Accident

[Tomh]

Yes to all of the above. GPS can be a godsend, but it can also be very confusing. It is best coupled with a co-pilot to interpret, watch for road signs, keep an eye on the image on the GPS, and warn you when to get into an exit lane, or when to move right or left on the road.

Not making sudden moves when you miss a turn is also crucial. I have seen many many vehicles whip across 2, or 3 lanes of traffic to make a turn. Sometimes you can get away with this, but often you wind up cutting someone off to do it.

I have also seen buses driving quite aggressively, both as the driver of a car, and as a passenger on the bus. Put this all together, add in the vast number of vehicles, and it is a wonder that big accidents don't happen more often.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The GPS also often mispronounces some of the street names It is often somewhat humorous, but could also be confusing.

I appreciate that other posters sometimes find the WDW driving a bit confusing. I've posted that previously, and sometimes been debated on that subject. As many times as we've driven around WDW, it seems like it always takes a day to get our bearings.

ALSO all WDW drivers should beware of the frequent speed traps! and how they contribute to traffic. Sadly, lots of folks speed on WDW property, so the police often have a car pulled over in an unexpected spot.

 

[RetroCOTfan]

I appreciate that other posters sometimes find the WDW driving a bit confusing. I've posted that previously, and sometimes been debated on that subject. As many times as we've driven around WDW, it seems like it always takes a day to get our bearings.

Agreed - I take a day or two, also. I think the #1 thing to know at the outset is "what GENERAL area am I going to?" For example, if you're leaving MK and headed to AoA, it's going to be a looong time before you see a sign with AoA on it. You have to know that you're generally heading to the Animal Kingdom area, if you're only following Disney signs.

 

[Klayfish]

Agreed - I take a day or two, also. I think the #1 thing to know at the outset is "what GENERAL area am I going to?" For example, if you're leaving MK and headed to AoA, it's going to be a looong time before you see a sign with AoA on it. You have to know that you're generally heading to the Animal Kingdom area, if you're only following Disney signs.

Yep, completely agree. To be fair, there's no way signs for all places at all locations. If they tried, the roads would be a complete mass of signs everywhere and be even more confusing. I think all in all they've done a pretty good job...the signs will point you towards general area.

Yes, I've seen a few buses do some not so smart things, but honestly for every one bad bus driver, there must be 25 bad tourist drivers.

 

[smallworldnh]

There was a bus-car accident on Buena Vista - happened around 8:30p.

Four ambulances were on the scene at the time my friend drove by. Thoughts and prayers going out to all involved.

Oh no, I hope everyone is okay.

 

[RetroCOTfan]

To be fair, there's no way signs for all places at all locations. If they tried, the roads would be a complete mass of signs everywhere and be even more confusing. I think all in all they've done a pretty good job...the signs will point you towards general area.

This is 100% true - it's a good system, you just have to know how it works. It takes my brain a little bit of time every trip to remember that.

The alternative would be to follow the highway-signs conventions used by the state highway systems: label the road, then name/number specific exits. But that's too much like the real world (IMO) and would make being on property feel less special. So give me Disney signs, any day!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Agreed - I take a day or two, also. I think the #1 thing to know at the outset is "what GENERAL area am I going to?" For example, if you're leaving MK and headed to AoA, it's going to be a looong time before you see a sign with AoA on it. You have to know that you're generally heading to the Animal Kingdom area, if you're only following Disney signs.

The other biggie is to know that World Drive is one way, or rather, that the two directions are at times widely divided. There's also two parts to International Drive- I-Drive and north I-Drive. Oh, and it is a bit confusing to how 535 and 536 run into each other.

further, I think it is important to keep in mind that many folks are driving rental cars. you can always tell at the toll booths if you are behind a rental car, because the driver often can't find the button to roll down the window! People drive off without taking the time to get to know their car. I have to confess, more than once, I've pulled into a gas station and didn't know what side the tank opening was on.

It is no wonder- to go back to the subject of this thread- that new visitors often get a bit confused.

I'm also certain that each section of the USA has wildly different driving customs. Some drivers deal with rush hour congestion every day, while others are used to wide open lanes. Also crazy suburban-style shopping plaza parking lots, one-way streets, left turn traffic lights, right on red rules, differing highway speed limits, automatic speed cameras.....

 

[Sue M]

Frankly, as someone who stays off site and always drives, I'm shocked there aren't more accidents than what there already are. The roads are packed with tourists who are unfamiliar with the area, and the maze of roads can be very confusing. It's sometimes hard to follow signs and figure out where you're going. See people darting lanes last second to get off at an exit, or run a red light (presumably because they're looking at GPS or something). Don't want to overstate it and say it's total chaos, because it's not. But there are clearly a lot of lost people on the roads, so you have to keep your eyes open at all times. I'd be lying if I said I never made a sudden lane change there because I nearly missed my exit. Now that I've driven around the place as much as I have, I generally know where I'm going, but still haven't mastered all the roads.

I don't envy the WDW bus drivers. It's got to be rough at times.

