The Problems With the American Driver

[camos]

Came across this article and thought it might be interesting to pass it along for comment.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/autos/enthusiasts/the-problems-with-the-american-driver/ar-BBnNawm?li=AAggFp5

[Guest Jamsie]

When the author describes american drivers attitudes it sounds just like here in the uk.

slow drivers on 2 lane roads meaning heavy goods vehicles have to pull out to overtake. ( mirrors signal manoeuver, doesnt matter if anyone is actually there and has to break hard to avoid a crash ), drivers towing trailers and caravans DO NOT pull over to let the 3 mile long queue pass , drivers deliberately blocking you from filtering ( lane splitting )in traffic jams. very few actually look further than the car in front and never use mirrors .

yes our standards are as bad as everywhere else, i`m 99% sure the only drivers who move over to let motorbikes pass are bikers/ ex bikers themselves .

i treat every other vehicle on the road as something that wants to kill me , that way i always ride defencibly

[BlueSky]

Yeah, in the USA when you pass, the butthole may pull over into the passing lane and try to kill you.

[SilvrT]

Here in B.C. a law was recently passed to allow the cops to ticket those who drive in the "passing lane" when they aren't actually passing anyone.

 

Problem I see is that around my area there is so much traffic that it's difficult to determine if folks are actually passing when in the passing lane. What generally happens is a backlog and those in the left lane get stuck when in fact, they were really intending to pass. Can a person beat a traffic ticket based on "intent"??

 

Now, if the government would quit taking money intended for highway improvement and putting it into general revenue, perhaps our highway infrastructure would be such that a backlog wouldn't occur. They could also open up the HOV lanes to alleviate traffic backlog because those lanes are seriously under used.

 

I think I'll stop now as I feel the non-existent hair on the back of my neck rising!

[BlueSky]

Pennsylvania has the same law. You are supposed to stay in the right lane on a 4 lane highway unless you are passing. I spent a lot of time on the road in PA going to my temporary jobs in PA and in NY. At night the tractor trailers fill the highways and they don't care if they are blocking both lanes. One night I got tired of being blocked and passed the truck in the left lane with my foot on the floor. I just barely had enough room to clear that truck and the one ahead of me in the right lane. I had to turn hard into the left lane and even harder to the right to keep from going off the road resulting in my F150 going up on the left two wheels at 80mph! I then slowly turned to the right and set the truck back down as softly as I could beside the truck in the right lane. It took several seconds and all of my driving skill to regain control of the truck when it touched down. That was one of the stupidest things I've ever done. The truck blocking the left lane saw what happened and moved over to the right lane. Yeah I know, I'm a big dummy!

[saddlebum]

Last time I was in Germany they did not care what lane you drove in. But if you did not move over to the lane to your right to make way for a vehicle overtaking you then you risked a 600 Euro fine. I think All of Canada and the USA should have a similar policy/law. Oh and by the way the consideration shown by Canada drivers tends to end once you get into the greater Toronto area were most drivers seem to have lost the matter normally found between ones ears.

[uncledj]

It's an opinion piece, and you know what they say about opinions.

[SilvrT]

Oh and by the way the consideration shown by Canada drivers tends to end once you get into the greater Toronto area were most drivers seem to have lost the matter normally found between ones ears.

 

Much the same around Vancouver, BC

[camos]

It's an opinion piece, and you know what they say about opinions.

I don't know what "they say" about opinions but the article is certainly is one person's opinion based on one enjoyable trip that has been generalized to apply to all Canadians which is a somewhat faulty base to work from. My personal experience has not found much difference between US and Canadian drivers in similar traffic situations.

 

Last time I was in Germany they did not care what lane you drove in. But if you did not move over to the lane to your right to make way for a vehicle overtaking you then you risked a 600 Euro fine.

During rush hour or high volume traffic there is not much point in moving over to let someone pass just to get 4 or 5 car lengths ahead before getting stopped again by the pack. In medium traffic however it is very nice when drivers do keep right except to pass. It makes for a more enjoyable commute even though the time differential is only 5 - 10 minutes.

