Driving in the US - Bad drivers

[paulfoel]

Never really noticed before but is it me or is the standard of driving in the US pretty poor ?

A couple of times I found myself stuck behind drivers who refuse to turn right at a red signal (which of course you can if its clear unless it states otherwise).

Also, four way stops are a nightmare. Some people either just stop and wait until everyones gone or plough through regardless.

The thing is, these things are new for us Brits, but I always seem to manage OK with them. Scary.

 

[AndRu]

A couple of times I found myself stuck behind drivers who refuse to turn right at a red signal (which of course you can if its clear unless it states otherwise).

Also, four way stops are a nightmare. Some people either just stop and wait until everyones gone or plough through regardless.

If in Orlando, have you considered that the drivers may be foreigners and not used to the road yet? The way I see it is that every country has it's share of lunatic drivers but somewhere like Orlando is going to have more simply because their is a higher percentage of foreigners on the road.

 

[paulfoel]

If in Orlando, have you considered that the drivers may be foreigners and not used to the road yet? The way I see it is that every country has it's share of lunatic drivers but somewhere like Orlando is going to have more simply because their is a higher percentage of foreigners on the road.

Of course, thats true. But you also see a fair few of these people with out of state plates indicating that they are from other parts of the US.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

A couple of times I found myself stuck behind drivers who refuse to turn right at a red signal (which of course you can if its clear unless it states otherwise).

You don't have to turn right at a red light unless the lane is right turn only - you can choose to continue straight on a green light. Anyone who is turning right, but wont on a red light... is not likely to be American (more likely British!).

But, yes, in general the standard of driving in the US seems poorer - there is less awareness of or consideration for other traffic. For instance, people don't leave decent gaps between vehicles (especially on free ways): if there is half a car's length between you and the next vehicle, two huge artciulated lorries and an SUV will dash into it!

Also, if your lane is merging, don't expect any awareness/help/consideration from the motorists around you (i.e. they are very unlikely to move into a vacant lane on their left to allow you to merge...).

Like everything else in society today... it is becoming a "me! me! me!" culture - the only drive that matters is "me!". This is VERY evident in the US, but - as usual - the UK is not far behind...

However, there are lots of things in the UK that we do a LOT worse than US drivers: there is a LOT more speeding in the UK and a lot more of going through red lights... You get caught doing those things in the US, then the police are a LOT scarier than over here...

Boo

 

[paulfoel]

You don't have to turn right at a red light unless the lane is right turn only - you can choose to continue straight on a green light. Anyone who is turning right, but wont on a red light... is not likely to be American (more likely British!).

But, yes, in general the standard of driving in the US seems poorer - there is less awareness of or consideration for other traffic. For instance, people don't leave decent gaps between vehicles (especially on free ways): if there is half a car's length between you and the next vehicle, two huge artciulated lorries and an SUV will dash into it!

Also, if your lane is merging, don't expect any awareness/help/consideration from the motorists around you (i.e. they are very unlikely to move into a vacant lane on their left to allow you to merge...).

Like everything else in society today... it is becoming a "me! me! me!" culture - the only drive that matters is "me!". This is VERY evident in the US, but - as usual - the UK is not far behind...

However, there are lots of things in the UK that we do a LOT worse than US drivers: there is a LOT more speeding in the UK and a lot more of going through red lights... You get caught doing those things in the US, then the police are a LOT scarier than over here...

Boo

Agree with what you say...

I also noticed that its rare for someone to let you in as well.

Yes. There does seem to be much less speeding...

Its weird on the freeways with everyone doing roughly the same speed. In the UK, 10 mins on a motorway usually guarantees at least one motorbike/BMW/Mercedes/Jag steaming past at over 100mph!!!!

 

[bazzanoid]

Overall I found driving in the US much nicer than over here - but then it does also depend what part of the UK you're from!!! Since we're near london we're used to idiots/lunatics/psychos on the roads, and the US was very pleasant by comparison.

BUT

Do they not have an MOT over there??? The amount of cars we saw driving round missing important bits of body leaving dangerously sharp brackets etc exposed was untrue - saw one car with a totalled passenger side, no bumpers, and the bonnet in two pieces held on by parcel tape!!!!!

 

[bazzanoid]

Yes. There does seem to be much less speeding...

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who found the front end of this car rapidly approaching the rear end of theirs on the I-4 and overtook you, regardless if you moved out the way or not, between October 1st and 15th. Ahem.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Overall I found driving in the US much nicer than over here - but then it does also depend what part of the UK you're from!!! Since we're near london we're used to idiots/lunatics/psychos on the roads, and the US was very pleasant by comparison.

