Oh boy, you might have opened a barrel of worms on this one (a can is way too small)
Hope you get some good responses and it might be interesting to forward to DOT so they can see what regular people driving get feed up with instead of using statistics and 85th percentile speeds. But I digress. One of my biggest pet peeves is the people on the highway that feel the climbing lane is their personal "special passing lane". Try to merge with me at the end and I'll put you in the wall like Kurt Busch does at Tallegeda.

CHEERS!

While I agree this is a pet peeve of mine too I must admit that many use the far left lane as their own personal lane. This is not a parking lane folks it's known as a passing lane (noted on many signs as the 'PASSING LANE').

The travel lanes are in the middle folks! Please keep this in mind.

As for the moron who doesn't know rights from lefts - Red light means stop.

Good luck with the teenager driving.

Bad driving basically comes down to bad decisions. A school bus was designed to carry students from their homes to school over local roads. They were not designed to take out onto interstates for extended travel purposes. This is why the coach bus was designed. Let's all call this what it is...the wrong tool for the job and decisions based on cost, not safety. We need to hold the decision makers responsible.God bless this poor boy's family....

Yes yes yes!!! Using the new exit lanes at 11 & 13 on I-95N for "special passing lanes" because they don't want to wait with everyone else in rush hour traffic. Why don't these morons realize that the traffic is so slow because OTHER morons like themselves have already done the same thing and everyone has to slow down to a crawl to let them back into the flow of traffic? Those new lanes were a curse, not a blessing. These are the same people that speed through the rest area in Darien and merge back onto the turnpike as if they weren't breaking the law, which they most definitely were. Oh, for a system of cameras that catches idiots like these!

Great topic! I heard the report this morning that NH was looking to install red-light cameras and while I hate the big brother effect, it'll be great to have people actually stop at red lights for a change. Besides the red light runners, I too have had people go around me or get annoyed that I was only going 5 mph over the speed limit instead of 25 mph over. Why do people have such an overinflated sense of self-importance? Or is it just plain stupidity and arrogance?

Oh, I forgot the other big peeve and that is people who block the intersections. Even though the traffic is stopped, they drive into the intersection and then block the path for the cross traffic.

I cannot stand it when people pull out in front of me as I am coasting along. I also cannot deal with those who tailgate or who tailgate then almost take off your bumper when changing lanes.

For those who want to take the "don't get mad, get even" approach, there is a website I visit that allows you to post license plates of offending drivers. www.platewire.com

1. Slow driving in the left lane on the highway. SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT - even if the people going too fast are breaking the law

2. People who drive too fast in any lane.

3. People who creep out in the middle of a busy road they wish to turn into (mostly cities like Waterbury and New Haven)

4. people who drive aggressively

We are NOT the worst drivers but the absolute thing that this 2 hour round trip commuter hates. Slow patches of traffic for no reason. What also makes the cake is the person in the left lane who acts like hes driving in the slow lane. MOVE OVER GRANDMA!!!

My biggest "peeve" is people talking on the cellphone or texting....

There isnt a day that goes by that I see at last 3 people talking while driving..

Last year I got rear ended as I was stopped at a light by a 18 year old dialing on a friggin cell phone....

As far as the "worst" drivers as a whole...Ma drivers...hands down * laughs *

Talking on cell phones while driving - wasn't that outlawed? I guess for just some people. And God forbid you honk at someone who's too busy yapping on their cell phone to notice that the light has turned green. It's like picking a fight with a pit bull.

The legal system ought to make immediate jail sentences for the violations that people pull on the roads today because these types of violations CAN KILL PEOPLE. Do it just ONCE and spend the night in jail. PERIOD. I have no mercy for morons that only care about themselves and are in a rush to get NOWHERE.

Do you know who else make me very uneasy on the roads - seniors who's vision is impaired and reflexes have slowed. I know that I will be there some day, and I've told my son to have my license taken away if I don't voluntarily turn it in when I'm no longer capable of driving safely. I came down with MS some 18 years ago - it affected my peripheral vision in the dark - I haven't driven at night since. I always say that there are enough idiots on the road - they don't need another one. I know it's a question of freedom and rights, but our children have the right to live, and I've seen a neighbor of ours straddling the double yellow line while cars drove up on the sidewalk to avoid a collision. He was very sight-impaired. I sent a letter to the motor vehicle department - do you know what their reply was? If I were not a close relative or his doctor, there was nothing that could be done! But his wife didn't drive, and SHE wasn't going to give up her freedom! Nice, huh? He totaled several cars in his time - I wonder why? Maybe because the family was prominent politically? No, that couldn't have been the reason.

