Bad Driving Habits: From Rolling Stops to Coasting Through Red Lights

Every driver has moments when they lapse into bad habits. For me, it started with a simple 'California stop' as a driving instructor and examiner?for 37 years. However, as someone who prides myself on safe driving, I have to own up to my slip-ups. Let me share them with you.

Rolling Stops and Hollywood Stops

One my ticket to the exclusive club of bad drivers is the rolling stop. When I turn right and there's traffic stacking up behind me, I sometimes coast through the stop sign. In California, this is affectionately called a 'California stop' or 'Hollywood stop.' Its name varies across states, but one thing remains the same: it's a legal but inconsiderate maneuver that could put cyclists and pedestrians at risk. Old movie lines like, 'This is California! You can turn right on red!' reminded us of its long history in this state.

Speeding Into Backed-Up Traffic

Another bad habit I've developed is not braking early enough, especially when traffic is backed up. I admit that I sometimes carry a bit too much speed into densely packed traffic. My excuse? I'm in a high truck and can see far ahead. Yes, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! This habit may seem harmless, but it can lead to unnecessary risks and accidents.

Dreaded Bike Lanes

A common offender for many drivers is crossing into bike lanes. I admit, I too have my share of guilt when it comes to driving on bike lanes. In the past, I used to turn into the street without touching the bike lane, but then I experienced a few instances where someone suddenly opened their car door, almost hitting me. This taught me to drive closer to the curb. However, over time, I've developed a new habit: driving on the bike lane every single time, unless there is a cyclist. Despite understanding that this is not standard practice, the small risk of hitting a cyclist occasionally seems to outweigh the anxiety of being too close to parked cars.

Coasting Through Red Lights

The most egregious of my bad driving habits is coasting through red lights. There's something about those lights that shatters my momentum. On a clear Sunday afternoon, driving at 40 MPH, a peaceful hum in my car as Elton John plays over Sirius/XM, I'm cruising along. And then, I spot that green light. My thoughts immediately jump to, "I can make it, I can make it, I can make it..." But the light turns yellow just as I approach, damn it. So, I lift my foot off the pedal, and let my car coast. As I gradually slow down, my mind races with the thought that the light is about to turn green. But it doesn't. I have to hit the brakes and wait with everyone else.

Look, sometimes I get away with it without incident, but most of the time, a car or truck is driving behind me, visibly annoyed. They might come close, flash their lights, or even swerve to get ahead. If the light doesn't turn green, they'll swerve into the left lane, speed past in a loud roar, and promptly pull back before hitting the brakes. They manage to get a car-length ahead, but they haven't actually gained any significant time. They usually leave the intersection when I do, just as they finish glaring at me through their rearview mirror, while I shake my head in confusion.

It's important for city drivers to remember: the city streets are not the Indianapolis 500. There's no checkered flag or milk bottle to chug at the finish line. Pushing your car harder just to get to the next light is not only unnecessary but also counterproductive. Timing the lights to pass through without stopping is a better strategy, but it can make your fellow drivers go nuts, considering the slight inconvenience it brings to their commutes.

So, let's all strive to be better drivers, avoid these bad habits, and keep the streets safer and more harmonious for everyone.