What causes road rage?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

We are, for some reason, the worst versions of ourselves behind the keyboard on CalgaryPuck Off Topic Forum.

I think it’s a combination of the anonymity and impersonal nature of being behind a glass and plastic screen, and the act of just trying to convey an opinion as fast and smoothly as possible that makes us impatient and irritated.

Either way, it is a recipe for disaster from a public discourse point of view.

I was going to draw the comparison, but you’re bang on. I think it is similar psychology behind what makes a lot of the internets a cesspool.

[DoubleF]

Grand Theft Auto?

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

It's felt like, since the 'end' of COVID, that the slogan is "20 Under is the New 10 Over". Drives me nuts.

From my anecdotal experience, it feels to me like it's (enraged) entitlement vs (righteous) indignation at a lack of 'following the rules like me' that fuels road rage.

Some "jerk" does something because "putz" isn't driving how Jerk likes, so Jerk does something, and Putz, who's just following the road rules gets upset because Jerk isn't following the road rules, and the next thing you know. rage is afoot.

I've found that post Covid, many people suddenly want to start doing things their own way and also pushing responsibility on others vs themselves. Driving is just one category of many. However, these type of people inexplicably think that all other people will know telepathically what they're doing or will do. What's the wording used lately? People thinking they're a main character in a game or story or something?

The 20 kmph under thing I sorta understood when it first showed up even though it annoyed the #### out of me. Those that rarely went out went out less and got scared behind the wheel. It's starting to get better on city roads and I think we're returning to 10 under/speed limit. I've felt like I've seen less drivers doing 20-30 kmph below speed limit this summer vs last summer. But they're still seemingly everywhere on the highways.

I've also attributed some of the sudden issues to mass migration from Toronto, Vancouver(?) and the East Coast etc. I've never seen so many people blow red lights and stop signs in my life vs what I've witnessed this entire summer. I'd seen a lot more of that in Winnipeg and Toronto and this summer, it's suddenly here.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I get where you’re coming from but I have been behind people going a legitimate 25-30 below the speed limit.

To add to that, in searching for some stats on impeding traffic, I came across article out of Regina where police were talking about impeding traffic, and noted instances where someone was going 73 in a 100 and 20 in a 50.

These things can and do happen, and they are illegal.

I drove out to Vancouver Island in the dead of night a few weeks ago because of the damn Westjet rebooking fiasco(hailstorm). During the dead of night, awesome. Almost all vehicles (including myself) 10 kmph over or under the speed limit as I and others felt comfortable. Most of the only vehicles on the road knew to be on the right lane unless passing. Transport trucks, completely predictable.

During the day on the way back? So many vehicles doing 80-130kmph on 100-110 kmph posted roads. Literally +/- 20-30 kmph the posted speed and rarely ever actually on the speed. The issue as mentioned is that they're unpredictable. Not only are they randomly going up and down 10-30 kmph variations every few minutes, they're often slamming on the brakes to do it at times... like playing bumper tag with a ghost. This was the same experience I had a few months ago when I went to Kelowna. It's not like 10 kmph +/-. I can handle that. It was literally 20-40 kmph +/- in relatively rapid succession which is quite infuriating plus makes you want to pass them ASAP not just for the time savings, but to get past someone as terrifyingly unpredictable as that.

I honestly think that they're scared of a twinned highway (vs dual lanes). As soon as there's a lane in between them and oncoming traffic, they feel more confident to gun it. Annoying AF. I cannot wait until they finish twinning a lot of those roads in 2026 or 2027 or whatever. That or I get an EV type with improved cruise control features so that I can just "rest" behind them and gun it without redlining it on the passing lanes (minivans don't have awesome acceleration even on sports mode with eco mode turned off). That or more really early/late or night driving on the Trans Canada when in BC.

I drive to Regina a few times a year. I don't notice strugglers as much. Maybe because there's so many more areas to pass, longer stretches of dual lane highways to pass... and I might occasionally do a right lane pass. I do so at around speed limit after a few minutes have elapsed and I've confirmed the person isn't budging from the left lane. I also always confirm there's no other traffic around or in front of us that could become an issue when I'm passing on the right.

In the event that someone is in the left lane doing less than speed limit and has been doing so for several minutes, is it technically a right lane pass to drive speed limit in the right lane? Yeah I know right lane pass is technically illegal, but what do you do with a left lane hog doing 85-95 kmph on the highways?

Originally Posted by Cappy

So much of my frustration just comes from people not paying attention.

You are driving. Pay attention to your surroundings and we can all get their a little more efficiently. Know the rules around four way stops and drive with some authority so we arent all waiting for you to creep through the middle.

