Utah Drivers (buses, safety, design)

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by irman

I assume that this thread was about Utah drivers, and NOT a comparison to other drivers elsewhere.

People are saying it's not relevant to compare to other places - well if you say "Utah drivers", doesn't that imply that its somehow different here than elsewhere?

I'll bet there is a thread like this in every state's forum in city data. Everyplace has bad drivers, everyone thinks they are a good driver. Welcome to America, or the world for that matter.

[5280milehiguy]

Originally Posted by teraval

I lived in Utah for ten years before moving here to Austin. I have to say the drivers are worse here. I actually miss driving in Utah.

At least you have Rudy's BBQ there, I'd trade with you anyday.

[teraval]

Originally Posted by 5280milehiguy

At least you have Rudy's BBQ there, I'd trade with you anyday.

Ironically, I don't go to Rudy's half as much as I wish because of the traffic. You're right though, it is good.

[Tim Tim Tim]

I Dont think the traffic here is to bad people are just freaking retarded. literally retarded, im a very laid back person generally but here I hav wanted to several times get out and beat the crap out of stupid people. Like when they cut across the lines of the parking lot not even looking and then lay on the horn at me, the guy going the CORRECT way in the parking lot.

[dcisive]

I've given it some thought and come to the conclusion I could probably narrow the most dangerous habits of Utah drivers down to 2 things. One is they tend to blow more red lights than ANY place I've EVER been. I mean AFTER a light has gone red for a couple of seconds and another has changed to allow for opposing traffic to start. This is caused more than it's share of fatal accidents in Utah. The 2nd would be the opposite, an inability to MOVE IT when the light turns GREEN. It's the ONLY color green the roads department has, there is NO other. It seems to take a solid minute or more to clear an intersection once the light has turned green. When I've been the 1st car in a lane waiting for the light change, I have often looked back to see next to nobody having moved and I'm already half way to the next light. Sheesh.....must be those antidepressant drugs everyone is on here. Slows them down a bit........otherwise they are more like every other place I've driven. LOL

[kaytidid]

My take on Utah drivers is that they are not more moronic than drivers in other states. There are true idiots all over the country. I think that *some* Utahns are a bit more self absorbed and oblivious to their surroundings.

I know that when I am the first car in the line with the green light, I am often waiting quite a while for the red light runners on the other side to clear the intersection!!

[markg91359]

I've seen too many young mothers on cell phones with carloads full of small kids who are oblivious to anything outside their vehicle. Often they are driving big SUVs. All you need is one look at them and you know that anything outside their vehicle doesn't even enter into their narrow brains. I'm sure their excuse is that they have all these noisy small kids to mind, blah, blah, blah. It never occurs to them that if its that difficult to manage all their kids they shouldn't be on the road. This is not a phenomenon unique to Utah. However, because of family size its definitely more prevalent here. The best thing you can do is stay out of the way of someone like this. However, it begs the question *why* should you have too? Why shouldn't they have to change their driving habits?

[Tim Tim Tim]

Yeah i forgot to mention the redlight runners. Holy cow they are rediculous. I have never seen so mnay in my life. Sometimes ill push it a little hard and be all nervous looking back and sure enough the 2 cars behind me just went too haha

[cinnabon]

OK, I was just driving in CA - from the central valley down to LA, 15+ hours of driving in a few days They really ARE the worst - they make Jersey drivers look good in comparison, and UT drivers no problem at all in comparison. They love to hang out in your blind spot, even when no one else is around. They creep along in the left lane, or drive like maniacs and tailgate. You name a bad driving habit, and they do it there. Not to mention there are just too damn many of them on the road!

[5280milehiguy]

Does anyone have a perspective on what it's like as a pedestrian in East Downtown SLC? I've had some real close calls while walking on sidewalks, crossing in cross walks with right of way, and it happens everytime I'm in town walking around. I mean really, someone said it, moms on cell phones with a boat load of kids are the worst offenders and they will NOT look out for pedestrians at all, I think their vocabulary doesn't even recognize that word. It's really quite disturbing, as I was even almost mowed down in the Smiths (5th/5th) parking lot. Everybody seems to only be concerned about their own self, their own schedule, etc. I know it's a real problem, have even seen bilboard ads about ped vs. vehicle accidents.