Which Traffic Transgression Bothers You The Most on The Road?

Wether its a calm "what's this cabbage up to?" or vein busting anger outbursts at the wilful dangerous stupidity you just witnessed, what is it that people do when driving / sharing our roads that annoys you the most?

Hoons? Speeding? Driving too slow? Drivers on phones? Right lane hogs? Inattention? Failing to stop, give way, indicate? Cyclists?

Riding a motorcycle, not stopping/giving way winds me up, I always feel like they haven't seen me but it seems to be intentional most of the time. And bloody mobile phones.

Comments

        • You mean Baccarat. Sometimes with BlackJack no matter what you do you'll lose the hand. With Baccarat there's always a result (Player, Banker or Tie), Bet on one of the three to always win.

          • @nobro25: I'm pretty sure x-ray vision won't help you to see the back of cards

  • People parking like arseholes in front of schools.

    • +2

      People driving to or from schools

  • +1

    None of the above.

    Vote 1 Idiocy.

  • +4

    Merging dangerously across multiple lanes to take an exit where you should just continue and safely take the next exit.

    Driving past a long turning queue to jump in ahead where the lane is not going in the same direction and causing a blockage to that lane also.

    Slow driving.

    Slow driving then speeding up when they get to an overtaking lane.

    Slow driving then taking the shortest queue at a set of lights.

    Driving into other lanes to take a turn when not driving a large vehicle that requires to do so.

    • +2

      I have mellowed in my old age and realise many many people just cannot merge all that well, its just not taught well, its a skill that some people cannot attain

      i get it

      i dont mind slow drivers but damn, get out of the way so you're not holding up people

      they seem to be oblivious to the world around them

      • One of the advice a friend gave me, and I don't know if I would realize it myself otherwise was that: You don't always have to merge ahead, you can merge behind them.

        Most of the time I merge, I merge behind a car. Unless 2/3 of my car body is in front of the other car so they can see me indicating, I can speed up just slightly and go in the gap. If that car decides to speed up as well after I indicate and not to let me in, I just go behind them. No fuss, no muss.

    • +3

      I don't mind slow drivers, but if you're slow and you speed up in an overtaking lane I absolutely hate you.

      Also people who don't use slow driver pull overs

      • Also people who don't use slow driver pull overs

        These ones really get on my nerves.

        • +2

          pass one and i flash my headlights. Pass two and I'm on the horn

  • +11

    When they speed up as you are trying to merge onto the highway

  • +2

    Driving in low visibility conditions without lights on.

    Driving in low visibility conditions without lights on in a car that has automatic headlights.

  • +1

    Most of the above bugs me. I don’t get angry, just a little annoyed and disappointed.

  • +3

    Pedestrians. There I said it. Not in general but those that don't know the road rules (eg crossing when the red man light is flashing) or are carelessly walking in front of cars assuming they have right of way and those that dawdle across intersections.

    • +4

      Did you know that in NSW (and I assume most other states) drivers have to give way to crossing pedestrians when making a turn at any intersection except for roundabouts? A lot of drivers don't seem to know this.

      • Yeah that's fair enough. I'm thinking of a few instances of pedestrians walking in front of approaching cars from refuge islands.

      • This is not the case in VIC by the way. I remembered it from my test and when I had pedestrians looked at me with angry eyes at a roundabout, I rechecked the rules to see if it has changed. It has not: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-r…

        Pedestrians must:
        - give way to vehicles at roundabouts

    • +2

      It's ok though - locally they have made a major proportion of the roads within the shopping areas 30kph - idiots can't be bothered lifting their eyes from their phones when stepping onto the road so cars get to be even slower (less damage at lower speeds - may as well just ban cars all together I guess).
      For some reason school zones are safe at 40kph for little kids with little road awareness but so-called adults need it to be 30kph due to their stupidity.

  • +9

    Sudden acts of random "courtesy":

    Not leaving a gap to let me out of a side street into a slow-moving main road (fine - whatever, you're not required to and I might not myself), then coming to a complete stop to let 3 cars out of a driveway 50m further along, which then means I'm one car too far back to get into the slip lane, or the slowing means I just miss the next green light

    • 100%. I think it's really important to be predictable.

