Driving customs where you live

[Smacktard]

There's an old trope that every person thinks the world's worst drivers are from their hometown. Let's try to avoid that, but otherwise, tell me what features of driving you think MIGHT be unique to where you're from, where you've been, etc.

Today a Saudi driver waved me through somewhere even though he had the right-away and, with a smile on, insisted I go before him. I realized then and there that I'd been in the country for 6 years, but that was the first time that happened to me. In Canada, that shit happens all the time -- to the point of it being dangerous and fucking with the flow of traffic, at times.

In my part of Canada, apart from the friendly drivers, we have a lot of people who have no idea how to take a round-about. They first introduced them to my town about 10 years ago now, and people still come to a complete halt at the opening even if no cars are coming.

Apart from that, drivers are generally pretty good. They don't speed obscenely, they use their indicators for the most part, don't tailgate, roads are good. I've probably seen less than 5 accidents (including aftermath of accidents) my entire life (excluding winter ice slippage, etc.).

In Saudi, it's very different. I've seen 3 separate accidents within 20 seconds. I see at least one a week. Worst drivers I've ever encountered. Tons of drivers flying through traffic, weaving wildly between lanes in bumper-to-bumper conditions, NEVER using turn signals, intentionally cutting people off, especially people signalling where they're going. It's absolute insanity. It's very common to get people passing you on the shoulder of the inside lane, flying 140kph, people tailgating you at 120kph, flashing their brights and bullying you into the other lane, all while watching something on their phone.

 

[Mark]

Oh boy… this is gonna take a minute.

Uninsured/Unlicensed drivers - It is INCREDIBLY common here to get hit by someone only to find out that they’re unlicensed or uninsured, and you’re going to have to go through years of back-and-forth for a resolution. It’s not even worth it if there are no injuries.

Aggressive drivers - 99% of the time you see headlights gaining ground on you fast, it’s some idiot with the bass thumping in a Dodge, Lexus, Acura, Nissan, or Infiniti with Xenon or LED bulbs… or some dipshit manchild in an unnecessarily modified pickup truck happy to get away from his mom or wife or both… or some asshole cop that doesn’t grasp the concept of the passing lane and just wants to bulldoze people outta their way.

Slow drivers - Get your fucking Prius out of the passing lane. That isn’t for you. You can’t do it. Fuck off into the ditch.

Rookie drivers - I get it. We all gotta start somewhere… but rookie drivers operating vehicles beyond their capabilities or driving in a manner beyond their skills is a massive problem. You should not be allowed to buy a brand new Mustang GT fresh outta driver’s education class. You shouldn’t have been handed a license if you were too immature to recognize the significance of operating heavy machinery around people that can be killed by your stupidity.

Senior drivers - Skills tests should be applied throughout a person’s life. There are a lot of old people on the road that don’t realize how dangerous their driving is because no one has ever told them, and they don’t find out until they’re lost in another state, driving through a storefront, or blowing through an intersection. It’s not discrimination to make sure our elderly are still fit to drive, no different than it would be to make sure everyone retains the skills needed.

Cops - Fuck this entire category of drivers. Every other category of driver can be excused with either genuine ignorance or blatant stupidity. Cops don’t get either… they at least have their GED and are responsible with enforcing those traffic laws. A cop might be able to hold their shit together on a road trip or pull off a hell of a maneuver to spare a wreck, but that’s about where the compliments end. They are the most entitled drivers on the road, even when they’re not responding. They use their vehicles to part the seas for themselves even when off-duty. Most importantly… while they’re texting and driving or running your plate, they’re causing EVERYONE else around y’all to drive like shit out of paranoia.

Drunk drivers - Just wrap yourself around a tree and spare the rest of us.

Distracted drivers - You’re driving to drive. Not to file your fucking taxes or pluck your eyebrows.

 

[Smacktard]

So I'm in a different part of Canada it sounds like.

In the city (which I moved out of 3 years ago), awfully inconsiderate drivers, and so many accidents. A 15 minute commute would regularly take an over an hour and it's normally cause of accidents.

There's no courtesy, no letting people in, cutting people off, tailgating, going 80kmh over the speed limit, not checking blind spots, and way more than I can list. Then they complain about the highest insurance rates in Canada.

I moved to rural 3 years ago and while the odd incident happens it's basically the complete opposite of what I said above.

