Just can't drive 55
#31
08-21-2010, 07:36 PM
Slow drivers annoy me. Stupid ones drive me insane.
+1 on upping the rigor of the drivers tests....but I also think state cops should better police erratic drivers, cars need better safety & wear n' tear inspections, the highways of the future need to be revamped for efficiency, the minimum driving age should be raised a few years, and public transportation needs to be improved.
Many of the speed limits in Europe are about the same as the US.....however, there is superior level of driver etiquette and a sense of order. Specifically, Swiss and German drivers are the most disciplined in the world and are educated over more hours to pay better attention to the road. Also, the German police will issue a ticket for a d!ck-move lane change. A car that is falling apart will fail inspection. The highways are purpose built- they have better drainage, bank angles, surfaces, painted road markers (chevrons, arrows, limits), etc.
Not all of Europe is as orderly as Germany (Eastern Europe can be pretty scary), but collectively the Euro-UK drivers are more self-aware than the @#$#@$ dumb@*** on the Mass Pike that was weaving lanes at 90mph with his blinker on, while he was eating a @#$# burger!!!
+1 on upping the rigor of the drivers tests....but I also think state cops should better police erratic drivers, cars need better safety & wear n' tear inspections, the highways of the future need to be revamped for efficiency, the minimum driving age should be raised a few years, and public transportation needs to be improved.
Many of the speed limits in Europe are about the same as the US.....however, there is superior level of driver etiquette and a sense of order. Specifically, Swiss and German drivers are the most disciplined in the world and are educated over more hours to pay better attention to the road. Also, the German police will issue a ticket for a d!ck-move lane change. A car that is falling apart will fail inspection. The highways are purpose built- they have better drainage, bank angles, surfaces, painted road markers (chevrons, arrows, limits), etc.
Not all of Europe is as orderly as Germany (Eastern Europe can be pretty scary), but collectively the Euro-UK drivers are more self-aware than the @#$#@$ dumb@*** on the Mass Pike that was weaving lanes at 90mph with his blinker on, while he was eating a @#$# burger!!!
#32
08-21-2010, 07:44 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Waltham, MA/Southport,CT/Vero Beach, FL/Grosse Pointe, MI
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As someone who just took drivers ed last year, I fully agree. They teach us nothing. I learned everything from the skip barber new drivers class and high performance racing school!
#33
08-21-2010, 07:52 PM
Wow, so much anger.... not really, but this is normal all over the SF Bay Area. Selfish idiots rolling along texting and talking, oblivious to what's around them.
#34
08-22-2010, 10:46 AM
Yep, I agree. These toads that cruise the left lane and refuse to get over are idiots on all levels. Yesterday I was on 85 going up to 101 and came up behind this guy in a nice Audi sedan, smoking a cigar, kicking back - which was all fine and cool - but he had no plans on moving over even after I know he saw me (and he was barely doing the speed limit).
Wow, so much anger.... not really, but this is normal all over the SF Bay Area. Selfish idiots rolling along texting and talking, oblivious to what's around them.
Wow, so much anger.... not really, but this is normal all over the SF Bay Area. Selfish idiots rolling along texting and talking, oblivious to what's around them.
This driver also passed every. single. turnout, many of which are offered on this road (between Mill Valley and Muir Woods). It was such a display of ignorance that even my passenger commented. All of these antics were made even more ridiculous by the driver's destination - the signs for the prior several miles indicated that all the parking lots were full!
MB
Last edited by limbo; 08-22-2010 at 10:47 AM. Reason: clarity
#35
08-22-2010, 10:57 AM
Last I recall testing in Europe was not only hard but also not cheap either. I remember my older brother had to study and do a lot of practicing not only go around a track and parallel park. In NJ we have plenty left lane idiots. As much as it might agitate all of us there is only so much we can do. And for this reason I will never buy a big pick up truck because I might consider ramming people out of the left lane LOL
Thank god I leave for work so early there is all of 7 cars on my 30 mile commute
Thank god I leave for work so early there is all of 7 cars on my 30 mile commute
#36
08-22-2010, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Roseville, California
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Frickin' hats off to you, my man! Well done at going to Skip Barber at your age. I wish I did that when I was 17yo. That's fantastic.
#38
08-24-2010, 09:43 AM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: connecticut
Posts: 580
Rep Power: 51 +1 "road cholesterol"
#39
08-24-2010, 09:54 AM
If drivers ed and state testing were only in sync (teaching the importance of left lanes are for passing etc) with what is real on the road it might change. I doubt the state police care if people drive slow in the fast lane, they probably see this as a way of keeping the speeders at bay.
Like others here, I have been spoiled to drive in certain European countries where drivers are well educated and use the left lane for passing.
