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7 types of annoying drivers: Are you one of them?
Wheels.ca ^ | May 20, 2011 | Ian Law

Posted on 05/29/2011 12:00:23 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

There are variations in driving styles on our roads and most motorists will fall into a distinct characteristic type depending on how they approach the task of driving. As you read through this list, you are likely to recognize yourself or someone you drive with.

Which driving character are you?

Nervous Nick: This driver lacks confidence in their driving abilities and is intimidated by traffic and highway speeds. The “Nervous Nick” will always drive at the speed limit or lower and will not accelerate enough to merge safely with highway traffic. They will display moments of indecision when it comes to driving options such as making left turns and when to proceed and how fast.

The Danger: They cause traffic to “rat pack” around them on highways. This leads to multiple lane changes and drivers becoming impatient and making dangerous choices or lane changes. Driving slower than the “flow” of traffic can cause traffic mayhem behind the slower driver as others must negotiate a way around the slow moving vehicle.

Middle Lane Mike: Will head from the on-ramp directly to the middle lane and plant them selves there no matter how slow they drive or who is sitting on their rear bumper. They are convinced this is the best lane to drive in and they are the safest drivers on the road.

The Danger: Traffic will pass on either the right of left sides of this driver causing traffic flow chaos. Large trucks will sit impatiently on their rear bumper trying to intimidate this driver into moving over. They are in danger of causing a crash or being rear-ended. Vehicles moving slowly in the middle lane are like a rock in a stream. They cause turbulence and in this case traffic turbulence.

Overconfident Owen or Arrogant Andy: These drivers are usually driving in an aggressive manner as they are very sure of their capabilities. They are usually speeding and changing lanes often. This aggressive driver feels they are more important than everyone else on the road. All other drivers are just in “their” way and should not be on “their” road.

The Danger: This driver has the confidence and sometimes even the driving talent that will allow them to handle their vehicle while speeding, but when things go wrong they lack the skills to recover or avoid an incident. This driver has confidence that far out strips their “driving smarts” and they make poor choices in their driving situations. They are usually driving too fast for weather and traffic conditions. They often drive an SUV or other large vehicle that adds to their sense of superiority. This driver will tailgate others and try different means of intimidation to get others out of their way. These drivers have been known to pass on the shoulder and lane hop. During the winter months, they are often found in the ditch.

Bored Bobby or Busy Betty: Usually found talking on a cell phone or chatting with passengers. Their mind will be focused on anything but driving safely. Even though they know the distraction of talking on the cell phone is dangerous, they feel their business is more important.

The Danger: This motorist is not paying attention to driving and invariably will end up crashing or cutting someone off. The “Bored Bobby” is just as dangerous as the other drivers on this list. They are not processing all their driving information that will help them make wise driving choices. They are driving distracted which is the leading cause of crashes. After being involved in a crash, they usually cannot figure out what happened.

Solo Sandy: This driver believes they are the only one on the road. They rarely check their mirrors and have no idea other vehicles are near or beside them. You may see this motorist heading down a highway with the only other vehicle in sight directly beside them or in front of them. Also known as “Blinder Billy” as they appear to have blinders on allowing them to only see directly in front of them.

The Danger: Not knowing what is around you in your driving environment is very dangerous. Each driver needs to know what vehicles are in their immediate vicinity to make intelligent lane or avoidance choices. This driver is often hoping others will yield to their lane changes. If they encounter a “Bored Bobby” or a “Busy Betty” the results are usually costly.

Immortal Ivan: Believes no matter what they do behind the wheel, nothing bad will happen to them. When people die in car crashes, it is always going to be someone else, not them. This driving symptom tends to come in the teenage years and can last into middle age if the driver makes it to that age. Too many car crashing video games can exacerbate the problem.

The Danger: Their fearlessness leads to very poor driving decisions and reckless driving. Many younger drivers and their passengers succumb to this syndrome. If “Immortal Ivan” survives, they often age to become an “Arrogant Andy”.

Dangerous Don or Silly Stevie: These drivers believe they know it all about driving. They have been on the road for a number of years and have survived. To them, their experience means they are the best drivers on the road. All those around them are morons or crazy. For drivers like “Dangerous Don”, their frustration with other motorists can lead to high risk driving and poor decisions.

The Danger: Their survival in many ways was a product of luck and not so much skill. One day that luck will run out and the resulting crash will be anyone else’s mistake and not theirs. They will blame the other driver, black ice or anything else since they could not possibly be at fault. Their closed minds mean they will never learn the skills that could keep them from that future crash.

Smart Susie: The rarest of drivers. Understands that driving is the most dangerous daily task they will face and prepares for it. This driver realizes they need to upgrade their driving skills to be prepared for the perils of driving. They focus on the task of driving and are always making driving easier for those sharing the road with them.

