Best/worst drivers, by city or state (totally subjective):

[Padraig18]

Best---

Chicagoans: Chicagoans understand how to drive a vehicle, as opposed to aiming one. Your typical Chicagoan will be tooling down the Kennedy and think "I'm a mile before the exit I need, so I'd better start getting over now, because this clueless f*** from ________ behind me is scared to death and has NO idea what he's doing, and would probably cause a 50-car pileup if I so much as touched my turn signal to make a lane change... *drops back and changes lanes behind Mr. X* ... Chicagoans understand that speed in and of itself does not kill, but that a wide disparity among speeds often does, so they tend to 'go wit' traffic'. Chicagoans use turn signals, and mean it. Chicagoans rarely don't know exactly how to get themselves (or you, should you need directions) from where they are to where they need to be. Chicagoans carry road maps and a street guide, and both are usually well-worn.

Worst---

St. Louisans, or Bostonians:

St. Louisans assume that no street runs east-west or north-south in their city, and they're right, so they tend to be pretty blase about the whole 'directions/signaling/signs' thing. STOP signs are mere suggestions, speed signs are distractions and turn signals definitely scream 'out of towner'. This is the city which raised the 'boulevard stop' to an art form, and where the game of 'chicken' is played out on every expressway and street on a daily basis.

Bostonians are America's most-aggressive drivers. Most Bostonians understand only 3 speeds: fast, faster and 'go like Hell!'. Yellow lights are only an excuse to floor it, and 'flying the bird' at your fellow motorist is a trait of which Bostonians are unjustifiably proud. Parking is an exercise in 'who has more testosterone?', or 'who can yell the loudest?'.

Honorable Mention---

Texans: By and large, Texans are friendly drivers, although they tend to not pay attention to the world around them after leaving their driveways. In Texas, the vehicle is considered to be a sacrosanct environment, akin to a rolling chapel, complete with venerated obejcts like gun racks and beer coolers. Texans assume that the laws of gravity and physics do not apply on Texas roads, and are often heard to say after a fender-bender, "I just don't know how that could have happened!".



That's my list. What are yours?

:P

[flamingyouth]

1. I think Seattleites have to be among the worst drivers ever

Weaving in and out of lanes, talking on the cell phone, drinking their triple latte, driving 10 mph below the speed limit - in the fast lane.

And everyone seems to drive like they just moved to town yesterday and have no idea where anything is. I think one of our biggest traffic problems is that people don't know how to freaking drive.

Thank you for this opportunity to rant! I have to drive between Seattle and Bellevue each day, and sometimes it just about drives me nuts.:crazy:

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. The problem is...

many of them probably DID just move to town yesterday! :P

And nothing against Seattle dear, since I'll be truly excited to see it, but I've heard that the main core area is difficult to navigate unless you know where you're going.

I bought a book several years ago that told you pretty much everything you wanted to know about Seattle for eventual moving there, and it mentioned that. I was dreading learning it if we moved up.

So you can teach me if I make it up. :-)

[flamingyouth]

20. No, but I will drive you around when you come here

You can see for yourself! Experience our truly horrid driving with fresh eyes!

And yeah, you're probably right - people probably DID just move here yesterday, and yes, Seattle is a hard place to figure out. The streets kind of don't make any sense, and then there's the problem of our geography. You'll be driving somewhere, and all of a sudden you run into a lake... :P

[miss_kitty]

86. that would be TRANSPLANTED Seattlites

as a third generation seattlite, i agree with you. but before all the gazillionaires moved here starting in the 80's when people were selling houses in LA and buying 3 up here with the proceeds, we did ok. we had trouble with the snow, but hey-it's hilly

now we got people who can't drive in snow, rain or sun. and i used to do that drive-7th ring of hell, innit? the 520. shiat...i'd get on the 405 and head to woodinville and have a freak out heart attack if my boss kept me past 2:30. god that was an awful 17 miles one way. it could take hours.
and don't get me started on the 'enforcers' who drive in the fast lane. or the idiots who slam on their brakes for no apparent reason on:
1) the ship canal bridge;
2) under the convention center...

ok mlle_chatte...that's enough, time for the meds dear

Sorry, folks. She needs a little cat nap....

[flamingyouth]

96. Well, I agree with you

I don't get the ship canal bridge problem...

The convention center is very confusing - the James St. and I-90 exits are messed up, and there's Union St. there too. And most people don't know where they're going.

