Question about the drivers here (El Paso, West: 2014, insurance, neighborhoods)

[Army_Guy]

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer but I've been driving for 20 years, zero accidents, zero moving violations and have driven over 750,000 miles across this country and in other countries.

Why are the drivers here so horrible?

I'm from Chicago so I've seen some pretty crappy drivers but this is what I see constantly here:

-talking on the phone "hands free" while the phone is on speaker and holding the phone to their mouth
-5 MPH under in the left hand lane when there are clearly signs posted "left lane for passing only"
-lack of turn signal use
-drunk drivers
-riding their brakes
-lane changing/turning without warning (signal/brake)
-tailgaiting
-speeding through residential neighborhoods, so bad I've seen speed bumps put up. Only other place I've seen this is the middle east

For those who have spent significant time driving outside of ELP, is this your experience as well?

Don't get me wrong, I love this place, I'll stay here if I get out of the Army but the drivers here are just ridiculous.

[TexasCCW]

Are you following me around, Army Guy?

All jokes aside, I think that there is not enough enforcement of the no cell phone while driving law. I see people constantly on their phones when they can easily use the bluetooth system in their vehicles. Swerving and switching lanes and then when you pass them they're holding the phone on speaker to their mouth. Might as well just take it off speaker and put it to your ear, right?

[NewTexico76]

I think El Paso drivers are pretty mellow, compared to those in many other Texas cities.

[Violet West]

agree with the cell phone thing. Clearly against the law; clearly not enforced.

there are bad drivers all over, really.

[Army_Guy]

Originally Posted by Violet West

there are bad drivers all over, really.

That is true. I have literally driven across this country, driven in 30 states and as a collective whole, I have never seen drivers so awful outside of ELP.

I bumped up my insurance coverages after coming here.

No DUI El Paso estimates that 1/4 of the drivers here will have an interaction with drunk driving. I typically avoid I-10 because it makes my blood boil.

[Horizonite]

If local drivers are so bad, then how do you explain El Paso making the national safest drivers list?

According to the annual 2014 America’s Best Driver’s Report conducted by Allstate Insurance Co, El Paso ranks 56 out of 200 cities. Chicago is at 139, sorry OP.


https://www.allstate.com/resources/A...eport-2014.pdf

[mistabinks]

I think the real problem is the amount of traffic, the congestion, and infrastructure.

[Army_Guy]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

I think the real problem is the amount of traffic, the congestion, and infrastructure.

Yes, I think the traffic is a problem as well.

How is the public transportation here? Is it pretty good?

[elamigo]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer but I've been driving for 20 years, zero accidents, zero moving violations and have driven over 750,000 miles across this country and in other countries.

Why are the drivers here so horrible?

I'm from Chicago so I've seen some pretty crappy drivers but this is what I see constantly here:

-talking on the phone "hands free" while the phone is on speaker and holding the phone to their mouth
-5 MPH under in the left hand lane when there are clearly signs posted "left lane for passing only"
-lack of turn signal use
-drunk drivers
-riding their brakes
-lane changing/turning without warning (signal/brake)
-tailgaiting
-speeding through residential neighborhoods, so bad I've seen speed bumps put up. Only other place I've seen this is the middle east

For those who have spent significant time driving outside of ELP, is this your experience as well?

Don't get me wrong, I love this place, I'll stay here if I get out of the Army but the drivers here are just ridiculous.

All the thing you mention apply anywhere in the world. I also have been across this country and about 30 countries around the world.

I served 32 years in the Army and in every place I have been stationed or on temporary duty, the Soldiers said the "locals" do not know how to drive.

When I first moved here I remember Pasoans constantly saying the New Mexicans did not know how to drive. Actually, there was a song titled "Drive Like a New Mexican" and it mention a few of the things you mention.
About a three years ago one of my daughters and her husband were visiting from Albuquerque. She made a comment like yours after I was bringing an occasion when a Soldier at WBAMC was talking about the local traffic. My daughter made her comments. Well, later I checked stats on traffic mortality rates, traffic tickets, end traffic related data and I found out that Albuquerque rated lower in traffic safety than El Paso. I am aware that stats can vary with different surveys.

I came up with my way of calling the attitude like yours, "regional adaptation bias". It is somewhat like when Soldiers tend to say that the last duty station is better than the present one. Take care.

[elamigo]

Originally Posted by Horizonite

If local drivers are so bad, then how do you explain El Paso making the national safest drivers list?

According to the annual 2014 America’s Best Driver’s Report conducted by Allstate Insurance Co, El Paso ranks 56 out of 200 cities. Chicago is at 139, sorry OP.


https://www.allstate.com/resources/A...eport-2014.pdf

Very good point! I forgot about that when I wrote message 9. Again, it seems that perceptions are very strong. They are influenced by personal biases. Take care.