Stupidity or just don't care ? ?

Occasionally I mow my grass/weeds on side of road.
Don't do this often because of traffic and I am cautious about what is approaching me from back.
I can't count the times a car has come within two feet of me although there is no other vehicles close on a straight road !
How much effort does it take to slow down and move over ?

Strange thing is---people will go in other lane to miss a dog !

I think your answer is yes, that covers both bases.

We notice that a lot when we are walking, we walk on a residential street where there is little traffic, but some just won't move over. If
they do move over I wave at them, if they don't I glare at them!

I think that people are so wrapped up in their own world that they flat out are not watching what is going on.

We just got back from 2200 miles vacation. I was a little surprised at the careless drivers. (Not surprised much anymore) When I came up on a car/truck/police on the side of the road I will signal and when safe to do so, pull over at least half way or more into the other lane. Most of the time a car running way over the speed limit would try to pass me on the right side, making them come even closer to the vehicle on the side. And in Missouri I even had a car pass me on the left. Only problem was I was in the left lane passing a semi and there was no room on my left for another lane. If you were traveling on I-44 last Monday afternoon, you might have seen him, car all bent up against a guard rail.

I vote for stupidity. I was working on a water line across the road a few months ago,had to keep backing the tractor in to the road and couldn't get more than barely off the blacktop when I went back in. There were a few of those brainless morons going about 60 who didn't miss the back tire by more than a foot. I was standing by the mailbox one day and some dullard chick hit the gravel stones right next to me,kicked one up and hit me in the face with it and drew blood.

Nice they'll move over for a dog,they won't even slow down for a calf.

I had a blowout on I-94 west of Kalamazoo a couple years ago. Two daughters in the car. Could only get over to the center median so that is where I had to stop. Concrete divider and barely enough room for the car. People whizzing by only inches away made the car rock each time one passed. We sat there for 40 minutes waiting for AAA to come. One of those rare times when I was afraid to get down next to the car and change the tire due to the traffic so close. Two of the cars that drove by were Michigan state police cars. Never even slowed let alone pull in behind and turn on their lights so I could change my tire. Finally the wrecker came and turned on his lights and changed the tire out for us. Haven't felt the same about state police since.

One of the requirements to obtaining a
driver's license should be to change a
driver's side tire on the side of a busy
road. The sound and feel of A car passing
by your butt at 60 MPH permanently imprints
your memory.

Sad that I am not surprised when I see on news where someone is struck on side of road.

I live on a 4 lane highway and when I am mowing or pushing snow they won't move into other lane. My loader tractor has headlights and red
tail lights along with a rotating amber light.I use lights all the time day or night when pushing snow. I don't know if they are stupid or
just azzholes.

They are supposed to move over or at least
slow down here in Michigan for tow truck,
police, ambulance, emergency and our
municipal vehicles. They will usually get
over for a police car out of fear of being
ticketed, but they could care less if
you're trying to fix the road, they know we
can't ticket them. Can't tell you how many
times myself or one of our crew has almost
been hit on 127. We have a field on US27
which is 127 with a little slower speed
limit in that portion. I have to pull out
on 27 from my road, immediately cross 27 to
the inside shoulder so I can turn into our
driveway 400 yards down on the opposite
side of the highway. Even with a large
break in traffic, if you don't immediately
jump across to the shoulder along the
passing lane, the cars will catch you and
you'll never be able to get over to the
other side you need to be at to get to the
cross over drive. Due to the steep banks on
the center median, you can only get over so
far, and you will still have your implement
half into the passing lane. It is only 2
lanes, but people will still be passing the
slower cars in the right lane, in the
passing lane, even though my implement is
half into that lane. They just swerve
around it, miss it by a foot or so, shove
the person they're passing onto the
shoulder, and continue on their way. It's
not just young, stupid kids, I see probably
more 50-70 year a-holes that seem to think
they are much more important than everyone
else on the road with them.

Just take a look at any hwy. construction site. Signs put up a mile before site warning of impending slow downs and danger. Traffic cones well before site, then a crash truck with big flashing arrows on it, and then jersey barriers to protect the workers, along with big signs saying "Fines doubled in construction zone for speeding". Still some drivers are oblivious to what is going on.
What do you expect when at best all you have is a SMV emblem and a blaze orange or green shirt on. I'm not condemning you, but stating how little attention people pay to up coming situations.
I am thinking self driving cars will have far better awareness than todays drivers.
Loren

The problem is most likely kids and cell phones.

(quoted from post at 18:14:45 10/14/17) The problem is most likely kids and cell phones.

