Entitled drivers that pull right beside me from an on ramp and expect me to move over to the left lane so they can enter the right lane. Nobody else on the road but us and they can't be bothered with pulling in behind me or speeding up and pulling in front of me. They just sit there next to me and then flip me off since I didn't "let them in." I've had them stay beside me until they run out of on ramp and start driving on the shoulder. Kinda funny how stupid that is.
States that make the laws and driving recommendations different from other states.When I first moved to Texas, I was that guy you referred to as an entitled driver. In Illinois (where I learned to drive) the following signage and rule applies in that situation:
(note: In Illinois, "Expressways" means limited access roads like typical Interstate Highways. It doesn't mean Express lanes.)In Maryland it clearly states that:
In Texas?, well they agree with Maryland. I adjusted accordingly once I became aware of the difference.
(But yeah , it was almost a year before I looked it up. )Personally, I think the Illinois law makes more sense. If you're established on the highway in the right lane, you have a great view of the merging traffic attempting to enter the highway, you have time to check and see if you can change lanes or (if not) you can adjust your speed to fall behind the entering traffic or pull ahead of where they will enter traffic. If you are on the entrance ramp the main thing you should be doing is accelerating to get up to the same speed as the established highway traffic...even if you are in a Prius. Where as your view on an entrance ramp of the established highway traffic is marginal as you are either trying to look over your left shoulder or trying to find the road in your side mirror. It seems (at least here in Texas) that many (50%?) of the entrance ramps are curved and you are not parallel to the established traffic until the last second and thus you have a good side mirror view only at that time and you have to quickly decide to merge or wait or brake depending on the remaining length of road ahead of you. That would be in a four wheel vehicle, now on a motorcycle it's even worse as on a curved entrance ramp you'll be banked over to the right and accelerating and trying to see in a mirror that's up in the air or trying to see over your left shoulder through a helmet visor opening.
Of course YOMV. That's probably why other drivers are such a pet peeve of almost all of us.
Another driving law that comes to mind is driving on the shoulder. In Illinois it is not allowed.
(625 ILCS 5/11-709.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709.1)
Sec. 11-709.1. Driving on the shoulder.
(a) Vehicles shall be driven on a roadway, and shall only be driven on the shoulder for the purpose of stopping or accelerating from a stop while merging into traffic. It shall be a violation of this Section if while merging into traffic and while on the shoulder, the vehicle passes any other vehicle on the roadway adjacent to it.
(b) This Section shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle, to any authorized transit bus, to any bicycle, to any farm tractor or implement of husbandry, to any service vehicle while engaged in maintenance of the highway or related work, or to any authorized vehicle within a designated construction zone.
In Texas it is not prohibited but also is specifically indicated to be allowed:
Driving on Improved Shoulder
(a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:
(1) to stop, stand, or park;
(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;
(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;
(4)to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing to make a left turn;
(5)to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
(6)as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device; or
(7)to avoid a collision.
When I first arrived here I noticed that many did so, and I wanted to but feared getting a ticket for driving on the shoulder. I later adjusted accordingly and happily so.
Despite my preference for the Illinois version of the limited access merging rules,
(I can't think of much else I like about ILL-annoy) I much prefer the overall driving experience in Texas, especially the speed limits.
So when this self driving vehicle thing gets off the ground for real, do you think they'll take the time to unify the state driving laws to a national norm?...or will they just keep a record of each in the computer and change driving modes based on the GPS location?