OT - Ours are the WORST, Drivers in the Bay area Options

[Randal]

We have the worst drivers on the planet.

I have never been anywhere, including all of Asia, where they drive as bad.

You can complain about the LA traffic, but up here we have the traffic and nutty crazy drivers as well.

It is just getting real dangerous.

No signaling
No lane discipline
No courtesy
Drivers following to close
Drivers absolutely unaware of what is going on – talking on the cell phone, driving with one hand
Speeding up when you’re trying to merge
Drivers making stupid moves that leave you stunned
Drivers using their car as a weapon
Road rage and I mean serious road rage

Am I going crazy or are the Bay Area roads as bad as I think and getting worse? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

[olav]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

No signals
Follow real close.
Cell phones

It's a jungle out there.

[jimtab]

They are as bad as you think, I flashed a guy driving 55 in the fast lane on Saturday next to his 3 buddies in the other lanes, practicing their formation driving and the guy flipped out started slamming on his brakes and crazy shit, after I finally got past him he sped up to 85-90 and then dove back in front of me and slammed on his brakes again...made me wish I was armed....he kept screwing around like that for like 5 miles before I exited...what an ASSHOLE. The traffic in the bay area is why I quit sales 5 years ago, all the crap you said and more...guys reading the paper in commut traffic at 50mph, eating, shaving, mascara, beating the kids, apparently playing some video game.....and the beat goes on. And, mixed into this are the rice racers, too fast and too furious...lots of spoilers and shit and no driving talent...I won't be sorry to leave when I retire. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dead horse.gif)

[SirAndy]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) with all of the above ...

and i have had my share of foreign countries, bay area is the worst, hands down ...

makes paris or rome or bangkok look like a walk in the park ...
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif) Andy

[Howard]

SoCal ain't so hot either, but ya gotta try New Jersey. Just about the highest insurance rates in the US, and for good reason.

Euro driving is mucho better. Except for Brussels (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Trekkor]

The most dangerous part of the a/x or track day is getting there.

We picked up that formula vee last year. Must have avoided 4-5 wrecks, saw a few and two seperate car fires. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

I go to work late when I work in the Bay Area.



KT

[BMartin914]

QUOTE (Randal @ Mar 27 2006, 05:23 PM)

We have the worst drivers on the planet. I have never been anywhere, including all of Asia, where they drive as bad. You can complain about the LA traffic, but up here we have the traffic and nutty crazy drivers as well. It is just getting real dangerous. No signaling No lane discipline No courtesy Drivers following to close Drivers absolutely unaware of what is going on – talking on the cell phone, driving with one hand Speeding up when you’re trying to merge Drivers making stupid moves that leave you stunned Drivers using their car as a weapon Road rage and I mean serious road rage Am I going crazy or are the Bay Area roads as bad as I think and getting worse? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

Sounds like you just summarized my morning commute here in Denver. couldn't have said it better myself. IDIOTS. EVERYWHERE. IN $50K+ VEHICLES.

Doesn't it take *some* common sense to find yourself in a position to afford this kind of vehicle, or does it all just leak out your ear when you step inside? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

[URY914]

You boys ever drive in Miami?

Just as bad, but there you KNOW the guy in the other car is armed.(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

[mightyohm]

What makes it worse is that I would rate the bay area as 4 out of 5 stars in terms of required driving skill for the roads compared to other places I have lived. There are a lot of very poorly design merges, onramps/offramps, construction and poor maintenance. Take Central Expressway for example, I see a at least 1 or 2 rear end accidents a week on the onramps. People are afraid to merge with moving traffic (they look for 7-10 seconds of NO cars coming), so they stop. The guy behind them is accelerating to get onto the expressway and probably looking in the side view to see if there is oncoming traffic... WHAM. Just ask Dave Darling...

Then again, I doubt our traffic can even compare to Mexico, many South American countries, and many parts of Asia. Apparently the Phillipines are interesting according to coworkers.

[drewvw]

for some reason, I feel a little insulted right now. People get mad here if you stop to take the time to DO all of those things you listed....just make your move and be done with it!

[byndbad914]

QUOTE (Randal @ Mar 27 2006, 05:23 PM)

You can complain about the LA traffic, but up here we have the traffic and nutty crazy drivers as well. It is just getting real dangerous.     No signaling No lane discipline No courtesy Drivers following to close Drivers absolutely unaware of what is going on – talking on the cell phone, driving with one hand Speeding up when you’re trying to merge Drivers making stupid moves that leave you stunned Drivers using their car as a weapon Road rage and I mean serious road rage

just getting crazy in the North Bay - man that list was developed in LA years ago (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif) There was a stint there last year alone where there was something like 3 or 4 freeway shootings in 2 months in LA!

I had a gun pointed at me for a similar instance to jimtab about a year ago - that sealed the deal for me to start looking for a job out of state. Just.. can't... wait.. to... move..

I was rolling 75 on the 405 freeway at 11pm and this jackass pulled right into my lane in front of me to "pass" another car - then by the time I react and slow down, he thinks I am riding his ass (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif) and brake checks me. I moved over two lanes, went around both cars, he speeds up to 85 to pace me, then I look over and he is pointing a gun at me. I hit the brakes, followed for a couple minutes to take the plate # and then trailed off. Call the CHP when I got home WITH A PLATE # and vehicle description and I never hear back.

F$%^ the police. They are damn near worthless sometimes. My buddy that is a cop couldn't believe the CHP didn't have an investigator call me back at minimum. 'Course, had I been shot, they would have shown up to clean up the mess and launch a full scale investigation since I was dead. But if you ain't dead or dying, the police have better things to do, like clean up a freeway mess where people are laying dead or dying.

I want out...