 

Here in B.C. a law was recently passed to allow the cops to ticket those who drive in the "passing lane" when they aren't actually passing anyone.

The problem with those types of laws is that they are difficult to enforce in court. Having spent a great deal of time in traffic court due to my job, I've seen the police lose about 60% of the time. The easiest tickets to prosecute are for speeding, all the other ones are difficult to impossible to win consistently. Anything requiring an officer's opinion is almost impossible to successfully prove in our court system. It's pointless making a rule that cannot be reasonably enforced, something the law makers don't seem to realize.

[saddlebum]

I don't know what "they say" about opinions but the article is certainly is one person's opinion based on one enjoyable trip that has been generalized to apply to all Canadians which is a somewhat faulty base to work from. My personal experience has not found much difference between US and Canadian drivers in similar traffic situations.

I am inclined to agree I have done extensive driving in both countries including several European countries and I find driving behavior is based more on population density than on nationality. It seems the higher the population of a given area the less considerate they are. This also seems to apply to areas were the life style is of a more stressful nature versus an area were the life style is more easy going.

[uncledj]

The cliche' is that Opinions are like buttholes......everyone's got 'em.

At least I hope so.

[BlueSky]

And most of them smell.

Edited December 26, 2015 by BlueSky

[Marcarl]

I think that guy just likes to hear himself talk,,,, there are those types you know,,, he needed to write a piece and he had it figured that if he complained about something he would be able to get a following. I have found that complainers never seem to get anywhere,,, they just are lucky enough to spin their wheels, but stay put. His 'experience' could be put the other way around and it wouldn't be a lie. Just an airbag!

[SilvrT]

 

The problem with those types of laws is that they are difficult to enforce in court. Having spent a great deal of time in traffic court due to my job, I've seen the police lose about 60% of the time. The easiest tickets to prosecute are for speeding, all the other ones are difficult to impossible to win consistently. Anything requiring an officer's opinion is almost impossible to successfully prove in our court system. It's pointless making a rule that cannot be reasonably enforced, something the law makers don't seem to realize.

 

and what's the point of a law if there is not enough resources to enforce it to a point that it actually does any good.

 

Long gone are the days when you'd see a cop on every corner (almost) dishing out traffic tickets.

 

You'll hear either on TV or radio that a blitz is going on to catch drivers for things like texting, speeding, drinking, and so on ... but I think a lot of the time it's a "scare tactic" and in reality there is no blitz at all.

[camos]

and what's the point of a law if there is not enough resources to enforce it to a point that it actually does any good.

Indeed, Victoria Parking Enforcement has way too many bylaws that are either embarrassingly intolerant or are unenforceable in a court. We ignore them but, what were they thinking, stupid politicians.

 

You'll hear either on TV or radio that a blitz is going on to catch drivers for things like texting, speeding, drinking, and so on ... but I think a lot of the time it's a "scare tactic" and in reality there is no blitz at all.

I know texting blitz's happen here but can't say how often. Probably not as often as needed to make much of an impact on the number of idiots doing it. I have seen a "moving violation" squad doing it's thing at chronic places such as no left turn and school zones. There likely needs to be more but as you said, not enough resources.

[BlueSky]

I think most people will obey the law most of the time whether or not they think they will get caught breaking the law. I like the law about staying out of the passing lane when feasible. Too many people ride the left lane slower than most of the traffic so they won't ever have to worry about passing anybody. I've done a lot of interstate driving over the last 20 years and I'm sorry ladies, the ladies seem to be the worst offenders of driving in the fast lane holding up traffic.

[mraf]

H'mm ,wait for it. 1 2 3 Ladies.

[camos]

, the ladies seem to be the worst offenders of driving in the fast lane holding up traffic.

Their makeup goes on faster in the left lane because it is easier to see what is close in front when gazing at their face in the rear view mirror.

[saddlebum]

I'm sorry ladies, the ladies seem to be the worst offenders of driving in the fast lane holding up traffic.