Need more enforcement. State and towns are hurting in this economy. Try handing out some tickets. Cell phone use, just as an example could more than pay for extra officers.
for derek. speed limit is just that, the freakin' limit. The left, middle or right lane. DEAL with it!

Move your slow azz out of the fast lane. Moron's like you hold up traffic for everyone else. What the heck do you care if I am speeding? Get over it!

And I bet you go 25MPH on all side streets. Go f yourself.

Tailgaters.

Tailgaters, people who think the rules don't apply to them, people do under the speed limit due to age or distraction........

during my commute, I see people shaving (really!)putting on makeup, drying their hair, and on and on.

1) cell phone is #1 talking while driving ~ any one driving while on the phone sould have there phone contract voided / terminated for a year and a 1,000. fine ~ second time caught 30 days in jain ( cat 5 prison not cat 1 )
2 ) the left lane is the passing lane . if your not passing move over , this you let those who drive fast go by on the left .. our troopers will catch them in time
3 ) when your in traffic dont try to get by the cars in front of you stay in line it will move faster ... the me me me's that use the break down lane should lose there licence and ALL there taxes double for three year

Simple truth is that as a society we have somehow gotten it into our heads that driving is a right of some sort rather than a priviledge. Our licensing procedures are a complete joke... a 3rd grader could pass the tests. We have zero retesting requirements for folks of advanced age. The only moving violation that results in serious consequences is a DUI... all the rest result in slaps on the wrist.

I don't understand it... this state makes people jump through hoops to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights yet thinks nothing of allowing people to control tons of metal and plastic moving at high velocity.

the latter two, tailgating and NOT stoping at stop signs or red lights... (since this summer in miford-the two deaths by the 94mph cop w/after-burners) my big fear is getting T-boned to death...cop or not... connecticut is a small state, why speed???

I hate people who complain about other drivers, and then use their access to a station's blog to tell us all about their personal car trips.

When I first lived in CT, I sold real estate and I always warned newcomers that people in this state run red lights as a habit and so they should never go when the light first turns green. Many of those people thanked me as they soon discovered that it isn't uncommon for three cars to blast through an intersection after the light has turned red!
Also-USE YOUR BLINKERS if you are changing lanes or making a turn at an intersection! (If you hung up the cell phone, you'd have a free hand to do this with...) The old adages "pay attention to what you're doing" and "keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel" still hold true.

Hard to know if we have the worst drivers our not, but we certainly rank up there near the top. There is I believe a multitude of reasons.

1: It's the attitude. Too many people are selfish dweebs suffering from incurable narcissistic personality disorder. Me first, me first. I'm beginning to think that in addition to a written test and a driving test, that people ought to have psychological exams before getting a license and every 4 years after that. There are people that are just too unstable and should not be behind the wheel of a 2 ton weapon.

2. A lack of skill beyond that most fundamental "point and go" driving method. Following too close, unable to maintain a constant speed, unable to maintain a lane position, etc.. Sloppy driving.

3. Very little enforcement of current traffic laws. People know that the odds of getting caught for any moving violation are nil. Where are all these cops anyway?

4. Distracted driving including but not limited to cellphone use, texting, watching whatever on tv screens. Don't tell me that using the cellphone doesn't affect your driving. That's no different than the drunk that thinks he's a better driver after a few beers.

There are more factors, but those are the 4 that top my list.

Not so much in CT, but in some areas 65 MPH is just too slow. You will fall asleep or die from sheer boredom pushing a vehicle down the road for any distance at that speed. I'm just as comfortable and more focused on driving doing 85 MPH down the road during rush hour than I am doing 65 MPH on my way to Home Depot on a Sunday morning. That is as long as everyone is doing 85, there's really no inherent danger of that speed. 1 moron doing 85, weaving back and forth across multiple lanes of traffic that's flowing at 55 is extremely hazardous to everyone. It's the difference in speed, not the absolute speed.

