Lazy drivers let the car drive them. They're not necessarily stupid, but many are slow processors. They are easily identified by the movement(s) of their cars:
1. On left curves they drift near or onto the white line on the right. Some cross the line on the left so they don't have to make a sharp(er) curve. On right curves they drift towards or on the center line. Some use part of the shoulder, cutting the corner, so to speak. Even on a straightaway they drift from left to right, never able to stay in the middle of their lane. You're afraid to pass them as you don't know if he'll drift into you just as you get abreast of his car.
2. Leaving an intersection after stopping for a red light or stop sign they just drift through the intersection. After clearing the intersection they take 500 to 1,000 feet to get back up to highway speed. Being slow processors, they not only don't realize this, but are never aware that there are cars behind them that would also like to get out of the intersection before the light changes.
3. The lazy driver cannot maintain his speed uphill. If the speed limit is 40 mph on the flat part of the road, and 40 mph on the upcoming hill, you have to press down on the gas pedal to give the engine a bit more power. This extra power is needed to overcome the pull of gravity. Hilarious situation that I observed a few days ago. Car in the passing lane was attempting to pass the car in the travel lane. They both then came to the bottom of a hill. You could almost sense the frustration of the driver in the car attempting to pass, as his car wouldn't go ahead of the other car. Those two cars stayed abreast of each other for 3/4's of a mile up the hill. If I was the driver in the car trying to pass I'd trade that one in for a "passing car."
4. Some slow processors can't differentiate between a travel lane and a passing lane. When a two lane road turns into a four lane road, if their lane comes into the passing lane they cannot process which lane they're in, and do not move over to the travel lane. Even when several cars pass them on the right they still don't have a clue. Some drivers who do this are Passive Aggressive.
5. Slow processors don't know that they have to make their car go faster than the car that they want to pass. I know that the statement sounds ridiculous, but bear with me. How many times has a car pulled abreast of yours and stayed there for a mile or two. What happens is that he left his comfort zone; therefore, cannot speed up any faster to pass you. You, finally, realize the danger he's putting you in, slow down. This, then, allows him to go ahead.
How many times has a car, attempting to pass you, approaches your left rear fender and stays there, what seems like forever, before he attempts to pass? Many people are afraid to pass, so you have to slow down for them. Many then will cut, dangerously, in front of you as they're afraid of the passing lane. When a driver takes a long time to pass, be aware of this and be prepared to apply your brakes as that driver is now in a panic, irrational state of mind.
6. The Lazy Passenger is just as dangerous as the Lazy Driver. He is oblivious of what the driver is doing or what is going on around the car that he's in. As a passenger you have the right to verbalize your concerns about the way the driver is driving. After all, it's usually the passenger that gets killed . . . that would be you. The next time you're a passenger in a car be observant. See what is going on, especially in the points that I've made above. Speak to the driver, make him aware of his inept driving. Of course, do it in a nice and polite way. If your driver is not receptive to your suggestions and won't change his driving habits, then why are you still a passenger in his car?
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