[miss_kitty]

99. my exit is just south of the ship canal bridge and i am very good

at navigating the convention center mess, what with all my trips to harborview and south seattle comm coll and pratt and d smith. you are right...you definately have to know your lanes. i almost slammed into some folks who had stopped dead in the third lane @ the 90/dearborn/airport clusterfu*k spur-it's poorly designed. those folks are lucky i didn't stop right next to them and kill them all. it was almost the stupidest thing i have seen driving.

[Skittles]

2. whoever said Texans are friendly drivers certainly doesn't live here

nt

[redqueen]

6. No chit! n/t

[Padraig18]

7. All the snowbirds must have ruined you guys.

It's been a few years since i was in texas, admittedly; it used to be that way, at least.

:P

[Skittles]

97. gawd, a quarter inch of ice and these people are f***ing ridiculous

count me as transplanted, I learned to drive in Illinois.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. I'll agree with Bostonians.

Those people scared the holy bejeezus out of me!

We don't have to deal with much of the double parking thing down here, but I was amazed at...whenever something was in their way (such as a double-parked car), they just shot out into the lane next to them as quickly as possible, causing the person in that lane to have a heart attack.

And pedestrians? 100 bucks a pop. You're a walking target i Boston if you try to cross the street.

Honorable mention for Texas in which category? I would not agree with your assessment if you mean friendly. We USED to be friendly, but an influx of too many others from far-flung locales has ruined that.

Central Expressway at rush hour is a good example of the worst of mankind. Here, the tailgater in the monster truck is a specific breed, and we have a lot of them.

FSC

[stranger_with_candy]

4. NJ : it's just a free-for-all

CT drivers are bad in snow, which is strange considering it's New England...

[CO Liberal]

79. NJ's Free-For-All Is Caused By Out-Of-State Drivers

Growing up in NJ, I thought the worst drivers were from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Now that I'm in Colorado, I know the worst drivers are from New Mexico. I think it's because their state is so sparcely populated, they can't handle it when they have to share the road with other cars.

(Apologiers to any DU-ers from New Mexico.)

[stranger_with_candy]

81. Growing up in PA

and now living in CT... it's always the Jersey plates that are out of control!!! Most northeast states fall into the "free-for-all" category.

[fob]

102. Maybe because NJ names things differently

My friends parents moved to NJ and on our first visit there we got a tad off track, we pulled off to the side asked someone walking by how to get to a certain street and they said, "take a left after you get out of the jughandle, then go blah blah, blah..." We said thanks and all 4 of us preceded to stare at each other and go "What the fuck's a jughandle?"

[greeneyedpookie]

104. Ah

But that's what we think about the Colorado and Arizona drivers. The 4 corners area is scary on the weekend with everyone coming to town to spend their money!! On weekends, my husband and I get our business done early with the city and go back and hide out in our little piece of country. It can be scary. :scared:

So no offense to any Colorado or Arizona drivers that not close to this area, this isn't you, it's the ones that live close to here.

GEP

:bounce:

[redqueen]

5. No best

but Dallas is the WORST!

Just this morning some yahoo cuts around me going about 60 (I was already going nearly 50 in a 40), then slows down to just over 45.

:wtf:

[Scooter24]

16. OMG...

LOL..that might have been me! See Post 14 below.

[redqueen]

23. Heck no

This wasn't on a freeway. :)

Besides, driving in the right hand lane is asking for it... what bugs me are the people going 50 in the left lane of the freeway.

[Heyo]

70. I have gone to Dallas alot for work..

... the thing that freaks me out about Dallas is how they can have a flow of *bumper to bumber* traffic keeping a steady 85 mph.. with like 1/3 of a car length in between the roads.. through construction zones and everything.. man I had an afro driving through there...

Heyo

[meegbear]

8. Boston easy ...

I've spoken to many out-of-towners who will attest that we are the worst. To us, it's driving as usual.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. My cousin lives in Dudley....

and drove like a freaking maniac! I was plastered against the seat, trying not to flinch too much while she got lost trying to find the highway out to the west to show me their place.

Get this-- my first visit to Boston, she's driving around asking me if I know where such and such is. I was like :wtf: ?