It dosn`t bother me I expect it.
It`s like bumper cars at a carnival,just avoid everyone and let them bump into eachother.
~Peace Glenna~

how about people not using there turn signal when turning or changing lanes,is it really that hard to push that lever up or down near the wheel. How about when people pass you only to slow down in front of you in the right lane? what is that all about?

I fully agree. What is so darned hard about reaching over a couple of inches with a finger, and flipping that lever up or down???? People are just plain LAZY about signalling.
Also, did I miss some new law that says if no one else is there, you don't have to even slow down at stop signs???
Morons honk at me if I dare to stop, (which I always do)cause THAT'S THE LAW !!!!!!!

James, I agree with you. Whoever said that you could stop using your turn signals?? Why did people stop using them? A cop could give out ticket ALL DAY LONG on that violation alone.

Look at all you perfect drivers!!

You're all nothing but a bunch of liars. You all speed, run lights, eat and talk while driving, don't use your blinkers, and will run someone else off the road because they are in your way.

You all need to shutup and face the facts you are just as bad as everyone else on the road.

Get a life.

I drive a 42ft Diesel Pusher motor home towing dinghy while touring the USA, Canada and Alaska. All one needs to do is drive is drive a big rig or a 18 wheeler and they will get a good idea where the "good drivers" are. I think all states have good and bad drivers which seem to have a death wish. I have not noticed much difference between Connecticut drivers and drivers in most other states. If I had to choose a state with the worst drivers, I would choose New Jersey and lower New York. Driving those areas is white knuckle driving for big rigs. They give little consideration to others-- especially large vehicles. I don't think they realize that a big rig does not stop or maneuver like an automobile.
The only complaint I have with Connecticut is they don't enforce their own traffic laws. I see too many drivers speed in excess of 10mph over, run traffic lights and talk on the cell phone while an law enforcement officers simply watch.

Oh I forgot to mention: if you want to create road rage-- simply drive the speed limit...... Most people consider the speed limit as a target of opportunity. Maybe Connecticut should adopt California rules on speed limit. They allow exceeding the speed limit if conditions allow-- unless the speed limit is posted as "maximum."

Oh I forgot to mention, if you want to create road rage-- simply drive the speed limit...... Most people consider the speed limit as a target of opportunity. Maybe Connecticut should adopt California rules on speed limit. They allow exceeding the speed limit if conditions allow-- unless the speed limit is posted as "maximum."

Hey Joe & Neal, I hope you don't end up in jail some day for vehicular manslaughter. Because by the sound of it, you are exactly that type who only cares about themselves and risks the lives of others so you can drive as if there are no laws.

And Dan D,
Kiss my ass. You want to drive behind me some day? I do the speed limit (morons like you don't intimated me), I use my signals, don't go through lights (you have to be a real stupid moron to even try that), and don't eat and drink when I drive. Only morons like you do that.

Lead, Follow or Get Out Of My Way!

Here is a lesson in driving on CT highways.

1 - If youre on the slow lane, good for you. Stay there and obey the speed limit until you get onto the exit ramp. Wave bye bye as you leave the CT highway system designed for commercial vehicles that transport goods.

2 - If youre in the middle lane, do not us this lane to text or make cellphone calls or you will fall into what is known as Distracted Hypnotism. This enables yor mind to fall into a forgetful mode and inadvertently slow down while not realizing there are law abiding drivers behind you trying to get home safely.

3 - Passing lane. This lane is wonderful for responsible speeders who use this lane to safely pass others and merge back into the middle lane when its safe to do so. If you encounter an elderly driver using this lane, be sure to use your brights at least 3-5 car lengths behind him or her as you approach the annoying obstacle.

Let's all make CT highways and improved traffic a model for other surrounding states to recognize how we drive like we do own the road, defensively.

Tailgaters, tailgaters, tailgaters; within five minutes of being on the road it always occurs.

My biggest complaint is for people who think they're using their signal lights correctly and really don't what they are actually for. Signal lights are to WARN someone behind you or someone at a stop sign waiting to make a left or right turn that you are proceding to make a turn further on down the road. People who turn on their signal lights, while actually in the middle of a turn, are just as bad as if they didn't use them at all.