[grantsfo]

I have done a lot of driving in metro areas all over the US including the SF Bay Area. I have run into lots of really bad drivers everywhere. As far as Bay Area goes it seems like HWY 880 has every ricer racer wanta be within 50 miles. I have had Hondas pass me doing 100 mph + bouncing around on bad shocks swerving in and out of traffic. I commute 30,000 a year and have never really had a close call in LA or the SF Bay Area - that includes 10 years of daily trips over HWY 17. There are plenty of courteous drivers out there - its just easier to remember the idiots. One thing I have noticed is with advent of commuter lanes and hybrids people feel inclined to cross 4 lanes of fast moving traffic for the privledge to drive 55 in the commute lane. That stuff scares me.

One thing I can say about US compared to Europe is that many drivers in the US are asleep at the wheel. Whenever I return from Europe I feel like honking my horn to wake people up!

Shanghai has some of the worst drivers I have ever seen by far. Plenty of cell phone distracted, rude and incompent drivers. Its easy to see several accidents on a single trip across town during rush hour.

[drewvw]

my favorite crazy driving anecdote is from st. petersburg russia. Two guys go screaming around a corner and over one of the many bridges in those little russian fiats (Ladas).

so they bash eachother, pull over, determine they got eachother about the same, and then go there separate ways....classic


dz

[GaroldShaffer]

Sounds like Chicago also, only you are going 10 mph during rush hour (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

I haven't been to Atlanta since 1990, but that had to be the worst I ever drove in. Funny story (to me anyway) at the airport in Atalanta picking up my rental car. Asked for directions to my hotel and the Avis person explained the route I need to take and warned me of the Redneck 500? The look on my face must have been funny to her, "Oh you have never been to Atlanta? That is what we call XXX highway that goes around Atlanta" (XXX can't remember the name now). She was right, I'm going 85 mph in the far right lane getting passed by little old ladys flipping me off (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/WTF.gif) I was never so happy to get off a highway in my life. Next day I asked at the desk clerk for directions to an office for a meeting I had to attend, desk cleark says "get back on the Redneck highway and....." That was some FAST & CRAZY driving and that was 1990 YIKES!!!

[jd74914]

QUOTE (itsa914 @ Mar 27 2006, 10:04 PM)

Sounds like Chicago also, only you are going 10 mph during rush hour  :screwy: I haven't been to Atlanta since 1990, but that had to be the worst I ever drove in. Funny story (to me anyway) at the airport in Atalanta picking up my rental car. Asked for directions to my hotel and the Avis person explained the route I need to take and warned me of the Redneck 500? The look on my face must have been funny to her, "Oh you have never been to Atlanta? That is what we call XXX highway that goes around Atlanta" (XXX can't remember the name now). She was right, I'm going 85 mph in the far right lane getting passed by little old ladys flipping me off  :WTF: I was never so happy to get off a highway in my life. Next day I asked at the desk clerk for directions to an office for a meeting I had to attend, desk cleark says "get back on the Redneck highway and....." That was some FAST & CRAZY driving and that was 1990 YIKES!!!

In Atlanta the major problem is that all of the roads (even the small ones) seem to be one way only (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif) This is especially true around GA Tech.

The other weird place I found for drivers was in Florence Italy. There, a green light means go, and a red light means go faster (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

[messix]

FL was the same way. drove from orlando to daytona, was getting passed like standing still doin 80-85 in a kia.

[jimtab]

QUOTE (jd74914 @ Mar 27 2006, 07:24 PM)

QUOTE (itsa914 @ Mar 27 2006, 10:04 PM) Sounds like Chicago also, only you are going 10 mph during rush hour  :screwy: I haven't been to Atlanta since 1990, but that had to be the worst I ever drove in. Funny story (to me anyway) at the airport in Atalanta picking up my rental car. Asked for directions to my hotel and the Avis person explained the route I need to take and warned me of the Redneck 500? The look on my face must have been funny to her, "Oh you have never been to Atlanta? That is what we call XXX highway that goes around Atlanta" (XXX can't remember the name now). She was right, I'm going 85 mph in the far right lane getting passed by little old ladys flipping me off  :WTF: I was never so happy to get off a highway in my life. Next day I asked at the desk clerk for directions to an office for a meeting I had to attend, desk cleark says "get back on the Redneck highway and....." That was some FAST & CRAZY driving and that was 1990 YIKES!!! In Atlanta the major problem is that all of the roads (even the small ones) seem to be one way only (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif) This is especially true around GA Tech. The other weird place I found for drivers was in Florence Italy. There, a green light means go, and a red light means go faster (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)

Yeah, the other interesting thing about driving in Florence was some of the roads went into town in the morning(one way) and out of town at night ...fine if you're a local and know which ones, and when.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[eeyore]

QUOTE (jd74914 @ Mar 27 2006, 07:24 PM)

The other weird place I found for drivers was in Florence Italy. There, a green light means go, and a red light means go faster

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

When I was twelve or so, we stayed in Florence overnight. The hotel didn't have any TV, so my brother and I just sat and watched traffic for about 2 hours. Great entertainment.

[jd74914]

QUOTE (Cloudbuster @ Mar 28 2006, 12:28 AM)

QUOTE (jd74914 @ Mar 27 2006, 07:24 PM) The other weird place I found for drivers was in Florence Italy. There, a green light means go, and a red light means go faster (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) When I was twelve or so, we stayed in Florence overnight. The hotel didn't have any TV, so my brother and I just sat and watched traffic for about 2 hours. Great entertainment.

Nice. . . we watched the local drug dealers and supplier barter all nite (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

I do remember the varying traffic roads, I don't quite get those things (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

[J P Stein]

OK, now I don't feel so bad about the idiots around here....does this sound reasonable? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)