What city has the worst drivers?

[funkle]

I know everybody complains about the drivers in their city, and there are different types of "bad" driver. But having lived, & driven in a lot of cities I think we have some of the worst right here in the Bay Area. Some of the biggest nuisances for me are an inability to keep traffic moving in crowded situations, and oblivious, inconsiderate actions. I think we have the lowest percentage of indicator usage, and the the greatest inability to merge where 2 lanes reduce to one - people here really don't get the concept and traffic comes to a standstill because they leave no gap and then are forced to come to a complete stop to let the other car in. I was just driving in Boston, not the most warm & fuzzy place to drive, but guess what? They can merge pretty efficiently, and more than 50% were signaling for lane changes. Same in LA. Driving both places is refreshingly civil. Denver, is pretty good as well. NYC area is a battlefield. I probably get too hung up on signaling. But for me, it is the biggest indication that people are engaged, and thinking beyond themselves.

What do you consider to be bad driving, and do you think there drivers are worse where you live?

[gas-can]

DC and VA. God I hate them.

-no signalling
-hog the passing lane while going at same rate as those on right =traffic jams
-slooooowwww - think this is partially b/c of the VA cops who are extremely strict.
-lane changes without checking - just veer in and hope for the best

Either they are clueless or they are a bunch of jerks. Eitherway I try to stay the hell away from them.

[NickyC]

Nothing is worse than a rubber necker. NOTHING. Very little boils my blood anymore, but when my commute is lengthened by 15 minutes because of all the moronic drones slowing down to catch a peep of an accident ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I blow a gasket.

Is your life really so boring and devoid of any action that you have to slow down to get a good luck at a couple cars with busted fenders and people standing around talking on their cell phones? Good grief people!

But to answer your question, I don't know as I'm sure every city is bad. With people continuing to breed like rabbits, and hundreds of thousands of illegals flooding in here, the roads are only going to get worse and more congested. Enjoy how bad it is now, for in 10 years from now these will seem like the golden years.

[funkle]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Nothing is worse than a rubber necker. NOTHING. Very little boils my blood anymore, but when my commute is lengthened by 15 minutes because of all the moronic drones slowing down to catch a peep of an accident ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I blow a gasket.

Is your life really so boring and devoid of any action that you have to slow down to get a good luck at a couple cars with busted fenders and people standing around talking on their cell phones? Good grief people!

I'm not a fan either, but I think it is human nature. Fatality/mortality is way to compelling to most people, and the highway is the one place they get to see real life or death situations.

[gas-can]

If you hate rubbernecking you'll love this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS3BVVK9V-A

[MYovichZ4]

Any city with a population over 50,000.

[Jimswift]

Submitted for your consideration:

https://www.facebook.com/RichmondLearnstoPark

[The HACK]

Whatever city I am driving in is the city with the worst drivers in the world.

(Interpret that as you will)

[funkle]

Originally Posted by Jimswift

Submitted for your consideration:

https://www.facebook.com/RichmondLearnstoPark

Oh no!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...levant_count=1

[Aries326]

Manila.

[StickMon]

When I came to the L.A. area from the Chicago area the first thing that amazed me was how much trouble people in L.A. will go to to prevent you from changing lanes on the freeway.
And how pissed the driver behind me will get when I let somebody merge in front of me.

[MZHammer]

One of the things I remember from driver's ed, 25 years ago, was being instructed to find a hole early, when merging onto the highway, and manage your speed to hit it. Signal early and be predictable. It amazes me how many people take their first look at the lane they want, when they hit the very end of their merge lane, only to then stand on their brakes and eff the whole flow of merging traffic up. I can't decide if it's stupidity or selfishness.

[Vanne]

Deli... no contest.

[Schlesien]

Both of those boling down to 'no respect', partially driven by lack of driving skills, partially by personality deficiency

[jdoublehcubed]

In the US, Philly. Its gotten so bad here that I don't even get angry anymore, I just laugh.

The police are so busy getting shot at that they just don't give a shit about traffic violations, so anytime you're within the city limits you can drive with impunity.

I love when I'm driving through the ghetto and I stop at a red light, and the guy behind me blows the horn and flicks me off because I stopped at a red light, then drives into the shoulder to pass me (and blow the light). Thats Philly style.

Out of the US though, I have no idea, although seeing people in India driving on TV always amazing me that anyone can survive that.

[PLCZ4MC]

I would have to say it has to be my home town in Lima Peru that has the worst worst!!!! drivers. If you do not believe me go drive in the Lima and lest see XD.

Video of how is to drive in Peru almost a year ago must be worst by now.

[David70]

Not sure if "worst driver" is one that doesn't obey the rules or has no skill. Go to big city in less developed country and many times you see extremely high skill but no regard for the rules. Are these drivers the worst or some of the best?

[papak]

Having spent so much time in TEB over the years, we firmly believe that NJ is the training ground for all those South Florida drivers who leave their directionals on, drive slow in the left lane and can't park a car. NJ is also home to some of the worst maintained roads in the country (Detroit and LA are close behind). On the other hand, the drivers in LA can't drive up a grade without slowing down to a crawl. I don't believe that the State of California owns a sign that says "MAINTAIN SPEED UP GRADE".

[Arsonism]

Originally Posted by funkle

I'm not a fan either, but I think it is human nature. Fatality/mortality is way to compelling to most people, and the highway is the one place they get to see real life or death situations.

There's a really simple solution to this, lets just put them on the front lines!

Now I'm biased.

Worst city I've been to/in driving has been Houston, TX but that's the worst I can think of and the number of cities I've driven in is very low.

[Asianoak]

Well I'll go out on a limb and say Portland, Oregon. I've driven all over and Portland is the worst. Infrastucture is terrible, pot holes and one ways everywhere... roundabouts that nobody knows how to use so they stop instead of merging at speed. They are polite and let you merge with a smile on their face but in doing so back up traffic behind them because they come to a complete stop. Pedestrians don't look before crossing the street, and the damn bicyclists are morons and act like they rule the road so drivers have to be overly paranoid and careful which means slamming on the brakes whenever they see somebody even approaching the curb.

And buying a car there is tough, so many have salvaged titles or have had major body repairs due to being rear ended because drivers don't pay attention.

[angelr]

Taiwan for me, just about any city I visited there was scooter pandemonium that seemed overwhelming.

[funkle]

So in summary, everybody's home town has the worst drivers Lima Peru looks crazy. My wife just did the Mini takes the States rally, and she says the worst drivers were in Memphis. It sounds a lot like jdoublehcubed description of Philly - total disregard for any traffic laws because the police are totally overtaxed with homicides & other more serious crime.

One thing I've noticed different areas have their own accepted driving style, which to an outsider can seem crazy, but often, the outsider's driving style seems crazy to the locals. In Carribean Mexico, if someone wants to make a left turn off a main road, they pull over to the right & wait for all the cars to pass, then cut across the lane from the shoulder onto the road they wanted to turn left onto. Seems crazy to me. But when I was driving, and I prepared to make my left turn as I do in the US, the local drivers freaked out & honked at me. Roam seamed like utter mayhem. everyone driving 60 mph in town with no space between cars, and no one would slow to let you in. You just have to gun it and hope for the best. But it seems to work for them - very few dented cars there. I have heard they have some horrible fatalities there though.