Dude, that is INSANE. What part of Canada is that? Around Toronto? Basically all of the Maritimes are chill, easy driving. It's pretty much the same whether you're in Halifax or Tusket Falls. Some stupid drivers in Hali though. Mostly rich international students in their sportscars.

Cops - Fuck this entire category of drivers. Every other category of driver can be excused with either genuine ignorance or blatant stupidity. Cops don’t get either… they at least have their GED and are responsible with enforcing those traffic laws. A cop might be able to hold their shit together on a road trip or pull off a hell of a maneuver to spare a wreck, but that’s about where the compliments end. They are the most entitled drivers on the road, even when they’re not responding. They use their vehicles to part the seas for themselves even when off-duty. Most importantly… while they’re texting and driving or running your plate, they’re causing EVERYONE else around y’all to drive like shit out of paranoia.

Cops texting while driving and driving like assholes? Lmao I thought that was really only a Saudi thing. I saw one eating a full feast while driving once -- boxed meal in one hand, fork in the other.

 

[Mark]

Cops texting while driving and driving like assholes? Lmao I thought that was really only a Saudi thing. I saw one eating a full feast while driving once -- boxed meal in one hand, fork in the other.

Bro, I have a fucking dashcam recording on an SD card somewhere of a cop playing Angry Birds back in the day.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Saint Louis: There are a LOT of cars with expired temp tags pr no tags at all. Missouri has this really dumb way of collecting vehicle taxes. Instead of it being included in the price of the car, you have to pay when you go to register your car. Lots of people don't have the money to drop on a down payment for a car AND the taxes so people drive around with expired tags. I thought it was super odd until I bought a car here and found out about Missouri's dumb way of doing things.

Also, people run through stop lights here than most other places I've been too.

San Juan: Lawless. Traffic laws don't mean anything in San Juan.

Cartagena, Columbia: Need to merge? Honk your horn. Making a turn? Honk your horn. Need to do anything that requires some sort of interaction with another vehicle? Honk your horn. What even are turn signals? I have this noise maker that I can use to let people know of my intentions.

Northern California: Prius' everywhere driving super slowly on curvy roads. But at least people pull over when they see people behind them. Probably the only state I've seen people actually use the pull offs to let faster moving traffic get by. Most places, slow drivers don't even acknowledge that they have a mile long line of cars behind them.

 

[Mark]

Saint Louis: There are a LOT of cars with expired temp tags pr no tags at all. Missouri has this really dumb way of collecting vehicle taxes. Instead of it being included in the price of the car, you have to pay when you go to register your car. Lots of people don't have the money to drop on a down payment for a car AND the taxes so people drive around with expired tags. I thought it was super odd until I bought a car here and found out about Missouri's dumb way of doing things.

That’s common here with Texas and Virginia tags specifically. You can request temp tags in those states from out of state, apparently, and it’s a common tactic to avoid registering here in Maryland.

Northern California: Prius' everywhere driving super slowly on curvy roads. But at least people pull over when they see people behind them. Probably the only state I've seen people actually use the pull offs to let faster moving traffic get by. Most places, slow drivers don't even acknowledge that they have a mile long line of cars behind them.

California drivers? Being considerate?

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

I always find it wild when I go to the Carribean areas, or it might just be how the airport transfer drivers go, but it feels like every trip is an almost accident. So many just weaving in and out of lanes, stomping the gas and brake.

Most people hate on Mass drivers but I don't see it. I think our roads being a mess adds to that perception but during rush hour, we know where we are going and all have this mutual understanding and it goes fine (west of Boston at least). It's the off-peak driving hours that the people that have nowhere to go mess it all up.

My biggest pet peeve has and always will be the 4 way stop. Don't let people go. You get there first, you go. We both get there at the same time, the person to the right goes. No being polite, no waiving people through. Follow the law, otherwise it slows everyone down.

 

[Mark]

Most people hate on Mass drivers but I don't see it. I think our roads being a mess adds to that perception but during rush hour, we know where we are going and all have this mutual understanding and it goes fine (west of Boston at least). It's the off-peak driving hours that the people that have nowhere to go mess it all up.

I’d rather drive through midtown Manhattan in the middle of rush hour on a Monday than drive through Connecticut. I’ve heard that they’re MUCH worse than Mass, but I haven’t been that far north to have an opinion on y’all.

My biggest pet peeve has and always will be the 4 way stop. Don't let people go. You get there first, you go. We both get there at the same time, the person to the right goes. No being polite, no waiving people through. Follow the law, otherwise it slows everyone down.