  • people who are in a rush and give you the dutty stare when they drive past.. lol … admittedly i sometimes do it

  • +2

    Everyone and everything

  • +2

    I cycle, ride my motorbike and drive to and from work. I even run sometimes.

    Cycling:
    - Distance in passing. In back streets, even with a bicycle lane, parked cars and traffic make cars rush to push gaps to get in front of you before roundabouts, chicanes etc., things can get very close.
    - Turning out in front. People look at a cyclist approaching and think I can get in front in time. Doing 30+km/h on a road bike is not hard and people misjudge how quickly you close the distance and end up having to brake suddenly.

    Motorbike:
    - Lane positioning: When filtering will sit far over to the centre of the two lanes blocking getting through. I will say there are some rare people who do the exact opposite and move far to the kerb to give you room which is great.
    - Distracted drivers. Being a little higher and without anything between you and the other driver's window, you see it all. Reading, eating, make-up application, dancing to the beat, texting, you observer it all and learn to watch for their eyes to see if they have looked at you and recognised your presence.

    Driving:
    - Accelerating to close gaps. You put your indicator on, you wait for a gap, you start moving over then old mate accelerates quickly to push you back into your lane and gives you a beep. One car in front of you isn't going to make you late or less of a person. Just let people in.

  • +8

    People who don't indicate, especially at roundabouts when turning, but also in most other situations. It is so prevalent, I can't work out why some drivers indicate when requured in some circumstances and don't in others.

    Failure to indicate is so bad I even observe some police cars failing to do it these days.

  • +1

    Driving 10km/hr under the speed limit constantly should be fineable. They would make a killing since half the population does it.

  • People who pull out in front of you and then proceed to break check you because they see you are on their arse.

  • +3

    People in huge SUVs (the really big ones) who struggle to park them in shopping centre carparks. Get a smaller car if you don't know how/are scared to drive the big ones.

    Especially frustrating when it's a high end model and you just know that they're rocking 360 degree cameras that should make it ridiculously simple.

  • People joining a main road (that I am on) from a side road. They can clearly see me and I can see they are accelerating like crazy, to join the main road, just in front of me.
    This is ok that they’ve come out in front of me, but dear god, get up to speed! No, they travel 10-15ks under the limit! What’s the point in rushing to only just get in front of someone and not bother get up to speed?

  • I am a grumpy old man so I can have more :) :)

    Driving well under the speed limit on narrow highways then speeding up to or above the speed limit when there is a over taking lane.

    People who tailgate…(Anything closer than around 3 seconds is dangerous and tailgating …. )

    People who do not indicate at round-a-bouts..

    People who do not slow down and give way at round-a-bouts (You are supposed to give way to ALL traffic that is already on the round-a-bout including traffic that has arrived before you further around the round-a-bout.. Just because you arrive at high speed does not mean you have right of way)

    • +2

      This is the giveway law for Round-a-bounts in Victoria..

      Giving way at round-a-bouts

      Before entering a roundabout, you must give way to any:

      • vehicle already in the roundabout
      • tram entering or approaching the roundabout.*
      • Vehicles do not need to give way to pedestrians at roundabouts unless there is a pedestrian crossing there.

      Around were I live in Ballarat there are many idiots who think that just because they do not slow down for the round-a-bount they have the right of way over people who have already entered the round-a-bount. Sadly it is causing the council to replace round-a-bounts with traffic lights which further slow down traffic …

      • +4

        Unfortunately many people don't know the rules about roundabouts. A common belief is that you give way to traffic on the right.
        Many drivers approach a roundabout at speed, thinking that they will have this "right of way" and create dangerous situations when someone else enters the roundabout before them.

        • +1

          I have always thought the various state transport authorities need to run advertising campaigns to educate people how to use round-a-bounts safely and lawfully ..

        • It's give way to the right because it makes it simple for people. Anyone who is not on your right is already in the the round and you would be driving into them.
          You give way to the right because you would be driving into the path of oncoming traffic otherwise, would be no different from pulling out of a side street.

