It’s Official…DC Drivers are the worst

[baiskeli]

Accidents are as much a function of traffic density as driving skill. If they controlled for that, it would be more accurate.

[Certifried]

@baiskeli 29755 wrote:

Accidents are as much a function of traffic density as driving skill. If they controlled for that, it would be more accurate.

and, I would think, road engineering. The beltway in some places is a freakin nightmare. Add all the construction zones to that, it’s a bad mix.

[Dickie]

Gotta say it….. drivers in this area are appalling, actually in most of America. The driving test I took was a joke compared to other countries. Earning the responsibility to drive a 3000 lb. hunk of metal and glass should be far more difficult. In many countries you need to know basic car maintenance and how a car actually works before passing your test. If more people realized the limitation of their vehicles, or what actually makes the car stop and start they would probably drive differently. The other issue I see frequently is poor policing of dangerous behavior. Speeding is policed far more than reckless or dangerous driving. Yes, speeding causes accidents, but so does passing on the right, not using turn signals, turning directly into the far lane, and so on. I never see these infractions policed, in fact I see the police making the same mistakes. Until the driving culture in America changes and the idea of a license becomes a privilege not an expectation nothing will change.

[Dirt]

Me being me, but I can’t live through some stuff like this without trying to fix it. I know that’s a really annoying “guy” thing to do, but I have to try.

Often the problem that I really see is that people feel isolated, insulated, cut off from the world in their shiny metal boxes. That insulation somehow makes them behave as though they were communicating over the internet…. “Wohhoooo!!! It’s the wild, wild west!!!”

I’ve been working on talking to people nicely when I get the opportunity. It is window-open season, after all. Even if they’ve just got the window cracked ’cause they’re smoking. It is enough for me to say something polite and nice so they realize that perhaps they’re not so isolated after all… and that the actions that they take… be they stupid or wise… have real-world impact. I compliment people on doing stuff well or sometimes politely let them know that I’m close to them when they pull away from the light. I also try to find a way to constructively, and not too sarcastically comment on more foolish behavior. “Wow! That was close! Thanks for not killing me.” has actually worked pretty well for me.

The secondary benefit of this is that I get the opportunity to sprint a lot more. When I see someone drive by with their window open, I want to stay close enough that I can talk with them at the next stop sign or light. The workout value is real… especially on a hill.

Okay… Y’all can stop laughing now. I’m done with my happy fest. Gonna go down to the parking garage and slash tires on all the cars that pissed me off this week. (Totally joking about that last part.)

Love,

Dirt

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 29783 wrote:

I’ve been working on talking to people nicely when I get the opportunity. It is window-open season, after all.

When I was in college, I’d get around on my skateboard. Whenever someone would be driving around campus with their window open and their crappy music blaring at full volume, I always made sure to stick my head in their window and let them know their musical taste sucked.

Dirts method is kinder and probably makes the world a better place, but mine is funnier.

[Tim Kelley]

@Dirt 29783 wrote:

I’ve been working on talking to people nicely when I get the opportunity. It is window-open season, after all. Even if they’ve just got the window cracked ’cause they’re smoking. It is enough for me to say something polite and nice so they realize that perhaps they’re not so isolated after all… and that the actions that they take… be they stupid or wise… have real-world impact. I compliment people on doing stuff well or sometimes politely let them know that I’m close to them when they pull away from the light. I also try to find a way to constructively, and not too sarcastically comment on more foolish behavior. “Wow! That was close! Thanks for not killing me.” has actually worked pretty well for me.

I remember I once I passed a driver who happen to sneeze right as I was pulling alongside. I said “God Bless You” and her response was a hearty “Thanks!” and a smile.

[Dirt]

@Tim Kelley 29791 wrote:

I remember I once I passed a driver who happen to sneeze right as I was pulling alongside. I said “God Bless You” and her response was a hearty “Thanks!” and a smile.

It is funny that people in convertibles forget that they’re not really secluded quite so much when the top is down. On more than one occasion, someone has visibly startled at a stop light when they hear the words, “Oh I like this song. You can sing along with me.” from over their shoulder.

[TwoWheelsDC]

This is very interesting…I’ve lived in the area for almost 7 years (grew up out West) and yes, the drivers are bad for many reasons. This fact gets highlighted when I travel to other places and see how much better the drivers are. However, my wife and I were up in New York this spring and detoured through Connecticut. I have to say that the I-84 section between Danbury and I-87 was the most terrifying and maddening drive I’ve ever experienced. Maybe drivers up there don’t wreck as much because there isn’t as much congestion, but I’d say they are the worst I’ve ever encountered. I seriously was relieved to get back into the DC area. At least traffic keeps people from driving 100mph on the interstate!

[krazygl00]

@Dirt 29783 wrote:

Okay… Y’all can stop laughing now. I’m done with my happy fest. Gonna go down to the parking garage and slash tires on all the cars that pissed me off this week. (Totally joking about that last part. I’m going to slash tires on all the cars that pissed me off last week.)

Love,

Dirt

Fixed that for you.

[Dirt]

@krazygl00 29803 wrote:

Fixed that for you.

Last week’s problems were taken care of last week.

[Dickie]

@jabberwocky 29787 wrote:

When I was in college, I’d get around on my skateboard. Whenever someone would be driving around campus with their window open and their crappy music blaring at full volume, I always made sure to stick my head in their window and let them know their musical taste sucked.

That was you?… hangs head in shame!

[dasgeh]

@Dirt 29783 wrote:

Me being me, but I can’t live through some stuff like this without trying to fix it. I know that’s a really annoying “guy” thing to do, but I have to try.

Often the problem that I really see is that people feel isolated, insulated, cut off from the world in their shiny metal boxes. […]

Believe me, it’s not just a “guy” thing to do…

I agree that this is a problem, and I like your approach. It doesn’t explain, however, why drivers here are worse than anywhere else. That’s where I think the multi-jurisdictional nature of our area is the problem. Road design is generally poorly thought out, at least on a macrolevel, and some of the tactics taken by the different jurisdictions are unique, which means people from other jurisdictions aren’t used to them. E.g. I love the new green bike lanes in Arlington. I’m pretty sure they would catch on quicker if the other counties around had them too.

[culimerc]

I blame Maryland drivers.

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