Agreed. This is one of those things where no amount of “good intent” is going to make up for the mess one wave-thru can cause. Throws the whole rhythm off.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

Oh yeah, I've always dreaded the drive through southern CT, I find the drivers much worse in the Hartford-New Haven-Bridgeport triangle.

I've only driven through Manhattan once on a Friday at 9am and it wasn't too bad. Sticking to the perimeter roads helped.

 

[Mark]

Oh yeah, I've always dreaded the drive through southern CT, I find the drivers much worse in the Hartford-New Haven-Bridgeport triangle.

That is SPECIFICALLY the area I worked when I had to train some folks up there, and holy hell those roads are terrible. I can’t believe they still utilize those catch cables on the side of the roads… those things are so dangerous.

I've only driven through Manhattan once on a Friday at 9am and it wasn't too bad. Sticking to the perimeter roads helped.

That’s not a bad time, and the perimeter roads definitely helped your case… because as soon as you get into the thick of downtown, you’re gonna be sad.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

California drivers? Being considerate?

I was just there recently, too. People still will pull over when they've got cars behind them.

 

[Mark]

I was just there recently, too. People still will pull over when they've got cars behind them.

Dude, I’ve never been, yet when I’ve encountered them on the road here and looked at the tag… instant light bulb moment. It’s like seeing a NY or NJ tag. They stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[shortkut]

I’m used to all NYC driving… that being said Coney Island/Brighton beach section of Brooklyn has the worst drivers out of all of NYC

 

[Mark]

I’m used to all NYC driving… that being said Coney Island/Brighton beach section of Brooklyn has the worst drivers out of all of NYC

Agreed. The shit downtown can be adjusted to, it’s no different than any other downtown… just larger and more cyclists. Those heavily traveled corners of the different boroughs, though… they can get dicey.

 

[Kat]

I live in Oregon, where people drive like they have nowhere to be. At all way stops, people always wait for everyone else to get to the intersection and come to a complete stop before they go, if they even bother to go then. If somebody is sitting at a stop sign or is arriving at the same time as me, and they haven't started moving by the time I stop, I just immediately go. It seems like that should cause problems, but it literally never does.

People also regularly stop at intersections when they don't have a stop sign and other people do. I see this a lot in parking lot entrances, where there's a stop sign to leave or cross but not one to enter, so traffic doesn't get backed up on the main road. They stop anyway.

People regularly drive five or ten miles under the limit. This has changed a bit since COVID, now a bunch of people will speed on highways or freeways when the traffic is light, but it's still really common in town.

On the plus side, people will almost always let others over if their blinker is on. I regularly wait until a block before my turn before changing lanes because I know it'll never be a problem to get over. It's incredibly rare for someone to outright block an attempt to change lanes.

They're also courteous to pedestrians. It's common enough for drivers to stop in the middle of the road to let people jaywalk that I avoid looking like I want to cross the road if a car is coming. It's annoying as a driver, but nice when walking. I miss Oregon drivers whenever I walk around towns in other states, especially on the east coast.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

It's all well and good to be courteous like that and wish I could see the way those people do. I don't know anything other than having to make the drive the shortest possible time and I'll only let people go that are at crosswalks. I should be nicer letting others go sometimes but I am too conditioned to just get where I need to be quickly.

 

[Kat]

It's all well and good to be courteous like that and wish I could see the way those people do. I don't know anything other than having to make the drive the shortest possible time and I'll only let people go that are at crosswalks. I should be nicer letting others go sometimes but I am too conditioned to just get where I need to be quickly.

It mostly drives me up the wall, but nonetheless I find myself occasionally waving someone through a stop sign when I got there first for reasons I don't understand.

Stopping in the middle of the street for jaywalkers is pure insanity, I think you're fine there. I'm not just talking about neighborhoods or downtown, it's happened several times on highways. It's so awkward as a pedestrian, I don't want to have to run while someone holds up traffic. I'd rather just wait for the traffic to clear.

 

[Mark]

I live in Oregon, where people drive like they have nowhere to be. At all way stops, people always wait for everyone else to get to the intersection and come to a complete stop before they go, if they even bother to go then. If somebody is sitting at a stop sign or is arriving at the same time as me, and they haven't started moving by the time I stop, I just immediately go. It seems like that should cause problems, but it literally never does.

People also regularly stop at intersections when they don't have a stop sign and other people do. I see this a lot in parking lot entrances, where there's a stop sign to leave or cross but not one to enter, so traffic doesn't get backed up on the main road. They stop anyway.

