Some Cars Are Just Annoying to Follow
We've all experienced that moment when the car up ahead makes us wonder if we should’ve put our affairs in order. Whether it's an enormous pickup blocking your view or an RV struggling up a hill, some cars aren't exactly popular with the people stuck behind them. Come with us as we go through 20 examples we’d gladly forgo following.
1. Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 certainly makes an impression, but that’s not always a good thing when you’re trapped behind one. It has everything you don’t want to see: an enormous body, high roofline, and relatively small rear windows. Next thing you know, this SUV can completely obscure your view of traffic ahead.
2. Ford F-350 Super Duty
There's nothing wrong with owning a Ford F-350 Super Duty, and it won’t raise any eyebrows when you actually need it. Unfortunately, not everyone does. And even those who take full advantage of its towing capabilities can be irritating given its considerable size. Add an extended cab and long bed, and you've got a pickup that occupies an awful lot of space on an ordinary street.
3. Garbage Trucks
Getting stuck behind a garbage truck on collection day? Boy, we hope you have working windows! Not only do you have to worry about the smell, but these vehicles also frequently stop, sometimes holding up traffic for minutes at a time. Between the unpleasant odors and constant stopping, most drivers would prefer to find another route.
4. Ram 3500 Dually
The Ram 3500 is excellent for hauling heavy loads, but those extra-wide rear fenders can make it pretty intimidating on narrow roads. Drivers following one almost always struggle to judge whether there's enough room to pass, especially when the truck’s towing something substantial. Sure, it’s suited to demanding jobs, but navigating suburban streets isn't its greatest strength.
5. Cars With Giant Cargo Carriers
You've probably seen a CR-V or Outback with an enormous hitch-mounted cargo carrier attached to it. If anything, they’re usually packed with coolers, luggage, or camping equipment—all things you don’t want to hit your windshield. They also make seeing traffic a lot harder, so that’s fun too.
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6. Concrete Mixer Trucks
Getting behind a concrete mixer truck usually means accepting that you’ll be late to your destination. These big boys need time to accelerate and brake, while their weight can make climbing steep hills a mind-numbingly slow process. We know they're essential to construction projects, but there's no enjoyment in following one.
7. Jeep Wranglers With Oversized Mud Tires
A modified Jeep Wrangler riding on enormous off-road tires? We bet that looks mighty impressive to its owner, but for the rest of us, we’re just trying to get home. Aggressive tire tread can pick up gravel and debris, too, potentially sending small stones toward whoever’s behind it.
8. School Buses
We all know why buses need to make constant stops, but that doesn’t make following one any easier. It’s even worse if you’re trapped behind one during the morning school run! Make no mistake: repeated stops and mandatory waiting periods can test your patience like nothing else on the road.
9. Chevrolet Suburbans
The Suburban is a great choice for big families, but its length can create problems for everyone else. When one eats up the lane ahead, judging upcoming intersections or sudden congestion gets a lot more difficult. Its size is particularly irksome in downtown areas where narrow lanes and tight corners leave little room for maneuvering.
10. Dump Trucks Carrying Gravel
Few vehicles make us more nervous than a dump truck with loose gravel. Even when the load is properly secured, small stones can easily sneak through, which may just cause chipped paint or damaged windshields. Not something you want to see on your next trip to the mechanic.
11. RVs Towing Cars
A huge motorhome is already challenging enough to follow, but things only get worse when it's towing another vehicle. The added length makes passing tough for even the best of drivers, particularly on two-lane highways where opportunities are limited. Not to mention, you also have to account for the entire combination when the RV makes wide turns or slowly negotiates an intersection.
12. Loaded Car Carriers
Following a massive car carrier with eight or nine vehicles isn't exactly reassuring, especially when you're on the highway. Let’s be honest here—trucks have multiple levels of cars secured onto metal platforms, and we’re all keeping a close eye on the cargo overhead. Even when everything is properly fastened, seeing several SUVs and sedans dangling above your windshield can make you eager to change lanes.
13. Tesla Cybertrucks
A Cybertruck is already impossible to ignore, but that only makes following one even more annoying. Its tall tailgate and angular bodywork not only obstruct your forward view, but navigating narrow city streets isn’t fun, either.
14. Livestock Transport Trucks
If you’ve ever driven through the country, you’ve run into a transport truck. Those idyllic views are ruined pretty quickly by all the odors, particularly during warmer weather, and their size limits visibility for anyone traveling behind them, too. Following one for a few miles is rarely anybody's idea of a nice drive.
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15. Cars With Bright Rear Fog Lights
Rear fog lights are much less welcome when someone leaves them on during clear weather. And yet, it happens more than you think. Certain vehicles, including Volkswagen and Audi models, have noticeable rear fog lamps, which means you’re staring dead into a concentrated red light until you switch lanes.
16. Trucks Carrying Oversized Loads
There's something especially frustrating about discovering that the enormous vehicle ahead is transporting a mobile home to boot. To make things worse, oversized loads also travel at reduced speeds and occupy even more road space, sometimes requiring escort vehicles to accompany them. Passing isn't always possible, either, meaning your schedule now depends on how quickly an entire building can travel down the highway.
17. Dodge Challengers With Loud Exhausts
The Dodge Challenger has its fans, but not everyone vibes with the mods some owners make. We’re, of course, talking about excessively loud aftermarket exhausts. You ever sit directly behind one in stop-and-go traffic? Then you know exactly how irritating it is!
18. Tractors
Following a tractor along a rural highway demands patience—and we’re not always looking to spend half an hour behind one. These machines travel far below normal highway speeds, and their wide tires also make safe passing difficult. Farmers obviously have every right to use one, but that doesn’t mean we’re thrilled about the delay.
19. Semi-Trucks Hauling Shipping Containers
Large container trucks with enormous trailers aren't exactly fun to follow. A vehicle hauling that much cargo can restrict your view of upcoming exits, road signs, and developing traffic conditions, so it’s not good news in any way. Their trailers also take up considerable space during turns, which becomes especially annoying around busy intersections and ramps.
20. Vehicles With Poorly Secured Furniture
Few things inspire immediate concern quite like seeing a rocking couch in the back of someone’s pickup. All it takes is one slip-up to cause a serious mess or injury, and most drivers know it, too. That’s why we’d all rather keep a generous distance.