          • @Mike88: Except in this case the traffic on your right has to give way to you if you are already on the roundabout.

            Although I understand your logic, it is not consistent with the road rules. Maybe they need to change the rule to your approach?

  • +3

    The mysterious new thing call a 'round-a-bout' and the inability of Oz drivers to navigate them with the associated use of indicators to let all of the lesser mortals around them know what they may/intend to do. Easier to put in 'Stop' signs, if not a set of 'carbon neutral' traffic lights!

    • This isn’t a requirement in Victoria but it is in other states.

      • Not quiet correct ….as per RACV…

        "We often receive feedback that the rules for exiting a roundabout in NSW, QLD and SA are different to Victoria. While some Victorian road rules are different, when exiting a roundabout, they’re similar – indicating is required.

        Here are the key things to remember:

        Before entering, indicate as you normally would – left to turn left, right to turn right, no indicator if you’re going straight.

        If you’re leaving the roundabout more than halfway around, indicate right. Halfway around is defined as leaving on a road that is substantially straight head from the road you entered on."

        • This changed at some point because I’m ~40 and this was not taught as the rule when I got my licence 20 years ago. The first time I saw it was when I drove to Adelaide the first time.

          In Victoria I indicate which way I’m turning out of the roundabout as nearly all drivers do. I do not change my indicator in the roundabout. Interestingly,

          I drove a Saab as my last car and it would automatically change the indicator light flashing to the other side if I turned the wheel the opposite way. Essentially doing the NSW, SA , QLD way automatically in a roundabout . It seems the NSW, SA behaviour is common in other countries.

          • @snooksy: I am sure amnesia Dan included the changes in his new C19 dictum.

          • @snooksy: I can concur that the 'indicating while exiting' the roundabout is a new one, you would laugh at me for being a stickler for road rules when I told you I got pulled over by a cop one day and when I got out of the car and accidentally saw how they car was parked I told them that they were not parking within the line XD. This didn't go down well by the way XD. I used to read the road rule changes they made and this one was was added for VIC sometime less than 10 years ago.

  • +1

    Driving slow in the right hand lane. Driving without lights on at night. Australia’s very low speed limits on highways and freeways. Seriously 80km/h on a freeway?

  • +4

    Big three for me are
    1) Motorcyclists who use bicycle lanes/illegally overtake.
    2) Cyclists who flagrantly flout road rules by running red lights etc.
    3) Motorists who don't give way at roundabouts/can't zip merge properly.

  • +2

    Right lane hoggers

    • Flash your high beams, usually wakes them up I find.

  • +2

    People who don't know how to indicate properly when exiting a roundabout.

  • People who don't know how to correctly perform a hook turn and get impatient with traffic in front of them.

  • -Drivers who tailgate on expressways are really dangerous. And they cause accidents.
    -And slow drivers doing 80 on 100km/hr!
    -And drivers on left who pull over suddenly to right lane when they see parked cars on their lane, even when you are beside them!

    • People, that on peak hour, see a car exiting the curb side parking, and stop to let them out, and then reverse ( mostly really bad and taking their time ) intot he parking, and 30 cars behind them blocked, then there is a parking garage 200m down the road.

  • +1

    0.1 seconds of indicating before ramming themselves into a lane.

    Also, drivers that turn but they'll veer into the adjacent lane first…

    • I tend to do this now, if I indicate for any longer then more often than not the car in the other lane will accelerate to close the gap.

  • Didn’t we have one of these threads a few months ago?

  • In the short period of me walking my daughter to school:
    - wrong 3 point turn, entering an exit, and going across footpath
    - stopping in a non stopping area in front of school
    - non giving way to pedestrian when turning
    - parking in driveway, across the footpath
    - U-turn at lights
    - and the icing on the cake: Car going into incoming traffic, overtaking cars queued at lights, to get into the light turn lane, when plenty of cars waiting for turning right, but blocked by left turning cars that were queued

  • +1

    Hard to say which bothers me the most. I guess probably the ones that put me or my family's safety in danger (including emotional trauma so yes that includes many of the cyclists that completely ignore the road rules).

