How do people drive where you live

[tkd lisa]

Weird driving patterns here. This area was VERY rural for the last 100 years. So there are many long time residents who think nothing of pulling out onto the highway (no interstate here, so it's full access with little traffic signals) and very slowly accelerating up to about 45 mph. Since the late 90s, there was a large influx of military/government civilians transferred down from Washington DC, many of whom still commute the 75 miles each way. They have one thing in mind. Getting down that road as fast as possible! So you have the local slowly coming up to 45 mph who combines with the DC native who is going 80 and not paying attention to anyone else (might have a paper on the seat next to them or be doing work on their cell phone). Bad, Bad, Bad, combinations.

Whoever said that their state has the lowest number of fatalities is exactly the opposite here. Nearly all of these accidents end up with fatalaties because of the speeds involved.

Oh, and we have a big Amish population too, so about 2-3 times a year, one of those accidents involves a horse. My oldest child is 4 years away from driving age. I'm very, very afraid!

 

[Nancy]

Everyone here drives terrible....except for me!

It isn't too bad except when it snows. You would think by now that people would remember from year to year how to drive in it...BUT NO!

 

[PamOKW]

Like NJ, we've also gone with the "rules of the road" optional program. Left turn on red without stopping is one of the new "rules" we've added.

My new favorite is passing on the right on the Merritt Parkway. Average speed in the left-hand lane is now 75-80 (speed limit is 55). The folks in the right-hand lane are also going 70 so passing gets a bit tricky since you need to crank it up to 85-90. However, 80 isn't fast enough for some folks. They ride your tail until they decide to pass on the right at speeds exceeding 90. God help anyone who is entering the parkway since they sure aren't looking out for them when they cut over.

Of course, during commuting times this isn't a problem since average speed then drops down to about 15 mph.

It's pretty much a free-for-all everywhere. I try to constantly watch but wasn't able to stop fast enough for the woman who pulled into moving traffic because someone in the other lane told her to go. Luckily, we weren't hurt seriously.

 

[coliebird]

Originally posted by PamOKW
My new favorite is passing on the right on the Merritt Parkway. Average speed in the left-hand lane is now 75-80 (speed limit is 55). The folks in the right-hand lane are also going 70 so passing gets a bit tricky since you need to crank it up to 85-90. However, 80 isn't fast enough for some folks. They ride your tail until they decide to pass on the right at speeds exceeding 90. God help anyone who is entering the parkway since they sure aren't looking out for them when they cut over.

Yup, I hated going to visit my brother when he lived in CT. Now he lives in Westchester and I just have to deal with the Tappan Zee and the Cross Westchester. Rockland is no better for driving. It is very scary when you have to do 75 - 80 just to keep up or you feel like someone is going to push you from behind off the road.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Originally posted by 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!!!

That's too funny......I've driven in NZ a few times and it's nuts, so I don't blame you - give me Atlanta, LA or Toronto freeway driving anytime!!

Part of it for me was driving on the opposite side of the road - I kept hitting the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals (they are opposite to American built cars) and making right turns to the left lane.......we were almost killed doing that!

Also, the sheep/cattle traffic jams are cute too.......

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

We live near the Casinos. We get the "cream of the crop" drivers from all of New England.

There ARE no RULES! He/She who gets there first wins!

 

[shep]

KY--never leave the high speed lane & drive same speed as people in other lanes...don't even be in a hurry on sunday..day of slowpokes

OHIO--never use turn signals

 

[edcrbnsoul]

One of my favorite parts of driving around Boston is the section where you can be driving on Rte 93 north and Rte 95 south at the same time????

 

[katerkat]

Mississippi - yellow light means speed up

Virginia - yields to everyone coming on the highway

Oklahoma - cuts through parking lots (we just drive straight across the parking spots where there's no cars)

Jersey - how people were meant to drive

Having moved several times now, I've learned that each state really does have its own unique driving methods.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

We have an infamous saying about most drivers in Utah- Its DUD (aka damn utah driver) because most people seem to drive with their head under the seat...


Passing and merging is a joke somedays with the holier than thou attitudes...

give me California drivers anyday

 

[NMAmy]

NM--not a lot of expressway driving so don't have to worry about that. I don't know if it's the Wild West attitude or the fact that there's not a whole lot of traffic, but no one seems to want to follow ANY traffic laws. The scarey part is the drunk drivers. You will actually see items in the Police Blotter that say FIFTH DUI. What the heck is this person doing driving?!!

MI-Fairly good, but the Michigan Left drives me crazy. You can never turn directly onto a road but have to do a U turn further down the road and come back and turn right. People also pay no attention to the speed limit. If the speed limit is 35--they'll be driving 45 and passing in the left turn lane. If the speed limit is 45, they slow down to 30. This will be the same driver on a 10 mile stretch of road I drive every day.