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Yes, I agree, but I had this problem long before cell phones were common!

IMHO, "Stupidity or just don't care ? ?" can apply to the person working in the right of way every bit as much as it does to the passing motorists.

Can approaching drivers see you soon enough that they have time to move over or slow down? If you are working within the right of way, you do have a responsibility to attract driver's attention to yourself early enough that they can take evasive action or stop. At 60 MPH that distance could be 1/8 to 1/4 mile.

I see too many adults and kids running lawn mowers in the right of way without any safely equipment that would help motorists see them, like: neon safety vest ($12), a tall orange (snowmobile/golf cart/scooter) flag ($20), flashing hazard light, flashing bicycle tail light ($3), "Men at Work" hazard sign, mower headlights turned on, etc. Most don't even bother mowing against the flow of traffic so they can see when a car is approaching rather than being surprised as cars go pass them.

Sorry for the rant. I believe safety should be a shared responsibility rather than only the other guys responsibility.

They only care about themselves. I live on a residential street. The street is the main road going into town from the south. At the south end of the street is a hill so you can't see traffic coming from the south. Speed limit is posted 25 MPH.

I bought a radar gun just to see how fast the farmers were driving there semi trucks. Loaded they go about 50. Unloaded I have clocked them at 70.

Last year during corn harvest we almost had three accidents on this street involving semis that either try to pass or didn't slow down when a resident was pulling in out out of there drive.

I mow the ditch in front of the house. Three times I've almost jumped off my mower thinking was I going to get ran over. It's not fun having a semi pass by within inches of you while you are on a lawn mower.

I work road construction and agree some of the other posts. If
you set up a construction zone with signs, cones, crash trucks
and flashing lights and that doesn't seem to work for some
people I highly doubt anything you wear or put on your tractor
will help those type of people.

(quoted from post at 18:23:18 10/14/17) IMHO, "Stupidity or just don't care ? ?" can apply to the person working in the right of way every bit as much as it does to the passing motorists.

Can approaching drivers see you soon enough that they have time to move over or slow down? If you are working within the right of way, you do have a responsibility to attract driver's attention to yourself early enough that they can take evasive action or stop. At 60 MPH that distance could be 1/8 to 1/4 mile.

I see too many adults and kids running lawn mowers in the right of way without any safely equipment that would help motorists see them, like: neon safety vest ($12), a tall orange (snowmobile/golf cart/scooter) flag ($20), flashing hazard light, flashing bicycle tail light ($3), "Men at Work" hazard sign, mower headlights turned on, etc. Most don't even bother mowing against the flow of traffic so they can see when a car is approaching rather than being surprised as cars go pass them.

Sorry for the rant. I believe safety should be a shared responsibility rather than only the other guys responsibility.

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I respect your opinion, but apparently you have not had this problem?
My mowing is with a compact tractor with finish mower. Has the slow moving sign and I always turn on the flashing lights.
Road is straight and flat and I can be seen easly for 1/4 mile in both directions. Situation prevents me from mowing facing oncoming traffic--but that would be safer.
I think most people agree with my complaint.

I mow the shoulder on the road side of our ditch, just one pass, six foot wide mower deck. The pattern I use with the design of the deck (wider on left side, grass exit on right) means I throw the cut grass onto the road. That seems to slow down many drivers. I always stop my forward motion and take my hands off the wheel when a car approaches to let them know they can stay in their lane to go by me, as I am outside the white line. Only one time have I hit a stone and timed it perfectly to hit a passing car coming from behind. Insurance paid for that repair. I worry more about hitting some of the bushels of trash they leave me along the road.

These people are [u:b5cf711252]not[/u:b5cf711252] stupid. They have never been taught the right way to do things and are selfish enough to take the easiest way out of every situation. They swerve across a double yellow line to pass a bicyclist when I have the right to my lane and have to slow to let them make the pass. They roll through STOP signs, speed at double the posted rate and NEVER put stuff back where it belongs.

We have to blame the people who follow(ed) them around and cleaned up all their messes, who put their toys away, paid for party time at college, let them live in their house as adult children, raise their illegitimate offspring for them, and bail them out of bankruptcy. Yep, a lot of times that is US.

No government, regardless of how Orwellian it becomes, can ever police every second of every life, or put punishments severe enough to keep people from breaking rules set by common sense. We know smoking tobacco or texting while driving kill people every single day, yet both are common enough to observe on nearly every single car trip.

But for those who want to rant, best be sure your truck is never a hundred pounds overweight, that you don't hit 70 on your road because you "know" every bump and possible oncoming driver, and that you never deduct the house cat food as livestock feed.

