Do you follow traffic laws? If not, do you get angry when other people don't?

Question

I follow the traffic laws. I stop at stop signs for 3 seconds. I drive the speed limit. On a daily basis I'm accosted by people who want to do me physical harm for this reason.

Sometimes they approach me directly, in several instances wanting to fight me over it. Most of the time they just try to run me off of the road or make me get into a traffic accident some other way.

I'm not saying everyone on the road does this. I'm saying it happens at least once a day.

So I would like to know why. I've done the research. I know that speed is a factor in many accidents. I know that breaking the speed limit is a factor in many accidents.

I have a 5-year-old nephew who rides in my car a lot. I simply want to drive in such a way that maximizes his chances of being safe.

Most people I've discussed this with just laugh and don't really provide any reason why they think it is funny.

So why people? Why does it make you angry that I try to drive safe? Why don't you want to drive safe?

I am from Chicago to respond to the first person.

And for the second, yeah that is very common for me. And yes, I've also occasionally flipped someone off and gotten that reaction... but most of the time I don't even have to do that. One time a guy got out of his car merely because he tried to cut me off and failed to do so. He walked over and kicked my tire. I had my nephew with me at the time, so I just locked the doors and let him do it. Not much else I could do.

BTW, it's a myth that "going with the flow" when others are speeding reduces the chances of an accident. It deffinately doesn't. I've had people use that excuse on me for years, so I have done a lot of research on it. Don't listen to me though, do the research yourself if you are interested in safety.

Anyhow, I'm really pretty sick of this, and don't feel like there is anything I can do about it.

It's all well and good to say not to worry about bad drivers... but I think you may have missed the crux of my question if you think that is possible.

Yesterday I stopped at a stop sign and someone behind me followed me to a grocery store to try to start a fight with me.

I stopped at a stop sign. He felt I took too long. He wanted to fight about it.

For the last few responses.

The reason I wait 3 seconds is because it gives me time to look around. I've been hit twice while walking by peole who didn't look where they were going before they went.

Anyhow, I don't see much difference between saying I'm asking for it by following the rules and saying women "ask for it" when they get raped. I know this isn't what you are doing, but it feels like you are making excuses for these people, which is unacceptable to me.

Matt p, btw, is exactly what I'm asking about. Look how angry his post is... what exactly is upsetting him?

http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/speed_limits.html

This is just one source that agrees with me. I think if you want to persist with the argument that breaking the speed limit is a safe thing to do you need to do some research.

I understand why you think "going with the flow" is safer, but if you actually look into it, it's just not. Speed limits are not arbitrary.

Answer 1

Laws are for honest people. Those who wish to manipulate life to their liking usually suffer from tickets, crashes and cause injuries to others too.
It's not "just not stopping" once......it's the HABIT of not stopping which causes the problem.
Habits are what you fall back on when a driving emergency situation occurs. You do the "habitual" thing without thinking. It's a reflex response.
As for dealing with angry and aggressive drivers in larger centers, well.............I teach driving instruction in a vehicle which sports a large sign on top which reads "STUDENT DRIVER". Somehow, I think this translates to "Vent Roadrage Here!" I deal with impatient drivers, angry drivers, and poor drivers on a day to day basis.
As a Driving Instructor I have to be the better person because I am a role model for the student behind the wheel.
When we get honked at, I usually roll down my window and dramatically point at the sign on top of my vehicle.
When Im driving along the expressway, I remove my sign so that I can prevent some of this animosity.
I tend to take in a deep breath, sigh, and carry on without incident.
We all have to put up with bad driving attitudes and poor skills and habits.
We all have to babysit one another out there on the roads.
We just have to try to be the better person.
You don't know whom you are dealing with out there, so be kind........

Answer 2

I agree with the one who said that you should not wait a full three seconds at a stop sign. That's literally asking for trouble.

Granted, three seconds out of someone's day makes little or no difference. But suppose you're doing a U-turn in a median with a stop sign. Sometimes you have to be quick because openings in traffic are few and far between. If there was an opening and someone waited ahead of me for three seconds, causing me to miss the opening, I'd be very upset also.

No, I wouldn't come after you, kick your tires, or do anything else foolish. But someone else might. With all the road rage going on out there nowadays, why would you want to do things to provoke people? There is no need to sit there for three seconds if it's safe to go.

If you always go the speed limit, that's fine. Nobody can argue that. But if you do it in the left lane of a freeway, get ready for some hostility, because it will happen. You'd be asking for it.

I would say this: Keep driving safely. We'd all be better off if everyone did it. However, they don't, so we have to live with it. But don't invite incidents. Come to a stop and then get moving if it's safe. There may be plenty of time for you and the next two vehicles behind you to safely move. Stay to the right unless you have to pass.

By not inviting hostility, you will see much less of it, I assure you.

Answer 3

There is being careful when driving then there is being overly obsessed with it too.

