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, police and dinosaurs. Don't be in the way of other drivers.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Nah, drive 50km in residential areas, 30km in school zones, 90 on Crowchild, 60 on Macleod, 110 on Deerfoot. Pay attention to where you're going, focus on your mirrors and surroundings, predict other driver's movements, and react to people, dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, police and dinosaurs. Don't be in the way of other drivers.

But your not “in the way” of other drivers if you are going average speed. You stated that driving differently than the majority of people was increasing risk. With presented with data that showed the majority of people do not go the speed limit is a residential area your position is now go the speed limit.

You don’t seem concerned at all about safety. You just don’t like being inconvenienced.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GGG

But your not “in the way” of other drivers if you are going average speed. You stated that driving differently than the majority of people was increasing risk. With presented with data that showed the majority of people do not go the speed limit is a residential area your position is now go the speed limit.

You don’t seem concerned at all about safety. You just don’t like being inconvenienced.

Well, I probably spend less than 10 minutes a year on a residential road where drivers average 40 so I'm not too worried about it. These people that drive 30-40 on residential roads are the ones driving 65 on Glenmore/Crowchild, 85 on Deerfoot and 100 on the highway. When you pass them they look like the world is going way too fast, they're 10 & 2 and messing their pants. Take the bus strugglers.

I don't inconvenience other drivers by not being in anyone's way and I do it safely. 25 year clean driving record to show for it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Just took great pleasure watching Mr 40km/hr everywhere get photo radared in a playground zone.

This is the fool that insists on doing 40km/hr in a 50 or 60 zone, then fails to slow down even a little for a playground zone. What is wrong with these people? It seems exceedingly common for such moronic behavior.

I wonder sometimes if these people are using cruise control in the city. I think the minimum speed for it is 40 km/hr so this may be what your driver is doing.

[Fuzz]

I had to make a left into our neighbourhood, which always sucks at rush hour, and I've got cars piling up behind me becuase the lead car decided not to just go around me, which is the logical thing to do. So there is a long line of vehicles coming toward me, and finally a gap. But at the end of the line is a stupid women turning right onto where I am going. She then stops, and tries to wave me in front of her! Just f'n turn right, then I'll go, you idiot! So that made the delay worse, until she finally accepted that she would go.



People purposefully not obeying the rules of the road to be "nice" is one of my biggest driving(and biking!) gear grinders.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I had to make a left into our neighbourhood, which always sucks at rush hour, and I've got cars piling up behind me becuase the lead car decided not to just go around me, which is the logical thing to do. So there is a long line of vehicles coming toward me, and finally a gap. But at the end of the line is a stupid women turning right onto where I am going. She then stops, and tries to wave me in front of her! Just f'n turn right, then I'll go, you idiot! So that made the delay worse, until she finally accepted that she would go.

People purposefully not obeying the rules of the road to be "nice" is one of my biggest driving(and biking!) gear grinders.

Oh man, I hate those total dopes so much. The worst is when you're on the highway preparing to pass a struggler and they drift over into the shoulder to "allow" you to pass. No thanks, you struggle along in the lane and I'll pass when it's safe. I'm not going across the double solid while you flail along in the shoulder.

[btimbit]

I was in a traffic circle in Dawson Creek during rush hour and the lady in front of me, IN the traffic circle, stopped to let people in.

But I'm the ####### for honking at her

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Oh man, I hate those total dopes so much. The worst is when you're on the highway preparing to pass a struggler and they drift over into the shoulder to "allow" you to pass. No thanks, you struggle along in the lane and I'll pass when it's safe. I'm not going across the double solid while you flail along in the shoulder.

Haha, ya, that's great. Hey, you mind not kicking up gravel into my windshield? If it is a passing area and I see someone behind me I'll make sure to move right a bit so they can see it is clear, but I won't leave the lane.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Oh man, I hate those total dopes so much. The worst is when you're on the highway preparing to pass a struggler and they drift over into the shoulder to "allow" you to pass. No thanks, you struggle along in the lane and I'll pass when it's safe. I'm not going across the double solid while you flail along in the shoulder.

Yeah, that drives me nuts too. If the person wants to let a bunch of people pass that have backed up (I am looking at your trailer pullers and RV drivers) they should just fully pull-over or at the very least slow down when there is a passing lane..



Not these lame half measures of kicking up gravel and thinking they're doing you some kind of a favour.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Oh man, I hate those total dopes so much. The worst is when you're on the highway preparing to pass a struggler and they drift over into the shoulder to "allow" you to pass. No thanks, you struggle along in the lane and I'll pass when it's safe. I'm not going across the double solid while you flail along in the shoulder.

Don't ever drive in Mexico then...

They spend their entire Journey on the shoulder...each way.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Dude in a pickup towing a trailer in morning traffic today, is in the right lane and needs to get into the left turn lane. Manages to get himself stretched across all 3 lanes. Left turn lane is open, he has lots of room, just needs to pull forward, but doesn't drive forward to get out of the other two lanes until the light turns green and all traffic in all 3 lanes in front of him has cleared. Presumably because he doesn't have a lot of comfort with the dimensions of his trailer.

That was mildly irritating.

[sketchyt]

Driving down Barlow today and saw a driver with her windshield wipers on. Except the wipers were off her windshield (i.e. in the position when you replace them). It was also sunny as hell.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I was in a traffic circle in Dawson Creek during rush hour and the lady in front of me, IN the traffic circle, stopped to let people in.

But I'm the ####### for honking at her

Those people would only have had to wait another 30 seconds for rush hour to end.

[FireGilbert]

Since this thread exists here is my Calgary driving anecdote:

About 15 years ago I was attending UofC and living nearby in a house across the street from Banff Trail Elementary School. One winter afternoon when leaving home I was distracted while rounding the corner at the school and ended up sliding into the back of a parked van at about 10kph. There was no visible damage to my car but I had caused damage to the bumper of the van. It turns out the parked van was occupied and as the door opens smoke starts billowing out and four very red-eyed teenagers stumble out. I've just given these pot heads the biggest scare of their lives! I was pretty chill at the time and the accident was my fault so I ended up just exchanging insurance information on moving on. I reported the incident to my insurance company and thought that was the end of it.

A couple months later I get a call from the insurance company. An investigator wants to interview me in person at a Tim Horton's of course. So these teens have been busy. They are claiming the van has been written off and that all four of them have neck problems. At the interview I am asked to draw a sketch of what happened and put together a rough picture of the corner and where the van is parked in front of school. "That is very strange" said the investigator "They told me they were parked waiting to pick up a friend, why would they be picking up a friend from an elementary school?" I just started laughing. Up until now I had been willing to keep my mouth shut but this was enough. Screw these lying teens and their insurance frauding ways. I responded that no they were not picking anyone up, they were in fact siting in their van smoking weed. The investigator said "Ohhhhh", wrote a few notes in her book and then said that was all she needed to hear. The insurance investigation ended up saying I was at no fault and I never heard anything again.

In hindsight I probably should have called the police right away and accused these stoners of backing into me. Oh well it all worked out in the end.