  • +3

    Selectively impatient drivers. Drivers who will lose their minds if they have to wait 20 seconds to safely pass a cyclist/give way to a pedestrian/allow a bus to pull out. But then the same driver is not bothered when having to wait behind a car trying to turn right or at a red traffic light.

    On any trip using our roads you are going to have to wait your turn many times, the whole road system depends on it. If you are stuck waiting for a bike/bus/pedestrian take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture.

  • +4

    People who flick cigarette butts out the window.

    I know that when I finally snap, I'll get out of my car and throw it back in their car.

  • +5

    as the driver of an older now-relatively low sedan since the popularity of high SUV pretend-4WD vehicles for bush-bashing all the way to the supermarket car-park

    I hate being stuck in city traffic behind a large high vehicle or van - typically blocking my entire field of view, so I have no view of anything ahead of them, so rather than ideally seeing through to the traffic above and being able to see in advance when the traffic ahead starts to move - no, because I can't see anything beyond the wall of the high vehicle in front of me, I have to remain on tenterhooks, trigger-ready to move off with 1-second notice when the blockage just in front of me finally moves.

    and for those who might suggest I should get one too - Nah - I've seen too many accident videos of SUVs with a high centre of gravity simply hitting something, and immediately flipping over onto the side if not rolling repeatedly - not my cup of tea at all thank you.

    • +1

      So much this. SUVs are bad for so many reasons. I can't even see the point of speedbumps anymore, because SUVs just cruise right over them without slowing

    • Hey there, living where I am, I drive behind semis all the time, in a small car. It's not ideal but you give them plenty of space so you have plenty of time to react. VIC road rules recommend you drive 60 metres behind long vehicle, that's PLENTY of distance to react accordingly. I found 95% of the time semi drivers know what they're doing. Tradie vans or 1 tonne goods delivery trucks is a different story I admit, they can get erratic and yeah I generally just give plenty of space, change lane or (if you can and safe to do so) slow down and stop at the side of the road to let other cars deal with the stress. With stories about how various mounted stuff on tradie vans that flies off their truck and into another car's windshield, if I see a car driving erratically I just stay away one way or another (stopping by the side of the road to give that distance is also a valid option).

  • +4

    Drivers that decide to "be nice" and give way to people they don't need to, or let them go first instead of just following the road rules. It's dangerous and it creates confusion.

    • Yeah its fine when the traffic is congested and we're not getting anywhere but when they come to a random stop in moving traffic to let someone in its mighty dangerous.

    • Drivers that accelerate when you attempt to pass them, leaving you longer on the worng side of the road
    • Drivers that can't turn into the left lane when you're pulling onto a dual lane road, so they wait for ages until the whole road is clear before they go.
  • +1

    I hate it when people start turning their steering wheel too soon and end up not fitting into the lane they were trying to turn into. Like, drive straight just 1 or 2 seconds longer, and then turn, and your whole car will fit better into the lane instead of sitting half and half in both.

  • +1

    Speeding in school zones. My kid goes to a small country school and about 80% of drivers speed through the school zone.
    Most kids have the road sense of a cane toad. I volunteer for SES road crash rescue - trust me you don't want to see some of the things I have…

    I'm a total bastard about it and often make crime stopper reports that force the highway patrol to do enforcement.
    I've watched watched quite a few people lose their license driving 100+ km/h in a 40 zone and keep a dash cam collection for giggles.
    Speeding in a school zone by more than 45Km/h (NSW) :- 7 demerit points, fine $2676, 6 months immediate road side suspension (minimum).

  • Driving in Sydney.

    • Sydney is super hyper aggressive in many areas but you have to have driving in Brisbane Gold Coast to see true horror.

      Last time I was in Melbourne it wasnt so fun either as they seem to drive much slower than we do in Syd. but fair play, their cops and enforcement regimen is much worse than Syd.

      • Never driven in Brisbane so can’t really comment on that. But I agree Sydneysiders are aggressive on the road. The amount of people I see who cut into turning lanes because they can’t be bothered waiting at the end of the line is too high. Most people just care about themselves here IMO.

