Montana Drivers? (Billings, Bozeman, Red Lodge: transplants, trip , work)

[Crew Chief]

Debee and Jimj, I ran all 48 states and loved the few times I got to truck through MT! I didn't notice a real difference in drivers in your state and the ag traffic and livestock issues are common throughout the West. But one thing that really cracked me up was the number of truckers based down south that would get out of their trucks to fuel wearing only a thin company jacket. I sure hoped they had Carhartts or other good cold weather gear in the truck; don't think many of 'em realized that if your engine quit in MT in the winter in an isolated area, it could be a death sentence...

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

Debee and Jimj, I ran all 48 states and loved the few times I got to truck through MT! I didn't notice a real difference in drivers in your state and the ag traffic and livestock issues are common throughout the West. But one thing that really cracked me up was the number of truckers based down south that would get out of their trucks to fuel wearing only a thin company jacket. I sure hoped they had Carhartts or other good cold weather gear in the truck; don't think many of 'em realized that if your engine quit in MT in the winter in an isolated area, it could be a death sentence...

I did the jacket thing when I picked up a load of steelcase stuff in Grand Rapids during winter. Got into town, went to eat dinner and got out of the truck to -60 degrees wind chill..... Put on 2 pairs of pants,3 shirts and 2 pairs of socks and was still freezing.

[rickers]

I think it's illegal to not help a stranded motorist in the winter, maybe all year round I'm not sure. I know landlords cant evict tenants during winter months.

[jimj]

I can't abide by someone who won't help a stranded person in the winter or out on a deserted highway here. I've pulled many people out of snow banks including cops. It's only the right thing to do, it could be you stuck sometime right?

[SeabeeBolt]

When my wife and I went to Hamilton on vacation, I got the biggest kick out of a little old lady passing us like we were on jack stands. And I was about 5mph over the speed limit.
But all in all we found that the drivers in Montana were some of the more courteous drivers I've ever met. Try driving in Cleveland once.

[rickers]

In many parts of Montana folks do what I call the "Montana left turn". When you're going to turn left you go into the oncoming lane as if it were a turn lane so as not to impede the progress of the driver behind you. This is done in rural areas only as a courtesy only, for your neighbor mostly, but not ever when there is any semblance of traffic. And forget the Cali finger wave off the steering wheel, use the full-on right hand wave just like a movie Indian saying "how" when you pass another car on a lonely road ! I find that most speeders on Montana highways are from out of state. Reason being is that many of the locals don't have cars that will go over 60 mph !!! And the locals who have newer vehicles know dang well better than to speed or do any monkey business whatsoever, and those who do end up losing their licence pronto or crash and and go bye bye. Many of the curves are not marked with arrows and "reduce speed' signs. The roads collect oil , then when a small sprinkle comes the oil floats up only to ambush a vacationer going just a bit fast. Not to mention deer ! No one wants an antler through the neck with the hooves sticking out the windshield. Just frigging slow yer **** down when traveling through Montana, save a deer and yer own **** ! This state still doesn't require insurance verification before a car registration is issued ! Poor mans dream I guess but bad news for the poor sot who gets hit by some drunk. How many states let people get away with that kind of stuff anymore ? !

[jimj]

Also, don't forget that the person you give the "bird" to or yell at will most certainly turn up at an event you are at, be it school,church etc. and at the very least tounges will wag and it will definately be embarassing..... When we first moved here and experienced the montana left turn thing I almost had a fit, then I thought, how considerate! What I wish people would do more is when turning right pull off onto the paved part of the shoulder by where the rumble strips are and then slow way down. That way you don't make all of the people behind you slow almost to a stop from 70 so you can turn..... I do it as much as the road allows, why can't everyone?

[rickers]

I do that if I can. I think the Montana left turn came about as a result of it being illegal to pass on the right , even if the car in front of you is stopped to make a left turn. The main reason that more folks don't it that much may have something to do with it being against the law ! I don't mind ripping the mattress tag off either, and when I get really brave I'll eat a little raw cookie dough ! I am also stunned at the way bars don't cut people off and let them stumble to their rig and bump their way back home. I may post a bit on that later.

[magrack]

That Montana left turn is pretty common in a lot of rural areas including here in Arkansas. Biggest reason is self defense, I think.

If you need to make a turn onto a gravel road from a paved road, you're never sure the guy behind you is paying attention, so the move from the right lane to the oncoming lane (assuming no oncoming traffic) gets you out of the "about to be rear ended" category.

Here in AR, most of our roads have no shoulders, so being defensive is only smart, especially since making a high speed turn from pavement to gravel safely is next to impossible.

[farmbound]

We have the same problem here in Va. The melting pot of the nation. Traffic has gotten so bad we have to watch the road message signs to determine which bridge is open with less traffic. Hampton roads has three bridges that surround the city and you must go over one of them to get out of this place.