Support NeoGAF

[Jack Remington]

This topic might not hit as hard for people who don't live in a traffic heavy city like LA, but I'm of the opinion that this is one of the most underreported symptoms of sociopathy of our time.

So you're driving home, traffic is already moving pretty slowly, and suddenly your lane just stops. Just completely stops while the next lane whizzes right along. In the distance you eventually see the light ahead turn red, and one solitary car turns left. The driver held up 10 or 20 people for several minutes to make that turn. 10 to 40 or even an hour of aggregate life completely lost so that one person could make a turn.

What gets my goat is that in most cases, there are other options. Usually you can find an intersection with an actual left turn lane within a block or two, and you can either double back or go up a street. If you have to get into a driveway that's only accessible from the street you're on, you can make a u-turn further down the road and turn into the driveway from the right. In short, there's very rarely a reason for anyone to screw over dozens of people for such selfishness.

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.

Thankfully, LA has started putting in no left turn signs at a lot of intersections where there are no left turn lanes, but those restrictions are usually only in effect from like 4 to 6pm. They should really be in effect from 8am until at least 8pm.

Your thoughts or experiences with this?

 

[Brakke]

People who ever make left turns at all are clowns. Learn to UPS.

 

[Captain Pants]

I think it is inconvenient, but not so bad as to be inconsiderate and the kind of thing that should cause someone to road rage. Then again, I'm also the sort of driver that wouldn't turn left without a turn lane unless I saw an opening was coming soon.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Blame the game, not the player

 

[StopMakingSense]

I live in LA, and yeah, it's kind of annoying, but its part of the beast. You should really just chill out and anticipate better and merge to the right lane

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay. ?

Wow, you are a fucking piece of work.

 

[BertramCooper]

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.

Yeah, I totally feel sorry for you.

 

[Kodeman]

I'll turn left all day if it's legal and that's where I need to go. I'd rather waste other people's time rather than my own. I'm looking out for numero uno.

 

[outunderthestars]

This topic might not hit as hard for people who don't live in a traffic heavy city like LA, but I'm of the opinion that this is one of the most underreported symptoms of sociopathy of our time.


I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.


Your thoughts or experiences with this?

Ummmm. I think you might actually be the sociopath in this situation.

 

[studyguy]

I live in LA, and yeah, it's kind of annoying, but its part of the beast. You should really just chill out and anticipate better and merge to the right lane

People not following surface streets exactly is like the least of my worries in LA. Fucking parking. That's the most dangerous fucking game.

 

[lsslave]

It really depends on the situation, but you seriously have anger problems and need to deal with those issues.

There are a few intersections I know in my city where that is the only option for getting to the street I want. And it's a legal turn to make.

I hope one day it's a ghost cop car making that turn that you do that to and you receive a ticket. You are so obsessed about YOUR life that you don't care about someone else's. They are making that turn for a reason and it is where they need to go and they waited their turn to get to that intersection, in that lane, to make that turn.

The people who are dick drivers are the people who incessantly horn for no reason. Or wait until the last minute on a free flow road to try and switch 2-3 lanes to get to the exit lane causing a holdup and mass braking in traffic.

 

[Deadbeat]

The left turn problem is a symptom of things not being setup properly.

 

[Stet]

Defensive driving teaches that the right lane is always the lane of least resistance. Sorry.

 

[joelseph]

Pull to the middle of the intersection and turn through the red. Someone making a legal left turn without a turn lane should never hold up traffic for more than one light rotation. One hour? Get out of here.

 

[Mumei]

I only dislike it when people make left turns when there is a sign that says no left turns. Those people are terrible.

 

[Enco]

I'm from the UK and can't comprehend this.

Paint pls?

 

[WarMacheen]

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.


Your thoughts or experiences with this?

 

[Inferno313]

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.

I hope you step on a lego

 

[StopMakingSense]

Pull to the middle of the intersection and turn through the red. Someone making a legal left turn without a turn lane should never hold up traffic for more than one light rotation. One hour? Get out of here.

OP is blowing this WAY out of proportion. (and has serious anger issues)

 

[Jack Remington]

I just can't imagine the degree of selfishness it would take to put on my brakes at rush hour and bring an entire lane to a halt. I get douche chills just imagining myself doing it.

 

[newjeruse]

This reminds me of my failed traffic campaign:

Stay Straight: Because Turning Left isn't a Right
"Two wrongs don't make a right, but two rights make a left."

Needless to say, it never got off the ground.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Its their favorite route.

