Drivin' in Florida - what do you find odd or funny about it?

[bazzanoid]

Morning all,

We seem to be having a run of "What's the..." type threads this week, so i figured i'd jump in..

When you're driving in florida (or observing, if you're a passanger / public transport user), what do you find wierd/funny/odd/freaky about it?

Mine is:

1. No handbrake - we always have larger vehicles and have a footbrake instead. often with a vicious sprung-loaded return action at the pull of a lever!

2. Turning right on red - this really freaked me out at first, but it's become second nature now!

 

[kevin harrison]

When the rain comes down, how the locals all drive at 10mph!

 

[DizneyDaze]

When you come to crossroads and everyone takes it in turns to go. They are all so polite about it and patiently wait their turn - can you imagine the same scenario over here

 

[Booknut]

Looking in the rearview mirror and only seeing 'grill' because the car behind you is so huge!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Driving whilst on the mobile is 'mandatory' for many.

I even saw someone filming with a camcorder AND driving the car, with her knee once.

Not that neither of the above are purely Florida restricted.

 

[bazzanoid]

Looking in the rearview mirror and only seeing 'grill' because the car behind you is so huge!

yeah, sorry about that, i do tend to pull up a bit close to the car in front, old habits n all that

 

[Cochise]

Last second signage on the road, annoying when you are new to the area.

the 10mph thing when it rains is due to the glass effect created after hot weather, notorious tin Florida, i found this sort of stuff out when i was competing as a cyclist, just after rain was v dangerous.

 

[bazzanoid]

I even saw someone filming with a camcorder AND driving the car, with her knee once.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Neoshoegal]

When you signal to change lanes, you just have to go for it rather than like over here, where you often get people flashing their lights to let you in or slow down a bit.

 

[Dimplenose]

When you signal to change lanes, you just have to go for it rather than like over here, where you often get people flashing their lights to let you in or slow down a bit.

Where do you drive? It's not like that round here - it's a case of no eye contact and hope for the best!

 

[Lilybee]

When you come to crossroads and everyone takes it in turns to go. They are all so polite about it and patiently wait their turn - can you imagine the same scenario over here

Who has the right of way ?

 

[Neoshoegal]

Where do you drive? It's not like that round here - it's a case of no eye contact and hope for the best!

Sheffield, but I've noticed all across this country, people generablly seem far more courtious over here (obviously there are exceptions at times). Especially compared to Belgium, where I'm originally from, where it's every one for themselves. These days I'm actually even scared to drive over there!

 

[DizneyDaze]

whoever arrives at the crossroads first has right of way, great system and it works!

 

[Danauk]

The thing I hate is the fact that you have to drive an automatic. I'm OK with driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, I can manage that OK in France where I am driving my own car. But doing that whilst driving an automatic I hate. I forget that you don't have to use 2 feet to drive!

 

[dc1964]

the cost of filling the car with petrol, much easier on the wallet

 

[bazzanoid]

The thing I hate is the fact that you have to drive an automatic. I'm OK with driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, I can manage that OK in France where I am driving my own car. But doing that whilst driving an automatic I hate. I forget that you don't have to use 2 feet to drive!

That's why they make the brake pedals extra large - so you have somewhere for your left foot to go when you forget

As a driver of both manual and automatic cars, i'm used to it TBH - my first automatic had a hole in the floor where the clutch pedal should have been by the time i got used to it LOL - i had a habit of pressing my left foot even when not needing to, not sure why!

 

[doverfox]

when you get in the car and notice someone has stollen the hand break and put a little leaver under the dash board nothing like a good game of hide and seek after a 9hr flight.
i allways think of dellboy in miami twice saying "no wonder they have so many accidents some wallys put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car."
dave rachel and the girls

 

[bazzanoid]

when you get in the car and notice someone has stollen the hand break and put a little leaver under the dash board nothing like a good game of hide and seek after a 9hr flight.
i allways think of dellboy in miami twice saying "no wonder they have so many accidents some wallys put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car."
dave rachel and the girls

LOL

finding the seat controls as well - i spent forever a few years back hunting round the seat edges to find the adjustments, turns out they were..... on the door. go figure...

 

[schewy]

Being from Atlanta, Ga the one thing I find funny about driving in Florida is the traffic. I hear traffic reports on the morning news stations about the traffic back ups and delays. Being from a place where it takes 2 hrs to travel 10 miles, I have never seen bad traffic, like im used to, in Florida

 

[Trouty]

I like the auto cars and would have a bad knee if it was manual with all the stop start.

Main grips are terrible drivers over there.... some shocking habits as mentioned in this thread. They come at you from all angles!

Would love to see what happened if they put roundabouts on the big junctions instead of these massive off/on ramps that wind all over the place.... hehe.