How do people drive where you live

[kasar]

I think it was Dennis Leary who said he loves coming back to Massachusetts because it's the only place he's ever seen someone flick their high beams at an AMBULANCE in the left lane. Let's just say, the left lane on Rte. 128 is not for amateurs. We also surprisingly have one of the fewest fatality rates in the country. That's not because we're good drivers, it's just that we can't get going fast enough to cause serious injuries or deaths. Now, minor accidents? I'd like to see that list.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I live in MA and I have to tell you I think we are the worst.. I am guilty myself sometimes of being impatient but I do think we corner the market on tailgating, impatience, passing on the right, and road rage. Boston can be really bad, the traffic is horrendous, the Big Dig does not help, and people are fed up.

Tonight, a ride that should take 1 1/2 hours maybe, took me three hours on Rte 128 in the rain. Everybody was a little crazy, switching lanes like maniacs.. myself included. teehee.

 

[olena]

fast

 

[wendyl]

Drivers here are in NO hurry. They actually go the speed limit--it took awhile to get used to since we moved here from Atlanta.

In Atlanta: people drive like they are late for their Anger Management Class

In Alabama (where my parents live) they think that stick (that we call the blinker) is just a decorative accessory

 

[gottaluvPluto]

My husband was in the military so we lived in several different states.

TX- people driving in the breakdown lane. 50% of people drunk on the road after 7 pm -Corpus Christi

Maine, Boston, NE area - crazy drivers, people so far up my butt on icey roads and weaving cars.

Pensacola, FL - old people stopping to get on the interstate.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

NY (upstate/central) - drivers around here are not very good at merging. Lots of times they'll make it very difficult to merge, or to let someone merge. Slamming on the brakes at random times seems to be a local favorite. The Syracuse University area also seems to have it's fair share of people from areas that don't get much snow, driving SUV's, with no idea how to drive on snow/ice. (hint: 4 wheel drive isn't going to do you any good if you're on a sheet of ice)

MA (boston) - Only drove here for 4 days, but it was enough for me to learn a few things. Stopping or slowing down for yellow lights is not done. Stopping for a red light is considered optional, as is the use of turn signals. However, you do NOT go more than 5 miles over the limit on the Pike, there are troopers EVERYWHERE.

OH (anywhere) - driving slow in the fast lane is standard practice. Driving slow in the non-fast lane is also standard practice. Turn signals are used sometimes, but are often inaccurate (either turning on wrong direction, or turning it on then not turning). Drivers tend to get irritated at others who want to pass.

MI (Ann Arbor/Detroit Area) - being an Ann Arbor native, I consider myself part of this group. We drive fast and pass on the right. Traffic signals are generally obeyed, and turn signals are used more frequently than not. However, it seems to take far too long to exit a venue after an event. Doesn't matter which venue, or which event, anything with a crowd over 2,000 will cause traffic problems exiting the parking lots.

 

[Margie J]

I've racked up around 334,000 miles on Massachusetts and S. NH roads, mostly highways and Boston. We are CRAZY drivers. If you aren't one to start you become one to survive.

This weekend a relative who lived in NY City for years even said that the drivers and roadways in this area make no sense. Now THAT is a statement! This is as I call it seat of your pants driving. If you don't have nerves of steel you just might pee in those pants too.

On the highways you'd better drive fast and most people leave very little room between cars. Some drivers get so far up my tailpipe that I think I have passengers in the backseat. Flashing headlights and flying "birdies" are common. During morning "rushhour" look out for those applying makeup, reading the paper, brushing teeth and other assorted things people should be doing at home instead.

A new move on the highway now is to tailgate someone over in the left lane and then zoom way to the right across all lanes to EXIT! If you want to enter the highway there are always those who go for the block, leaving you on the shoulder.

Downtown Boston has always been tough with it's nutty roadways or paved cowpaths. You'd better know where you are going or else you will suffer the rath of the "bird" or worse. Then there are the pedestrians that either ignore you or dare you to hit them. I had one woman nearly yell at me while I was still a couple car lengths away from her. Talk about nuts.

 

[ShuisFan584]

Like my mom always says, if you can drive in northern New Jersey, you can drive anywhere. Drivers here are horrible!! There are so many people that live in northern Jersey which means many cars on the road. You really have to pay attention to other cars on the road because so many people really seem like they don't know how to drive.

 

[lulubelle]

I drive in LA/OC traffic. You guys have no clue...trust me. Most freeways are 6-8 lanes on each side and it is insane. Us Californians take our vehicles VERY seriously - buying 50K-70K vehicles here is normal (you see many Hummers and expensive SUV's). There is no courtesy and very little tolerance. It is truly a dog eat dog world here. I really do not enjoy it and long for a slower pace

 

[MosMom]

Indiana is the opposite state. You say most people should turn on their turn signal when turning? Not in Indiana! We like to turn without letting anyone know what we're doing. It keeps you on your toes! Makes driving SAFER since you never know what the pickup truck with the rifle in the window is about to do.

You say this

means NO U-Turn? Oh no, this means go right ahead and make that turn if no cops are around.

I could go on but it is getting late and I need to get well rested for my drive tomorrow.

 

[lulubelle]

 

[littlegreydonkey]

there's a joke here that when cars get imported to New Zealand they take the indicators off. I was so scared it took me two years before I would drive and I still won't go on the motorway (and I drove in central london). I also don't cross the road if I'm not on a pedestrian crossing - it's terrifying. But the best bit is when you go out of town, you could be the only car on the road for 20 miles (literally out here trust me!), but as soon as someone else comes up behind you, they'll be right on your tail!!!

 

[CALIFLADY]

People drive on the left side of the road here...I still can't get used to it after 10 months...that's why I don't drive here.

 

[bubie2.5]

For me the question should be: "how do people live where I drive?"

 

[powellrj]

my daily drive includes the interstate that connects Indy to Detroit. First off I have to say I LOVE those Michigan Drivers, they get where they are going and don't mess around. Indiana drivers are another story. they LOVE that left lane, no matter how slow they are driving and if traffic is backed up for miles, they love that left lane and will not get back over in the right. In town drivers favorite thing is to pull out in front of traffic going 40 miles an hour and drive 25. Thats why I try to stay on the interstate most of the time LOL

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by barbeml
Well, I work in our state's lovely Capitol of Trenton. I can tell you that stopping at Stop Signs and Red Lights is purely optional, and the state bird looks an awful lot like your middle finger.

I used to live in Trenton, and that assessment is so true!

I live further down south in the state... and lets see, most drivers when a highway goes from three lanes to two will RACE on the 3rd merging lane so they can get ahead. (This is Rt. 70 Cherry Hill near I295 at 5 pm!)

Or the other one is drive in the shoulder until I295 apears. (approx a mile) Lately people that are leaving the shopping centers on the highway sees them coming, and just sort of camp there, making the shoulder racer suddenly stop and wait. Of course all the other drivers have seen the shoulder racerand will not stop.

 

[browneyes]

People in Georgia have blinker problems. Those that migrate East (those from Alabama) like to speed up and slow down at the worst time intervals. Those that migrate South (those from Tennessee ) like to yell a lot. I keep my windows up, so they might be yelling at me to have a nice day, but I'm not so sure about that.

 

[Bob NC]

In NC, maybe it's the NASCAR mentality, but EVERYONE has to drive in the left lane. No matter how fast they are going they're in the left lane. You watch people merge onto the highway and go directly across 2 or 3 lanes of traffic to get to the left. Then when they need to exit, the wait until the exit is RIGHT THERE before cutting across 3 lanes to exit.

Directional signals are also a mystery to most folks here.

I wish they'd stop the ability to make a right turn on red. People don't even slow down when they come to a red light before turning. Right turn on red here means they have the right of way.

 

[barbeml]

My long-time hair stylist is in Voorhees, so I must navigate Route 70 a few times a year and you are not kidding. It is nuts down there no matter what time of day or day of the week I go.

 

[cinmell]

Originally posted by wishuponastarforever
How do people drive where you live?

Here in Boston people drive CRAZY . Yellow means speed up, roads/routes are different day to day (literally) from changes due to the big dig so there's lots of last minute cutting over lanes and cutting people off to get to where you need to go. There are lots of impatient drivers here including myself , I think growing up driving here makes you that way.