People regularly drive five or ten miles under the limit. This has changed a bit since COVID, now a bunch of people will speed on highways or freeways when the traffic is light, but it's still really common in town.

On the plus side, people will almost always let others over if their blinker is on. I regularly wait until a block before my turn before changing lanes because I know it'll never be a problem to get over. It's incredibly rare for someone to outright block an attempt to change lanes.

They're also courteous to pedestrians. It's common enough for drivers to stop in the middle of the road to let people jaywalk that I avoid looking like I want to cross the road if a car is coming. It's annoying as a driver, but nice when walking. I miss Oregon drivers whenever I walk around towns in other states, especially on the east coast.

This blows my mind. I have never seen more than one courteous driver on the road at a time. What kinda Pleasantville type town do you live in? Or better yet… how high are the tickets for moving violations?

It's all well and good to be courteous like that and wish I could see the way those people do. I don't know anything other than having to make the drive the shortest possible time and I'll only let people go that are at crosswalks. I should be nicer letting others go sometimes but I am too conditioned to just get where I need to be quickly.

Right. Main St.? Sure, some courtesy goes a long way. Anywhere slightly urban or commercially zoned? Any degree of courtesy ends up bottlenecking traffic.

It mostly drives me up the wall, but nonetheless I find myself occasionally waving someone through a stop sign when I got there first for reasons I don't understand.

Stopping in the middle of the street for jaywalkers is pure insanity, I think you're fine there. I'm not just talking about neighborhoods or downtown, it's happened several times on highways. It's so awkward as a pedestrian, I don't want to have to run while someone holds up traffic. I'd rather just wait for the traffic to clear.

The more you explain this, the more I feel like I live in one of the most inhospitable places and only experience similar in my travels. You’d see me pulled over on the shoulder in Oregon scratching my head trying to figure out why everyone’s so nice.

 

[Kat]

Or better yet… how high are the tickets for moving violations

I do happen to know that the fine for not stopping at a stop sign and the fine for not having a front plate is exactly equal, and the two together total over $500. Or so the cop said, he didn't actually ticket me for either.

The more you explain this, the more I feel like I live in one of the most inhospitable places and only experience similar in my travels.

Nah, Oregon is just weird. I've driven lots of other places in the US and it's definitely an Oregon-specific thing.

You’d see me pulled over on the shoulder in Oregon scratching my head trying to figure out why everyone’s so nice.

Here's an anecdote that'll really blow your mind: once somebody pulled in front of me kinda late and I had to slow down a little, so I got annoyed and honked at them (also not a thing people typically do here). In response, they pulled over and let me pass. What a fucking psycho.

I feel like California drivers are actually the most pleasant to be on the road with. They may be speed demons and they're admittedly terrible about using their blinkers, but at least they have the courtesy to get out of the way. Oregon drivers are sooo slow and terrible about getting out of the passing lane.

 

[Mark]

I do happen to know that the fine for not stopping at a stop sign and the fine for not having a front plate is exactly equal, and the two together total over $500. Or so the cop said, he didn't actually ticket me for either.

Front and rear plates are required here, so it’s always funny seeing PA and WV drivers get pulled for that when it’s common knowledge half of our neighbors don’t have them.

Nah, Oregon is just weird. I've driven lots of other places in the US and it's definitely an Oregon-specific thing.

This is wild to me… you’re clearly better traveled than me, and yet I can only break down asshole driver traits by region and state, not good traits.

Here's an anecdote that'll really blow your mind: once somebody pulled in front of me kinda late and I had to slow down a little, so I got annoyed and honked at them (also not a thing people typically do here). In response, they pulled over and let me pass. What a fucking psycho.

I’ve got nothing for this one… other than you’re right. My mind can’t process it.

I feel like California drivers are actually the most pleasant to be on the road with. They may be speed demons and they're admittedly terrible about using their blinkers, but at least they have the courtesy to get out of the way. Oregon drivers are sooo slow and terrible about getting out of the passing lane.

I’ve had the opposite experience here, there’s a different kind of aggressive driving that goes on around here… and California plates tend to find themselves in a sea of shit attempting the moves that they made regularly on the other side.

 

[Kat]

I’ve had the opposite experience here, there’s a different kind of aggressive driving that goes on around here… and California plates tend to find themselves in a sea of shit attempting the moves that they made regularly on the other side.

