Why so many fatal car wrecks? (Dallas, San Antonio: to buy, living, stats)

[Trainwreck20]

Most of the drivers on the road, numerically, came from the era when drivers Ed was mandatory if you wanted to drive before 18 (which everyone wanted to do, of course). Not sure when DE went away, but it was not that long ago. Anyway, the manners on the road have nothing to do with not knowing what to do but rather with just basic rudeness. And I swear, most of it is imported - 20 years ago this was the most laid back city to drive in, but has gone downhill. I think it is the different driving styles from all over the country coming to a disastrous meeting in the middle of Austin.

Anyway, observations:
2) We had a 4-way stop near our house that we basically had to go through each day. It was two lanes and a left turn lane in each direction (plus some right turning in the bike lane area), so basically you could have up to 16 cars at the intersection and often had 9 or 10 cars. It was also in a school area, so there were crossing guards that would be stopping traffic occasionally - which would stop two lanes each way, plus 2 right turn 'lanes' and 2 left turn lanes. Thankfully, they replaced it with a stop light, but I saw the weirdest behaviour at the intersection , although the confusion was quite understandable - except for the 'tailgaters' that would follow the car in front of them through!

4) Generally speaking, if you use your blinker, people will let you over more than if you don't. The people that won't let you over when you use your blinker wouldn't let you over anyway (they operate under the premise that 'everyone' is trying to get in front of them for some devious reason).

6) This is the root of the problem, imho. Other than stop and go traffic, I leave space and somehow manage to get where I am going. There are a bunch of aggressive drivers who HATE to let someone in front of them, even if that person is entering a freeway or trying to get over to get off. Every car that changes to a new lane is vacating a different lane. The person that wasn't allowed over then feels it is their duty to 'do unto others'. In some ways, it is comic, although the anger that people express, create, and propagate is probably way up there on the reasons there are wrecks.

[pdxtech]

Originally Posted by categ

One of the key factors is the number of people who drive whilst chatting on their cell phones, especialy women in SUV. This is illegal in the UK due to the number of road accidents caused when drivers are distracted whilst chatting on their cell-phones!

Cellphones distract while driving, but the surprising thing is that I have
not seen any driver using a hands free headset, somehow, they
think that driving an SUV/Truck saves their life and that is all they
care about. Most legislators will not care about stuff like this because
an oil/drug company is not helping them write the bill. And, even if
you make it illegal to use a cellphone while driving, who will
police it, specially if the fine is just a slap on the wrist?

I propose we lobby the FCC to legalize short range cellphone jammers.
I checked that the FCC does not allow cellphone jammers to be used
in the United States. If these were allowed for short range jamming
(say 50 ft range), I would install one in my car and make sure that
any cellphone carrying moron had to drive at least 50 ft away
from me while using their cellphone, otherwise, the phone would
not work

[Austinitegirl]

Originally Posted by pdxtech

I propose we lobby the FCC to legalize short range cellphone jammers.
I checked that the FCC does not allow cellphone jammers to be used
in the United States. If these were allowed for short range jamming
(say 50 ft range), I would install one in my car and make sure that
any cellphone carrying moron had to drive at least 50 ft away
from me while using their cellphone, otherwise, the phone would
not work

My husband wants the same thing for movie theaters! I think we should start a petition.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by pdxtech

I propose we lobby the FCC to legalize short range cellphone jammers.
I checked that the FCC does not allow cellphone jammers to be used
in the United States. If these were allowed for short range jamming
(say 50 ft range), I would install one in my car and make sure that
any cellphone carrying moron had to drive at least 50 ft away
from me while using their cellphone, otherwise, the phone would
not work

Heh, wouldn't that do just the opposite of what you want? Think of all the distracted drivers around you, when their call drops and they fumble to redial!

Why not just make evey car have a built-in bluetooth handsfree as a standard "safety" feature? Then pretty much every cell phone user would have no excuse but to use the hands free.

[Trainwreck20]

Statistically, I don't think hands free is much better than holding a phone. Apparently, the problem is in the mental distraction of conversing while driving. Don't know why this would be different than driving with a passenger and chatting, but maybe the passenger can screech when they think you are about to hit someone (my passengers do ).

[Stevedawg]

Well for one people tend to favor big trucks and SUVs in Texas and seem to like to be pretty aggressive in them. Also one thing I've found in Austin is lanes just ending abruptly and of course I-35 is just nutty.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by Stevedawg

Well for one people tend to favor big trucks and SUVs in Texas and seem to like to be pretty aggressive in them. Also one thing I've found in Austin is lanes just ending abruptly and of course I-35 is just nutty.

