Does San Antonio have the worst drivers in the US? (Howe: income, law)

[stoneoak]

I'm sorry, but is amexicano really debating why it's "safe" to tailgate?? Really? This is what it has come down to??

The thought that I put my kids in the car and knowingly get on the road with these nutters...scary. It's really scary.

[majormadmax]

Just got back from two weeks in Omaha, and thought I'd post a few observations of what it is like to drive there as compared with SA...

First, overall I did think people drove a lot better there. While traffic wasn't as heavy during rush hour as it is here, for the most part people were pretty predictable in their actions. e.g. signalling lane changes, mostly passing on the left, staying at a constant speed, etc.

What drove me nuts is that the folks there (like here) don't keep to the right. It wasn't uncommon to find someone sitting in the far left lane, doing the speed limit and not moving over despite there being an open lane to their right.

Also, while in San Antonio we suffer from the suicidal exits from three lanes over, what folks did there was put there signals on and then slam on their brakes if they couldn't get to the right lane. On several occasions it almost caused an accident. So they too suffer from the "wait, is that my exit?!?" panic move despite probably living there all their lives and driving the same route daily.

Additionally, the speed limits in the Omaha area are considerably lower than there are in SA, and more heavily enforced. We had a 20 mile drive from our hotel to Offutt, and every day we saw several people pulled over by the police despite the fact that most drivers we saw were doing the speed limit or close to it.

Honestly, it would be nice if people here drove better. Even with the one day of snow we experienced (which wasn't fun!), it was much less stressful driving there than here. On our way home from the airport an hour ago, we did see two individuals pulled over (one by DPS, the other by the stealth SAPD Camaro). I don't know if that was just because it was Saturday (traditionally a day of increased traffic enforcement) or there is a stepping up because of the coming holidays.

I will always applaud any and every effort to increase the safety of our roads, but the stealth vehicle did incite a debate between the wife and I (she thinks it's entrapment, whereas I think it is a greater deterrent for those thinking about speeding as knowing those vehicles are out there may cause them to think twice about doing so). We lose far too many folks due to accidents on our roads, and anything that can be done to decrease those numbers should be embraced by all!

Cheers! M2

[Paul56]

Lady in SUV tailgating me this morning... and I'm doing the
speed limit.

She is back there weaving from left to right as though she
is "threatening" to pass me on either side.

I sit there and say... "go ahead lady... pass me... please!"

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by Paul56

Lady in SUV tailgating me this morning... and I'm doing the
speed limit.

She is back there weaving from left to right as though she
is "threatening" to pass me on either side.

I sit there and say... "go ahead lady... pass me... please!"

If there was room on the right side to pass you, then you were in the wrong lane!

In Texas, you are required by law to be in the far right-hand lane unless passing or other reasons such as an obstruction in the road (Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.051).

[theeddie]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

if there was room on the right side to pass you, then you were in the wrong lane!

In texas, you are required by law to be in the far right-hand lane unless passing or other reasons such as an obstruction in the road (texas transportation code sec. 545.051).

x9999999999999999999999!

[Paul56]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

If there was room on the right side to pass you, then you were in the wrong lane!

In Texas, you are required by law to be in the far right-hand lane unless passing or other reasons such as an obstruction in the road (Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.051).

Don't go makin' assumptions.

I'm a former semi driver with a million miles plus incident
free in my background.

I know da left from the right sides of the road.

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by Paul56

Lady in SUV tailgating me this morning... and I'm doing the
speed limit.

She is back there weaving from left to right as though she
is "threatening" to pass me on either side.

I sit there and say... "go ahead lady... pass me... please!"

Originally Posted by Paul56

Don't go makin' assumptions.

I'm a former semi driver with a million miles plus incident
free in my background.

I know da left from the right sides of the road.

I see truck drivers breaking that law all the time...

And if you were as far right as you could be, how can she be "threatening" to pass you on that side?!?

But I will take your word that you know your left from your right!

[en28so]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

I see truck drivers breaking that law all the time...

And if you were as far right as you could be, how can she be "threatening" to pass you on that side?!?

But I will take your word that you know your left from your right!

Oh trust me, they will try to pass you on the right, even if there's no lane to do it. I see them doing this all the time on Wolfe run where I live where we only have one lane. I guess like someone said before they are late to their funeral. Haven't they seen what happens when your car finally hits that tree from all that bad driving? They think nothing is going to happen to them because of ABS brakes, airbags and crumple zones.

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by en28so

Oh trust me, they will try to pass you on the right, even if there's no lane to do it. I see them doing this all the time on Wolfe run where I live where we only have one lane. I guess like someone said before they are late to their funeral. Haven't they seen what happens when your car finally hits that tree from all that bad driving? They think nothing is going to happen to them because of ABS brakes, airbags and crumple zones.

No doubt, I had to "adjust" back to SA driving after being out of town for the past three weeks (I was in the Baltimore-Washington area before going to Omaha). I have never been a fan of the way many people drive here, which is why I would applaud greater traffic enforcement by the numerous law enforcement agencies in the area. While I know there are no quotas and that it is not for revenue generation, perhaps encouraging officers to enforce the laws would get people to think twice before driving like idiots. I don't believe the fines/penalties are harsh enough, as obviously they are not deterring people from endangering themselves and everybody else on the road. Perhaps if their wallets were made considerably lighter when caught, they'd be less apt to do so again in the future...

[Soviet]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

No doubt, I had to "adjust" back to SA driving after being out of town for the past three weeks (I was in the Baltimore-Washington area before going to Omaha). I have never been a fan of the way many people drive here, which is why I would applaud greater traffic enforcement by the numerous law enforcement agencies in the area. While I know there are no quotas and that it is not for revenue generation, perhaps encouraging officers to enforce the laws would get people to think twice before driving like idiots. I don't believe the fines/penalties are harsh enough, as obviously they are not deterring people from endangering themselves and everybody else on the road. Perhaps if their wallets were made considerably lighter when caught, they'd be less apt to do so again in the future...

Nope, it's revenue generation, all right. Otherwise they would give warnings.

Driver A: "Speeding" 75 mph on 281 by Brook Hollow in the left lane with no cars around it

Driver B: Driving 72 mph through heavy traffic and weaving in & out of lanes

Who is being more dangerous?

It's a joke.