Patience behind the wheel is a real problem at times - there are so many idiots and dangerous drivers it's not even funny. How about mini-van drivers on the phone... notice I didn't say women (trying to be PC) drivers. They are among the worst.
Like others here, I have been spoiled to drive in certain European countries where drivers are well educated and use the left lane for passing.
Patience behind the wheel is a real problem at times - there are so many idiots and dangerous drivers it's not even funny. How about mini-van drivers on the phone... notice I didn't say women (trying to be PC) drivers. They are among the worst.
#40
08-24-2010, 10:08 AM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: connecticut
Posts: 580
Rep Power: 51 If drivers ed and state testing were only in sync (teaching the importance of left lanes are for passing etc) with what is real on the road it might change. I doubt the state police care if people drive slow in the fast lane, they probably see this as a way of keeping the speeders at bay.
Like others here, I have been spoiled to drive in certain European countries where drivers are well educated and use the left lane for passing.
Patience behind the wheel is a real problem at times - there are so many idiots and dangerous drivers it's not even funny. How about mini-van drivers on the phone... notice I didn't say women (trying to be PC) drivers. They are among the worst.
Like others here, I have been spoiled to drive in certain European countries where drivers are well educated and use the left lane for passing.
Patience behind the wheel is a real problem at times - there are so many idiots and dangerous drivers it's not even funny. How about mini-van drivers on the phone... notice I didn't say women (trying to be PC) drivers. They are among the worst.
If that's true, it gives you an idea of the disparity between a european and U.S. driver's test....
"You're traveling down the highway when you realize that you are about to pass your exit, you:
a. Slow immediately and cut across the highway to try to make the exit;
b. Gently pull over to the shoulder and stop. Then, with caution, reverse to the exit you missed; (this is the real life answer for some LOL)
c. Speed up to the next exit. Get off the highway and go back to the exit you missed;
d. Maintain your speed and take the next exit, exit the roadway and stop to determine how best to get back on course.
That's an actual question!
#41
08-24-2010, 10:36 AM
No speeders = no revenue. Speeding benefits law enforcement more than it harms them.
#42
08-24-2010, 12:44 PM
I commute 25 miles each way by the highway from 5-7 days a week. I use to go on low 80s and when straight low 100s. But when cops around I go 65 (annoying). When driving the C55 then from 75-90s.
#44
08-24-2010, 05:57 PM
I agree with almost every post in this thread. Good to see that there is still hope for the USA.
#45
08-24-2010, 06:08 PM
This one almost had me on the i4 yesterday driving back from Tampa. It had just started raining, and we all know that most drivers lose total control when a raindrop hits the ground 
. The guy in front of me, slammed on his brakes in the middle of rush hour traffic because he saw a state trooper at the side of the road. The limit was 75 on that particular part and we were already only doing 70... yet after this violent maneuver, we were doing 35 on a very busy road. Thank God I was always taught to leave a good size gap because you do not expect someone to brake that hard for no reason.
If I'm honest, I know the standard of driving in the UK isn't perfect but it's the one thing I miss after moving to the US, the vast majority of the drivers here must have got their license free in their cereal because they have *no* idea how to drive. The driving tests are a joke/disgrace, the lady who tested me was more interested in my Cayman S than my driving and amazingly, I never even went out onto the road!!
You know its bad when even the cops don't know the highway code. Last week I had a cop *stop* in the middle of a roundabout to wave me on. Is it really that difficult to work out how a roundabout (traffic circle) works? Each entrance has a giant yield sign on it!
. The guy in front of me, slammed on his brakes in the middle of rush hour traffic because he saw a state trooper at the side of the road. The limit was 75 on that particular part and we were already only doing 70... yet after this violent maneuver, we were doing 35 on a very busy road. Thank God I was always taught to leave a good size gap because you do not expect someone to brake that hard for no reason.If I'm honest, I know the standard of driving in the UK isn't perfect but it's the one thing I miss after moving to the US, the vast majority of the drivers here must have got their license free in their cereal because they have *no* idea how to drive. The driving tests are a joke/disgrace, the lady who tested me was more interested in my Cayman S than my driving and amazingly, I never even went out onto the road!!
You know its bad when even the cops don't know the highway code. Last week I had a cop *stop* in the middle of a roundabout to wave me on. Is it really that difficult to work out how a roundabout (traffic circle) works? Each entrance has a giant yield sign on it!
Joking aside, the skill level of UK drivers is definitely ahead of the US, but I still prefer driving here. The petty one-upmanship on British roads is so annoying. In the US, one takes care of oneself. If there's a driver sitting in the overtaking lane at a slow speed, I pass them on the inside when there's a safe gap. If someone does the same to me, I don't sweat it.
I also still follow the two second rule. Thats one's a keeper.