        I think the main reason why you would think Melburnians drive slow is because they actually stick to the limit mostly because of the stricter enforcement in Victoria and the fact mobile speed cameras can be unmarked (and have been for a while I think).

        In Sydney, only recently did mobile speed cameras become unmarked which to me is mind boggling. What’s the point in warning drivers there’s a mobile speed camera 300m ahead? It just allows drivers who regularly speed to avoid being punished. I don’t blame Sydneysiders for speeding though, the roads in Sydney are terribly designed and congestion is horrible.

        • +1

          your mind will boggle at this.

          the cops removed warnings on mobile speed cameras because of public backlash

          only in NSW

          I dont complain too much about Syd because I used to this rat race and would fare a lot worse in Vic

          we have a saying in Syd.: NSW cops are terrible but at least they aint QLD or Vic cops!

          • @tonyjzx: LOL wow that’s nuts!!!!

            Haha fair enough on that cop comment.

    • Drink (over limit)/drug driving
    • Using phone - other than for hands free calls/ directions (for those who can do these activities and focus on driving at the same time, not everyone can)
    • Turning head to talk to other people in the car while driving
    • People who just can't drive, e.g. Can't maintain a relatively stable speed (or has to stare at the speedo to do so), can't drive within their lane - anything else that is essentially that they can't handle the basics of driving.
  • +5

    People who don't pull up to the white line at a set of traffic lights. Some people will pull up 5 or more metres away from the white line so it doesn't activate the metal plates in the road that trigger when theres a car there. So you have to wait extra long for the light to turn green.

  • +2
    • Drivers who don't use their indicators. Am I supposed to predict where you are going? Not a psychic!

    • Drivers who leave too much of a gap between their car and the other car. I understand leaving a safe distance, but it is mind boggling to leave a two and a half/three car gap.

    • Drivers who ride the brakes and are overly touchy with them. You can slow down and ease into a low speed, minor turn rather than slamming on the brakes and jerking into a street.

    • Drivers who are overly impatient, inattentive, aren't aware of their surroundings and don't grasp certain road condtions. Things like taking forever to begin accelerating at intersections, being indecisive and struggling to merge.

  • Phones. I cycle, drive motorbikes and cars. I've seen so many near misses lately and it has to be that.. every time I stop and there's someone behind me their head is always down in their lap. It also doesn't help with congestion if every driver isn't ready to go once the light is green.

  • +3

    Last second or no signalling, hate those drivers the most….there are just a crap ton of reckless drivers in Sydney.

  • I can forgive mistakes, and not let most stupid things that people do bother me

    But I CAN NOT stand people who:
    - Cut in front of traffic by using service lanes
    - Driving over median strips and foot paths to get ahead
    - Cut around solid lines into oncoming traffic to get ahead
    - Cut around traffic that's turning right by sitting in the straight lane and block traffic going straight
    - Stop traffic to do a U Turn where they're not supposed to because it would take them 30 seconds longer to drive further and do one legally
    - Cut across 3 lanes of traffic and solid lines to get off the freeway because they weren't paying attention and don't want to spend 2 minutes taking the next exit and turn around
    - Stop in the middle of the road to drop off or pick up their kids at school
    - Sit in the school drop off/pickup parking spots because they were too fat and lazy to get a good spot earlier or walk 3 minutes up the road

    I like to believe that there's a special place in hell for people who do the above.

    • +1

      Camry drivers

      • Used to be, yes
        Now it seems the new ones are in i30 hatches.. 🙄

  • Travelling at 110kph in left lane, when those who act to overtake, just slowly creep along, remaining in your blind spot, or knowing they are about to block you in behind a double-b, in front. Or those that remain in the overtaking lane - forever, sneaking up and up till they too remain hidden in your blind spot.
    Where is the COPs?

    • got to be careful with those. Had one creep up on me into my blind spot and then tried to change into my lane while literally next to me. I had to steer into the emergency lane to avoid an accident. How do people drive without being aware of other cars around them, I have no idea.

