Not using a turn signal to indicate you're going to change lanes or turn: illegal

Going over the speed limit: illegal

Tailgating (in some states): illegal

Driving on the shoulder (unless otherwise marked): illegal

I haven't checked if this is true in all states, but I thought it was. We became very cavalier about breaking laws because getting somewhere faster than everyone else is more important, and there's a pretty low risk of getting caught. However we're completely ignoring the high risk to life.

I believe in signaling even if there's nobody around (in a few cases, I didn't notice the pedestrian or bike, and having been the person walking have a car suddenly cut into my path without warning is bad). Frankly, it's pretty simple to do these things, to have courtesy and work with the traffic around you, and it reduces your risk, and the risk of lives around you.

Have a car related death in your family and come to the realization that all that anger, those on the road rage games, distractions during driving are JUST NOT WORTH IT. Yeah, there's still risk, but we can do better.

Look at it this way: If one-fifth of solo drivers hitched a ride with neighbors or friends to the business park or mall, we'd be sailing along Happy Highway every day.

I got pretty angry when I read this. As if it is anywhere near as convenient to have your schedule tethered to someone else's as it is to be able to leave when you are ready to leave. Also 'do you mind if we make a quick stop off a the grocery store' if you are riding with or driving someone else just isn't going to work.

So what we have is someone who has disingenuously stated the situation to make it seem easy to change, like their would be very little cost to people to do it differently, when in fact, if that were true we would already be doing it that way.

Vanderbilt is an asshole driver as much as any of those he criticizes.

1. He lives in Brooklyn and drives a car, even for routine pleasure commutes. I lived in Brooklyn (and the outer reaches of Queens, which has much less MTA service) and I never had a car there, and believe me I resented those locals and Long Islanders who crowded the streets, polluted the air, and endangered pedestrians. Brooklyn has EXCELLENT subway service second only to Manhattan, and you are never more than a couple blocks from a bus. Some routes might take a good deal longer via public transit, but boo-hoo. Brooklyn is overcrowded and no place for cars. This is pure selfishness.

Going to Coney Island? It's only served by the D, N, Q, and F trains, and the largest transit station in the city at Stillwell Ave, and a beautiful one at that. You can relax on the elevated train and watch the city go by instead of cursing at traffic. And then there are the B36, B64, B68, B74, and B82 buses. And if you are so posh that you can afford a car, insurance, and parking in NYC then you could certainly have afforded a cab ride for an outing if you feel the need. Cars ruin Brooklyn.

2. He drives like an asshole, gets distracted by conversation to the extent that he runs red lights (can't say I've never done it, but come on), and my peeve, consciously doesn't signal in order to get a "surprise" advantage. One of the things I've hated about driving in the NYC/Long Island/Jersey area is that nobody signals, either out of pure ignorance or out of this perverted one-upmanship idea that it will help you sneak into spaces.

And readers chime in on the merits of signaling expressing the same concept. Guess what? If you don't signal so you can push into a tight space on the highway or in front of a car approaching an intersection, you are:

1. Committing a moving violation--signaling is REQUIRED when you turn or change lanes,

2. Endangering life, limb, and property.

By "hiding your intention" you create enormous risk, especially at intersections and highway speeds. Signaling puts people on notice of your maneuvers, and someone who is not closely tracking you could collide when you a quick unsignaled maneuver into their path. If someone gets hurt, it will be your fault and you will be liable; all because you thought you could save a few fractions of a second by unsafely butting into someone's way.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen near-collisions that would never have happened if some inconsiderate prick had simply bothered to nudge the signal lever.

Good for you if you've never done any of those things. It must be nice to be able to throw those stones.

Have you ever driven in the NJ/NY area? Ever been trying to change lanes with your turn signal on and had people speed up to keep you out? 'cause that's what happens and that's what the author is talking about.

Different regions of the country have different driving conventions. Want to go over 15 mph in Columbus, OH on any road if it is raining/snowing? Tough luck. Going slower than the Speed limit-10MPH? ILLEGAL!

And I'm betting most of you "illegal" shouters have parked too close to a corner/hydrant or stopped 1 foot closer to a school bus than you're supposed to. Maybe you don't pull over when an ambulance is going by 'cause it is going the other way. 5'll get you 10 that there's some law you're breaking, even if you're doing 36 in a 35.

A while back I trademarked two phrases that I'd like to put on bumper stickers. The first is a twist on one I see a lot here in Seattle: Wag More, Bark Less. For drivers, it's:

Watch More, Brake Less(TM)

The second is a personal motto that improves fuel economy:

I Brake Against My Will(TM)

As for the dilemma of whether to merge immediately or at the last minute, my philosophy is this: If you're not using the entire merge lane, you're wasting highway capacity. Drive to the end of the merge lane, put on your signal, and move over because the road forces you to. This may work better here than back east. Boston drivers can be savage.

If someone needs to merge in front of you, let them in. It feels much better than the brief reptilian sense of triumph you get from forcing them to merge behind you. Because really, what did you just prove?