Let me be more specific: California drivers in California. Agreed that they cause problems trying to drive their normal way in other areas.

Out of curiosity, I just looked up the accident rate by state, and Massachusetts of all places is the best by both population and miles driven. Oregon is #39 by miles driven, yikes. I guess being nice and driving slow doesn't prevent accidents.



Link if anyone wants to check their state: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/fatal-car-accidents-by-state

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I’ve had the opposite experience here, there’s a different kind of aggressive driving that goes on around here… and California plates tend to find themselves in a sea of shit attempting the moves that they made regularly on the other side.

You're talking about people with CA plates, not people IN CA.

Your drivers with CA plates have grown accustomed to the Baltimore way of driving.

 

[Mark]

Let me be more specific: California drivers in California. Agreed that they cause problems trying to drive their normal way in other areas.

Out of curiosity, I just looked up the accident rate by state, and Massachusetts of all places is the best by both population and miles driven. Oregon is #39 by miles driven, yikes. I guess being nice and driving slow doesn't prevent accidents.


View attachment 2826
Link if anyone wants to check their state: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/fatal-car-accidents-by-state

Interesting… I’ll see you on the other side of the rabbit hole. I spent too many years as an occupational driver to not be intrigued by this kinda data.

 

[Mark]

You're talking about people with CA plates, not people IN CA.

Your drivers with CA plates have grown accustomed to the Baltimore way of driving.

Touché. It’s a deadly combination of fuckery.

 

[Progrumz]

I watched a lady in front of me in a minivan change lanes right into an SUV today, so there's that.

 

[Crystal]

Actual California drivers here in AZ, and lots of people who register their vehicles there or in Texas. Always the culprits of the worst damn driving here. Always. Also lots of people who scrape the paint of their license plate...I don't know why, you just see lots and lots of greyed out license plates, the old style that are stamped in, not the printed on newer style that's pretty much just like a barcode now. Oh and snowbirds. Thousands of them, every year. Someone going too slow on the highway? Is that an Illinois plate I see? Yup. Grr. At least when we get the spring training crowd they go everywhere (else) at normal speeds, but snowbirds...damn...why bother?

 

[Webster]

Most all of North Carolina is a place where the drivers can't drive worth a fuck....

--Since we're NASCAR's other home, most people drive like they're going through the tri-oval at Daytona doing 200mph; God help you - especially in Charlotte - if you decide to actually drive above but close to the speed limit (they don't call I-485 Crash 485 for nothing)
--Business I-40 through the heart of Winston Salem is the narrowest fucking road in the state - buildings on both sides, lanes narrower than the average interstate highway, no shoulders to speak of and exits so short that the Undertaker could stretch out and cover the exit lane from stem to stern
--The six-mile stretch of Interstate 40 from Old Fort to Black Mountain is three lanes each way, 6.5 percent grade and 55mph. Drivers here also act like they're on the tri-oval at Daytona doing 200mph, especially in the east-bound lanes going to Old Fort which is the downhill side.
--The worst drivers, though? All of the out-of-state fucks who drive through the Tarheel State making NC drivers look like paragons of virtue

 

[Webster]

you have to pay when you go to register your car.

North Carolina's done that for over 2 decades now - when you go to renew your license plate, you pay both a renewal fee and your vehicle tax. Saves having to go to two separate places (license plate office for the renewal, county tax office for the vehicle tax).

 

[Fool's Requiem]

Everyone in NC ignores the "slower traffic in the right lane/stay in right lane except to pass" law. There is no end of jackasses sitting in the passing lane driving slower than everyone else.

Sure, people do it in other states, but NC seems to have a higher number of those people.

North Carolina's done that for over 2 decades now - when you go to renew your license plate, you pay both a renewal fee and your vehicle tax. Saves having to go to two separate places (license plate office for the renewal, county tax office for the vehicle tax).

I'm talking about the sales tax. MO has you shell out the sales tax in one payment when registering the vehicle. I had to drop over 3 grand just to register my car.

 

[Webster]

I'm talking about the sales tax. MO has you shell out the sales tax in one payment when registering the vehicle. I had to drop over 3 grand just to register my car.

Oh, my apologies there; you pay the sales tax on the car when you make the purchase on it here.

 

[Webster]

Everyone in NC ignores the "slower traffic in the right lane/stay in right lane except to pass" law. There is no end of jackasses sitting in the passing lane driving slower than everyone else.

This is true, especially in the state's urban areas.