My wife will got on my ass in the car, typical grabbing my arm when the car in front hits the breaks etc. Yeah, babe, i see it because i am actually paying attention to my surroundings.

My wife is like that too. Also gets scared when the idiot in the right lane has crap spatial awareness and starts floating close to the left passing lane, brake slamming, people tail gating etc.

She used to argue with me about my opinion that night driving wasn't bad and actually slightly relaxing vs day driving on the highway. After this drive to Vancouver Island, she's in complete agreement with me.

I hear you about the lack of awareness though. I watched a guy this morning at a light with a literal cop van directly behind him (not several cars away or in next lane). Light turns green and he absolutely guns it something like 20-30 kmph over the speed limit and of course immediately gets pulled over. I couldn't laugh or feel bad for the guy as I drove by. It was such an idiotic way to get pulled over and I was kinda shocked it happened.

[Nancy]

They could really do with these in some locations in BC:

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Cappy

The drive through the mountains is so frustrating.

Roger's Pass is probably the worst. 80km/h, then for some reason speeding up to 120km/h when the passing lane hits. I always find myself going 140km/h just to pass the slow cars.

The actual design speed of the various sections of the road are probably close to 40km different. Probably more like 30.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

If we're going to use the natural driving instincts excuse to slow down...does it apply to someone who rips through the 70 zone in Jasper at 95 because it's wide and open and most people will want to drive around 90? Or in Banff where it's 90 despite it being the same highway as outside the park? Last time I drove that road with my cruise set just over 100 I was definitely slower than 50% of the vehicles going that way. I guess I was the jackhole that day.

In my opinion yes it does explain why people speed in those sections. If you didn’t set cruise you would be speeding too. It doesn’t make it not illegal though.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I get where you’re coming from but I have been behind people going a legitimate 25-30 below the speed limit.

To add to that, in searching for some stats on impeding traffic, I came across article out of Regina where police were talking about impeding traffic, and noted instances where someone was going 73 in a 100 and 20 in a 50.

These things can and do happen, and they are illegal.

So in Regina there appear to be 1 ticket given in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The only one with detail on the driving itself appears to be the 2018 one which I found a tweet of

https://x.com/RPSTrafficUnit/status/1032099871581458432

Was traveling slow in the left lane.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GGG

The actual design speed of the various sections of the road are probably close to 40km different. Probably more like 30.

In the cases where the design speed differs dramatically, so too does the posted speed.

They don’t leave a maximum of 100 with a design speed of anywhere from 70-110.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Nancy

They could really do with these in some locations in BC:

They have these in Yellowstone and a few other mountain passes in Wyoming. Nearly 100 of people I observed do comply. In a place like Yellowstone the only ones who do not might not be able to read the sign because they dont read English. Really most R.V. or truck drivers do make an effort to let others by.

Originally Posted by GGG

In my opinion yes it does explain why people speed in those sections. If you didn’t set cruise you would be speeding too. It doesn’t make it not illegal though.

Actually no. I pay attention to what's going on around me and adjust my speed to suit the speed limit posted. The cruise control on my vehicle does not automatically adjust to posted signs.

Than again if I witness a head on collision because someone else makes a bad choice going too fast at the end of a passing lane I'd stop.

The driver with no awareness of the surroundings probably just goes on by.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

They have these in Yellowstone and a few other mountain passes in Wyoming. Nearly 100 of people I observed do comply. In a place like Yellowstone the only ones who do not might not be able to read the sign because they dont read English. Really most R.V. or truck drivers do make an effort to let others by.



Actually no. I pay attention to what's going on around me and adjust my speed to suit the speed limit posted. The cruise control on my vehicle does not automatically adjust to posted signs.

Than again if I witness a head on collision because someone else makes a bad choice going too fast at the end of a passing lane I'd stop.

The driver with no awareness of the surroundings probably just goes on by.

I meant if you tried to drive without cruise control through the park you would repeatedly find yourself speeding.

[para transit fellow]

The Canadian Model Rules of the Road presents a generic set of traffic rules that road users must know and observe while using the road system. This 2018 edition replaces the one from 1996.

The document is a reference guide for professionals responsible for preparing legislation which governs the use of Canadian roadway facilities as well as practitioners who are responsible for implementing traffic control devices. As such, this document may assist practitioners in understanding how road users are expected to respond to various elements, including traffic control devices, passing, use of roadway, lanes, headway, right of way, pedestrians, turns, driver signals, special stops, speed restrictions, parking, alternate vehicles, bicycles, transit and other provisions.

https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge-...ptm-rules18-e/

Excerpts:

"6.3 LANE FOR SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC
Where a highway has been divided into marked lanes for traffic, the driver of a vehicle travelling lower than the prevailing speed, where a traffic control device directs slower moving traffic to use a designated lane, or when driving lower than the prevailing speed, shall drive to the right."

