Drivers in upstate New York (Hyde Park, Cortland: home, wedding reception, school)

[Rikrich]

IN the early fall of 2005, I drove from my home in Indy to attend the wedding reception of an old Army buddy at the CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA IN HYDE PARK NEW YORK. Frankly, what I experienced on the road confirms what I have previously heard about New York drivers. I had to be extra careful, even on the secondary roads which I used to see my friends in Coxsackie. The drivers were absolutely AGGRESSIVE and constantly in a hurry. They weren't the courteous drivers I ever encountered either. In many cases, I got off the road to let those individuals pass me because I was tired of being virtually tailgated by some of those same drivers. Upstate New York is a beautiful place, and I highly praise the cooking at the CIA, but I hate the AGGRESSIVE drivers. No offense intended to the residents of New York.

[Jason_Els]

You think we're bad? You should try New Jersey, Rhode Island or, even worse, Massachusetts. We look like a bunch of Germans compared to them.

[I'minformed2]

Hyde Park isn't really upstate NY.....just thought I'd throw that out there. But yes its true. people in the NYC region are pretty harsh drivers.

[WILWRadio]

Try Kansas City on for size. It's Boston in slow motion. Upstate and central and western NY is a picnic compared to either KC or Boston.

[Logan11]

Hyde Park is an absolute picnic ...compared to Metro NYC. Coxsackie is certainly Upstate NY....

[aka_mouse]

Speed Limits are recommendations in NYS.... almost literally. Speeding really isnt that big of a deal in my experience (unless its extreme). Other than certain towns here and there.

I don't do it anymore, but I used to get 1 major a ticket a year.. actually more like every 9 months... And my license is completely clean.. no points. I just paid a fine (<$100) and had to attend school each time. So as a result I used to just drive ~10-15mph over the speed limit at all times. Everyone does.

If its 55mph .. you can go 65.. you arnt gonna get pulled over unless there is another reason or the cop just wants to hassle someone... Likewise 65mph limit, you can do 75 or 80. If you drive the exact speed limit anywhere in NYS you are gonna have people passing you or riding your ass until you either move or speed up.

If you get stopped mail in the ticket and pay the fine no big deal. I think down south and other states they make it this big deal. My buddy lived in SC for a year or so , and got pulled over one day and hes was all calm like "so?" and all of a sudden his southern GF burst into tears cause she thought he was gonna get arrested for it... they are nuts down there.. Its just about money up here.

[honeychrome]

Everyone in the US complains about the way people in other states drive, that they drive like maniacs, etc., etc. With some exceptions, I think the driving habits of Americans are pretty uniform and the perception that drivers are bad in other states comes from lack of familiarity with the roads on the part of the visitor/new arrival. When you are a newcomer, you don't know your way around while most of those on the road with you you are locals and do- they're driving faster because they know the roads, know where they are going and want to get there fast. That said, compared to much of Europe, American drivers in general are pretty inattentive, ignorant of traffic laws and conventions and not particularly skilled at driving, however compared to the third world countries I've driven in Americans are pros!

[jfkIII]

NJ drivers are the worst! But part of that is due to having so many rotaries and "jug handles".

[Upstate Dave]

Everyone drives worse than me!

[Rachael84]

I don't think you can find more aggressive drivers than the NYC area. My counselor at SUNY Cortland (from Cortland), said that if you can drive on the LIE, you can drive anywhere in the world lol

There's a big difference between aggressive drivers and just plain bad drivers. I just came back from Florida; now THOSE are some bad drivers. People who don't put lights on when it's pouring rain, or not staying in their lane when they make a turn. Those are bad drivers, very different from aggressive.