Why do people, in traffic, drive by, 30 mph faster than you, only to stop at a red light 40 yards ahead?

Question

Everyday I see people cut other people off who are slowing down for a red light. They drive up behind them so fast, change lanes and pull in front of the slowing car, just to halt to a complete stop at the red light. What is it that makes people do this? The light's red and they can't go anywhere.

Answer 1

This kind of compliments my question really, as being cut-up is a big issue with me in the city I drive in. I'm sure it's a matter of one-upmanship, a desperate desire to be as far ahead as they possibly can get, for some sort of self-satsfied smugness at being faster than you. In short, I believe it is because too many drivers are arseholes, pure and simple.

Answer 2

I admit that I sometimes do this, maybe not to the extent that you described, because I always do it in a safe way. But if I was on a road with two or more lanes going the same direction, and there was a red light ahead, with 2 cars in the right lane and none in the left lane, I sometimes try to speed up and pass people in the left lane so I can have the 1st position at the light for when it turns green. I realize this only saves seconds, if that, and I do not do it when it is unsafe, or if I have to increase my speed more than 5-10mph.
Maybe this sheds some light on your question?

Answer 3

Because if they have enough room to get over in front of them they were driving too slow or braking pre-maturely. I get behind these people that hit there brakes just in case the light turns yellow, and they are the ones that take 1/2 mile to get up to 35 mph. These are the people that congest traffic causing more accidents. I bet at the next redlight the car that got in front is not setting at it.

Answer 4

Because they think it's worth risking their lives to gain a car length or two. If they can only gain a few dozen car lengths, then they might arrive at their destination a full minute earlier! (In doing so they'll have wasted a great deal of expensive fuel, but these are not people who think ahead.)

I hope that "honda16" is being sarcastic. The safe following distance that wise drivers maintain between their own car and the car ahead of them isn't there so that maniacs can whip in and out of it. You're piloting a potentially deadly mass of steel here, not playing a video; when you get killed in real life, you stay dead -- and so do any innocent victims of your poor driving habits.

Answer 5

because they can, usually it's because the driver in front of them is driving too slow and it's the only way to go around them, why do you care if the light is red anyway? I would rather have someone pass me in a hurry than ride my *** especially when I have no where to go like at a red light.

Answer 6

I swear i DON'T know, but I ask myself this DAILY. I drive a lot on Beach Blvd in Orange Co. Ca. where the lights are (almost) synchronized, and I see people racing from one red light to the next, slamming on the brakes, while I just cruise along at a steady speed and rarely have to use my brakes.

Answer 7

This is a good observation. I guess it's because they don't know any better. Mabey they are late to work and are just trying to make it on time. Go to bed early wake up fresh...all problems solved. No need to hurry when you are prepared!!!!!!!!! Heck, I really don't know the correct answer, all I know is that those people just get in my way. Not to mention the wear and tear on their brakes.I

Answer 8

That confuses me as well. I think that also. I often wonder if they think they will speed like the light into the future.

Answer 9

When all is said and done they only save a couple of minutes. But they cause hazards for everyone else!