Every day we encounter petty annoyances. Often they're nitpicking trifles, of insufficient consequence for victims to feel inspired to form a support group or even write a letter to the editor to voice their concerns. Nonetheless repetitive displays of the same thoughtless behaviour can wear a person down. So in the interests of raising awareness of these issues and, hopefully, modifying the behaviour of repeat offenders, here is a list of people who really do need to try harder.
Drivers who won't drive through the gap
Picture this: a car ahead indicates a right turn and must wait for the stream of oncoming traffic before proceeding. Sometimes the car immediately behind this vehicle will stop and wait as well although there is enough space to the left of the front car to drive a bus through. Meanwhile a queue of cars needlessly banks up behind the second car and a traffic jam is created purely thanks to idiocy. The sheer stupidity is only underscored when finally, much later, the driver decides he/she can fit and drives victoriously through, freeing dozens of people from an imaginary barrier. What goes on inside that driver's head? Does he/she suddenly realise that driving through is an option or does he/she subscribe to the theory that cars shrink while waiting?
Footpath hoggers
If your group of pedestrians is taking up more than its fair share of the footpath's width - perhaps because there are three or four of you, or perhaps there are two of you with, say, a dog on an extra-long lead - it's your responsibility to make way for an oncoming pedestrian, either by going single file or by moving your dog in closer or by one of you falling back behind a friend to allow this other person to pass. I've lost count of the times I've been confronted by an unyielding wall of people who show no sign of allowing me through. What, I always wonder, do they think I'm going to do? Conveniently disappear in a puff of smoke? Shuffle through sideways to minimise my width? I have no choice but to stand my ground and eventually one member of the oncoming party grudgingly (and at the last minute) steps back to allow me a sliver of space to squeeze through. Rude.