I have a theory about the DMV

I wonder how much automatic transmissions influence those bad lazy driving habits? They require very little attention and no hand/brain/leg coordination.

What I hate most about driving here is that people do not give a shite about flow of traffic and others around them. The cops are pretty useless too, I have never seen them giving tickets for anything but speeding and lane violations.

What is even worse than left lane a-holes are those people who will not let you change into their lane at any cost. The moment you switch on your turn signal, they race to get ahead to block you. It seems like a growing trend these days and it is mainly done by woman in luxury cars as far as I can tell.

I think there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration. (you'll have to excuse some of my examples if they aren't 100% correct or p.c.)
#1-The DMV will give a dirvers license to pretty much anybody.
#2-Unlike many countries you are not required to be able to read, write or even understand the "prominent" language to receive a D.L. (the D.M.V. here in Portland has something like 12 different language options for individuals looking to get a license).
#3-America is a cultural "melting pot" You have everybody from the courtious English "Gent" who'll give right of way, use signals etc to the former Saigon taxi driver who doesn't know what a turnsignal is and will drive down the wrong side of the road simply because it suits them.
#4-Many U.S. citizens think that they are entitled to certain things, actions, behaviors etc. The idea a lot of people have that they are important or special and that everybody needs to pucker up and kiss their rosy a**es. Even individuals who have done absolutely nothing usefull in their life think that they deserve special treatment and that whatever they have going on is the only thing that matters in the world even if that thing creates an enourmous inconvience for anyone/everyone around them.
I'm gong to stop now but yeah, I agree, there's issues.

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Originally Posted by Quick Orange

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.

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Yeah but at least at Aggie they can justify their large vehicles as "necessary" for farm labour and such. How can the offspring of a plastic surgeon or a hotel owner justify owning the biggest truck that chevy makes? LOL.

On another note, I think it would be great if say, every 1 or 2 years you had to redo your drivers test... I know it would be a pain but I think it would improve driving a lot.

The way it's done in Luxembourg is quite neat.

You pass both tests and get a temporary limited driver license (6 points) for 2 years. In those 2 years, you have to go to mandatory advanced driving classes and tests on a closed circuit. If you didn't pass the tests or if you lost all 6 points in the 2 years, your license is automatically void and you need to start from scratch.

The advanced driving classes are a blast and some people actually go for seconds and thirds, just for the fun of it.

Another favorite of mine is when one big rig feels the need to pass another big rig because he is doing maybe 2 mph faster than the other guy. He pulls alongside the other big rig and it takes him about 80 miles to complete the pass. I've often suspected that they do this on purpose and the two drivers are having a chuckle about it on the CB radio. :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by commiecat

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.

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I'm from Jersey, and I know we have a reputation of our own (aggressive), but when somebody is driving in the left lane slower than right lane traffic, with nobody in front of them, and plenty of room beside them to shift right, 9.5 times out of 10:

a) they are talking on the phone.
b) they have Pennsylvania tags.
c) both.

No offense to any PA drivers, but if there was ever a generalization that I could make that would 95% accurate for an entire population, it's that Pennsylvania drivers do not understand that the left lane is the passing lane.

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

I'm from Jersey, and I know we have a reputation of our own (aggressive), but when somebody is driving in the left lane slower than right lane traffic, with nobody in front of them, and plenty of room beside them to shift right, 9.5 times out of 10:

a) they are talking on the phone.
b) they have Pennsylvania tags.
c) both.

No offense to any PA drivers, but if there was ever a generalization that I could make that would 95% accurate for an entire population, it's that Pennsylvania drivers do not understand that the left lane is the passing lane.

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Everyone in MA knows that the left lane blockers are mostly from:
a) NH
b) ME
c) CT
d) RI
e) FL
:D
f) NJ, too (many NJ plates in MA lately)

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Originally Posted by sparq

Everyone in MA knows that the left lane blockers are mostly from:
a) NH
b) ME
c) CT
d) RI
e) FL
:D
f) NJ, too (many NJ plates in MA lately)

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Ack! You include NJ on this list and not PA? If you drive up behind a NJ tag in the left lane (at least in my area), they move over and let you by. Maybe it's those "north jersey" people. I want to secede. If there can be Dakotas and Carolinas, why can't there be Jerseys?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Ack! You include NJ on this list and not PA? If you drive up behind a NJ tag in the left lane (at least in my area), they move over and let you by. Maybe it's those "north jersey" people. I want to secede. If there can be Dakotas and Carolinas, why can't there be Jerseys?

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Nah, I am just teasing you. :D

Is it really so simple to get a driving license in the US as we believe in Spain?

I'm getting mine right now, at my 33 years old (yes, I know...).

I passed my theory test last week, that's 30 questions and you can fail 3 of them. Had to go for 3 - 4 weeks to the driving school and study a 200 pages book. And I did it fast, other people needs more work.

Now I'm getting practical lessons, 45 minutes each, and I expect to take no less than 10-15 lessons, and then I'll take the practical test. The examiner will make you drive for 20-40 minutes, and you can have a maximum of 8 minor faults, or 1 major fault + 3 minor. There are also eliminatory faults, like passing a red light, or not stopping at a crosswalk. Minor faults can be, incorrect use of the lights, or crossing the arms when turning the wheel, stalling the engine...

It usually takes 2 months and maybe 900-2000 euros depending on the number of practical lessons you take and the times you have to pay for examination fees, not everyone passes the tests at the first try.

How it goes in the US?