re: Where does blocking an intersection rank on the list of driving sins?

I used to pull the front of my truck as close as I can get to their door and just lay on the horn the hole time until they are able to move . Now it seems like a good way to get shot in the face.. so I just sulk and deal with it.

You're a piece of shite and anyone who feels so entitled to make others continue to wait through 1 or more light cycle deserves their license taken

It's number one for me

My driver's ed teacher taught us about "claiming the intersection" but I don't think it's what you guys are mad about. The idiot you're referring to probably wasn't doing it correctly.

I was taught that when you are the first car in a left turn only lane with a circle green light, you may pull out into the intersection and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear so you can turn. If traffic doesn't clear before their light turns yellow/red you can make your turn first, before the crossing traffic, because you claimed the intersection.

It does not mean you're supposed to sit there and block traffic. As soon as oncoming traffic stops for the light you're supposed to make your turn and get your arse out of the way as soon as possible. If you do it right, crossing traffic shouldn't be hindered at all because you will turn while your light is yellow and just before their light turns green.

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Not a sin imo. I'm not just gonna sit at a yellow light if I can pull forward

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Well actually, if you can't clear the intersection with your vehicle then you can't "pull forward. "

1. People who stop 2+ car lengths behind the car in front of them at a stop light. Blows my mind to see some people go 4 car lengths behind the car in front of them. I'm not saying that you have to be on the car in front of you's arse but damn people, get it together.

2. Cars going slow in the left lane. Also includes cars going the same speed as the car in the right lane so no one can pass.

3. Blocking intersections.

4. Not allowing traffic to merge when lanes end, or pacing the car beside them.

5. Not using a turn signal.

6. Crossing solid lines.

7. Stopping in traffic because a police officer has someone pulled over. Don't stop, just slow down.

There are more, but these are the ones that I encounter on a daily basis on my commute in Atlanta.

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late mergers are the worst

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Haven't we been over this many times? Isn't merging at the end of the lane via the zipper method the preferred strategy?

It's pretty high up there. You can actually get a ticket for that here in Austin, I think it's a $250 fine for blocking the box.

My top pet peeves are people who skip the entire line on the exit ramp to hang out in the hazard area 5 feet in front of the exit sign to try and cut everyone.

And also folks who come to a fricking complete stop to turn right off of a busy road. And also people who drive side-by-side to the car next to them on an Interstate.

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There was some fool on here a while back defending this practice. He kept claiming that it's what you are supposed to do. He called it "claiming the intersection" , but couldn't ever produce a law stating such a thing even existed.

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I don't think you're on the same page with whatever the guy was talking about. Slackster nailed it...when you're turning left at a light you're well within reason to "control the intersection" and scoot halfway out in there. There is never any excuse to just be an idiot and plod into the intersection (going forward, in traffic) and then get caught on red just sitting there blocking everyone else.