I agree with you...
- in the UK (not just around London), there are a LOT more psychos (people who do ridiculous speeds, people who run red lights, people who drive one inch behind your bumper (when you are driving at 85mph on the motorway) until you can move over) and a LOT more considerate drivers (people will generally let you in, people generally give way - was at a mini-roundabout yesterday where everyone was giving way to everyone else ).
- in the US, there are less psychos and law breakers (probably because you normally end up at the end of a policeman's gun if you do!), BUT people are a lot less considerate or aware... so they are dangerous in different ways (in particular that they routinely don't leave enough space between vehicles on freeways), but it seems to be complete ignorance...

Nobody should be put off driving in the US, just helps to be aware of the differences. It is no harder or worse than driving here, just different.

Boo

 

[Cochise]

I found it worse more this year with less tolerance given by almost all drivers. Some of the things i saw were plain dangerous for the sake of annoying or winding people up. Dont get me started on lorry drivers....sheesh!

 

[bazzanoid]

was at a mini-roundabout yesterday where everyone was giving way to everyone else

Ah yes, the Florida State Handbook has a superbly concise paragraph on who has right of way at unlighted junctions (i.e. no traffic lights) - it's a long-winded explanation, so here's the summary, by me:

"he who arrives first drives first"

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Driving in Orlando is easier than in the UK, wider roads and more lanes being the main reason.

I would say over the years it has become less friendly and less enjoyable too, there is a much higher volume of traffic than there used to be.

As others have said, there are idiots everywhere, however I must say some of the sights I saw this year on holiday were unbelievable, including a woman filming with a camcorder whilst driving and a woman feeding a baby (with a bottle I should stress) whilst driving also.

In addition seeing people driving whilst on the mobile is a common sight in the UK, in the US it almost mandatory.

Standards have definitely dropped overall.

 

[malibuconlee]

Of course, thats true. But you also see a fair few of these people with out of state plates indicating that they are from other parts of the US.

I just wanted to point out that when getting a rental car you never know what state the license plate will have on it. We rented a car in Virginia last month, and it had New York plates on it.

 

[bazzanoid]

I just wanted to point out that when getting a rental car you never know what state the license plate will have on it. We rented a car in Virginia last month, and it had New York plates on it.

Valid point - a lot of renters will be renting for a road trip from one place to another - 'one way rental'

 

[Cochise]

We had North Carolina plates on our car.

 

[Rain]

Last time we were there a driver behind me continually honked his horn for me to turn right on to Sandlake road, he was shaking his fist. I could not turn right as people were crossing on the pedestrian crossing!!!

 

[cleo]

In defense of us US drivers, some of it may be a matter of what you are used to. When I visit the UK, most people look like insane drivers and I can't anticipate what they are going to do. THEY seem to know, but as a foreigner, I certainly don't.

There are lots of quirky little 'rules of the road' here, as there are anywhere, and what might look crazy to you may be perfectly normal to us. I think that's the case with my perspective of UK drivers, too. The comment about 'he who arrives first, goes first' is a good example. We know it from the time we take driver's training and it's something we anticipate and know what to look for. A funny addition to that is, if two people arrive at the same time, the one 'on the right' goes first (figure THAT ONE out!). Usually, in that case, we just wave as a sign of who we agree will go first. But if you don't know that, you'd think it was crazy!

Having said that, Orlando is DEFINITELY NOT indicitive of most driving experiences in the US. Nearly everyone is a tourist, motivated by wanting to get somewhere as fast as possible and heaven help anyone who gets in their way. Some intersections (junctions) are a bit odd (the corner near Sheraton Safari is a shining example) where you just KNOW someone will do something totally insane. The locals know what to expect but the tourists are completely thrown by it.

I'm sure there are also drivers who are just plain crazy. I'm just throwing out my observations, based on what it looks like to me when I visit other countries, and hoping you don't judge us all by what you see in Orlando.

 

[paulh]

Florida`s roads are tame compared to the roads in LA
Paulh

 

[catherine]

I can't really speak for FL but I know in CA the driving test is far easier than the driving test that we have to take in the UK as a result there are all kinds of psycho drivers on the road. I remember one year (I think it was outside of LA?) there was a fatal shooting because a driver wastrying to get of the freeway becasue his girlfirend wanted to go to the toilet and they were stuck in traffic!! When we first moved over here DH could not get over how courteous the drivere were to one another! In fact I just read him the comment about there being more speeding over here and he just laughed!!

 

[bazzanoid]

Florida`s roads are tame compared to the roads in LA
Paulh

Don't tell my wife that - she'll get her combat gear on and her heavy boots when we visit - put her in an SUV and you won't see us for dust

 

[paulh]

Don't tell my wife that - she'll get her combat gear on and her heavy boots when we visit - put her in an SUV and you won't see us for dust

tip i was told found quite good,Pick a lane but not the first or second as they tend to merge,then stay in it no matter what.When there is 8+ lanes to pick from best advice i was given
Paulh