"4.5 PASSING ON THE RIGHT
1. The driver of a vehicle shall not pass upon the right of another vehicle except:
a. when the other vehicle is making a left turn or its driver has signaled his/her intention to make a left turn;
b. when on a multi-lane road where there are one or more unobstructed lanes available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of the vehicle;
c. upon a one-way roadway where the roadway is of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles and the remaining lane is intended for use.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The person screaming watch out or stop is probably causing more of a disturbance.

Yes I can see what you are saying, that’s why I’ve stopped the car.

[indes]

My road rage comes from people on their ####ing phones. I don't know what it is, but it seems like the last two years, phone use while driving has exploded. Maybe it's just anecdotal but man, it seems like once a week I'm within 10' or 2 seconds from an accident.

Timely thread as just yesterday on my home from daycare with the kids, a driver blew half way through a red light while looking at their phone and only because I was paying attention and saw them not looking (my advance green) I was able to stop and avoid getting t boned.

Why are so many people on their phones while driving? Just bringing it up gives me rage.

[Doctorfever]

I was taking a taxi during Stampede and my driver was talking on his phone, I didn’t say anything but there was a taxi driving beside us, and the driver of that taxi was freaking out, honking and yelling. The driver of the other taxi had to slam on his brakes and nearly rear ended the vehicle in front of him.

It was quite funny to witness.

As much as I don’t like people distracted driving, if it distracts you from driving are you any better? Like, your not the police.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by indes

My road rage comes from people on their ####ing phones. I don't know what it is, but it seems like the last two years, phone use while driving has exploded. Maybe it's just anecdotal but man, it seems like once a week I'm within 10' or 2 seconds from an accident.

Timely thread as just yesterday on my home from daycare with the kids, a driver blew half way through a red light while looking at their phone and only because I was paying attention and saw them not looking (my advance green) I was able to stop and avoid getting t boned.

Why are so many people on their phones while driving? Just bringing it up gives me rage.

Driving into town on the #1 yesterday from Banff, there was someone in a minivan ahead of me who was watching a video on some screen over/replacing his rear view mirror. He wasn't keeping a constant speed and when I was finally able to get into the left lane to pass him (which was hard because traffic in that lane was faster) there was a huge gap in front of him.

[kevman]

Similar to the topic of people driving slow through corners, what's the deal with people that slow down for Texas Gates? You're not going to hurt your car hitting them with speed. If anything, it's smoother like driving over washboard at speed.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kevman

Similar to the topic of people driving slow through corners, what's the deal with people that slow down for Texas Gates? You're not going to hurt your car hitting them with speed. If anything, it's smoother like driving over washboard at speed.

I think people slow down on those because they have no clue what it is. You kinda can see through it, so they are concerned there's a hole, or it's like a speed bump or something. I don't think the vast majority of people are thinking about aiming at the horizontal bars or driving over washboard at speed at all.

That's one thing I've started noticing. The mentality of things people were thinking while driving 10-20 years ago is not the same as what people are thinking now. Whether that's technology as a distraction/taking over what a driver must be aware of or know, environment in general, education in general etc. I don't know. But the damn things are great bubbles and people are happy to be isolated from the world inside of them.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by kevman

Similar to the topic of people driving slow through corners, what's the deal with people that slow down for Texas Gates? You're not going to hurt your car hitting them with speed. If anything, it's smoother like driving over washboard at speed.

If you know your vehicle well enough, you can align your wheels with straps keeping the bars together and you don't even get that; it's basically like driving over any other piece of smooth roadway.

[Locke]

What drives me crazy is people in bang-stock half-tons either hauling left first for a wide right turn or slowing to a crawl for a measly driveway curb.

Just get on with it. You wont damage your precious pickup.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by GGG

The actual design speed of the various sections of the road are probably close to 40km different. Probably more like 30.

Which is great because they are passing lanes and allow those stuck behind the slow driver enough time to pass (as there is likely a backlog). If you are going 80 through the mountain pass stick to that in the passing lane and let everyone pass.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I think people slow down on those because they have no clue what it is. You kinda can see through it, so they are concerned there's a hole, or it's like a speed bump or something. I don't think the vast majority of people are thinking about aiming at the horizontal bars or driving over washboard at speed at all.

So those drivers that are scared are on par with the livestock that the gates are designed to scare from crossing?

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

If you know your vehicle well enough, you can align your wheels with straps keeping the bars together and you don't even get that; it's basically like driving over any other piece of smooth roadway.

Sure. Unless the straps are missing. Stupid eastbound gate #1 on HWY 66 west of HWY 22.

That and the kind of driver that slows down for a Texas Gate certainly can't hit those straps at speed.