***Do you cut through gas stations/businesses to avoid red lights?***

[shunyata]

I've done it.

Especially if you are turning right and there are a bunch of non turners blocking the right lane at a red.

I don't go above 15 mph while doing it though and I was completely unaware that this is illegal unless you're speeding while performing said maneuver.

Never seen a cop blink at this much less ticket it. Is it even illegal in CA if you are not speeding?

 

[Jimmy Tuna**]

Only if it's empty, both the gas station and the street. Otherwise you could be trying to exit and waiting for cars to pass by, or pedestrians.

 

[CrayonWendigo]

This is a suburban problem. Gas stations in NY aren't very amenable to this sorta shit.

 

[Kanster]

On a daily basis.

 

[justblaze717]

I usually just run the red light. Maybe 2 lights a day.


A few streets, I even turn right at the red light and make a U-turn on the cross street and then turn right again on the designated street and still beat the light by 15-20 seconds.

Is it really that serious?

 

[blokeybloke]

Same here. In fact I'm usually early and it's annoying.

Me too. Thats the problem with punctuation ... there's never no fucker there to appreciate it nowadays!

 

[blokeybloke]

I remember once being told that grease monkeys working at gas stations had tennis balls soaking in a nearby tank of used oil that they'd threw at any car that did this practiceon their lot ... urban myth?

 

[BrutalBoy]

is there a reason why this is illegal?

seems like it's just another ploy by cities to get more money.

Im would assume its for the safety of pedestrians. If people started driving throughbsuinesses/gas stations, pretty sure it'd make it dangerous to people walking in the area

 

[ventrue]

Is it really that serious?

Yes.

But seriously, 50% of the drivers in Houston are assholes who wouldn't let their own mothers into their lane. 30% are illegal aliens, who have no idea about the driving laws, 10% are retarded or over 90, and 10% are normal and courteous people, like myself.

That is just city driving. You don't even want to know about freeway driving.

I can't even really describe it.

I can't even imagine what it's like driving in downtown New York, San Francisco or Chicago. It must be pure hell.

 

[v.kevin]

80% of people think they are better-than-average drivers.

 

[BoomStronk]

Thanks but, whoa dude, chill. I could see someone cutting through the gas station flying at low altitude not paying attention but no one is going to admit to being "that guy". Did I say I hate them? Maybe hate wasn't the correct word.

But for you however...

I didn't use the word "hate" either, so I guess we both win at that game. I don't really know what you mean by for me however.

I've been in a few traffic accidents, none my fault. I've been nearly killed on my bike twice by stunned morons who break traffic rules just out of laziness. It's a serious problem, and I do, in fact *detest* people who flaunt the necessary regulations given what's on the line. It's usually the people with the biggest, ugliest, heaviest SUVs who are guilty of this because they feel safe inside their vehicle - which makes everyone outside the vehicle that much more un-safe.

We all learned it in kindergarten - if everyone who needed to make a right turn categorically tried to sneak through the parking lot of a corner gas station, traffic would grind to a halt.

 

[Ro Dubya Bush**]

Sometimes if Im waiting for a green light to make a left turn..And it's taking waaaay too long - I make a right turn instead, pull a quick U-ey, and BOOM.

Im on my way

Edit - only in the dead of night of course

 

[Ah Man]

80% of people think they are better-than-average drivers.

Well, I think there's a big difference between a good driver and a skilled driver, and since people with bad driving habits often have to become more skilled, I wouldn't be surprised if close to 80% of drivers are in the top half of one or the other.

One thing I've learned driving in urban areas of Africa is that while I would never describe the drivers as good, holy shit are they like 1000x more skilled than the drivers here.

 

[kuromusha]

No, I'm not an impatient asshole.

 

[TriangleMan]

It's illegal, so no.... RARELY only if I'm super moody. I barely go over 65 on the highway (okay, that's a lie, 70).

 

[s mack 88]

Depends, some cut throughs are too noticeable so ill wait.

 

[Xplosives]

do it all the time, nobody really whines and cry's about it here in Canada though, our gas stations are pretty big so this move doesn't impede any traffic.

 

[SevenSamurai]

NO.
because
1)I am never in a hurry that is worth 15-30 seconds of gains
2)I hate bullshit tickets from Cops
3)I am the boss of my company -nobody yells at me for being late -and i don't yell at them for being late -we work too much as it is -don't need the stress of yelling, anger, or rushing to work as an expected or cultural thing at my work.

 

[guilineseguy]

Yeah. used to do it quite a bit. And I never got why it is illegal. Though I have never been/seen anyone pulled over for it. I also used to use the railroad access to get to work. It literally took ten minutes off my drive. But one time I was flying down it, But I got stuck one time in the spring after all the snow melted. So I stopped using it.

 

[TeTe]

I think it's funny when people drive over medians, weave in and out of lanes, cut through lots, etc during the morning rush.

I mean, do people really love their jobs that much that they are in such a hurry to get there?

Pretty sure work is that last fucking place I'm in a rush to get to. If being late everyday is a problem, leave earlier.