No more complaining about Twin Cities Traffic (closing, floors)

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by WannaBeinBoston

MN drivers in general are horrendous. I've lived here for 15 years and not a day goes by that I don't see an accident about to occur on my drive to work but for the grace of God. Drivers here drive like they are either loss, confused, or they're just plain stupid. Don't get me started on tailgating either...OMG...you could be out on the road with noone around you, and someone will come up and ride your tail. Talk about passive aggressive, when you honk or flip them off, they don't make eye contact and are really coy.

Well, going by your name you will find that if you end up in Boston that MN drivers look like the best drivers in the world. NO ONE pays attention to standard driving laws in Boston--things like turning left from the far right lane--across 3 lanes of traffic, silly little things like that happen all the time there.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Well, going by your name you will find that if you end up in Boston that MN drivers look like the best drivers in the world. NO ONE pays attention to standard driving laws in Boston--things like turning left from the far right lane--across 3 lanes of traffic, silly little things like that happen all the time there.

No kidding...what was the definition of irony?

[kuan]

Well I guess I'm one of those MN drivers you folks dislike. For the most part we're pretty courteous, and it's rare that I encounter a near miss. Perhaps once a year and that can easily be avoided via defensive driving.

I like how Minnesotans change lanes to allow a car to merge onto the highway. I like how when we're unsure of whose turn it is at the four way stop we always wave on the next. I like it how we stop for people in the crosswalk at Target and Rainbow. I like how most of us aren't too worried about getting someplace on time, and how being on time isn't so much of a big thing here.

[NumberPlate]

Well, there are some good things I like about MN driving. I drove in both CA and MN. In CA you have keep up your pace of driving with others whether you like it or not. If the other guys are rushing you also have to rush. Sometimes I dont like to rush and take right lane for relaxed stress free driving and I did not have any trouble with that so far in MN. If I am driving <= posted speed, I seen people over take me on left and keep going. I am generally a defensive driver. I start early for anywhere I go, so that I dont need to rush and I generally drive =, - 2 to posted speed and seems people dont care.

But the bad part is, it seems to me that drivers are not really not well organized or synchronized driving on road. If you know how to maneuver better than the other and if you think that you more skilled than others you just zoom and go. Even when there is lot of snow and icy rain on road I was honked and tail gated by so many commercial vehicle drivers pushing me hard. Thats the one thing I hate.

So the request is, if you are great driver and the other next to you is not a great driver or defesive driver just allow him/her to drive like that. Dont force and dont drive behind them as if you are gonna hit them. Its better to reach the place than getting into an accident.

I have to really credit the drivers in CA and Atlanta. I think they are more synchronized than us on road.

[Aylalou]

Having lived in other places, MN drivers are bad! They have a lifestyle in which they don't have to be aware and they apply that to their driving. They do whatever they like without looking. Drivers in other cities, do cross over lanes, etc. and don't follow the so-called rules, but the drivers there anticipate this as they are used to it and have learned to deal with it appropriately. Drivers in New York City, for instance, are notorious for pulling up to the car in front of them and braking at the last minute, but their fellow New Yorkers expect this. In a way, it makes for better defensive driving skills.

I've said all along on these threads that traffic here is nothing compared to other big cities.

[WannaBeinBoston]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Well, going by your name you will find that if you end up in Boston that MN drivers look like the best drivers in the world. NO ONE pays attention to standard driving laws in Boston--things like turning left from the far right lane--across 3 lanes of traffic, silly little things like that happen all the time there.

Oh lord, if I were in Boston, I would take the train to avoid the traffic and drivers. It is horrible there. The silly things like turning left from the far right lane--across 3 lanes of traffic, silly little things like that happen ALL the time HERE.

[WannaBeinBoston]

Originally Posted by Aylalou

Having lived in other places, MN drivers are bad! They have a lifestyle in which they don't have to be aware and they apply that to their driving. They do whatever they like without looking. Drivers in other cities, do cross over lanes, etc. and don't follow the so-called rules, but the drivers there anticipate this as they are used to it and have learned to deal with it appropriately. Drivers in New York City, for instance, are notorious for pulling up to the car in front of them and braking at the last minute, but their fellow New Yorkers expect this. In a way, it makes for better defensive driving skills.

I've said all along on these threads that traffic here is nothing compared to other big cities.

As a non-native Minnesotan, I would complete concur with this statement. What I can't comprehend here....is it the driver's ed courses that are insufficient? Or is it a learned behavior?

I promise, next time I won't honk or flip any of you off...at least through the end of year.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Aylalou

Having lived in other places, MN drivers are bad! They have a lifestyle in which they don't have to be aware and they apply that to their driving. They do whatever they like without looking. Drivers in other cities, do cross over lanes, etc. and don't follow the so-called rules, but the drivers there anticipate this as they are used to it and have learned to deal with it appropriately. Drivers in New York City, for instance, are notorious for pulling up to the car in front of them and braking at the last minute, but their fellow New Yorkers expect this. In a way, it makes for better defensive driving skills.

I've said all along on these threads that traffic here is nothing compared to other big cities.

Originally Posted by WannaBeinBoston

As a non-native Minnesotan, I would complete concur with this statement. What I can't comprehend here....is it the driver's ed courses that are insufficient? Or is it a learned behavior?

I promise, next time I won't honk or flip any of you off...at least through the end of year.

Ok, so just because other drivers expect everyone on on the road to be a bad driver makes them better drivers?? I guess this confused me. It ok to cut someone off in New York because everyone does it but if one or two people do that in MN it isn't ok?

[Aylalou]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Ok, so just because other drivers expect everyone on on the road to be a bad driver makes them better drivers?? I guess this confused me. It ok to cut someone off in New York because everyone does it but if one or two people do that in MN it isn't ok?

I'm simply saying they are better drivers because they know what to look for vs. Minnesota drivers. You are not a good driver if you are only used to driving in Minnesota where things run pretty smooth, though I will say that Minnesota drivers know to how to drive in snow as opposed to drivers in some other states. But that is not the point here: A driver who has never learned to drive in a city with chaotic and aggressive drivers is not a good driver. One has to develop all kinds of anticipatory skills leading to defensive skills. If he/she is overwhelmed in that environment, he/she could cause an accident.

[kuan]

Well I don't see the bad Minnesota drivers that everyone sees. I really don't get it. I believe that you folks believe that MN drivers are bad, but I don't believe it. I just got home after driving in bumper to bumer traffic. People wait their turn on the onramp, people get in their lanes early to avoid last minute changes, they don't pass on the right.