What's w/ the traffic cops and drivers down here? (Orlando: real estate market, living)

[KorrMuraan]

I moved here from AK last fall and I've never seen worse driving than I see here in CFL. I'm not talking about tourists that cut across 4 lanes to hit an exit either, but locals. What really blows my mind is I see the cops doing the same idiotic/dangerous maneuvers, or failing to pull over offenders when happening right in front of them. I knew AK drivers were pretty good, but compared to the CFL locals, we're on an entirely different plane of existance! lol

Most common ones being...

1. Merging w/o signals. Seriously, is it that hard?
2. Slowing down to merge(often combined with #1). Makes no sense, but is soo common. Especially on I4 for some reason.
3. Not yielding to emergency vehicles. EVERY time I see one coming he's honking and flashing and drivers are either racing along with him. Or simply not paying attention.
4. When I'm making a left on a green, I inevitably will have one, if not several, vehicals making rights. It's ILLEGAL tards! You yield on a red. If I happen to want to take that first right into the gas station (or whatever) I always have to honk or cut someone off to get in.
5. Running reds. I've only seen a handful do that in AK in ~20yrs. Almost a daily occurrence down here.

And in the "just plain annoying" category..

6. On a yeilded left, not entering the intersection, but sitting behind then missing the light entirely.
7. Four-way stops must have been recently introduced down here as it seems noone has any frickin clue who to yield to. I have to honk and give them the "go! it's your turn, moron" sign.
8. Turning on hazards whenever it rains and slowing down to 30mph. WTH is this about?! Move to the right if you can't handle weather.

Lots more, but these are the daily ones. If the traffic cops actually started pulling people over en masse for the actual dangerous infractions instead of busting speeding commuters w/ cruise on, it'd be a much safer place to drive.

[The Boring OC]

Welcome to the club! I have been living here for almost 3-years now and I can't wait until the real estate market pulls up so I can sell and move to a real city! it's a fact, none of these idiots know how to drive. Simple things like using their signals apparently is a very difficult task for their shared half-working brain to accomplish.

[wigs11111]

Don't want more traffic cops, just better traffic engineering, lets focus on the real problem.

[rogercobb]

Originally Posted by wigs11111

Don't want more traffic cops, just better traffic engineering, lets focus on the real problem.

I've driven in plenty of other states where the weather was much worse and there were potholes every couple miles. The problem in Orlando and all Florida has little to do with design. Its the idiots that drive here.

[Parrotrosie]

I don't think the reference was to the condition of the road but the way they are laid out.

I have driven in several states, but never in one where a U-turn was standard practice for making a left to get into a shopping center on the other side of the road...U-turns are necessary to get alot of places here....I am having a little difficulty adjusting to that not being an illegal maneuver...lol!

Also, I get confused entering and leaving shopping centers (the smaller ones) You can't always get out onto the same road you got in from - traffic engineering....

But, I am learning, and I ALWAYS use my turn signals...

[GLS2010]

Originally Posted by Parrotrosie

I don't think the reference was to the condition of the road but the way they are laid out.

I have driven in several states, but never in one where a U-turn was standard practice for making a left to get into a shopping center on the other side of the road...U-turns are necessary to get alot of places here....I am having a little difficulty adjusting to that not being an illegal maneuver...lol!

Also, I get confused entering and leaving shopping centers (the smaller ones) You can't always get out onto the same road you got in from - traffic engineering....

But, I am learning, and I ALWAYS use my turn signals...

I agree haha. Aren't you the one who moved to the sanctuary not to long ago? if so, how was your move? do you like it here? did you ever go see fireworks?

[elgato06]

I am usually against Big Brother surveillance but I do wish they would add some red light cameras to Orlando. I got used to anticipating people turning right on my green left, but the red light running is hazardous and happens ALL THE TIME. Literally multiple times a day. It holds up traffic and it's very, very dangerous in some intersections.

Let's start a vigilante club and put some fake cameras out there as a deterrent.

[GLS2010]

Originally Posted by elgato06

I am usually against Big Brother surveillance but I do wish they would add some red light cameras to Orlando. I got used to anticipating people turning right on my green left, but the red light running is hazardous and happens ALL THE TIME. Literally multiple times a day. It holds up traffic and it's very, very dangerous in some intersections.

Let's start a vigilante club and put some fake cameras out there as a deterrent.

there are red light cameras. Everywhere i go at least. I don't have much problems with bad drivers here in orlando, then again i only drive up and down alafaya trl from waterford lakes area to oveido and back, if i go anywhere else i take the 417 or 408 to where i need to go.

[Micktooth]

Maybe it's a "southern thing". I lived in New Orleans and it was exactly the same. After the light turned green, you would have to count to 3 before going to avoid the red light runners. Now I'm in Colorado, I drive the highway 50 miles daily and although I do see my share of "crazies", nothing compares to down south. Most people here use their signal lights, understand 4 way stops and actually let you merge!
Good luck to you!

[applesoranges]

In my opinion, it's the foreignors from the big Island and the Islands that drive like idiots. I think it's in their blood.