Have some respect for everybody else out there.

I agree with Fred on cell phone use while driving; a $1000.00 first offense plus an additional license suspension for 30 days. No questions asked; the law is the law. If you can't pull over off the street to make a call you get punished.

YOUR A PUTZ!!! 1000.00 FINE? 30 DAY SUSPENSION? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR PARKING IN A LOADING ZONE? FIRING SQUAD?

Who can forget these morons?

During the inevitable rush hour traffic jams.... when traffic is slowing to a crawl.... and some jerk is behind you flashing his lights, thinking he can go faster in the space you currently occupy.

People that cut in front of you (too close) w/o using their turn signal, especially when exiting I95 on exit 27A north bound.
also, cars that pull over on the break down lane for what ever reason and just sit there w/o flashing lights on. I think this is suicide. Why not get off one of the thousand exits that are available to you on I95?

Really, what do you say to the family's who've had loved ones killed unnecessarily becasue of some half-witt talking on a phone not paying attention and took someone out?

Why is so difficult to pull over on the side of the road to make or receive a call? Is there anything so terribly urgent to take 30 seconds to pull safely over?

Don't tell me you have the capability to drive while talking; I'm sure you do. The problem is there are plenty of other people out there who can't drive period. You need 100% of your facilities to deal with someone like that pulling out in front of you and any other variety of stupid careless actions!

The penalty should equal the result of the inappropriate unlawful action.

What makes you thing that all of these wonderful drivers even have a license or a valid registration?

What irks me is the person sitting next to you in a turn lane that knows that the lane that they should drive into is not the one they want to be in. Then they proceed to cut you off or almost take the front end off your car getting into your lane after making the turn!!!

Slow drivers in the passing lane on highways is always a pleasure too! New Jersey is full of them.

One pet peeve is people who make yurns when the walk light is on. I was almost run over by some idiot who did this. I also saw a pair of Middletown cops do this not too long ago-the rules apply to EVERYONE. No one is entitled to anything. Driving is a privelege, n ot a right. Obey the laws and you just might live longer

oops- sorry- meant to say TURNS !

I have one questions for all you complainers, have you ever called the cops on a reckless driver? If not, you have no beef and you're part of the problem.

My pet peeve is when people don't use their turn signals or use them half way in the turn. Pedestrians watch out. People are also abusing the right turn on red law. Not all streets have that option, but it is so ingrained in peoples minds that they do it even when the sign says NO TURN ON RED!!!That really peeves me.It is dangerous! Also, when people have the walk sign and drivers still keep going, illegal right turns, going through red lights all of these are dangerous things that drivers do even when the pedestrians have the walk sign.

I could write on this all day, but I'll try to be brief. First, we have speed limits. "Limit" has a meaning, it means you don't exceed, so it irks me when I see people zip past me at 80mph, especially those of you who are driving jagged metal rust buckets with bald tires and those in mega-ton SUVs.

Second, don't beep or flash your high beams if I'm a mile below the speed limit. DEAL WITH IT or go around me (when it's clear and use your lane change indicator).

Third, clean the snow off your trucks, cars and SUVs. New Years Resolution. If ANY idiot gets in front of me with a car full of snow and ice that flies off at me, I will make sure your become aware of your stupidity.

Every fool on their phone needs to stop talking/texting!!!Driving is serious business. I was a professional driver for many years & those are the most dangerous idiots on the road because they are paying no attention to their surroundings (that are sppeeding by at 60 mph). I wish there was technology available to disable the phone when it is not immobile.

#1 pet peeve? It's New York drivers who use the passing lane as their personal road. Nothing moves them as they are oblivious to the chaos they cause especially in the Waterbury mix-master.

PEEVE: 1) People not using turn signals, it's not that hard people. 2) People not turning their head to look around instead just using mirrors. I have almost been sides wiped twice this week alone.

Ok now funny site of the week. Two lane road older lady cutting of older man no turn signal. Man in pick up having road rage about old lady in his way. Yes yelling out window with liberal use of finger. Female stratford cop in next car up using her cell phone. I sh*t you not.