[jonnyblitz]

47. Boston is where I fit in, my driviing sucks therefore I "blend"

I actually like the way people drive in Boston," anything goes-like". :hi:

[Padraig18]

49. I'll drive again in Boston when...

... it becomes legal to own and drive an M1-A1 tank on the public streets and highways--- and not one second before!

:P

[jonnyblitz]

94. LMFAO!

:thumbsup: :hi:

[daisygirl]

103. I grew up in Boston and

didn't get my license until I was 21 because I was terrified whenever I got behind the wheel, what with everyone trying to kill me on the roads and all. I was always a nervous driver until I moved to Ohio, where I'm happy to report that the roadways aren't nearly as scary.

A few years ago while I was visiting my family in Boston, I borrowed my mom's car - it had been quite a while since I'd driven there - and holy shit. I don't ever want to drive there again!

[lovedems]

9. I went to college in Vermont and the good people of Vermont

called Massachusets drivers "Massholes". I never did it! I guess the laid back, slower drivers of Vermont didn't like the fast paced city drivers from Mass. :shrug:

[Padraig18]

11. We were in VT last summer...

They seemed like fairly good drivers, to us.

:shrug:

[lovedems]

35. Vermont drivers or Massachusets drivers?

I loved the drivers in Vermont. They are very respectful!

[Padraig18]

39. Yeah, VT drivers.

I agree.

:)

[NashVegas]

31. Haha

When I lived in VT, if you were coming up behind someone and it was obvious you wanted to go faster than they were, they'd often pull over a little and make it easier for you to pass. The trouble with so-called "fast paced" city drivers is they want to go like a demon on the straight stretches, but freak out and go way under the limit if they can't see a mile ahead; they take a 45-55 mph curve at 30. Pain in the ass.

[lovedems]

37. That is especially true of mountain drivers!

When I would hit the slopes, you could tell the out of towners from the locals by the way they would drive when you get in the mountains! I agree, the local drivers are very respectful of other drivers around them.

[tom_paine]

12. Albertans of Canada seem to be quite pokey on open roads

The fabled Jersey Drive is no myth, with all the crazy highways in that state you'd think they'd be great drivers. But the opposite is true and three Jersey Drivers in a row, almost always following multiple car lengths behind one another EVEN WHEN TRAFFIC IS JAM-PACKED, themselves cand cause a traffic jam in short order.

Fastest in traffic: the Baltimore-Washington area, with it's HUGE 4 lane + highways where everyone goes nominally at 80 MPH and seems to handle it. Dosconcerting to be repeatedly passed like you're pokey while going 20 MPH ABOVE the speed limit.

Does that make them the BEST drivers, necessarily? I don't know but they keep things moving.

[Scooter24]

14. I'm guilty...

of being a Texas (Dallas) driver :P

I can't tell you how many times I've had to cut across 5 lanes on the interstate to make a last minute exit. Plus, if your not doing at least 80, you might as well stay off the roads.

[Padraig18]

18. No kidding!

You ( and most Texans) must've been home from school with a cold the day they taught that "...no two objects can occupy the same space at the same point in time..." in physics class. Am I right?

;)

[Scooter24]

26. Yeah!

That's why we have large medians. They make great HOV-style lanes :)

[Padraig18]

27. LOL!

I actually counted all the fresh ruts in the I-10 medians in Houston one day, and was amazed at how many there were!

:P

[TheCentepedeShoes]

89. Interstate driving in Dallas

is absolutely terrifying!! When we were moving out here in Nov '02, we went through Dallas. (What was I THINKING ??) I was in the lead since I'd "done it before" as my husband said. He got separated from me by about 4 cars, he's trying to keep me in sight so he knows where to exit, it was my turn to carry the dog who starts yapping at a dog in a car in the next lane. Never, NEVER, driving in Dallas again!

[nickinSTL]

15. St. Louisans

Heh.

All pretty accurate. Of course, you leave out that 80% are on cell phones while driving.

I've been here 6 years, and I still use turn signals...most people don't. Stop signs are considered suggestions for a lot of people.

And...yellow lights here, like (according to your post, never been there) Boston, mean speed up to most.

[Padraig18]

42. Yes, I forgot about cell phones.

We saw the most amazing thing the last time we were there: a lady was talking on her cell phone, using an emery board on her nails and driving with her left foot on the steering wheel! Tony's comment was, "Take me now, Lord, because I really have seen it all!".

