My summer driver review

[bangorme]

Don't blame the metropolitan drivers for tailgating. If you leave more than a car length between yourself and the guy in front of you some idiot will force his/her way between you (then usually jam on their brakes). Tailgating at freeway speeds is a way of life there. Also, most city drivers don't even know what a high beam is for... they never get to use it there.

Mainers don't know how to handle more than one lane at a time, and panic when seeing a middle turning lane. Coming up Broadway in Bangor I see Maine drivers either blocking two lanes when turning left, or sitting in the second lane (and not entering the turning lane) to turn left. I won't even address Mainers trying to make multiple lane left turns at a light... it's too traumatizing. Then of course we have many many "older" drivers in Maine, some that just stop in the middle of the road wondering who/where/what they are. Had that happen to me yesterday. A senior citizen (which I am also btw) just stopped in the middle of route 1A for no reason gawking around.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by bangorme

A senior citizen (which I am also btw) just stopped in the middle of route 1A for no reason gawking around.

I was driving through the sticks last Spring between Charlotte and Dennysville. Windy small road, desolate though so I would go 60+ on my way to Calais. Came over a small hill and a car was stopped dead in the middle of the road 100 feet in front of me. Granted, I was going about 10ish over the speed limit but not irrationally. Slammed on my brakes and almost careened out of control. Blared my horn like a madman. The last second the reverse lights were on. Going reverse down a stretch of windy blind desolate road. Could have killed us all.

[CoastalMaineiac]

Originally Posted by bangorme

Don't blame the metropolitan drivers for tailgating. If you leave more than a car length between yourself and the guy in front of you some idiot will force his/her way between you (then usually jam on their brakes). Tailgating at freeway speeds is a way of life there. Also, most city drivers don't even know what a high beam is for... they never get to use it there.

Mainers don't know how to handle more than one lane at a time, and panic when seeing a middle turning lane. Coming up Broadway in Bangor I see Maine drivers either blocking two lanes when turning left, or sitting in the second lane (and not entering the turning lane) to turn left. I won't even address Mainers trying to make multiple lane left turns at a light... it's too traumatizing. Then of course we have many many "older" drivers in Maine, some that just stop in the middle of the road wondering who/where/what they are. Had that happen to me yesterday. A senior citizen (which I am also btw) just stopped in the middle of route 1A for no reason gawking around.

Well... if you're talking about Bangor, it might help some people out a bit if the city of Bangor would keep the lines painted on their roads. I always have to wonder though, why people always crowd into one left-turn lane when there are two. For example, getting on 95 south on Stillwater Avenue in Bangor. Two lanes to turn left. Everyone usually crowds into the right lane, except for maybe two or three.

Of course, that intersection is rather poorly designed anyway. I mean, if I'm getting off 95 and want to go left on Stillwater Ave toward Broadway, I have to go into the mall parking lot, turn around, and make a right. Totally stupid considering the traffic coming out of the mall doesn't get a green light to go straight at the same time as traffic coming off of 95.