I had a half dozen close calls in the first 6 months of ownership. Since than it's not been that bad. I'm more agressive not less now and if someone even as much as moves, they get the horn. No indicator, horn. Get to close when I'm pass, horn. Driving like a moron, horn. On their cell phone, horn.

I think how you act around other cars has a big impact with how many close calls you have.

 

My dad always said to ask yourself what is the DUMBEST thing a driver around you can do - and they'll do it. Always be prepared. I'm always using my horn.

Unfortunately around here beeping your horn somehow translates into "I just raped your wife" because people get REALLY pissed off about it, but I've avoided a lot of accidents!

 

i have been on the autobahn and you are indeed correct people respect the rules and slower drivers do keep right. if they need to pass they will move left, pass, and then get back in their lane. this is true for the speed limited sections as well as the unlimited ones (the autobahn is not some mysterious road with no speed limit, its just the general term for german highways)

around here (fort worth) no one uses turn signals. it frustrates the hell out of me as i am one of those drivers that uses a turn signal for everything, i will hit the right turn signal when i am exiting the highway in a lane that has no choice but to exit. fort worth is a picnic to drive in compared to austin though, that city has probably the worst drivers i have ever encountered and i have driven in boston, NY, LA etc.

 

I was in the middle lane of a 3-lane expressway on the bike today. My lane was moving faster than the left lane. As I was passing a Yukon, it pulled right into my lane. Fortunately I anticipated it and had already dropped a gear, but still had to move to the right side of my lane to squirt by. Looked back and the driver had a cell phone glued to her ear.

 

People are self important. He cannot possibly be beeping at me!!!!

 

Exactly ~ or a NSX....

Fact is this is a normal part of day to day driving so YOU need to adjust your driving habits. Stop hovering in blind spots or going too slow.

A good rule for motorcycle riders is we always ride slightly faster than the flow of traffic. A loud exhaust and your horns will help but won't prevent people from doing it. Plus if it's a semi - I don't think any horn will help you.

 

I already posted but have to add ~ we just got back from Rome and we rented a scooter out there to ride around the Vatican city. Amazing city but traffic rules there simply don't exist. I ride motorcycles here in the US and even for me it was scary. I told my wife to hang out tight since traffic goes ANYWHERE there is a gap. Forget right of way and that BS!

The funny thing is that the company renting the scooter never even asked if I knew how to ride the scooter or my license credentials.

Every country has bad driving but until you experience Asia and other countries I would just count your blessings how nice we have it here for the most part.

 

Somehow I imagine rotator-cuff problems from turning the crank...

 

happens probably every day, either while driving the S or the EJ8. Pisses me off so bad and it's usually some lady driver on the cell phone.

I can be directly next to them and they'll switch without looking or seeing me. They can literally just pass me and then cut me off. Or I'll be coming up on them and they'll switch right when I get near instead of doing so much earlier or waiting for me, with no other car in sight.

People are plain dumb. I tend to think of myself as a calm person, usually letting things go, but when it comes to stupid drivers tailgating me or cutting me off I just lose it.

 

this is complete bs. Mirrors are there for a reason. If people don't know how to lean forward and look in the drivers mirror or passenger mirror....OR.......use your neck and head to turn and look BEFORE switching instead of doing so after they're already halfway over the line, they don't need to be driving...period.