:P

[napi21]

17. You have to drive in Atlanta to believe it!

I agree with you on Texas...I lived there for 6 years. They are, for the most part, reasonable drivers Unless it rains hard...or God forbid SNOWS! Then they loose all logic and common sense.

I have never been to the other states you mentioned, so I can't have an opinion.

After living in PA, SC, TX, and GA, I can certainly attest that Georgia drivers are, well, just incompetent. Take a drive on I85 sometime. They drive too fast, too close, are never happy with the lane they are in, don't use turn signals at all, and crash into anything that is stopped on the side of the road.

I haven't lived in Calif., but drove there for 3 weeks during a business trip. They have more cars, and heavier traffic, but most at least seemed to obey the rules of the road.

[underpants]

19. Clearly Worst-Pennsylvania

They are like the Borg dispatched to create havoc.

[CO Liberal]

80. I Agree!!

My second wife came from the Reading Area and an entire family of lousy drivers.

[loftycity]

21. Minnesota is the home of the Passive Aggressive Driver

I've lived here all my life. It is by far the worst of any city I have driven in. The worst street signage in the world.
At Mpls/St. Paul airport they have a lane that runs right into a stone wall. I guess you have to be pretty quick to changing lanes fast. Stone walls are better at informing the driver than signage.

[carolinayellowdog]

22. Boston drivers are the meanest and rudest

and the DC area isn't much better. I've found Southern California, despite the high speeds and traffic density, to be a lot less nerve-wracking. Best drivers are in Canada in my observation.

[sniffa]

29. cheney you

and get out of the fast Lane!!! :P

[NashVegas]

24. Nashville

Nashville drivers are like Boston drivers who don't know when they've been beaten.

If Nashville Bob wants to pass you, Nashville Bob WILL pass you and there's no such thing as a solid line or a closing lane that's going to interfere with his god-given right to pass you.

If you want to cut into Nashville Bob's lane, don't bother with a turn signal, it will only make him speed up. Rather, get his attention with a friendly wave and he'll be happy to let you in.

If you want to freak-out Nashville Bob and mess with his day, jump a green light w/a left turn, a la Boston.

As for driving in Boston, I have found the best approach is to adopt a zen-like attitude and accept you're at everyone's mercy.

[Ghetto_Boy]

25. DETROIT, no doubt in my mind ;dodging bullets & bowlingballs

[Dastard Stepchild]

57. I concur...

lived in the Detroit metro area for several years, and I HATED driving there. Of course, being the Motor City, there was NO decent public transportation, so one was stuck dealing with it. It wasn't that the people drove fast, which they did, but aggressive, and right up on yer tail every inch of the way.

[Susang]

61. Detroiters are the best drivers

I learned to drive on the freeways and boulevards of Detroit and I am an excellent driver. With so many cars and so much road to travel around there, I better be.

BTW, I now live in Chicago and Chicagoans are some of the worst drivers I have ever encountered. Pretending other cars don't exist and hitting the gas does not make a good driving strategy as far as I am concerned. Neither does cutting in and out of traffic in the attempt to get a car length ahead of the next person when you just end up right next to them at the next light anyway.

Susan
<who drives 8 miles each way to work on Western Ave daily and laughs a lot at the other drivers>

[Dastard Stepchild]

63. I think you'll learn excellent road speed skills in Detroit...

because you learn how to drive very, very fast. I find your experience with Chicago to actually be true of both Chicago and Detroit. Kinda similar driving patterns.

[Susang]

74. I disagree regarding Chicago

I lived in Detroit for 26 years and I've lived here (Chicago) for 13 years now and find the driving completely different from driving in Detroit.

For one, drivers in Detroit know how to merge. Also, there's not much driving fast here in the city. Maybe in the 'burbs, but I don't get out there too much, so I wouldn't know about that. Here in Chicago, you're luck to get over 55 on 94. In Detroit, 55 is an insult. The last time I was back there, it had been so long, I almost got blown away on 696, until I got my freeway legs back, so to speak.

[fob]

101. Ah merging. I remember that. I also grew up in Detroit area and

Michiganders CAN merge! They also only drive as far left as they are willing to speed.

Here in Cali merge isn't even a word let alone a concept and forget about anyone getting over. Traffic tends to spread out over the available lanes, you WILL come across a situation where there are 5 lanes and there will be 5 cars going the same speed with one in each lane!

Remember road rage was invented here!

