Everyone does this, right?

ASmallWonder · January 2013

In Massachusetts, at least, there aren't any written exceptions to the "Never cross a double yellow line except when turning left" road rule. But when it's trash day and the trash truck is stopping at every house, everyone carefully goes around the truck, right? If you're driving and see a trash truck on the other side of the street, don't you approach slowly in anticipation of the line of traffic that will (hopefully carefully) be coming around the truck? Today was filled with oncoming cars giving a "fvvck off" look to everyone in my lane who was attempting to pass the truck so it got me thinking.

FrickandFrack · January 2013

Yes, I would pass carefully if no cars were coming the other way.

nikip6454 · January 2013

kfrix13:
Yes, I would pass carefully if no cars were coming the other way.

Agreed. I would not hang out behind a garbage truck!

EastCoastBride · January 2013

People seem to lose patience w/ anyone getting in their way, even if they would do the same exact thing themselves.

tammyz25 · January 2013

i don't think i have ever come across that exact situation, but i would probably pass eventually.

t.bird · January 2013

everyone does it- except for a select few ancient drivers on my street.

legit- this one lady will follow the garbage truck or mailman forever. never passing. she's darling.

i'm assuming the "eff off" looks were simply because you're in mass. that's the only look they really know how to give. har.

ASmallWonder · January 2013

kfrix13:
Yes, I would pass carefully if no cars were coming the other way.

The issue is that on this particular road it's busy in the morning. Everyone in front of me (and including me) was being very very cautious and not just wedging oncoming folks onto the sidewalk. But God forbid they had to pull slightly to their right to give us a little room, you know? Seriously, on trash day you'd have to stay home all day because there's no way of getting anywhere if you have to wait behind them.

Oh and tbird? Fvvck off j/k! lol

lrn327 · January 2013

HilarityEnsued:
I would absolutely pass the garbage truck. But I also like to give cyclists a very wide berth and regularly cross the double yellow line (with the left side of the car at least) if there is a cyclist or someone walking along the side of the road.

Ditto all of this and I pass the garbage truck at least a few times/week.

zeptattoo · January 2013

Usually our garbage men signal me and that's when I pass. It tells me that they know what I am going to do (and not run in front of my car) and they can see if there is oncoming traffic (in some spots, it is hard to see beyond the truck).

gnomemom · January 2013

Scout2005:

If you can safely get around the garbage truck, I don't see the problem. But the people in the other lane have the right of way, and IMO the right to shoot someone usurping that right of way a "fuckk off" look.

I would be cautious in the situation you describe because people are idiots, not because I think I need to slow down necessarily to let someone get around the truck.

The onus is on the drivers looking to pass the truck, to wait for no oncoming cars.

This exactly. I handle auto claims and each state has its own rule of the road statutes. Most states have one that basically says this same thing. You can't pass a car by going into the lane of oncoming traffic unless that lane is free of oncoming traffic for a "sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction."

LadyXaverian · January 2013

EllaHella:
Scout2005:

If you can safely get around the garbage truck, I don't see the problem. But the people in the other lane have the right of way, and IMO the right to shoot someone usurping that right of way a "fuckk off" look.

I would be cautious in the situation you describe because people are idiots, not because I think I need to slow down necessarily to let someone get around the truck.

The onus is on the drivers looking to pass the truck, to wait for no oncoming cars.

Yup. If you were able to see other drivers giving you the look than you were in the wrong to pass at that moment.
100% this.

colliebabe · January 2013

I agree it's just an "I'm in MA" thing (because I'm in MA too!)

I do get mad when the garbage truck is on the other side, and people on that side are flying around and act all entitled to whip around the truck. If it's on your side, slow down! I shouldn't have to come to a complete stop when the truck isn't on my side.

Clearly, I am a Masshole.

[Deleted User] · January 2013

elmoali:
kfrix13:
Yes, I would pass carefully if no cars were coming the other way.
The issue is that on this particular road it's busy in the morning. Everyone in front of me (and including me) was being very very cautious and not just wedging oncoming folks onto the sidewalk. But God forbid they had to pull slightly to their right to give us a little room, you know? Seriously, on trash day you'd have to stay home all day because there's no way of getting anywhere if you have to wait behind them.
Oh and tbird? Fvvck off j/k! lol

So, you're pissed that oncoming traffic didn't move over enough for you to pass? LOLOL~ Srsly, yes people pass garbage trucks (and mail trucks, and UPS or FedEx) everywhere. Not being an entitledass about it is kinda key though. If you don't have room, then you don't go. Even if they could have made room for you, they didn't.

Perhaps in the future, leaving 10 mins earlier on garbage day would fair better for your commute?

RayRay007 · January 2013

I agree with Scoutnumbers. It would be nice if the oncoming traffic would give you room to pass, but it's not their obligation.

ASmallWonder · January 2013

sofamonkey:
elmoali:
kfrix13:
Yes, I would pass carefully if no cars were coming the other way.
The issue is that on this particular road it's busy in the morning. Everyone in front of me (and including me) was being very very cautious and not just wedging oncoming folks onto the sidewalk. But God forbid they had to pull slightly to their right to give us a little room, you know? Seriously, on trash day you'd have to stay home all day because there's no way of getting anywhere if you have to wait behind them.
Oh and tbird? Fvvck off j/k! lol
So, you're pissed that oncoming traffic didn't move over enough for you to pass? LOLOL~ Srsly, yes people pass garbage trucks (and mail trucks, and UPS or FedEx) everywhere. Not being an entitledass about it is kinda key though. If you don't have room, then you don't go. Even if they could have made room for you, they didn't.
Perhaps in the future, leaving 10 mins earlier on garbage day would fair better for your commute?

LOL no I'm not pissed. I was curious if this was a normal thing that people did or if I was crazy - seriously. I've only ever lived here and didn't know if this was normal that you slowly go around a trash track. And FWIW it's trash day on some part of my route 3 days out of the week and this isn't normally a big deal and no one was ramming people to the side or anything. It's a wide street but you still have to a couple inches into the other lane (carefully, like I said) if you need to pass something).

lindsay.lou · January 2013

Scout2005:
If you can safely get around the garbage truck, I don't see the problem. But the people in the other lane have the right of way, and IMO the right to shoot someone usurping that right of way a "fuckk off" look.I would be cautious in the situation you describe because people are idiots, not because I think I need to slow down necessarily to let someone get around the truck. The onus is on the drivers looking to pass the truck, to wait for no oncoming cars.nbsp;

Agreed.

If they're close enough that you can see them giving "eff you" looks than you probably didn't have time/room to pass at that moment.