I know I am not perfect, never have been and never will be. But I remember how I was taught to follow all the rules, make decisions with no one watching like I am on camera, and hope I have taught my kids to do the same. I like to think my success is a result of doing things the right way. It is not the same success as you see on TV or the Internet, for sure. If you have a chance to make sure someone is doing things the right way, starting with yourself, then help somebody else out, too.

Now, that was a rant.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I used to ride my horse along back road on way to some state land. Some folks absolutely would not give me an inch of right of way. I am totally convinced that they just set cruise control and AIM their car. They are only minimally in control of their vehicle. I now load my horse in trailer for the 2 mile distance to the state lands.

Here in Missouri it is the law that one has to move to the middle or such if one comes up on a disabled car or truck on the side of the road. But that does not mean the people driving do so many are jus flat out ignorant of the laws.

I think it is a little of both,stupid and just don't care. I deliver feed down back roads. I run into people every day. That will come down the middle
of the road refuse to move over. Stop to open a gate and they seem to enjoy coming as close to my truck as they can. Have had problems with a few
mowers. But most will work with you.

Simply don't care. Too preoccupied in their own little world to notice.And in a big hurry to get to where they are going.

No solution to the stupid or don't care problem.

But maybe a couple of orange cones would force them over a few feet.

(quoted from post at 20:47:27 10/14/17) No solution to the stupid or don't care problem.

But maybe a couple of orange cones would force them over a few feet.

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You have hit the nail on the head Steve. I am for that!. I'm not saying it would be safer, but you have to make yourself safe first. You can only rely on one person to keep yourself safe. He is the one you see in the mirror each morning.CM

Too bad you weren't on a bicycle. California has a new law, you need to keep 3 ft from a bicycle on the road. Stan

You must be of the type he is talking about.

I honestly think it's a "Personal best" thing. If somebody got home from work at 4:02 yesterday and there's half a chance that it'll be 4:03 today,they'd run over their own mother to keep it from happening.

If a lovely young lady was sunbathing by the edge of the road, I 'm sure they would notice and slow down.......Oh, wait, then they would hit you for sure....Ben

I know that it is rare but the shoe can be on the other foot. Anyone who has driven in WV knows how hilly the roads are there. One day on I 77 I came upon stopped traffic with no warning. Probably 3/4 of a mile further along I came upon a warning sign that said road construction one mile. I also noticed just over the crest of some hills, a lot of dual wheel rubber. I called 911 to advise them of the danger.

In my state, they widen roads and mark a bicycle lane in the road. In Germany, the widen the sidewalk, put in grey pavers to walk on and red pavers to ride your bike on. Don't walk on the red pavers.

I would love to have portable spike strips
that stick say 2 feet off my bike. Anybody
too close would feed my wrath.

Same here in Pa

Not too long ago I was going through a construction zone on an interstate through town and I slowed down to the posted speed limit and nothing more or less. When I got through it all, the lanes went back to the normal two lane. A guy pulls out from behind me and speeds up to pass me. As he passes he flips me the bird! Just because I slowed down TO the posted speed limit! And this was a guy probably in his mid 60's. I guess age doesn't always matter.

I live in the ISoM (Impatient State of Missouri)....Since moving here from Nebraska in 2012, I have learned that there are a LOT of idiot drivers in this state! Usually, I drive at the speed limit, or 1-2 mph over it.I have been passed while turning left at least 2 dozen times - in 2017 ALONE! These morons will pass uphill, on curves, against lines, across painted medians, at intersections, where 2 lanes merge down to one, construction zones, on bridges, anywhere they can possibly sneak through - even with oncoming traffic!
It's not just CARS, either! Truckers ride your bumper and hit the horn, thinking that will get you to speed up! I've had THEM pass while I was turning left, too....
Farmers are just as bad as citiots, also...

(quoted from post at 08:35:39 10/14/17) Occasionally I mow my grass/weeds on side of road.
Don't do this often because of traffic and I am cautious about what is approaching me from back.
I can't count the times a car has come within two feet of me although there is no other vehicles close on a straight road !
How much effort does it take to slow down and move over ?

Strange thing is---people will go in other lane to miss a dog !

Click to expand...

They drive like nothing will go wrong. They don't think you will swing out into the traffic lane or that their vehicle could suffer a failure. And they after all are in control. They don't think a tire will blow (think Ford) or a tie rod end will brake (think Dodge). An animal on the other hand is unpredictable.

Rick

In Montana it's the law to slow down, change lanes(if possible) or move over for emergency and maintenance equipment/vehicles.