 

[FINFAN]

BAD ENOUGHT TO HAVE ME FEARING DD DRIVERS ED IN 1 YEAR.

PAM

 

[Pin Wizard]

Oh, this will be fun!

New Jersey...I agree...people drive on each bumpers. I hear that CA is the same but they drive faster.

FL!...There are too many cars without drivers! They can't see over the steering wheel. Have you ever seen them? Cars going along with no head in the driver's seat. LOL! Then you pull along side to pass and see the little senior citizen stretching their neck to see over (or through) the streering wheel. Frightening they give these people licenses!

FL!...People who have their right blinker on and then cut across 5 lanes of traffic to the LEFT, all in time to make that turn they are already sitting upon! (Those seniors again? Or possibly tourists?)

Virginia...I don't have any complaints yet. I've only been here three weeks. However, I'm sure they are saying some colorful words at me. LOL! Just notice the FL license plate. Next Weds. I will have VA plates. Ha ha ha!

 

[lindajo]

OMG, don't get me started!!South Carolina has the WORST drivers I have ever encountered-beware if you come to our state and are not used to them..

1) It is not an acceleration ramp, or entrance ramp, it is a stop sign. Yes, they pull up to end of the entrance ramp on the freeway and STOP. Then they drive onto the shoulder until there are no other cars around and then they merge.
2) If you are at a red light, and are going to make a left hand turn, as soon as the light turns green, make your left hand turn in front of the oncoming traffic.
3) Do not, under any circumstances, stop at a yellow light. Or a "just turned" red light for that matter. The car behind you will go through you. At least 3 cars must go through the "just turned" red light.
4) If the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign is on at the Krispy Kreme, make an immediate U-turn into the drive-thru, cutting off as many cars as possible.
5) How to make a left turn onto a 5 lane road: Cross the two lanes coming from the left, making sure that when you come to stop in the left hand turn lane, your rear end must block at least half of a lane. Sit there and wait until there is an opening, or start driving down the left hand turn lane until you can merge into traffic. Only after you have ticked off at least 2 cars for blocking their lane, after all YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVER OUT THERE-they will just have to wait.
6) If you get into the right lane, but decide you need to make an immediate left hand turn, it is absolutely OK with everyone else if you just stop and block traffic until you can cross all three lanes to do exactly what you want.
7)The list goes on and on and on...

Seriously, I think that SC is rated as one of the worst places to drive-we have everything-aggressive, stupid, oblivious, too young, too old.......The combination is deadly.
And really, if you ever do drive in SC, DO NOT proceed into an intersection from a stop light until you have looked in every possible direction.

That felt good to vent, thanks....

 

[MosMom]

4) If the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign is on at the Krispy Kreme, make an immediate U-turn into the drive-thru, cutting off as many cars as possible.

 

[Robinrs]

Tourist towns, and I've lived in only those in my life, are the WORSE!

I used to love going to Chattanooga TN where my parents worked because everyone drove the SAME ... and even more importantly, were polite!

I read somewhere that nearly 7,000 people come to Atlanta per week, so there are about 7,000 ways of driving. No consistency at all. The roads are so STUPID I cannot blame them. Atlanta should learn from other touristy town HOW to treat their visitors!! Most of the time you have to GUESS what to do since the signs are never clear. And even if they ARE clear, most people either don't or CAN't read them.... don't get me STARTED!!!

Come on Atlanta, EXIT ONLY MEANS EXIT ONLY!!!

I hate this town..... I can't WAIT to leave!!!

 

[hopemax]

If anyone visits Arizona, there is something you should know. Turn signals are a sign to drivers in the next lane that they need to drive into your blind spot. Other Arizonians know this rule so do not expect to see any signalling before a car jumps out in front of you.

 

[Lynn CC]

Very Slowly!

Here on the Cape there is either traffic or Elderly drivers so things move pretty "snail like" We have to leave plenty of extra time!

 

[Alice28]

You know, in Oregon people are pretty friendly drivers! Not too aggresive, not too slow-pokey. Maybe that's just cause I was tainted by living in CA for 23 years; there you had better put the petal to the medal, or be run over! And there is no such thing as friendly merging in CA - you just do it or risk running your car off the ramp!

One law I hate here in OR- a U-turn is illegal unless there is a sign saying it's okay. I see so many drivers do it and I think, "I bet they are from California or Washington and don't know any better!"

 

[Bichon Barb]

Yup, that first snow of the year gets 'em every time. People forget how to drive in it. And I totally agree about new SUV drivers not realizing that 4WD does absolutely nothing for stopping.

But once people get used to the snow (which doesn't take long up here), things usually go pretty smoothly. It still amazes me that many cities close down for a few inches of the white stuff.