Dumb things on U.S. roads (Germany, unlimited, trucks, towing)
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All of this is more symptomatic of our horrible driver education system which begets horrible drivers. We are forced to create such rules because the proportion of incompetent drivers increases exponentially each year, not because of traffic volume. If you've ever been to a region or location of this country or of another country where drivers are more competent, you realize that volume isn't the key variable. You can have a heavy flow of drivers, but because they are competent - aware, driving defensively, actively avoiding impeding other drivers - traffic flows easily. We can continue down the road of attempting to change the rules of the road to prevent poor drivers from hurting others or we can attempt to treat the cause of the disorder on the road.
Well, and overall dumming up education, producing ignorants and people with no independent thinking capability.
What gets me, is innate desire of road designers to put solid curbs at 90 degrees protruding into intersections, esp on narrow lanes. Or, those so much beloved "rounded" yellow blocks lines, sticking into intersection, and the only way you can go around them without hitting them, esp in a pickup, is to get into the right hand lane, or take a large circle around them.
What they should do, like they do in some developments, is to do temporary pavement, and let folks drive on it for few days. Then, simply follow the tracks. Have my word, there will be no 90 degree corners anywhere, as cars do not turn on a dime at 90 instantly. They go in arcs.
#5. The national 55 mph speed limit. Thankfully, it is no longer in effect. Probably the most oft-broken law in the history of man. Good riddance to that law.
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Many states, however, have not raised speed limits back up to pre-55 levels.
Underposted speed limits are THE dumbest thing on US roads.
too bad it cost american tax payers over one hundred billion a year to maintain our roads not to mention almost a trillion dollars a year in order to secure our interests in international oil. The cost for you to drive 100 miles a day is far more than your perceived sixteen dollars.
And how much taxpayer money is needed to subsidize AMTRAK?
They still are not what they were originally. Before 1972 the speed limit in Montana, for example, was "Safe & Sane." In California the speed limit on all the freeways was 75 mph.
And that was when cars were "unsafe at any speed".
The speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike used to be 75 for all vehicles.
#1. This has to be any intersection marked with a "no right turn on red" restriction. If nothing is coming to my left, then why the shouldn't I be able to turn right?
Often this comes down to sight lines. Roads that come in on a curve, are narrow with buildings or other obstacles blocking a clear view, etc. Also where there is heavy pedestrian traffic such as downtown areas.
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If traffic is truly balanced in all directions, a roundabout would work.
Roundabouts aren't common in America. At busier intersections, they lend themselves to confusion over who should yield to who, holding up entering traffic. Having each car go in turn solves this.
If a "roundabout" is so good and safe, why have so many of them been replaced on busy intersections with straight intersections and traffic lights??????
Actually, they've proven to be one of the worst headaches ever devised for highways and streets. You'll still find them in the little backwater towns, but in the densely populated areas with high traffic, they're losing ground.
That's because most people don't know what a yield sign means. I prefer roundabouts over traffic signals because if I don't see any oncoming vehicles, I don't have to stop.
If people are too ignorant and inconsiderate to work out how to use a roundabout they shouldn't be driving. Drivers who lack those attributes are the same ones who make life miserable in any other situation on the road. Spend some time in a country that uses roundabouts effectively and you'll soon have nothing but disdain for the standard 4 way stop.
I have the ultimate solution to the poor driving skills of the US (seriously, don't deny this fact). Eliminate collision insurance completely. If you wad your car, your insurance pays for the damage you caused the other driver but fixing your problem comes out of your own pocket. If stupid hurt more there will be less of it.
I have the ultimate solution to the poor driving skills of the US (seriously, don't deny this fact). Eliminate collision insurance completely. If you wad your car, your insurance pays for the damage you caused the other driver but fixing your problem comes out of your own pocket. If stupid hurt more there will be less of it.
I can only afford the state minimum insurance, which is indeed as you describe it, it only pays for the other person's damage. It makes me a much more careful driver.
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