I travel about 110 miles a Day, Round Trip back n forth to work. I drive North Haven to Groton, 5-6 days a week for work. My biggest pet peeves are people that Ride the Far Left (Passing lane) at the exact 65mph Limit, or 5 below the limit. Or those god forsaken Fung-Wah Bus, the New York to Boston discount fare bus.. They ride the Left lane as if it was the HOV lane on I-84. Then of course you get the Older generation of drivers that should be giving up there license, Most of but not all of them Should have there license removed. They Slow down on the On ramp while merging, go 55mph instead of the 65 mph Limit on the highway.. And also another Big peeve is those that Dont move over from the Right lane when someone is coming on the Highway.. Move to the Center lane, give the person Entering the highway a chance to merge safely and move back to the right lane once you have passed them.. I personally do this on a regular basis. I will admit, I do ride the Left lane alot, passing most cars in the Right, I dont do 65, usually 75-80MPH depending on traffic/road conditions.. I served 8 years in the Army, as an MP and have various training on Driving techniques. I dont talk on the phone with out a hands-free device, Always use my turn signals. Some people I see on a daily basis are totally oblivious to anyone else on the road. Cruising along as if there the only car there. And my friends have called me a A**Hole on numerous occasions because I have been known to Call the Cops on reckless drivers, or those that are driving at a Rate of Speed that is just entirely to unsafe for Conditions at the Moment.. As i said, im no Angel, I do go 75-80mph, but its with Good Judgement based on Current Road/Traffic Conditions..

Holy cow, don't get me started! Well maybe just a few things. I'll preclude this by saying I drive 144 miles round trip to work everyday, so I see a lot.

1. Slowing down for accidents or people who are pulled over when it's not even on your side of the highway. There's nothing to see and it's none of your business anyway! I hate the expression "everybody does it" I challenged myself to not look at an accident 12 years ago and still have not so much as turned my head. Keep driving and stop causing massive traffic jams for nothing.

2. People who treat the highway as their own personal autoban. In the 9 years I have been making my insane commute, not one night has gone by (I drive home at midnight) without someone flying past me at well over 100mph. I particularly love the ones who switch between all 3 lanes while speeding past me in their drunken road rage. Unfortunatly I can count the number of them that have later been pulled over by cops on one hand. I-95 and the Merritt are lawless highways as far as I can tell.

3. Rolling through stop signs. It's a STOP sign. It's not a keep rolling until the other driver has to give up their turn to go because you're already halfway into the intersection.

4. Cell phones, texting, drunk driving. I've been hit by 2 of the 3 already. Not looking forward to the hat trick.

5. Speeding excessively on roads with posted 25mph speed limits. How many dead pedestrians is it going to take before that one stops?

My list just goes on and on. I'm just convinced that people are so self absorbed at this point, that nothing outside of their world matters. I see parents driving aggressively with children in their cars. Great parenting. I just wish people would wake up and realize their actions affect other people besides themselves.

After stopping for a red light, I had my left turn signal on waiting for the green. Across from me was a New Haven police officer. When the light turned green, he hesitated for a length of time which made me believe he was waiting for me to turn. He was, he pulled me over and lectured me about how "you old folks" don't seem to remember the rules of the road. It seems I should have granted the right of way to him even if he was sleeping.

Since then I've given up driving and take the bus, it affords me the opportunity to watch as police cars turn on red against a posted sign, turn on the flashing lights just to cross an intersection under a red light, use excessive speed without the lights on any given road, stop in traffic to "chat" with a fellow officer and any number of violations we regular folks would pay a heavy fine for.

If this seems to far fetched, recall the incidents which have taken lives in the recent past and watch as the jolly old boys roll merrily along.

My pet peeve about other drivers:

Mostly it is the tailgaters for me. I drive a vehicle that has a higher rate of tipping over at certain speeds, so I usually try to keep close to the speed limit while driving. If it says 40MPH I stay pretty near that (around 42-44MPH). I'm no angel either, but I don't drive a sports car that can handle twisting turning roads at 75MPH.

Although I have found out one other thing about driving fast, that the faster you drive, the more gas you burn. If you stay near the speed limit, you will find your gas mileage will be much better. Driving down the highway at 75 - 80 MPH will just suck down the gas while driving at 65 MPH won't suck it down as much.

The other driver I like is the one that has to pass you on a double yellow line road. I always thought that double yellow lines meant no passing in that area. Guess not.
I think in CT there is a law for aggressive drivers. Especially if a cop catches you driving that way.