[XNASA]

28. The worst drivers are in Houston.

Poor traffic management, horrible signage, no etiquette and lack of public transportation all factor to make Houston the worst place to drive. Even worse than Boston...and that's sayin' somethin'.

The best drivers are in the Midwest, Chicago specifically. After all, we 'are' smarter than everyone else and it shows up in our impeccable driving. LOL!!!!

Honestly, driving in Chicago not really that bad.

[Padraig18]

30. Chicagoans really ARE good drivers, aren't they?

I have no idea why, but they are.

:)

[Scooter24]

Did I forget to mention...

That I was born in Chicago? Learned to drive there too. :)

No place better to learn than on the Dan Ryan or on 894. hehe

[Padraig18]

38. Yeah, the Tri-State is a great place to learn.

If you can get from I-80 to Wisconsin without causing or being involved in an accident, or having a nervous breakdown, there's no place on earth where you can't drive well!

;)

[Scooter24]

44. We have an equal substitute

here in Dallas. Usually it falls on one day a year in late January/early February. It's called "driving during an ice storm" Ooooh, the memories *cue flashback to nervous breakdown*

Then again, if the temp reaches 32, schools and government offices here are quick to find a reason to close. We're such wimps :(

[XNASA]

40. Several reasons.....

1. We have great Public Transportation....this keeps bad drivers, people who don't want to drive and the elderly off of the roads.

2. We have great roads that are well laid out.

3. The traffic is routed in such a way as to keep trucks and cars separate whenever possible.

4. As I mentioned, we're smarter than everyone else. :crazy:

[fudge stripe cookays]

43. You can respectfully exclude

my aunt and cousin from the Chicago number, since they both drive like maniacs.

I coouldn't handle driving in Chicago, polite or not. You have NO PROTECTED LEFTS there!

Everything is...pull out into the middle of the intersection, put on your left turn signal, then wait and wait and wait for the interminable line of cars to pass you.

Then when they get a red and so do you, slam down the gas to make the left at the pub on the corner (with the Old Style sign out front) before the traffic starts coming from a different direction!

Nearly made me mental. Our drivers suck, but I like the fact that mostly everything here in Dallas is 3 lane divided roads with protected left turns or at least cutaways at most places you need to turn left. That way you don't block traffic with your pesky turn, and you get a little more chance to do it safely.

[Padraig18]

51. Every place has its 'oddities'

We actually do have protected lefts (right turn on red), but not all that many.

:)

[Scooter24]

52. Yeah...

But driving downtown is horrid. Central is always congested with cars not knowing where they are going and every time I try to leave the Deep Ellum area, I end up in the projects trying to find the interstate. Freaking signs! hehe :P

[Scooter24]

Signage!

Try going to New Orleans for New Year's Eve or Mardi Gras, and driving around in immense traffic, trying to find Bourbon St. and to your amazement, there are not any street signs. Aaaargh! I still have to write a nasty letter to the city about that!

[napi21]

32. After reading all the posts here, it seems like everyone's a bad

driver! The big thing is the "it's MY road" syndrome. The driving experience is a little better in the less populated areas, and more enjoyable too.

[midnight armadillo]

33. Dupe oops n/m

.

[midnight armadillo]

34. As a long time boston driver

I concede that Boston driving can be tough. It helps weed out the weak. In fact, occasionally, I've had to restrain my instincts when driving in other states so as not to look like a friggin' maniac on the road. Same with crossing the street. I was nearly killed in Boulder once when by instinct I strolled across a road ignoring crosswalks and street lights. Around here it's something anticipated by drivers.

However, on my honeymoon on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia I learned that Boston driving is total bush leagues compared with developing countries. Not even close. I've heard similar reports from other travelers to South America and the Caribbean. Although, I was pleased to note that my Boston training allowed me to adapt pretty quick, although I refused to take off my seat belt and honk every ten feet.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[redqueen]

41. One issue though, Paddy, re: Chicago

I went there about 15 years ago and the drivers were scary! While driving downtown I got the impression the stop signs were an opportunity for drivers to find out how quickly they could outgun the other drivers. Luckily I didn't personally have to drive. Would have been too scared!

[Padraig18]

45. Yes, 'jackrabbiting' is a city characteristic.

Green means 'Go!' (literally) to most Chicagoans, and they don't let those milliseconds after the light changes go to waste, like some people do...

;)

[redqueen]

53. Well they should get rid of all the 4-way stop intersections

and just put lights in... that way drivers like me might have a chance.

Of course, that was a long time ago... nowadays I'd be far more likely to just jam my foot down and GO, too. :)

[Padraig18]

54. Show no fear.

You're learning, Grasshopper!

:P

[flamingyouth]

46. I think it's a scary place to be a pedestrian

I always kind of felt like I had a target sign on my back when I was crossing the street. I have never driven there, but I've done plenty of walking in Chicago.

[Padraig18]

48. Don't *EVER* cross against the light in Chicago!

If you do, and get hit and killed, the Medical Examiner will list 'Terminal Stupidity' as the cause of death!

:P

[flamingyouth]

58. No, I always cross with the light

(I'm from Seattle - jaywalkers actually get tickets here, no kidding!)

I just meant that people making turns seem overly aggressive when there's a pedestrian in the crosswalk.:hi:

[Susang]

68. You are right about that

Back when I was feeling better, I used to walk about an hour a day and I lost track of the times I was almost killed. I did get my foot run over by a cab once and one of my friends got nailed by an SUV.

[miss_kitty]

87. i always jaywalk

when i go downtown it is a rule. but my rule about jaywalking is strict-no risky stuff-no making cars go around or stop for you.
the only time i ever got hit in Seattle i was in the crosswalk, crossing with the light, (going to the VI :-)) and a rube in a PU taking a right failed to look to see if there were any pedestrians. foolish man.

[Scooter24]

55. Brings back

memories of boystown :P

*sigh* good times, good times...

[Padraig18]

56. Oh, YEAH!

Ever go to 'Berlin', or 'Roscoes'?

:evilgrin:

[Dastard Stepchild]

60. on the flip side...

it's hard to be a driver in Chicago due to the pedestrians. People just walk into the road as if there are no cars coming at them. I've had people jump out from between cars, cross when I had the green light, and just generally meander into the road at will.
Thankfully, I take the bus most of the time, so I let the bus driver deal with it.

[Susang]

76. Agreed

It really boggles my mind how people will just walk out in front of a ton of hurtling metal and just assume it will stop.

[soothsayer]

50. worst, Boston---they drive on the sidewalk there!

crazy drivers

[ProfessorGAC]

59. Chicagoans Are The Least Courteous Drivers

I travel to 12 different major cities here in the U.S., every year. There are no more discourteous drivers than those i see in my home area.

They drive fast in LA, but they allow merging traffic, move over for faster traffic, slow down to allow someone to merge, etc.

Even New Yorkers do (for all their bad reputation) compared to Chicagoans.

We have the least quality drivers than any major city i go to.

The best drivers, at least from a lack of recklessness and discourtesy, is probably Cincinatti. But, i hate that city anyway.
The Professor

[XNASA]

64. "Screw you.....you're crazy.....Anyone seen my car keys?"

[Susang]

75. Its the lack of merging that gets to me

I mentioned that in one of my other posts. Chicago drivers do not know how to merge (or just don't want to). Nothing worse than trying to get onto 94 from the Skyway. :scared:

[XNASA]

77. From the Skyway? There's your answer........

Those people are all from Indiana and Michigan! LOL!!!!

It is true that Chicago drivers give no quarter when letting mergers on to the road....but aren't the mergers the ones who have the 'Yield' sign?

[Bertha Venation]

62. Bertha's list

Worst drivers: Everyone in the DC metro area, including bus drivers, truck drivers and especially cab drivers. The more expensive, hoggish, ostentatious, or the bigger your vehicle, the worse your driving skills/etiquette.

Best drivers: I have no idea.

[Heyo]

65. South Florida, yo....

...home of the newleyweds and nearly deads....

I live in Boca Raton.... I will share an experience I had just the other day.....

I am at the Northwest corner of the intersection of two 3-lane divided roadways.. so the *northwest* corner of said intersection is this plaza with some stores and what not, and a Wendy's and a Mobil...

When you are in this plaze on the NW corner, and pull out to go WEST... obviously you cannot make a LEFT and go EAST, because you would have to drive across 3 lanes of traffic and go over the median. This plaza has a few places you can get in and out.. if headed west you can make a right turn into it.. or leave the plaza and make a right and continue west.. nowhere here is there a place to make a left turn....