 

Their makeup goes on faster in the left lane because it is easier to see what is close in front when gazing at their face in the rear view mirror.

[cowpuc]

 

 

I caught that too Bum ,,, good thing Tip don't have an account of her own here cause she'd be :buttkick:these lop eared varmints and would them with,, "you guys obviously have not spent much time on the back of Tweeks with Puc at the helm :big-grin-emoticon:"

 

I live in that passing lane when on the scoot, ride a little faster than traffic to keep from gettin run over - normally the passing lane is smoother PLUS - I always like to have an extra lane to give deer a place to run down the road without running into me.. I am a hard core "dont block traffic" person though, if I am hanging around out there and I see one coming behind me I MOVE OVER = ALWAYS!!!

 

Now to really and :stickpoke:this thread, here are some other things I would LOVE to see:

 

1. Pass a law that requires ALL stop lights to be in "time" with all other lights in the area in all States. Drive the speed limit and never have to stop. Saves gas, saves time AND would save lifes.

2. Pass a Federal Helmet Law that lets people choose for themselves whether they wear one or not in all States (still a hard core personal freedom lover here).

3. Country wide law that requires all Semi Trucks to maintain forward passing movement when passing another vehicle, if they pull out to pass and they are caught blocking traffic by not making forward progress while passing its ticket time - no more blocking traffic, especially with miles and miles of open road in front of them. Some people need to realize that traffic control/patrol is not in their job write up unless they have a badge.

4. Lane splitting allowed country wide for all motorcycles when traffic slows to below 15 miles per hour. I LOVE this about California!!

5. Motorcycles allowed an extra 5 mph above speed limits. An example, On open interstates = Trucks - 75 mph, Cages - 80, Bikes - 85.

6. IRS tax refund on 50% of license fee's on Motorcycles to encourage people to use bikes for commuting and to ride more. More bikes equal safer riding environment for all AND less fuel used country wide!

7. States to have "Virtual Reality" motorcycle testing (onscreen viewing of everyday on road situations - computer records and quantifies users responses to these situations) for licensing.. Didnt head check the intersection and got ran over on screen? Forgot to pull the clutch in when ya came to a stop sign 5 times in a row? Came to a stop in 5th gear and took 2 minutes at a busy intersection figuring out what gear you were suppose to be in? = no license this time, go practice and come back when your road ready..

8. Same "construction zone" type of fines/fee's/jail time's levied on Auto drivers if found guilty for purposely injuring a biker. Yes, we gotta watch for the cars just like the construction workers do BUT it would be good to encourage cagers to watch for us too.

8. No more Star Motorcycle imports until they produce a new Venture with the 1700cc V-4 V-Max motor!!

[BlueSky]

#2 Our system will provide medical help for people without medical insurance at taxpayers expense (supporting the local county hospitals) and higher charges to people who do have insurance. So, if it saves taxpayer or consumer money by forcing people to wear helmets, this is one argument for requiring helmets. I don't have any strong feelings either way. I do wear my helmet. But, it really increases the feeling of freedom without it. A half helmet is on my list to buy because it feels almost like not having one on.

 

#3 From my experience of pulling a travel trailer, sometimes when I thought I could pass and tried to do so a slight grade change would slow down the passing time considerably. So, some of that may not be intentional on the semi drivers part.

 

#4 I'd love to be able to lane split or at least pass in the break down lane when traffic is stopped. I admit I have passed in the break down lane illegally in the past.

 

#5 How about no license fees for motorcycles especially the smaller ones above a certain mpg rating. The larger motorcycles burn about the same amount of fuel as an economy car.

 

#7 Usually accident prone motorcycle riders don't continue to be motorcycle riders. But, I agree that more training would be a good thing.

 

[Flyinfool]

#1 In many places it is mathematically not possible to have the lights synchronized in both directions of travel. I know of stretches of road like that where the lights are synced in the direction that will have the highest traffic flow and the opposite direction gets to stop at every light.