Readers sound off on their behind-the-wheel pet peeves
Honk asked those in Honkland to forward the pet peeves they encounter out in the asphalt jungle, and his electronic mailbag runneth over:
Many drivers leave a car’s length or more in front of them at a red light, says Stan Zone of Huntington Beach, preventing him at times from sliding into the left-turn lane. …
Vehicles traveling slower than the flow of traffic will get abreast of one another, says Vince McDonough of Costa Mesa, blocking others from the open highway ahead. …
Freeway ramp meters will be left on in off-peak hours when they aren’t needed and force you to stop anyway, says Jim Fuchs of Costa Mesa. …
California laws, unlike those in eastern states, let vehicles park too close to crosswalks, intersections, and traffic-control devices, says Dan Freiberger of Newport Beach, sometimes requiring a swerve into opposing traffic to make a right turn. …
Huntington Beach’s Mark Cohen gets frustrated when he ends up behind a car that stops or slows down to a crawl because the motorist is lost or confused. …
Janet Siler of Anaheim doesn’t like it when those in the fast lane drive slower than the flow and block others. …
When drivers are tooling around town, Anna Piercy of Cypress isn’t keen on those with their high beams on, leaving her to hold up a hand to block the “bright, blinding light.” …
Motorists who don’t use their turn indicators is the pet peeve of Mary Doty of Laguna Niguel, who has a brother from Arizona who has quipped, “So is it illegal to use turn signals in California?” …
Elliot Harry of Placentia isn’t fond of drivers choosing to stop in the right lane at a red light when they are not turning, preventing others from making that turn. …
Drivers who decline to wait in line for an off-ramp and instead “try to dive in at the last minute,” sometimes blocking others trying to go straight to boot, bothers Marie Beatty of Laguna Hills (and irritates Honk to no end). …
Motorcyclists going faster than they should when splitting lanes and “endangering my life and theirs” is the top pet peeve of Mission Viejo’s Vickee Donoho. …
Bothersome to Mission Viejo’s Melvin Gelfer are red-light runners. …
Drivers who illegally use their cellphones and don’t even hide their act really irks Bill Spitalnick of Newport Beach. …
Those wrongly going solo in the carpool lanes gets to Todd London of Anaheim, and although there are much greater sins in the world this one really ticks off Honk as well. …
Many Californians drive as if stop signs are yield signs, figures Wally Roberts of San Clemente. …
Those who drive in the rain without turning on their headlights, especially on the freeway, make it tough for others to see them, says San Clemente’s Greg Highberg, who added: “Thanks for letting me vent.” …
Actually, Honk would like to thank all of you for venting. …
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk.