When did drivers become.... nice? (Orange: deed, costs, vs.)

[hamellr]

I have noticed this disturbing trend in my past several visits (work, family, tourism,) to Orange County and LA specifically. Drivers here are actually becoming nice! It's almost like you all came up to Oregon to learn how to drive correctly.

After getting in to my "Aggressive LA Pedestrian" mind frame I spent a couple of hours this morning walking around downtown LA.

- Jaywalked in the middle the street. Not only did I *NOT* get honked at, the driver stopped and waved me across the street!

- Drivers WAITING for Pedestrians to cross at right turns when the pedestrians have a "Walk" sign

- Drivers NOT cutting off pedestrians as they're turning into parking garages.

Oh, and pedestrians waiting for the Walk sign even though there are no cars coming? I was half way across the road before I realized I was walking alone!

As a driver I have also witness the following reprehensible behaviors recently:

- Not honking at the cars in front of you .03 nanoseconds after the light turns green

- Letting other drivers merge on to the freeway

- Signaling before a lane change

- Braking slightly to open up the gap for that person signaling a lane change

- Starting to stop at a yellow light

- Not blatantly running red lights because the four cars in front of you did it also.

And by far the WORSE, most DESPICABLE, evilest act.... Letting Busses and Emergency Vehicles have right of way.

I don't know where all the bad drivers were exported too, but this is has to stop. I mean, there is a reason why Mr. Disney made this gem:


Goofy - Motor Mania, 1950 (HQ) - YouTube

[PDF]

As a pedestrian, I have experienced the opposite of what you describe.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by PDF

As a pedestrian, I have experienced the opposite of what you describe.

I am SO glad to hear that. I thought I was in some sort of Bizarro LA!!

[PoppySeeds]

Don't worry, if you jaywalk in front of me, I will definitely run you over.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by PDF

As a pedestrian, I have experienced the opposite of what you describe.

I wouldn't say total opposite, but yeah most of the time drivers are pretty rude here.

Though I have never been honked at.

[timtemtym]

Drivers here are definitely less aggressive and more mindful of pedestrians than what I was used to coming from Texas. I absolutely love how two lanes can zipper together without cars trying to drive in the emergency lane or inch up to not take turns. It's not what you expect to encounter here.

Maybe it used to be crazy here and then it reached a breaking point where everyone learned to chill out. Or maybe enough freeway shootings changed behavior. Either way, it makes the inching along in traffic a little easier.

[disgruntled la native]

I'm only nice not because I'm a nice driver, but because I want to avoid confrontation and high blood pressure. So some jerk cuts me off... well I could flip the bird and honk the horn, but it only costs me maybe 10-20 seconds out of my life. Or you're a jaywalking idiot I just almost killed, well, the deed is already done. Am I gonna waste my time chasing you down and lecturing you, or am I going to get on with my day and forget it about it.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

I'm only nice not because I'm a nice driver, but because I want to avoid confrontation and high blood pressure. So some jerk cuts me off... well I could flip the bird and honk the horn, but it only costs me maybe 10-20 seconds out of my life. Or you're a jaywalking idiot I just almost killed, well, the deed is already done. Am I gonna waste my time chasing you down and lecturing you, or am I going to get on with my day and forget it about it.

This world needs more people like you.

[thebordella]

This might not be a popular opinion but people who think LA drivers are rude and aggressive really need to travel more. Maybe they are aggressive by chill west coast standards, but LA drivers and their spacey nonchalance would get them rammed into a pulp in at least several east coast cities. And that's just the U.S.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by thebordella

This might not be a popular opinion but people who think LA drivers are rude and aggressive really need to travel more. Maybe they are aggressive by chill west coast standards, but LA drivers and their spacey nonchalance would get them rammed into a pulp in at least several east coast cities. And that's just the U.S.

yeah spacy non-chalance is a great way to describe LA drivers vs. East Coast drivers. M*******s (and all their New England brethren) are by far the worst / rudest drivers in the nation.