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The first time I read this I did a complete double take. Canadians courteous drivers?? Really?? Never before have I seen such rudeness on the road as in Canada, and that goes for even the more rural areas. People get on your ass and don't even back off if you tap your brakes; people deliberately prevent you from switching into their lane by speeding up; if you let someone go, there's a good chance you won't get a wave to say thanks; etc. In fact the only "courteous" aspect of Canadian drivers is that they're less likely to honk (and when they do it's for a quick second generally) if you don't immediately accelerate when the light turns green.
Highway etiquette is by and large far better in the States. I'm sorry but that's not subjective, it's fact. You should do a bit more traveling before making such a statement. And when you do, try this little experiment: pretend to have a flat tire, once in Canada and once in the US. See how long it takes someone to pull over and help you out in both countries. Then we can talk about who is more courteous. Actions speak louder than words.
Having driven extensively in virtually every province and state between Ontario and BC, I would say many of your observations are limited to Ontario drivers.
Drivers here are among the rudest, most aggressive drivers I've encountered on this continent. They make virtually no use of their turn signals, they are horrible at selecting lanes on freeways and they are horrendous tailgaters.
That said, all of this is done in a very passive aggressive manner - and virtually without any emotion shown by the person behind the wheel. Honking, fingering or waving your arms at another driver is unlikely to result in any response whatsoever.
Contrast this to anywhere in the US or Western Canada - and in many cases the above actions are more likely to result in a road rage incident. After being raised in the Vancouver area, the drivers there are pretty much the stupidest on the continent - but are also much more quick to show emotion behind the wheel.
Vancouver is notorious for the 80 km/h left lane in the freeway driver - and when you cut them off or signal them to move, they feel the need to prove a point after, whether it's rolling their window down to yell, tailgating, fingering etc. In Ontario, people just continue about their business - because their time is too valuable to waste.
All of this is done in a very passive aggressive manner - and virtually without any emotion shown by the person behind the wheel. Honking, fingering or waving your arms at another driver is unlikely to result in any response whatsoever.
Interesting. I know people's driving habits aren't necessarily indicative of how they are as people, but I do find passive-aggressiveness in general to be very common here. I always just figured it was just part of the Canadian ethos. It's fun sometimes because you can really act like a tough guy and know that 9 times out of 10 people will back down from direct confrontation. Try the same thing pretty much anywhere in the US and you're looking to get decked on the spot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberated in TO
Contrast this to anywhere in the US or Western Canada - and in many cases the above actions are more likely to result in a road rage incident. After being raised in the Vancouver area, the drivers there are pretty much the stupidest on the continent - but are also much more quick to show emotion behind the wheel.
Vancouver is notorious for the 80 km/h left lane in the freeway driver - and when you cut them off or signal them to move, they feel the need to prove a point after, whether it's rolling their window down to yell, tailgating, fingering etc. In Ontario, people just continue about their business - because their time is too valuable to waste.
So is the general culture of western Canada in general more direct and outspoken than Ontario?
Well, I'm not American, so I can't really comment, but my friends living near the border have commented to me that life is more peaceful in Canada. There's less "live for work" and more "work to live" attitude, but this is more of a general thought. Also, from my observation, Canadians who intend to live in the U.S. are usually seeking for an income upgrade, while Americans who intend to live in Canada usually wants an improvement in their quality of life.
I am an American but that doesn't really mean nothing, we all just about the same in ways. That's exactly why I'm intending to go to Canada for "life being more peaceful there" and want to improved the quality of life. However, just planning on a vacation trip there in a few weeks to see how it is like there first before actually planning to live there. Not sure how true it is about Canada facts but, guess I'll believe it and take someone's word for how Canada is like. Anyways, sure there is a few things different there in Canada than U.S. Maybe, alot different, lol.
I'm trying to understand about "Canadians who intend to live in the U.S. are usually seeking for an income upgrade." Well, few people in Canada says everything is more expensive there and cost of living is alot higher. So, I'm just thinking that Canadians makes alot more money then us Americans because of everything be higher in prices and so forth. Quote me if I'm wrong, but why would Canadians intend to live in the U.S. for a much lower income compared to what they are making now, or what they were making in Canada (granted cost of living in some states are cheaper than others.) To me, that doesn't seem like an income upgrade. Again, I could be wrong...
Last edited by 18wheeler_truckdriver; 06-19-2012 at 11:09 AM..
Reason: Needed to add couple of words
Interesting. I know people's driving habits aren't necessarily indicative of how they are as people, but I do find passive-aggressiveness in general to be very common here. I always just figured it was just part of the Canadian ethos. It's fun sometimes because you can really act like a tough guy and know that 9 times out of 10 people will back down from direct confrontation. Try the same thing pretty much anywhere in the US and you're looking to get decked on the spot.
Yeah, not much difference of driving habits no matter where you go. Here in the U.S. is the same. You are totally right about U.S. "Try confrontation the same thing pretty much everywhere in the US and you're looking to get decked on the spot" While I'm on the road alot driving coast to coast, I lost count of how many people would get out of their vehicles just to decked someone who's either behind them or infront of them. There's been countless times where people cut me off, tailgate, lack of communications with turn signals and so forth and all I want to do is decked them too. However, truck drivers like myself have to put up with tolerance everywhere we drive. Yeah, got to wonder who even gave them their licenses, I swear the DMV's pass them out like free candy...
- British types spellings of Centre, Neighborhood, Harbour, Colour
- British type candies
- French on all the packages
- French option on ATM's
- Poutine
- Demographics are different(Less Blacks/Latinos more East Asians/Indians)
- Taxes are higher on goods
- Tim Hortons
- Different Gas Station and Supermarket chains
- Colored Money
- Less undercurrent of violence
- Very little to no Hip Hop Influenced culture
- Less options for fashion shopping
- Less Urban Blight in the center of the city
- Metro areas are less Sprawled out.
Umm. Yeah. Ever driven I-95 between Miami and Fort Lauderdale?
Ill say those drivers drive on the shoulder, weave around people cut you off and everwhere i went in the states north of virginia i always did 90 thats the pace of speed unless their is traffic
Only half as many fat people in Canada. The obesity rate in Canada is half of what it is in the USA.
Women in Canada are not afraid to make eye contact with strangers in public places.
The first part of your post is the thing I notice the most going across the border. The difference is quite striking to me. The second I had not noticed but it's true that I'm not afraid to make eye contact with strangers in public places.
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That's exactly why I'm intending to go to Canada for "life being more peaceful there" and want to improved the quality of life. However, just planning on a vacation trip there in a few weeks to see how it is like there first before actually planning to live there. Not sure how true it is about Canada facts but, guess I'll believe it and take someone's word for how Canada is like. Anyways, sure there is a few things different there in Canada than U.S. Maybe, alot different, lol. 