Tailgaters, hands down. If you're in such a hurry, make sure you wake up on time, because that's sure as hell not my fault. Also, I can't go any faster than the guy in front of me, so what's the point? My daily commute is 74 miles round trip, so I've seen it all, and have the gray hairs to prove it. People seem to forget that there are human lives behind the wheels of these vehicles; if you were walking down the street and encountered someone walking slower than you'd like, would you physicaly push them out of your way, or calmly just walk around them? And as many have mentioned, driving is a PRIVILEGE, not a right - the roads are meant be shared by all, and not hogged by these a-holes in a hurry.

New Jersey has the worst drivers around -- and I come from New Jersey. When I moved to Connecticut I had to get used to driving at a speed less than 80. In New Jersey I drove fast on the Garden State parkway not because I wanted to - I had to or be killed by some maniac going faster than me - every time I got on the Garden State i felt I was caught up in a game of "chicken" !

I quickly adapted to the more normal speeds in Connecticut but lately I feel that the Connecticut drivers have lost their minds and any common sense- the game of "chicken" has come to Connecticut and I am not happy about that. Very few people follow the speed limit and when I do I get honked at, cursed at, passed in curves -- it's crazy ! Last week I was on Rt. 188 and I had some idiot riding my bumper - I'd finally had enough of his flashing lights and tailgating and I slammed on my brakes and jumped out of the car - he couldn't pass me because of oncoming traffic on the other side of the road and I think I scared him when I came out screaming and cursing at him - I was NOT a lady but I am not contrite -- it would be nice to think that I scared him enough to drive the speed limit from now on but I doubt that. The worst part is, he was no kid - he looked like he was in his 40's - we can't pin insanity on just the teenagers today.

Here is a good one...The other day I found TWO GUYS getting out a car that was parked in a desginated spot for "expected mothers". I was going to ask which one is.........

Jeff,
As a seasonal biker, I have to tell you that people in vehicles just do not pay attention. There are so many times that if I was wasn't paying attention for them they would have hit me. I had a woman make a left turn on red and I was coming her direction. Her excuse was she didn't see the light. Well, if she had hung up the phone, maybe, just maybe she would have seen the red light.
Cell phone users are the absolute worse of all. Sure Connecticut has the law to prevent their use, but no one enforces it. What's the sense of a law if no one enforces it?

I am driveing myself to the doc tomorrow to get an x-ray to see if I can get a job.The x-ray will tell me when to go to work.~Peace Glenna~

This is slightly off subject but...

I beleive it is the obligation of CT state goverment to keep its citizens safe ...even on the road. DMV does a good job by inspecting trucks, cars and other vehicles and removing unsafe ones from the road.
WHY DOESNT THE COMMISSIONER SUSPEND THE PLATES OF ALL SUSPECT TOYOTA VEHICLES UNTIL THE PROBLEM ISS FIXED?
It is obvious that Toyota has lied and endangered the lives of Connectiut citizens by allowing unsafe vehicles on highways. Since the federal giverment is imputent, I believe the State should stand up a be counted!
So Commissioner and Govenor...Please take action...its not only your right...its your OBLIGATION!

To Whom It Concerns: As a concerned driver who chooses most of the time to do the right things on the road... us-ing signals, NOT using a hand-held com-munications device, following the pos-ted speed limit (sometimes going over) I'm amazed how many people are still talking with hand-held phones, never signalling when turning/changing lanes and as a reference point Rt.8 & I-84. I will be travelling at 57-60 mph in the travel lane, being passed constant-ly by those doing 70+, and on '84' by Exit 25 (Reidville Dr./Scott Rd.)it re-turns from 3-to-2 lanes, with a large yellow sign overhead... "Lane Ends In 1500 Feet". I move to the center to prevent being caught in the breakdown lane only to be passed by several vehicles on the right (also an illegal act!) quickly to try to merge ahead of those obeying the laws. Perhaps the CT State Police should consider posting a patrol there to ticket all these law-breakers. It would probably pay for it-self in a couple of weeks, and maybe get a few people to obey (and take aw-ay some stress from the rest of us)and at the worst save a bit of the ozone from those excess exhaust fumes.