 

[DJ_Lae]

I don't mind if people do it, although I make it a habit of staying in the right lane in busy traffic because I know someone's going to try.

I do enjoy when people turn left when there's an actual sign prohibiting it. When there was construction here and a nearby light was down to one lane in each direction there were huge no turn signs up and it's cathartic honking like a madman at the douche in front of you.

 

[joelseph]

Defensive driving teaches that the right lane is always the lane of least resistance. Sorry.

Always take left lane unless you are in front of a bus.

 

[commedieu]

fuck road rage sir.

There are bigger things to get stressed about in your life, than driving in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is filled to the brim with morons who have some how found their way into a vehicle.
You will never win this battle.

I mean, putting on makeup with both hands. I saw a dude eating with a fork/knife in his car, both while driving (probably using his knee.. expert level) People are stupid, and have no idea that their dumbasstedness affects others.

I bet people in the car you're flipping off are just saying to themselves "the fuck is with that asshat?" And not even realizing that you were doing it because of them. Outside of just being a car that needs to rush to the next red light.

I lived in the valley, and had to drive back to santa monica daily for work. This cured my roadrage. On the 405 i was outside of my car, getting rready to fight another man. We both realized how stupid it was, talked some shit, and continued onwards. That could have gone horribly wrong. The police could have shown up. Its just not worth it. You're irritated that other people are stupid.

Don't waste your precious moments on earth, being pissed off at idiots. Leave earlier, don't speed, don't rush. And life is easy. I just relax in my car(or did before I sold it), watch the idiots honking, raging out at eachother, getting into accidents, ruining their day. All that shit just ruins your day man. No need for it when you just have to adjust perspective.

Its irritating to be in cars with road-ragers now though, thats for damn sure. You see the irrational behavior that you used to have in full effect. No point.

 

[studyguy]

OP is blowing this WAY out of proportion. (and has serious anger issues)

Fucking in LA I've seen more than enough crashes from unprotected left turns to know that you have to bolt. Someone sticking in the midlane though for longer than it takes to turn though, shit I mean it happens at times. Can't be fucking angry though, it's traffic. Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but we're talking about unprotected left turns in here, right?

Honking like shit at someone waiting to turn in the midlane sounds like a completely dick move yo.

 

[BertramCooper]

I just can't imagine the degree of selfishness it would take to put on my brakes at rush hour and bring an entire lane to a halt. I get douche chills just imagining myself doing it.

You'd get douche chills from that but not from honking at and flipping off other drivers?

 

[Anton Sugar]

If there is a sign that says "no left turns", the left-turner is the asshole.

If there is no sign prohibiting left turns, you're the asshole.

 

[StopMakingSense]

I just can't imagine the degree of selfishness it would take to put on my brakes at rush hour and bring an entire lane to a halt. I get douche chills just imagining myself doing it.

People have a right to make legal traffic maneuvers, especially at an intersection. Honking and flipping them off is a terrible reaction and, frankly, dangerous.

 

[Grym]

I'll turn left all day if it's legal and that's where I need to go. I'd rather waste other people's time rather than my own. I'm looking out for numero uno.

Yep. Sorry but if it is a legal turn, I'm gonna do it. There are plenty of places where there are no left turn signs at intersections around here and I won't do it there. But if it is legal turn/manuver, fuck all you horn-honking pricks behind me ;-p

 

[DRock]

If it's a legal turn then fuck off. If it impedes traffic so much then write the city to put up no turn signs at that intersection.

 

[joelseph]

This is just more evidence that LA is broken. Move to Chicago. Home of a wonderful grid system, functioning bus and train systems and stress free commutes. 20 minutes door to door!!

 

[outunderthestars]

You'd get douche chills from that but not from honking at and flipping off other drivers?

So much this. OP is going to get shot in the face at some point. Then people will honk at the ambulance for slowing them down on their way to get home and play on the internet.

 

[Boney]

This topic might not hit as hard for people who don't live in a traffic heavy city like LA, but I'm of the opinion that this is one of the most underreported symptoms of sociopathy of our time.

So you're driving home, traffic is already moving pretty slowly, and suddenly your lane just stops. Just completely stops while the next lane whizzes right along. In the distance you eventually see the light ahead turn red, and one solitary car turns left. The driver held up 10 or 20 people for several minutes to make that turn. 10 to 40 or even an hour of aggregate life completely lost so that one person could make a turn.

What gets my goat is that in most cases, there are other options. Usually you can find an intersection with an actual left turn lane within a block or two, and you can either double back or go up a street. If you have to get into a driveway that's only accessible from the street you're on, you can make a u-turn further down the road and turn into the driveway from the right. In short, there's very rarely a reason for anyone to screw over dozens of people for such selfishness.

