Boise Drivers (Caldwell: transplants, insurance, living in)

[micrguy]

AAAAARGH!!! What is up with the drivers in Boise? Almost every day this week I have been cut off by someone turning onto the street that I am driving on, despite the fact that it is clear for a half mile behind me. Do Boise drivers look at oncoming traffic and think they better quickly get on the road and cut people off rather than wait 5 seconds for the road to be clear? My other peeve is that people still have not figured out that the left lane of the freeway is the passing lane. I went out to Caldwell last week and someone had 10 cars stacked behind them because they refused to get over to the right lane. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Sorry, I just had to vent and get it out of my system. I love living in Boise but the drivers here are the worst thing about living here.

[Torrie]

I notice people start driving worse as holidays approach. I don't know why, but I've noticed it almost every place I've lived.

I know what you mean about the left lane, I've noticed that too. I especially noticed it after coming back from a visit in CA. In CA people seemed to get the fact that you move out of the left lane if someone wants to pass.

[logicskier]

i have lived across this country in many places, form small town usa, to the big city (chicago, minneapolis, honolulu) and i have NEVER seen such crappy drivers as the ones in the treasure valley. my personal favorite is when a person will not let you merge onto the freeway. for all of you out there that are guilty of this, know that this is the reason why i have insurance and you better move because i am coming over and i do not care.

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by micrguy

AAAAARGH!!! What is up with the drivers in Boise? Almost every day this week I have been cut off by someone turning onto the street that I am driving on, despite the fact that it is clear for a half mile behind me. Do Boise drivers look at oncoming traffic and think they better quickly get on the road and cut people off rather than wait 5 seconds for the road to be clear? My other peeve is that people still have not figured out that the left lane of the freeway is the passing lane. I went out to Caldwell last week and someone had 10 cars stacked behind them because they refused to get over to the right lane. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Sorry, I just had to vent and get it out of my system. I love living in Boise but the drivers here are the worst thing about living here.

God yes.

Every single day the above happens to me, many times. WTF???

[Syringaloid]

Try driving in Utah and you will like Treasure Valley drivers. Utah drivers are the absolute worst with no regard for other drivers safety and no regard for the law either. And the ironic thing is some of them have LDS bumperstickers on their vehicles, yet they drive like crazed banshees.
I bet that a lot of bad drivers in the Treasure Valley are transplants from somewhere else. But then if there are some old timers who drive slow, let them, they grew up here and have every right to drive slow But I don't live in the suburbs and use the freeway on a daily basis. I just use city streets, mainly in the downtown and east boise area and the drivers are courteous, for the most part, and move at a steady pace. When I am in West Boise.....I notice the difference in driving habits...big time.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by Torrie

I notice people start driving worse as holidays approach. I don't know why, but I've noticed it almost every place I've lived.

I know what you mean about the left lane, I've noticed that too. I especially noticed it after coming back from a visit in CA. In CA people seemed to get the fact that you move out of the left lane if someone wants to pass.

Hi Torrie! I learned to drive in the Miami, FL area (recently noted as America's worst drivers...) and was never taught the "Drive on right, Pass on Left" concept. First USAF duty station was in CA and my girlfriend's mom rode with us frequently. After several times, she commented on the fact that I usually drove in the left lane. So it took a Californian to teach me how to drive!

FWIW, I've driven in all 48 states, Canada and a good bit of the rest of the world. I'm not sure ANYBODY has captured the "Worst Driver" crown...

[Torrie]

Crew Chief, that's so funny! I just assumed that was a common courtesy (common knowledge), but hey what do I know! LOL! Thanks for the enlightenment!

[LPerkins33]

just wait until it rains or snows and the real worst drivers will appear....they are all from California or Arizona. Truth.

[donnam]

Originally Posted by LPerkins33

just wait until it rains or snows and the real worst drivers will appear....they are all from California or Arizona. Truth.

Granted, natives from the Southwest may not drive well in the snow, BUT we are used to driving in heavy traffic and at faster speeds. For the most part, we're pretty good drivers just from the volume of our experience. We sure as heck know better than to pull out in front of another vehicle when the road is absolutely clear behind it. That would probably get you the one-fingered salute in other states, at the least. Don't even get me started on merging on the freeway! I thought the rule of thumb was to merge at the speed of traffic, not to expect traffic to drive around you until you build up speed.

[micrguy]

Originally Posted by donnam

Don't even get me started on merging on the freeway! I thought the rule of thumb was to merge at the speed of traffic, not to expect traffic to drive around you until you build up speed.

How could I forget this? People getting on the freeway at either the Vista or Orchard exits do this all of the time. If you are going to get on the freeway you should be doing at least 45-50 mph before you hit the freeway. I have seen people hit the freeway doing 30 mph with no regard for the traffic on the freeway.