So I pull out of the Mobil station and head off to the west (into the right lane).. but what do I see coming STRAIGHT at me is a HUGE lincoln with this poor *old* man inside.. complete with that whole oxygen tube setup deal that goes under his nose.. and a wide eyed look on his face like he took the brown acid... apprently he had exited the plaza from another exit farther down and turned LEFT into oncoming traffic....so he sees me, panics and lays on the horn and then swerves left (his left, my right) and drives up into the sidewalk.. didn't hit anything... but jumped the curb onto the sidewalk with this big ol' Lincoln

we almost both lost our mirrors....

.... I pull in the next exit to see if the guy is okay, and as Im coming around I see a member of our esteemed Palm Beach County Sherrifs Office pull up and throw his lights on... I thought about staying, but I had stuff to do and as long as the old dude was okay, I don't care....

Scared the crap out of me but I had the most hearty laugh over it as I went on down the road.... just the look on the guys face..... and I know I can feel sorry for the poor guy and think it was hysterical also.. I am laughing *with* the guy....

Heyo

[Butterflies]

66. Miami has the worst (most dangerous) drivers in my experience

[Gato Moteado]

71. i second that.....

i lived in miami for four years and every single day on my way to or from work i narrowly avoided at least one potential wreck. i love miami, but drivers there suck.

[Scooter24]

72. True...

my taxi driver nearly gave me a heart attack when we were there. I haven't heard so many car horns or seen so many hand guesture in my life.

[Susang]

78. Florida in general is pretty bad

You never know what you're going to get. All those vacationers, retirees, campers, etc., it must make those who live there absolutely crazy.

[lpbk2713]

85. As a Floridian I thank you for your understanding.

Most people want to criticize all Floridians for the behavior they see displayed in just a few. While it is true a lot of native Floridians leave a lot of room for improvement, statistics show that only about 25% of the adult population was actually born in Florida. Most of us will stay away from places like Orlando or Miami unless we absolutely have to be there. I tend to stay at home as much as possible from November to April because that is when the most hazardous conditions prevail.

[AndyTiedye]

67. Boston Drivers Are The Worst

They're the most agressive by far. Driving in Boston is a really unpleasant experience that I don't miss.
Good luck trying to get into or across a line of solid traffic
unless you are driving a beater (which most people there do).

California drivers are much more friendly -- so friendly that they
want to drive six inches behind you at 75, but they're nice about it.

[DemWitch]

69. The list

1. Anyone who is retired in Arizona.
2. Anyone who is retired in New Mexico.
3. Anyone who is retired in Florida.
4. Bahstan, MA (metro area)
5. NYC
6. As much as I love it, I have to trash it... DC

[BlueJazz]

73. Minnesota......Geez, I've never seen such Pokey-Ass driving......

..in my life.
You're sitting at a stop-light, it turns green...There is this @#$#$#
5 second "Pause" before even the first car starts to go....then a few seconds before the next driver and so on and so on....

And Left turns??.. AAGGGGG!! The left turn arrow turns green....each automobile has this aggravating 300 feet between cars as they poke their way to turn. I've seen 20 second left-turn arrows change and only 4 cars get through the intersection. AAAGGG!!! (again)

But the BEST part is the INCREDIBLY slow acceleration of Minnesota drivers. I used to see (everyday) vehicles lined up at a 6 lane highway (3 lanes each way) 2 lanes have cars...the other lane has a fully loaded Tractor Trailer..The light turns green and after 10 seconds the Tractor Trailer is about 500 feet in front of ALL the cars....In-fucking incredible!!!

I moved to Florida and the 85 year old folk down here drive MUCH better than the Minnesota Yahoos....

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

82. The French are terrible drivers.

That might have to do with the fact they have no stoplights. :shrug:
I almost got hit 3 times in one day and saw a ton of people just barely avoid accidents.

[Kellanved]

100. very strange

Stop lights are mandatory in the EU since about 1970 (Council Directive 70/156/EEC ). While it is certainly possible that some Oldtimers still avoid that treaty, I have never seen a car without in France.

In fact I've driven through France Alsace to Aquitaine and Bretagne to Rhone-Alpes: while some habits certainly are strange, I never had the impression of facing a higher concentration of bad drivers. Maybe a little less strict on the rules than I'm used to, but so is the US.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

107. In Paris?

There were no stoplights in all the places I went in Paris.

[CO Liberal]

83. The Absolute WORST Drivers Are in Pueblo, Colorado

The only city where red lights are optional.

And roughly two-thirds of the cars on the road are uninsured....

[LiveWire]

84. Clearly, none of you have been to LA

Its the car capitol of the world, and home to pretty much every high speed pursuit you'll see on television. The only time we arent trying to kill eachother with our cars is when we are stuck in traffic. Also, I dont think any Bostonians will pull a gun on you in traffic. I'll take 'flying the bird' anyday over a glock 9mm.


I do have to say, having a step-dad from Boston, you guys drive like crazy people. I'm not sure if he discovered the brake pedal yet. Different ethnic gangs plus 30million cars and a little 90 degree LA weather makes LA probably the most dangerous place to drive, let alone live.

[Emboldened Chimp]

91. Oh, I'll second Los Angeles

World's Worst and Most Insane Drivers. Add a cell phone to the mix and you're lucky to survive crossing the street.

[Mrs. Venation]

88. The Worst? Washington, DC Metro Area

Rudeness is an olympic sport here. There's always a bunch of people who think their time is more valuable than everyone elses, and who drive like maniacs. Aggressive driving and road rage are common here. People have been killed in accidents caused by other drivers acting on road rage.

I get the bejabbers scared out of me at least once each way of our commute every day. Bertha, God love her, does all the driving; I'm so stressed out by the drivers here that I've quit driving altogether.

I don't know where the best is, but I damn sure know the worst. I live with it.

[carolinayellowdog]

95. Being passed on the right on the Beltway on-ramp

when I'm already going fast is a regular thrill of the DC area I don't miss

[skygazer]

90. I've driven all over the U.S.

In my experience, the absolute worst drivers are those in the Bay Area of California where I now live. They drive fast and reckless, often while talking on the phone and painting their toenails at the same time. They seem to forget every year what the roads are like when it's wet (it doesn't rain between April and November - short term memory problems evidently) so as soon as the rain starts, they're all over the road - accidents galore.

I love the people here, but God love 'em, they can't drive!

I'd have to agree with all the nice people who said that Vermonters are good and considerate drivers. :) Thanks!

[69KV]

92. Worst: Boston Best: Montana and North Dakota

I've driven all over this country. Boston takes the cake.

[baldguy]

93. The worst drivers are always visitors.

Here in Buffalo (we're the best btw) that means people from Ohio & Canada.

[MisterP]

98. psychopathic white-bread Orange Countyans:

If you don't let them do an illegal turn or pass, they say "you f**** b****, I oughta break your neck!" And don't slow down: "Do you f**** realize how many people f**** DIE on this road?!" (on a 45 MPH road...) Often they're driving big RAV4s with Jayzus fish on them, often with cookie-cutter blond soccer girls, and they're yelling their lungs out at nearby drivers. The Hummer drivers tend to let their tanks do the rudeness for them: even if you're in an SUV or "tall" car, you can't see around them at all!

[Mojambo]

105. I spent 3 days driving a rental car

in Dallas Texas.

It took 5 years off my life.

[Digit]

106. North Carolina Worst

I have lived in San Diego, DC, Philly, MD, and No Va, and NC is the one place which drives me insane.
They halt to a stop when they want to make a right.
They routinely roll through stop signs, they NEVER stop.
They begin stopping for a stop sign (see above) or stop light 200 feet ahead of time, but never completely stop.
They can't take a corner to save their lives. They cut WAYYY into the corner almost taking your fender.
Oh, and on a nice day....count on they being totally zoned out.
That goes for lunchtime, too.
Oh, and they like going UNDER the speed limit. In fact, I think they pull in front of people intentionally to slow them down.
Oh, one more thing, if you are waiting to go for a light....count on several to have at least 10 car lengths lag behind the car in front of them causing you to get caught at the light.
Stepford people, ya know.

[PittPoliSci]

108. Toronto = Worst

Even my friend Steve from Toronto admits that they drive without fear of death. Around Pittsburgh, people, at least I feel, can be fairly courteous during rush hour. Toronto is just one mad dash doesn't matter what time of day, there's a race and you will finish first.

[Wapsie B]

109. Around here

in Iowa, there are plenty of good elderly drivers. But we also have a number of seniors who are just dangerous behind the wheel. There are some who insist on making a left-hand turn from the right-hand lane of a four-lane street. I've seen this a number of times.