Driving Me Crazy

Lots of curves ahead (Google Maps photo)

 Growing up and living in the New York and New Jersey area most of my life, our roads, needless to say, can be a challenge to drive. In the spirit of David Letterman's Top 10 lists, here are some things that make many a driver wish for a more logical way. In no particular order, here are some of my pet peeves (feel free to add to the list):

1. No turn signal when changing lanes or making a turn - a simple step that not only is the courteous thing to do but also adds an important measure of safety for other drivers.
2. Road signs in useless spots - if you are going to have informational signs, place then where you will help those unfamiliar with the area, not in a place where a driver needs to make a sudden decision.
3. Road signs in confusing spots - if you have ever driven westbound off of the George Washington Bridge, the highway signs are very visible, which is great. The challenge is that the highway curves right there, so unless you already know where you are going, it can be very tricky if you are trying to get to Interstate 80 or the NJ Turnpike or Route 4 or 9W or . . . 
4. Lack of shoulders on highways - a flat tire for one car becomes a 90-minute delay for everyone. Can you say Belt Parkway in Brooklyn?
5. Cars speeding behind emergency vehicles - I don't get this one. A fire engine, police car, or ambulance with its lights flashing and/or siren on obviously is on the way to something urgent. On the Garden State Parkway, for example, drivers will follow the emergency vehicles for no reason other  than to move faster.
6. Drivers going well under the speed limit - if a highway has a posted limit of 65 and there is no traffic, a driver going 25-30 miles per hour, especially in the middle lanes, is creating a substantial hazard to other drivers who are not expecting a slow-moving vehicle. Highway and construction vehicles have signs warning other drivers that they are slowing down. This is as dangerous as cars going too fast.
7. Unnecessary use of high beams - this seems to go hand-in-hand with the slow-moving cars in the previous item. Invariably, these same drivers are driving slowly and using their brights. If one is uncomfortable driving on the highway, the prudent thing to do is take the local roads.
8. Jersey drivers unaware of jug-handle turns - for those of us in the Garden State, many busy local roads require you to make all turns from the right lane. Nonetheless, some drivers insist on crossing three lanes of fast-moving traffic, with other vehicles behind you. The jug-handles are there for a reason - improved traffic flow coupled with safety.
9. The last-second exit - these are the drivers during rush hour who feel their time is more valuable than yours. There can be 30-40 cars waiting to exit  a highway, yet some drivers will speed past all of them, then cut in front of everybody at the last second.
10. Poorly placed EZ Pass lanes - at some toll plazas, you have a line of 20+ cars next to an EZ Pass lane - a slow-moving lane next to one that is much quicker. Kudos to the Port Authority of NY and NJ for having even the cash lanes accept EZ Pass - this is much safer.

Did I miss any of your driving frustrations? Please feel free to add.

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