  • +2

    Hogging up right line on the 100k/hr freeway while maintaining <90 speed. Some will maintain their right lane fantasy for the duration of Melbourne to Geelong drive - even if the left or middle lane is empty.

    Don't get me started on cyclers - if there's 2 or more of them, they will happily casually ride side by side while chatting with each other - not caring one bit about blocking the left lane. Its like rules don't apply to them and they have zero consideration (ride behind one another instead of chatting up while cycling but no)

    I use to be a calm person before I started to drive lol. Roads are war zones.

    • You sound exactly like me
      I'm also going to start using the term "right lane fantasy" in conversation 😂

      • does the "keep left unless overtaking" only apply on freeways?

  • tailgating or the idiots who don't use bicycle lanes

  • +1

    People who try to jump the queue by staying in a lane that is only going in a certain direction and then trying to squeeze in at the lights right at the last minute to the other lane which is going the way they actually want to go. And while doing that, they end up blocking both lanes.

  • +6

    Indicators. The fact that people are either too stupid or too entitled to understand how much information they convey when they use them properly is just infuriating. If you are driving without using your indicators properly you are just swerving randomly through traffic and you are an accident waiting to happen.

    The fact that you can't literally lift a finger to help those around you understand what you're doing on the road just makes me want to bash you with a tire iron.

    • Especially drivers of European cars.. I think it has a lot to do with the indicator stalk being on the left hand side.

      It's not as intuitive to reach up and flick the indicator with the left hand, particularly when a majority of drivers either drive with their right arm leaning on the door frame, steering with one hand. If the indicator stalk was on the right hand side, it's just a quick flick of the pinkie and done.

      There should be standardisation on indicator stalks being on the right hand side in Australia.

      • +1

        Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with you, I still feel that if people can be defeated by such a mundane thing as swapping the stalk from right to left, they shouldn't be trusted to operate the vehicle in general.

        • +1

          But do you drive a european car? Having gone from Jap>Euro>Jap cars, I soon came to realise why everyone hates BMW drivers for not indicating 😂 pure laziness I suppose.

          • +1

            @LordSydney: I used to regularly drive a euro spec Ford Focus, so I do sympathise with putting your windshield wipers on all over the place but at the same time I also learned pretty quickly which car does which thing. It's so basic. Anything can be learned with some minor practice.

            • @sir-screwball: It's not so much the learning, but the inconvenience of having to use more than one hand.

      • We have three vehicles at our disposal; two have indicator stalks on the left, one on the right. We interchange between the vehicles very frequently.
        Similarly, one is manual; two are automatic.
        One has auto-headlights; two don't.

        It isn't rocket science.
        I agree with @sir-screwball, if a driver can't cope with that, they probably shouldn't be sharing a road with us.

        • +1

          cool story bro.

  • +3

    People crashing into my car obviously going to be number one.

  • -1

    I want 2:
    1.) Slow driving
    2.) Parking in unsafe places i.e. the slip lane entrance to my daughter's childcare.

  • +1

    People who can't stay in their (profanity) lane, particularly through a roundabout.

    There are lines on the ground, follow them don't go in a straight line. It's pathetic.

  • Waiting to turn right at an intersection and the car in front won't fully enter the intersection to also turn right.

  • +1

    There's alot that annoys me.
    Speeding not so much as it allows room for other people (making space) is only that extremely rare occurrence that speeding is bad.

    1. The worst one I have is people randomly breaking on a 3 lane road at 70km/HR when they're driving around 65km/HR. (They're not merging, they're not tailgating infact there's 10 car spaces between their car and the next)

    2. Then there's the odd mofo that cuts into your lane abruptly and then slows down like a mofo. Then when you change lanes they speed up.

    3. Not Signaling in a roundabout.

    4. Tailgaters when you're approaching a speed camera. Gives you anxiety as you know you can't go any faster.

    There's alot more but those are the most common ones I've encountered. (1) encountered on a daily basis.

  • wearing a frickin mask while driving… c'mon, seriously?

    closely followed by tailgaters (pardon the pun)

    followed by idiots who drive 10-20km/h below the speed limit when there's one lane, speeding up when there's an overtaking lane.

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