L A drivers, tell me why?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by zakthor

Worst I’ve seen were the freeways in the early afternoon around Provo Utah.

I thought it was just me. I eventually got over to the right lane minus one and just put my head on a swivel. Did not expect that banshee experience from a bunch of Mormons in brodozers and minivans.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by thingmon

NY at Christmas time... just don't.

The 'don't block the box' signs are pretty funny and sad that you actually have to tell and fine people for it.

And bike messengers.

I've been to NYC 5 times. My impression is that you should just never drive there. Maybe there are some areas/boroughs where it's less of an issue. I've pretty much always been in Manhattan.

I've driven in LA, SF, San Jose, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Wash DC, Seattle, and the NJ area just across from NYC (Jersey City and farther into NJ). Most of that was 23-25 years ago. I'd always heard that Boston was horrible. I actually thought folks in Boston did a great job considering their crappy roads. I think the worst drivers are Houston, and the place that I thought was the worst to drive was Atlanta (Houston's roads are so good that it makes up for the horrible drivers).

I've never driven in NYC, always took a cab. It looks horrible. I went to Chicago once, but I don't remember, it was just 2 cab rides. I've been to Phoenix, but didn't drive. It didn't seem bad (too hot to care about anything else).

[Noah930]

NYC is chaos, but it's organized (and predictable) chaos.

Bostonian drivers are a perfect example of why there's the term Ma sholes.

LA drivers are pretty selfish, too. You either take or have that space taken from you. Like someone else posted, it's what happens behaviorally when there are too many people in too little space.

[look 171]

The flip side of that would be what seem like the rest of the country, not large cities, there's not a care in the world and they roll 5 below the speed limit holding up traffic. I go around them, get the dirty looks, always. For example, I drove 55 all the way from WA all the way across OR into CA. I went bonkers dealing with a lot of speed matching at 55 even thought there are a ton of space in front but I jsut can't seem to squeeze through. Once over the border or home, people were back to their old self, flying 80+ again. I have always said, left, right, we will just get around the slower driver even if they drive 65 or speed limit. I can always tell by their fwy speed if they are out of town driver, always at 65 not a mile more. I believe that is how most of the folks drive in the US, at least all the places I have been.

[red 928]

Originally Posted by zakthor

Worst I’ve seen were the freeways in the early afternoon around Provo Utah. Seriously angry and inept drivers there. The freeways seem to have plenty of space but about 2% of drivers are trying to go 2x faster than everyone else and using the whole freeway to make progress. Big pickups with big speeds tailgating, locking all wheels and going sideways was a sort of sport combined with a few tiny overloaded cars going 45 and the regular drivers on their cell phones.

I'd bet a bunch of them has Cali plates until recently.

That state is like an infection that is spreading uncontrollably.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by john70t

One of those roadblocks would probably be me.
Sorry 'bout that.
I was taking a dip in the pond out back.



The average of 40mph(WOT endorphin rush believing we are free)-80mph(slam on brakes and curse at the terrible person in front who needs removal from the earth)..
40mph--80mph-40mph-80mph-40mph-80mph...
Is actually 60mph.
55mph to be safe. I try to never touch the brakes. I usually catch up to those guys and pass them within ten or fifteen minutes.

The semi drivers behind usually thank me.
So do the people not knowing the area and need to get over.

But try to cut in line right at the end of merge and they'll probably get pushed into the guardrail.

Its not a big deal. I completely understand on the back roads but as soon as I have an opening, I will just go around. No harm done to anyone but some people will get their ego bruised along with the dirty looks. LA is a funky place with millions of drivers on wide open roads that are clogged at a certain hours. Since the rats have no more corners, they/we have to somehow get around people. We are use to driving like it and it work for us here in this big city where most people find it to be too aggressive. My Canadian cousins do not like driving here. Oh yeah, they are very orderly in Calgary and Vancouver. I like it there. Once the blinkers are on, people actual allow the driver to slot in. Here's, no way in hell that's happenning.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by john70t

I try to never touch the brakes. I usually catch up to those guys and pass them within ten or fifteen minutes.

The semi drivers behind usually thank me.
So do the people not knowing the area and need to get over.

But try to cut in line right at the end of merge and they'll probably get pushed into the guardrail.

Yep, I try to avoid the brakes on the interstate. I can normally anticipate the need to slow down and would rather coast for a bit to get down to speed than to have to hit the brakes. If a person is coming up behind me going faster than me (doesn't happen often, but it does happen) then I'll speed up and move over (assuming there's space). If I'm cruising along (almost always with the cruise control going) and I am slowly gaining on a person in front of me, and see that I'll either have to slow down because they are going to block the road, or I can speed up to get around them before they pull up beside a semi or something, then I'll speed up. I'm happy to hit the gas. I prefer not to hit the brakes.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Ias soon as I have an opening, I will just go around. No harm done to anyone but some people will get their ego bruised along with the dirty looks.

I've never understood that. My goal is to enable a smooth flow of traffic, and not hold up others. Why would someone get testy about being passed? I don't even notice any more.

[450knotOffice]

I’m FROM the LA area. Born and raised and lived there most of my life. Now live in Stuart, FL, about 100 miles north of Miami. I can tell you that the drivers in Miami are MUCH more aggressive than anywhere I’ve driven. They make LA drivers seem downright polite. Tailgating is a normal thing down there, and you’d better be doing 95-100+ in the fast lane, or you’ll be caught and tailgated otherwise - by all manner of SUV, pickup, nice and not so nice cars.

I cruise at 85 or so and get run down constantly.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've never understood that. My goal is to enable a smooth flow of traffic, and not hold up others. Why would someone get testy about being passed? I don't even notice any more.

Who knows? Some people are just born that way, nothing pleases them. Yep, I get on the gas and, gone in a split second. The dirty looks are usually from mountain or rural areas outside of CA. I cross the broken yellow and go around. Never fails, get the evil eye like I am driving too fast. Tailgate them, drive around them, they get upset no matter. I jsut move on with life and never look back.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by red 928

I'd bet a bunch of them has Cali plates until recently.

That state is like an infection that is spreading uncontrollably.

I get that youve got a problem with cali but my impression is that city cali drivers were unusually competent and didnt drive angry. Mostly its their commute and they have no wish to crash. On land change let me in when i ask.

That freeway through provo feels like im in a figure 8 race. Weird combination of angry fast suburbanites, macho pickups out to be the bull, commercial long haul trucks being as pro as they can, and oblivious slow drivers with lane control issues.

Im not exaggerating i always see tailgating lifted trucks getting sideways locking all 4 wheels - its like its part of their regular driving repertoir.

All the while there seems to be plenty of room. Ive driven in many places and provo is some sort of perfect storm.. The weird entry and exits probably play a roll. Just this once i dont think its a cali thing.