I have a theory about the DMV

As far as I know very FEW states here have outlawed phone use while driving.

Here in PA the problem is much more that the speed limits are much to low and get ignored. For instance the interstate I drive to work has a speed limit of 55mph, but the speed of traffic is generally 70+ (sometimes 80+) in the fast lane.. but then will be 45 or so in the slow lane... this much differential in speed is also a problem since if you get stuck in the slow lane it's very hard to get out into a more reasonable lane. I'll never understand why a state sets speed limits 20mph or more below the speed of traffic. And yes there are semi-frequently "speed traps" along these roads and don't seem to care that people are going 15-25mph over the speed limit.

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Originally Posted by gregs656

There can't be many states left where you can still use a phone? It's been illegal here for a few years now, if you think it's bad when the majority are driving autos, think how bad it could be when you need both hands to drive lol.

Phantom traffic jams annoy the hell out of me. As do people who are just plane bad drivers. I was parked at work the other day and when I got back to my car, the people next to me had parked diagonally and closed MY mirror so they could get out! that annoyed the hell out of me as well.

I have to say, my indicating is poor.

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Who here thinks that the drivers in their state are the worst in the US? :)

I can say that in my various travels across the southeast outside of Florida, when I see a left-laner on the highway they usually have Florida tags. I'm with you, Holli -- it's the most aggravating offense for me.

The worst is when they cross several lanes of traffic as soon as they merge onto the highway just to make it to that left lane.

In all my travels, I've found that I enjoy driving on I-55 through Mississippi. The drivers there seem to be some of the best around. Texas is also decent- they tend to drive close to my pace. Certain areas of Oklahoma City are good, Tulsa is horrible.

I'm a fan of driving around Colorado Springs, but anywhere around Denver is mind shatteringly horrible. If there is ANYTHING on the side of the road, people slow down to look. Don't get me started on riding a motorcycle here.

The biggest thing I don't understand are the people that go super slow on the way home from work. I don't know about the rest of the people here in Denver, but when it's quitting time, I want to get to wherever it is that I'm going pronto. And yet you'll see miles of people going under the speed limit, taking their time to get to their destinations.

An idea that I've always liked is ticketing people going slow in the left lane. I also like the idea of having an advanced license that gives you freedom to haul ass. I'd be all over that.

how would you guys like to drive over the road like me? i get to travel in just about all states and major cities. you would not believe what i get to see inside cars, what the people are doing. a lot of the activity going on could not be posted here. putting on makeup using a blackberry and texting the worse. reading books and the newspaper are a couple others. just plain stupidity is the most of what i see. i have just over 2,750,000 miles driven without accident and tickets, and that is by the grace if GOD. i would not expect to get that many miles again with the way drivers are behaving now.

Let me tell you what. So I attend Cornell U. Obviously its an Ivy, obviously a lot of rich people come here. And I swear, the absolute worst drivers are the rich elites/foreigners who just
a) get a really nice car and think they own the road
b) get a really really big car and don't give a **** (DIRECT quote: "Yeah so basically my parents were like, Ithaca's like, cold and snowy and stuff, so like, they were like, we should probably get you something like a SUBURBAN, cus like, it has four wheel drive and stuff you know? And like, that way if I get in a crash, I'll be like, safe and stuff cus its just bigger than like, any other car I would crash into you know? And there's all those cool safety thingies like airbags and stuff")

The aforementioned quote comes from a friend of mine... who I am scared for my life to drive with. When they mount a curb they just keep going (QUOTE: "I mean, its okay, I'm driving a truck... its probably better to just go in straight line you know? Rather than like, swerve all over the place and stuff..."). They hit stuff like cones and signs and don't care... they drive like a maniac... IT'S ABSURD!

Khaos, you don't have to go to an Ivy League to experience that. Try going to an Aggie school where everyone thinks they need a truck or large SUV of some sort. You'd think parking lots were made by the devil with all the problems those kids have parking. It's enough to give you high blood pressure and a heart attack.

I've noticed a lot of posts about cells/texting. Don't get me wrong, I think texting is dangerous because it means you're not looking where you're going and I think cells are dangerous because a lot of people cannot multitask and you have a hand off the wheel so reactions are inhibited. And yes, using a cell without a hands free in NY is illegal, but no one seems to care.

But, for the most part, the bad drivers that I've been seeing have not been using cells - they are just bad drivers. Sorry to say it, but, at least for me, it is by far older people and women. Older people seem more likely to drive under the speed limit and women seem more likely to fail to signal/merge poorly/not look before changing lanes.

I will acknowledge that men do these things too and that I am quite sure I see more women than men driving - so this is not me stereotyping. These are my observations. (I love how I'm a male and feel the need to include this disclaimer.)

59caddy, your driving record is very impressive. I've been driving for 7 years (but not much during my 4 years of college. No tickets and one accident (a guy took a left turn straight into me and claimed he had a turning arrow; he didn't and I knew he didn't because it was about 500 feet from my house).

In Atlanta if you drive a BMW, you don't have to abide by any traffic laws.

I really need to get me one.

-Rob

I'm all for the advanced license idea!

We were having this conversation a few days ago at work. I said "I usually just move to the right and see if I can get that car to go any faster" and someone else said "I just pass on the inside". I said "Huh?" and he said "you know, the shoulder". :hmmm: