DC Area: Worst Drivers in the U.S. How Come? (live, safety)

[Tumbleweed20]

We have experienced A CRUSHING AMOUNT OF INCOMING in the area. We do not have adequate roads for the number of people that want to live in this god forsaken corner. I can't stand it anymore, I have lived her 49 years and I am sick and disgusted at spending almost 3 hours a day in my car. People cut in from teh right side instead of taking their turn, they have no manners. people cut you off and dont use their blinkers. people are always talking on their cell phone and going too slow or weaving. Its a nightmare every day of the week. The traffic on 95 during the weekend is so bad after 10 am that I dont' even want to be out anymore. Its very depressing. I have to move away from here before I lose my mind.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Joke Insurance

Another gripe; drivers who leave a HUGE gap between them and the other in front of them while waiting to turn at a traffic light

Particularly when doing so BLOCKS cars behind them from being able to get into a right- or left-turn lane, meaning they'll have to sit there through another cycle instead of just cruising along. Let's tighten it up a little out there. Maybe even actually think about the cars behind you and what they might need you to do...

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed20

We do not have adequate roads for the number of people that want to live in this god forsaken corner.

Actually, we have plenty of roads. Within reason, you can pretty much pick any two spots in the Metro area, and at 2:00 in the morning, it will be a breeze to go from one to the other. The problem is that we have too many people and too many cars trying to use the roads all at the same time. If the fussing and fuming that all that congestion engenders is what it takes to bring about things like more teleworking, staggered work schedules, more fuel efficient cars, more carpooling, and more mass transit, I'd be in favor of inflicting as much pain and suffering as possible...

[Rabbitluvr]

Originally Posted by saganista

Driving is a sport, alright -- a TEAM sport. And all the other cars and bikes and people out there on the road with you are on YOUR team. The team wins when ALL of us get where we are going with ourselves and our cars intact and in one piece. So, let's buckle down out there and win one for the Gipper -- by driving sensibly, not selfishly.

Sorry, no sale. If you really wish to characterize DC area driving as a team sport then this 'team' has a much worse record than the Washington Redskins. Why just this morning some MORON caused a crash that caused a bumper-to-bumper backup for ten straight miles on the way to the WWB... took 90 minutes to go from the Braddock Rd. exit to Telegraph. NINETY MINUTES.

Some 'team', huh?

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Rabbitluvr

Sorry, no sale. If you really wish to characterize DC area driving as a team sport then this 'team' has a much worse record than the Washington Redskins. Why just this morning some MORON caused a crash that caused a bumper-to-bumper backup for ten straight miles on the way to the WWB... took 90 minutes to go from the Braddock Rd. exit to Telegraph. NINETY MINUTES.

Some 'team', huh?

+1

I was stuck in that same jam this morning. I gave up at the Eisenhower exit and went back where I was coming from. The "team" let me down today.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Rabbitluvr

Some 'team', huh?

What are the chances the MORON was driving as a team player? There is no magic wand that will somehow make all accidents a thing of the past, but they can be easily and markedly reduced through people driving as if all the other people out there actually mattered. Humble, considerate, and cooperative drivers wanted. Greedy, impudent, testosterone-driven traffic abusers need not apply.

[ICS67]

OK, how's this for a horror story of imbecilic drivers? Earlier this week I was headed south on Reston Parkway in the far left lane and ended up stopped on the bridge over the Toll Road, behind about five cars waiting at a red light. When the light turned green, no one was moving, so I (safely) shifted to the next lane over and headed off. As I approached the traffic light, I saw what was causing the delay -- some absolute moron yapping her head off on a cell phone as she waited to make a left onto the one-way off-ramp for trafficking exiting the Toll Road. And of course she had her windows rolled up and the AC on, so she couldn't hear everyone honking and yelling at her. A totally clueless *****hole. As the view of her in my rear view mirror vanished in the distance, she was still there. Too bad no police officers were around to write her up on any number of traffic violations.

It's enough to make you wonder how any of us survive driving around here.

[Joke Insurance]

Originally Posted by saganista

Particularly when doing so BLOCKS cars behind them from being able to get into a right- or left-turn lane, meaning they'll have to sit there through another cycle instead of just cruising along. Let's tighten it up a little out there. Maybe even actually think about the cars behind you and what they might need you to do...

Thank you for contributing to what I said. That annoys me too!

[saganista]

Originally Posted by ICS67

OK, how's this for a horror story of imbecilic drivers? Earlier this week I was headed south on Reston Parkway in the far left lane and ended up stopped on the bridge over the Toll Road, behind about five cars waiting at a red light. When the light turned green, no one was moving, so I (safely) shifted to the next lane over and headed off. As I approached the traffic light, I saw what was causing the delay -- some absolute moron yapping her head off on a cell phone as she waited to make a left onto the one-way off-ramp for trafficking exiting the Toll Road. And of course she had her windows rolled up and the AC on, so she couldn't hear everyone honking and yelling at her. A totally clueless *****hole. As the view of her in my rear view mirror vanished in the distance, she was still there. Too bad no police officers were around to write her up on any number of traffic violations. It's enough to make you wonder how any of us survive driving around here.

Just a reminder than on another day in a different forum, someone else has been complaining about some other idiot loose on the roads, and that idiot has been you.

Drive like you've been here before. Know enough to expect the unexpected. Understand that it is a certainty that other drivers will make what you will see as mistakes, and try to be alert enough to avoid making what others will see as mistakes yourself. Is that so hard?

[scott0482]

i have only skimmed parts of this thread..

here are what i think are the worst problems..

1. precipitation. and rain, or god forbid, snow.. and your commute just increased exponentially.

2. people driving slow in the left lane. (i am very close to putting a sign on my windshield written in reverse that says "move over -->" and other sign in my rear window that says "slower traffic keep right" that flashes violently every time i pass someone on the right..

3. cab drivers.. they drive on completely different rules and expectations of any other drivers on the road.. you see a cab, and expect that they will drive slow, not let you in, swerve into your lane and expect you to move, etc..
they never speed though.. i think they are taught that you can do anything you want in dc while driving, as long as you don't speed.. (and they are right to teach that, because it's the truth)

Originally Posted by saganista

What are the chances the MORON was driving as a team player? There is no magic wand that will somehow make all accidents a thing of the past, but they can be easily and markedly reduced through people driving as if all the other people out there actually mattered. Humble, considerate, and cooperative drivers wanted. Greedy, impudent, testosterone-driven traffic abusers need not apply.

honestly, if you drive like a complete arrogant prick in DC.. it works.. there are enough of them already, that people already expect them.. and you can't go to the trouble to get mad and honk every time someone cuts you off, because you would have an aneurysm...