Regard to a stop sign and waiting 3 seconds.... if no one is coming is there really a reason to wait a full 3 seconds? Just stop and go.....

By you living in Chicago, I think that the larger the city the more people can become hostile... for really good reason.

For instance there was a physiological test years ago that had rats in a large box. They were provided with plenty of food and water. They wanted for nothing. As the rats breed and the large box became over crowded they were still feed adequately and watered adequately but they started to become hostile toward each other. Even killing some of the other rats.

I feel that in a crowded city this hostility can become a human problem because of the crowding.

Answer 4

Like most laws intended to keep us safe, traffic laws are created from a set of statistics. Often the resulting laws do not take into account traffic 'attitude'. Like a previous answerer, I adapt to the driving conditions, including how others around me are driving. This is defensive driving. I operate in a way that provides me with a safety cushion. If I am safest going over the speed limit, due to traffic conditions, then I do. If some as* h*le needs to be ahead of me, then by all means get him ahead of me. I'm safer if I can see his wreck coming ahead of me. If some idiot wants to squeeze in when the is not room, I back off and let him.
I know it pisses me off, too, but as a fire and medical first responder, I pry these guys out of there crumpled vehicles on a daily basis. They still have attitudes when we haul then off to the ER. Do what you need to do to stay safe. Don't worry about the angry drivers, the are most likely just angry people who express that will driving.

Answer 5

Police Officers have what's referred to as discretionary energy - this means that they are able to do those matters in the event that they consider the condition calls for. It does now not ought to be an emergency requiring 'lighting and sirens' as the general public is aware of it, however it would require fast concentration at the Police Officers behalf thereby requiring minor site visitors infringements as we all know them. As a commonplace rule Police Officers are simply as sure via Laws as some other citizen - saving using emergency and discretionary energy. Edit: Easy at the angle Ny. we get the factor - But, some distance out what is with the 'tude dude? I'm an Aussie and studying your reply I can recognize why such a lot of Americans hate law enforcement officials.

Answer 6

Hey...u have not mentioned which city ur from...different countries have a different law. In india its totally different. U would go mad seeing the traffic here. When u drive a car at say about 35mph all of a sudden from no where a cyclist or a motorcyclist would appear in front of u or a pedestranian would cross the road. What do u do for such things?
Yes i do follow traffic signals but thats sometimes. if there is no obstacle even on a red sign i jump the signal.

Answer 7

Where the heck do you drive? I follow most speed limits and stop at stop signs, and I've never been accosted as you describe. I don't blame you for wanting to be a safe driver (and set a good example for your nephew), and I don't think it's funny. But at the same time, you can't really do anything about it. If people get mad at you for driving the speed limit, either ignore it, drive faster, or move. There really aren't any other alternatives.

Answer 8

I don't mind at all when people drive safely. It really pisses me off to see some asshole in his expensive car weaving in and out of traffic, not signaling, and having no regard for anyone else on the road. When people drive like that, they don't realize that the put innocent people's lives in danger, nevermind their own. I commend you for following the traffic laws! Two things though: If someone is tailgating you, just move out of their way. You don't want them to hit you, or get pissed and act on it. Or, it could be a serious emergency, and they need to get to the hospital or something. Not as likely, but a possibility. And make sure to keep up with the general flow of traffic, you can get a ticket for going to slow, even if you're goingt he speed limit.

Answer 9

I follow some rules, and ignore others, but I always try to err on the side of caution.

For example, if I am on the interstate, and the speed limit is 60 or 65, and everyone else is going 75-80 (Knoxville, TN - I think everyone here thinks they are Nascar drivers), then I will speed too, in order to keep from being a hazard.

I try to always come to a complete stop at stop signs, and follow all signals. Though if there is nobody on the road at all (really early, or really late) I will roll through a stop sign (after slowing down to see if there is any traffic - or a cop).

I have had a few situations like you describe. One was on a rainy day, which usually makes me slow down a bit. This guy came flying through traffic, swerving from lane to lane - even though traffic was solid, so just to tick him off, I started slowing way down, he managed to get in the other lane, and pull up next to me and was glaring at me - so I flipped him off.

He lost it, and started freaking out - so I pulled over at the next gas station, he came flying into the parking lot too, and got out of his car, and started walking towards me.

Then I got out, and he noticed that I'm 6'3" 215# of solid muscle.

Needless to say, he got back in his car, and got the hell out of there. People are really lucky I don't carry a gun in my car. Not that I would shoot anyone, but I would definitely pop one of their tires for them.

Answer 10

Seriously, I don't think people are attacking you for trying to drive safely. If you're being attacked on a daily basis, you may want to ask yourself what you might do differently to avoid it.
Also, your argument that following all traffic laws makes you a safe driver is flawed. This is especially true regarding speed limits. Attentive, defensive driving is what makes a safer driver. That and knowing your own and your car's limitations.
Drive safely and COURTEOUSLY, and you probably won't have as many problems.