People in Austin just drive crazy. None of the signs make any sense.....yeah to those who will comment on that, yes, I guess Im just not smart enough. There, you cans save time typeing that. You have to slow down to figure out just what road you are on, and they name the same road 3 different names. People tail gate in Austin Very bad. I know Im not dreaming Bcause I have been in Colorado for a week and the driving there is MUCH better. Also, signs in Portland, LA, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins are all much easier to read and understand.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

That's because US290 and I-35 run concurrent with one another from the 290/I-35 intersection down south up to the US290/I-35 intersection up north. Yes, that section of I-35 through Austin is BOTH I-35 & US290. All the addresses, however are I-35, because Interstates are higher in the TxDOT hierarchy of road classifications. The highway east of I-35 down south is US71. I dunno if other states have concurrent highways, but they are extremely common in Texas due to the quality planning of TxDOT.

I was late for an interview due to this 290/35 problem. Mapquest said take the 290 west. I assumed ( made an ass out of U and ME) that to get on 290 west, you take the opposite direction of 290 east. Well, as you homers know, its actually just the 35 again. The 290 west is miles and miles down the road. Road rage. If you ever see my grey christler SB with Wa plates, get the heck out of my way, cause Im probably in my road rage state. Ill only be there 2 more weeks. Im leaving. Some one sugested if I don't like it, get out. I thought that was a great Idea. I have reletives in Austin, but Ill never drive in this crazy hot/humid/flat/no good roads with 4 name state again. As far as nice people, as a newbi, I drive a littel slower when it comes to trying to find something. I have been tailgated more times than I can remember. twice, Ive tried to slow down to make a turn and nearly been off roaded. Do you guys have something against Washingtonians. YEEEESH.

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

I was late for an interview due to this 290/35 problem. Mapquest said take the 290 west. I assumed ( made an ass out of U and ME) that to get on 290 west, you take the opposite direction of 290 east. Well, as you homers know, its actually just the 35 again. The 290 west is miles and miles down the road. Road rage. If you ever see my grey christler SB with Wa plates, get the heck out of my way, cause Im probably in my road rage state. Ill only be there 2 more weeks. Im leaving. Some one sugested if I don't like it, get out. I thought that was a great Idea. I have reletives in Austin, but Ill never drive in this crazy hot/humid/flat/no good roads with 4 name state again. As far as nice people, as a newbi, I drive a littel slower when it comes to trying to find something. I have been tailgated more times than I can remember. twice, Ive tried to slow down to make a turn and nearly been off roaded. Do you guys have something against Washingtonians. YEEEESH.

Wow! You are right...you do have ROAD RAGE Excuse me for saying this but you are giving us out-of-towners a bad rap! You really shouldn't come on a home city board and bad mouth the city of Austin. Just because it is something you are not used to or maybe the road naming system doesn't quite meet your expectations...oh well, get over it and LEARN your way around. I have been visiting Austin for the past 8 years and when I get lost, I just turn around and try to find my way or I stop and ask a native for directions! It's not that difficult to learn your way around Austin! Repeat after me...71 turns into 290 E/Ben White Blvd which turns into 290 W. For 290 to have turned into I-35 means that you did a turn around and didn't realize it and ended back on 35. I've done that...not difficult to do. But still it is the way the city is set up road wise...whether you like it, I like it or native Texans like it. You just have to learn the road system, but don't come here bashing the city of Austin. I take offense to that because soon it will be my home when I move there. I agree with the person who said "if you don't like it, get out!" You know the old saying ...."when in Rome....

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by Texanwannabe

Wow! You are right...you do have ROAD RAGE Excuse me for saying this but you are giving us out-of-towners a bad rap! You really shouldn't come on a home city board and bad mouth the city of Austin. Just because it is something you are not used to or maybe the road naming system doesn't quite meet your expectations...oh well, get over it and LEARN your way around. I have been visiting Austin for the past 8 years and when I get lost, I just turn around and try to find my way or I stop and ask a native for directions! It's not that difficult to learn your way around Austin! Repeat after me...71 turns into 290 E/Ben White Blvd which turns into 290 W. For 290 to have turned into I-35 means that you did a turn around and didn't realize it and ended back on 35. I've done that...not difficult to do. But still it is the way the city is set up road wise...whether you like it, I like it or native Texans like it. You just have to learn the road system, but don't come here bashing the city of Austin. I take offense to that because soon it will be my home when I move there. I agree with the person who said "if you don't like it, get out!" You know the old saying ...."when in Rome....

When I leave you can take my place....glad it is so easy for you. If I did as the Romans, I would be tail gating, and running other drivers off the road. This thread is about "why so many fatal car recks, so I just gave my opinion.