The Danger: There are not enough of these drivers on our roads!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: drivesafely; driving; traffic
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My vote is for Nervous Nick.
1 posted on 05/29/2011 12:00:26 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity; trussell

I’m whichever one it takes to pi$$ off the drivers around me the greatest! : )


2 posted on 05/29/2011 12:02:45 PM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I drive a concrete mixer that fully loaded to its maximum capacity is close to 80,000lbs.

I believe I am near the top of the food chain so to speak, not much on the roads can argue with me, bigger is better in my books.

Oh and I drive a Silverado dually to work.


3 posted on 05/29/2011 12:03:48 PM PDT by Eye of Unk (2012, NO MORE LIES!)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Ping for later


4 posted on 05/29/2011 12:04:10 PM PDT by rlmorel (Capitalism is the Goose that lays The Golden Egg.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I’m not sure whats happened in the last ten years but people have no clue what to do in a merge anymore. At least twice a month someone tries to pass me at the last second going into a merge and then decides not to and ends up forcing me to either floor it or slam on my brakes. People are freaking idiots.


5 posted on 05/29/2011 12:05:29 PM PDT by culpeper (He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people,)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I’m the kind that drives 0 to 5 miles per hour over the speed limit, give others the right-of-way, and slows for idiots who think an on-ramp is their personal invitation to cut-in.

My driving technique seems to annoy quite a few. But no tickets, no accidents, and I get there roughly the same time as they do.


6 posted on 05/29/2011 12:06:18 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: Eye of Unk
I drive a concrete mixer that fully loaded to its maximum capacity is close to 80,000lbs.

I'd like to meet some day, I carry a leaky nuclear reactor on my back seat. LOL!

7 posted on 05/29/2011 12:06:49 PM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

lol I always drive the speed limit or maybe 5 miles over. My pet peeve is tailgaters and real slow drivers


8 posted on 05/29/2011 12:06:49 PM PDT by katiedidit1
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Left out No-passing Nate. He drives at about 5 mph below the speed limit, but gets angry when you move to pass him and will speed up to either keep you from passing or at least get 10-15 above the speed limit before you get past him.
9 posted on 05/29/2011 12:09:15 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! Tea Party extremism is a badge of honor.)
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To: culpeper

I hate the drivers that barrel past you, only to get ahead of you, so they can turn at the next corner.

I mean, seriously, what were they trying to accomplish, aside from me running into the back of them?


10 posted on 05/29/2011 12:12:32 PM PDT by Jonty30
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Which one is the guy who charges through a red left turn arrow at the last moment even though oncoming traffic has already entered the intersection?


11 posted on 05/29/2011 12:14:07 PM PDT by Jagdgewehr
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I have my own, somewhat less cutesy, names for these, and other types I encounter on the highway —

I’d share ‘em with the class, but they’d be sure to get me banned (and probably drawn, quartered, and burned-at-the-stake) by the Mods.....


12 posted on 05/29/2011 12:14:24 PM PDT by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

When conditions are good, I tend to drive a bit dangerously, but I’m highly cautious when conditions aren’t the best.


13 posted on 05/29/2011 12:14:51 PM PDT by Jonty30
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To: KarlInOhio
"He drives at about 5 mph below the speed limit, but gets angry when you move to pass him and will speed up to either keep you from passing or at least get 10-15 above the speed limit before you get past him."

Those are the kinds that most tempt me to open fire.

14 posted on 05/29/2011 12:17:08 PM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Jagdgewehr
Which one is the guy who charges through a red left turn arrow at the last moment even though oncoming traffic has already entered the intersection?

Probably the same one that pounces on a fresh green light without checking for oncoming traffic...

15 posted on 05/29/2011 12:17:14 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Obama said OBL is dead I didn't believe it. Al Qaeda says he's dead and now I do!)
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To: Jonty30

Yeah, I’ve had people barrel past me at that merge and then stop 300 feet later to make a left into the strip mall.


16 posted on 05/29/2011 12:17:16 PM PDT by culpeper (He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people,)
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To: Jonty30

What about the ones who pass you, then pull in front of you and slow down. Here in NH, we call them Massholes.


17 posted on 05/29/2011 12:20:12 PM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I used to follow a guy into work who was so cautious he was dangerous. He would acutally stop in the road to let people come out of side streets. We had to cross over a highway that had a good half-mile view in either direction and he wouldn’t go if he could even see anyone coming.

I tried seaking to him once and tell him that by stopping when people weren’t expecting anyone to stop he was actually increasing his chances of getting rear-ended but he just started going off on how safe he was so I walked away. It got to a point that as soon as I saw him I would go around him.


18 posted on 05/29/2011 12:20:28 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: KarlInOhio

Yeah....No passing Nates are my favorite drivers to hate. Don’t drive 5 mph under the limit and expect not to get passed. I’ll cut them off in a heartbeat.


19 posted on 05/29/2011 12:21:31 PM PDT by SFRigger (Is our national nightmare over yet?)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Freewayphobia - Classic Disney with Goofy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI2rFZOBSUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv68cGB44bs


20 posted on 05/29/2011 12:22:53 PM PDT by dfwgator
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