Utah Drivers (Draper, South Salt Lake, Park City: insurance, gated, to live)

[NYtoVT]

Utah drivers aren't just distracted. They're generally stupid. Every try driving in Mass or Boston. ?

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by markg91359

Non-LDS people are angry at LDS people and have no where in particular to put that anger.

Seriously? Why do people make ignorant comments like this?

Yeah, the drivers suck here, just like most other cities as well. I'm from NJ - they have Utah beat. The people here who drive below the speed limit on the local streets are the ones I want to throttle. Just because you are in no hurry, don't hold me up!

[lolagranola]

crossing the double white line (as in DO NOT cross this line) used for the HOV lane on I-15

uh, that would be my H. sorry. But he's from NY, so it shouldn't count.

[markg91359]

[quote=cinnabon;8393682]Seriously? Why do people make ignorant comments like this?

Yeah, the drivers suck here, just like most other cities as well. I'm from NJ - they have Utah beat. The people here who drive below the speed limit on the local streets are the ones I want to throttle. Just because you are in no hurry, don't hold me up!

I'll stand by my "ignorant comment". You took it a bit out of context though. I mention the non-LDS/LDS thing as one source of passive aggression. You left out all the other reasons I gave.

I noticed from other posts that you are relatively new to Utah. I've lived here most of my life. This is not an insult, its an honest suggestion. Live here for a few years and than get back to me. You may not think the comment is quite so ignorant by than. I'm not passing any judgment on whether LDS or non-LDS people are responsible for some level of passive aggressive behavior in this culture. I am saying its a real thing and it does exist.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

From Cinnabon's post................ The people here who drive below the speed limit on the local streets are the ones I want to throttle. Just because you are in no hurry, don't hold me up!

......................[/quote]
And you are more important than my safety and peace of mind, how? I have been in an accident and had my car totaled - I rarely drive the speed limit unless it is 25 mph b/c I am looking for idiots that might run into me, as the lat one did. Both my children have been hit by drivers who ignored a stop sign. I had a whip lash injury from someone too impatient to get started at a red light who rear-ended me. If you don't want safe driving, move somewhere else.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Sorry, on re-reading my post I realize it came off as harsh. But I am so tired of people tail-gating at 40 mph on 700 East b/c they want to go faster.

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by cinnabon

I noticed from other posts that you are relatively new to Utah. I've lived here most of my life. This is not an insult, its an honest suggestion. Live here for a few years and than get back to me. You may not think the comment is quite so ignorant by than. I'm not passing any judgment on whether LDS or non-LDS people are responsible for some level of passive aggressive behavior in this culture. I am saying its a real thing and it does exist.

I realize that I took it out of context, but 8 months here is enough time for me to notice that not one single non LDS person I have come across is walking around feeling angry at LDS people in general. Especially to the point where they have pent up anger which requires an outlet - like road rage. They may be a little angry about liquor laws and what not, but I just felt like this was an absurd example of why people would drive badly here.

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Sorry, on re-reading my post I realize it came off as harsh. But I am so tired of people tail-gating at 40 mph on 700 East b/c they want to go faster.

Maybe you have had experiences that have made you ultra cautious - but attempting to drive more slowly than the flow of traffic is not a good way to insure your own safety - it just makes you more of a target. People who drive 30 in a 40 zone are creating just as much of a hazard as people who drive too fast. And I am not sure why you are saying that you are a better judge of a safe speed to drive than the speed limit sign? I am refering to people who mosey along below the speed limit for no good reason, not in heavy congestion or dangerous road conditions. If people are tail gating you for choosing to drive slowly, then why not pull over and let them pass? There is no crime in someone wanting to get where they are going as quickly as is safe and legal to do. People who think that it's their job to slow everyone else down really do create a lot more problems than they solve.

[nomore07]

Originally Posted by markg91359

I am convinced that what you see is real. I think the quality of driving in this state is less than in most of the other states in this country. I think alot of the bad driving behavior is the result of passive aggression. In this culture, people are taught that its not ok to get angry and they have to avoid disagreement and contention at all cost. The boss is king at work. Dad rules the home. Mom is in charge of the kids. Non-LDS people are angry at LDS people and have no where in particular to put that anger.

Everyone needs to vent and when they have no place to vent they vent in the very few ways that are socially acceptable or tolerable. One of those places in Utah is behind the wheel of an automobile. I really believe that passive aggression accounts for the driver who cuts you off when you want to make a lane change, or the driver that won't yield the right of way, or the nut who has to pass every car on the roadway just so he can stop a block up the road at the red light.

The other factor that contributes to bad driving here are mothers and fathers who are trucking around big families. I can't count the number of times that I've seen a young mother in some big SUV cruising down the road in excess of the speed limit while multi-tasking (usually talking on the cell phone while managing three young rambunctious kids). Its probably more dangerous than drunk driving. Yet, it gets little attention.

If only I could rep you a hundred times

Passive aggressive behavior leads to so many problems, and it is so true that people find other ways to "take it out". It happens not only when driving, but in many other situations. I'd rather have drivers blare on the horn for two seconds and take a stand against bad driving, than have drivers who deliberately engage in dangerous demo derby stunts and put others at risk just to make a show.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by cinnabon

I realize that I took it out of context, but 8 months here is enough time for me to notice that not one single non LDS person I have come across is walking around feeling angry at LDS people in general. Especially to the point where they have pent up anger which requires an outlet - like road rage. They may be a little angry about liquor laws and what not, but I just felt like this was an absurd example of why people would drive badly here.


Maybe you have had experiences that have made you ultra cautious - but attempting to drive more slowly than the flow of traffic is not a good way to insure your own safety - it just makes you more of a target. People who drive 30 in a 40 zone are creating just as much of a hazard as people who drive too fast. And I am not sure why you are saying that you are a better judge of a safe speed to drive than the speed limit sign? I am refering to people who mosey along below the speed limit for no good reason, not in heavy congestion or dangerous road conditions. If people are tail gating you for choosing to drive slowly, then why not pull over and let them pass? There is no crime in someone wanting to get where they are going as quickly as is safe and legal to do. People who think that it's their job to slow everyone else down really do create a lot more problems than they solve.

I am usually 2-3 mph under the limit, in the far right lane of a 3-lane (each side) road. They want to speed, they can go around, not tail-gate.

[markg91359]

Just because there is a speed limit doesn't mean its always safe and appropriate to drive that speed. There are a number of situations where its not. Heavy traffic, bad weather, and the presence of pedestrians are all situations where one may have an obligation to drive at a reduced speed. Far too many people act as though the presence of a speed limit gives them an absolute right to drive at that speed. Its not true.

Some drivers may be uncomfortable driving the speed limit. If a road has multiple lanes of traffic and that driver is willing to travel in the righthand lane there is nothing wrong with them going slower than the posted limit.