I've made it my policy to honk incessantly if I'm immediately behind the driver doing this. If I manage to get into the next lane to go around the driver, I make sure to flip the bird as I go past. More people need to flip the bird for this shit. People need to know that it's not okay.

Thankfully, LA has started putting in no left turn signs at a lot of intersections where there are no left turn lanes, but those restrictions are usually only in effect from like 4 to 6pm. They should really be in effect from 8am until at least 8pm.

Your thoughts or experiences with this?

Sure thing buddy

 

[badblue]

The worst is when you are the second car stopped at a red light in the left hand lane, and as soon as the light turns green the car in front of you turns their left turn blinker on. Merging right is not always an option when this happens.

I have learned to plan my routes when driving, and never drive in the left lane unless necessary.

 

[Jack Remington]

This is just more evidence that LA is broken. Move to Chicago. Home of a wonderful grid system, functioning bus and train systems and stress free commutes. 20 minutes door to door!!

Yes, but negative 40 degree winters

 

[pantsmith]

I got into an accident once because the car in front of me put on its left turn signal and stopped in the middle of the goddamn highway.

There was no left turn, and no intersection. They were going to make a u-turn so they stopped dead in the passing lane and just assumed life would carry on as normal. Awful.

 

[commedieu]

So much this. OP is going to get shot in the face at some point. Then people will honk at the ambulance for slowing them down on their way to get home and play on the internet.

I didn't want to come flat out and say it.. but its dangerous. Considering the lack of mental healthcare in the nation, and the attitude of LA Drivers. Its going to be a shooting, or a fight. Either is bad for most adults.

 

[Hexadecimal]

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong, but isn't it something a good ol' Michigan Left can help with?

 

[Goro Majima]

People really value the extra 2 minutes they'll save by being that impatient huh?

 

[Anton Sugar]

Austin is starting to have this problem, presumably because city planners didn't think the city would ever get larger. Some of the busiest streets have no left turn lanes and there is no room to add them.

So, I just get used to cruising in the right lane or recognizing spots where people usually turn left and switch lanes beforehand.

 

[Josh with a J]

I would point and laugh at you if you flipped me the bird lmao. Oh no not that.

 

[Two Words]

I honk at people that do that relentlessly until they move forward and find a proper lane to u-turn.

 

[Akuun]

The left turn problem is a symptom of things not being setup properly.

This is how I feel about it too. It's completely legal to stop and turn left under those circumstances. If it's holding up traffic that much and that often, then that's a sign of bad road design, not an asshole.

OP sounds like the sort of person that makes me hate driving.

 

[Envelope]

Docpan is that you

 

[studyguy]

People who flip the bird at others in the car.
Do you really expect to have others see it?
Like for real? Shit boggles my mind. Honking I can get, but most times they're probably not even paying attention to you beyond making sure you're not going to smash into them.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Ummmm. I think you might actually be the sociopath in this situation.

Pretty much what I gathered after reading the OP.

 

[Vlad]

This reminds me of my failed traffic campaign:

Stay Straight: Because Turning Left isn't a Right
"Two wrongs don't make a right, but two rights make a left."

Needless to say, it never got off the ground.

Errr, two rights send you back the way you were going. Three rights make a left.

People have a right to make legal traffic maneuvers, especially at an intersection. Honking and flipping them off is a terrible reaction and, frankly, dangerous.

Exactly. The OP could just as easily be saying that people shouldn't make right turns at intersections where there's heavy pedestrian traffic. That person is also holding up the lane for a possibly extended period.

I see the left turn thing happen all the time, which is why I will usually drive in the right lane if there's an option for it. Never even occurred to me to get pissy about it.

 

[user friendly]

How about this new trend where 2 or 3 people turn left after the advance left turn ends, thus holding up the oncoming traffic. Seems like it's getting worse each year.

The only time I get fed up with people in your scenario is if they don't put on the turn signal until last minute (or at all) to give people time to make a lane change, that's fucked and selfish but I get it, most people are too busy looking at their crotches to give a damn about anyone else.

 

[Rest]

You know Jack, I was starting to get worried that I have road rage, it was really bothering me, the thought of it. Now I know, I don't. You make your self sound like a jerk Jack, get help.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong, but isn't it something a good ol' Michigan Left can help with?

Same kind of problem, I think, but the Michigan Left wouldn't really work in city blocks and such, right? Too big.