The main reason I don't like to drive in WDW. Too many crazy tourists driving! Realizing at the last moment they're in the wrong lane and swerve across all lanes to get to exit. We go to Ft Lauderdale first and have rental car there. The moment we drive into WDW and check into resort we return car to Alamo. I don't know where I'm going either so I'd much rather let Disney do the driving!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This is 100% true - it's a good system, you just have to know how it works. It takes my brain a little bit of time every trip to remember that.

The alternative would be to follow the highway-signs conventions used by the state highway systems: label the road, then name/number specific exits. But that's too much like the real world (IMO) and would make being on property feel less special. So give me Disney signs, any day!!

I'm going to disagree with you on this point, I think the WDW signage system could be improved.

Driving standards aren't a good place to get cute/fun/creative/unusual. Consistency saves lives.

But then, I don't think WDW wants to encourage more folks to drive. WDW is safer when more folks use the mass-transit system that WDW provides.

IMO, I'd say it is a shame that our real world mass transit in the USA isn't as good/easy to use/clean as the Disney mass-transit system. Hmmmmm.....

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm going to disagree with you on this point, I think the WDW signage system could be improved.

Driving standards aren't a good place to get cute/fun/creative/unusual. Consistency saves lives.

But then, I don't think WDW wants to encourage more folks to drive. WDW is safer when more folks use the mass-transit system that WDW provides.

IMO, I'd say it is a shame that our real world mass transit in the USA isn't as good/easy to use/clean as the Disney mass-transit system. Hmmmmm.....

I can see both sides but I feel like as long as you know the general area of where you are going the signs do get more specific the closer you get. It is kind of like driving on the high way where they tell you the miles and direction to the major cities but don't list ever single podunk place until you are almost rihgt on top of them.

 

[rg35]

I don't really understand what everyone is saying about "crazy tourist drivers" at WDW. I find that most people drive relatively slowly and carefully at WDW.

In fact, I find driving at WDW to be pretty relaxing. It certainly beats the drive down from NY where doing 75 MPH in the middle lane on I-95 isn't fast enough for a lot of other motorists.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't really understand what everyone is saying about "crazy tourist drivers" at WDW. I find that most people drive relatively slowly and carefully at WDW.

In fact, I find driving at WDW to be pretty relaxing. It certainly beats the drive down from NY where doing 75 MPH in the middle lane on I-95 isn't fast enough for a lot of other motorists.

I'm sure some do find it relaxing. I find driving when I don't know where I'm going a nerve wracking procedure. It's akin to hell on earth. Give me 75 MPH on an Interstate I know over Disney any day, every day. It's why we never, ever drive down there. It's awful and stressful and not just due to other drivers, mostly due to not driving it day in and day out.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't really understand what everyone is saying about "crazy tourist drivers" at WDW. I find that most people drive relatively slowly and carefully at WDW.

In fact, I find driving at WDW to be pretty relaxing. It certainly beats the drive down from NY where doing 75 MPH in the middle lane on I-95 isn't fast enough for a lot of other motorists.

If you get caught going over 80 in VA, it = reckless driving. Anyone going over 75 in VA is taking a pretty big risk.

 

[cigar95]

. . . . I have to confess, more than once, I've pulled into a gas station and didn't know what side the tank opening was on.....

I learned a few years ago that there's a very simple trick for this. If you look at your gas gauge on the dashboard, you'll see a little arrow that points either left, right, or (I think) down. This tells you which side the gas tank is on. (The last one means its in the middle.) Since I learned the trick, I've seen this on every car I've been in.
Where I've gotten confused over the years is looking for the lever that opens the little door to the pump receptacle, only to eventually discover that if I just push on the door, it opens on its own. (I think most domestic manufacturers use the latter, but not sure if that's universal.)

 

[RetroCOTfan]

I have to confess, more than once, I've pulled into a gas station and didn't know what side the tank opening was on.

Completely off-topic side note, that you may already know: there's a little arrow on the gas gauge of every car pointing to the side where the gas tank opens.

 

[AngiTN]

Completely off-topic side note, that you may already know: there's a little arrow on the gas gauge of every car pointing to the side where the gas tank opens.

Not every car. Only newish cars. DH has a 2000 and DD has a 1996. No arrows.

I've had my car 8 years and I have to admit, I have to look at the gauge everytime I pull in to fill it up. I simply haven't retained the knowledge of where it is in my memory

 

[RetroCOTfan]

If you get caught going over 80 in VA, it = reckless driving. Anyone going over 75 in VA is taking a pretty big risk.

We have highways in TX where the speed limit is 80, and one where it's 85.

 

[RetroCOTfan]

Not every car. Only newish cars. DH has a 2000 and DD has a 1996. No arrows.

If you're renting a car that's more than 17 years old, you probably have bigger concerns than just where to fill it up.

 

[AngiTN]

We have highways in TX where the speed limit is 80, and one where it's 85.

Yeah, ours here in TN are 75. So you better be going 80 or move off the Interstate

 

[AngiTN]

If you're renting a car that's more than 17 years old, you probably have bigger concerns than just where to fill it up.

Well, true. LOL.. I was thinking about cars in general, not just rentals. Like I said, I can't remember in my own car that I have filled up every 6 days for 8 years

Though I have rented a car that old once, a company called Rent a Clunker or something like that. They rented older cars. Been a long time though