1. The constant running of red lights. This is such a major hazzard I always pause a second or two before proceeding from a stoplight or crossing the street. Every day I see multiple instances of cars blowing through intersections when the cross-traffic light has already turned green. I amazed I haven’t seen any wrecks yet.
2. Habitual failure to use turn signals. Okay buddy, why are you going so slow? Why are you slowing down now? Did your car break down? Do you need some help Oh, you’re turning. Well, how about using your signal next time. This is extremely frustruating in Albany, where many intersections don’t have left-turn lanes or dedicated left-turn signals. When, approaching a line of cars stopped for a red light, I’ve learned to avoid the left lane even if nobody has their blinkers on. That’s because invariably, some idiot will crawl up to the middle of the intersection and stop, waiting to make the turn but not having bothered to use the turn signal switch two inches from his left hand.
3. Motorcycles driving between lanes on the freeway. This gives me absolute heart attacks because I’ll be driving along peacefully on the Bay Bridge listening to Megadeth, when suddenly a rrrrrrRRRRRRROOOOOOWWWWW drowns out the soft strains of Dave Mustane’s axe-shredding and some nutter zips by in the 4-foot space between me and the next car over. All it would take is me swerving one foot to the side to avoid something in the road, and that cycle jockey is going to be using his face as a boogie board on the asphalt surf.
