Why are some drivers in portland so angry (insurance, metro area)

[Dual Citizen CA-OR]

Originally Posted by Dual Citizen CA-OR

...For some reason Oregonians have a hard time comprehending two common highway signs; "Slower Traffic Keep Right" and "Left Lane For Passing Only".

Originally Posted by hose111

This is rude, there are people who prefer to drive slow. This is everyone's road.

I rest my case...

[haggardhouseelf]

Driving in Portland is still not nearly as bad as driving in Seattle/Tacoma or the Eastside areas. And no place in the PNW is as bad as some other parts of the country. New Jersey anyone? NJ has not only some of the angriest drivers but the worst roads in the nation, too. No thanks!

I think we Oregonians should count our lucky chickens.

[ColoNative]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

Driving in Portland is still not nearly as bad as driving in Seattle/Tacoma or the Eastside areas. And no place in the PNW is as bad as some other parts of the country. New Jersey anyone? NJ has not only some of the angriest drivers but the worst roads in the nation, too. No thanks!

I think we Oregonians should count our lucky chickens.

Seattle absolutely drives me nuts, and you're right, even at rush hour the traffic in Portland isn't all that bad. I've never had anyone in Portland give me a hard time on the road.

And hose111, it is true that some people prefer to drive slow, but the law is clear that if you are driving in the left lane slower than the flow than you can be cited by an officer. It's not 'rude' it's traffic safety. You create a hazard when you irritate others on the road by driving slow in the fast lane. If you don't believe it, ask a State Patrol Officer.

Of course you weren't on the Freeway because you were turning left to get coffee. Some people may be having a bad day, who knows. Just honking I don't think is all that rude. I personally never honk my horn. Oh wait, no I had to honk at some guy on about 8th & Madison (near the Hawthorne Bridge) a couple weeks ago. The light turned green and after waiting almost a minute for him to notice, I tapped the horn. He didn't get upset that I honked at him, and I wasn't upset that he was taking so long digging through his paperwork. The guy behind me didn't seem terribly upset, either. We all just moved on. The only reason I even remember this is because I was so surprised that the guy in front of me didn't go into hysterics for me honking, and the guy behind me wasn't already laying on the horn...which would be the norm here in central CA.

I say, in an area of over a million people, an occasional honk from some woman in a hurry is a blessing, and unless she did more, I wouldn't characterize her as "so angry".

[danwilsonbsee]

Originally Posted by UrbanAdventurer

You clearly belong here then.

Ain't that truth - when the speed limit reads 65mph, it means you're allowed to drive 65mph. A police officer won't pull you over if you're not speeding, but that doesn't mean you get to drive @ 55mph in the left lane and give me a dirty look for passing on the right! Also... it rains here all the time, how the heck can you (the royal YOU) forget how to drive in it every time it drizzles!?!?!

/grew up in Detroit

[hose111]

Originally Posted by ColoNative

Seattle absolutely drives me nuts, and you're right, even at rush hour the traffic in Portland isn't all that bad. I've never had anyone in Portland give me a hard time on the road.

And hose111, it is true that some people prefer to drive slow, but the law is clear that if you are driving in the left lane slower than the flow than you can be cited by an officer. It's not 'rude' it's traffic safety. You create a hazard when you irritate others on the road by driving slow in the fast lane. If you don't believe it, ask a State Patrol Officer.

Of course you weren't on the Freeway because you were turning left to get coffee. Some people may be having a bad day, who knows. Just honking I don't think is all that rude. I personally never honk my horn. Oh wait, no I had to honk at some guy on about 8th & Madison (near the Hawthorne Bridge) a couple weeks ago. The light turned green and after waiting almost a minute for him to notice, I tapped the horn. He didn't get upset that I honked at him, and I wasn't upset that he was taking so long digging through his paperwork. The guy behind me didn't seem terribly upset, either. We all just moved on. The only reason I even remember this is because I was so surprised that the guy in front of me didn't go into hysterics for me honking, and the guy behind me wasn't already laying on the horn...which would be the norm here in central CA.

I say, in an area of over a million people, an occasional honk from some woman in a hurry is a blessing, and unless she did more, I wouldn't characterize her as "so angry".

well I had an angry reaction, and she flipped me off. I was having a bad morning, I shouldn't have reacted.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by hose111

that's not funny. No actually she was foreign looking and was driving a very nice mercedes car. I was surprised at her behavior.

This post is just filled with nasty little assumptions. What does a foreigner look like? What does the kind of car they drive have to do with anyone's behavior?

This forum seems to becoming your personal diary for everything that happens in your day that irritates you about Portland.

Is this the first time you've been honked at in a car? Is it only in Portland that it's happened? I somehow doubt it. So someone honked at you. Maybe you were driving badly. I know you probably don't think so, but it's possible.

[khyron]

Originally Posted by hose111

This is rude, there are people who prefer to drive slow. This is everyone's road.

I'll be reading up to get my Oregon license soon I imagine, but just out of curiosity does Oregon not have a minimum speed law? In the other states I've lived in, when you're driving on a highway or other major thoroughfare in good weather you're not supposed to drive more than X mph below the posted maximum limit (for varying values of X). Anyone know?

[hose111]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

This post is just filled with nasty little assumptions. What does a foreigner look like? What does the kind of car they drive have to do with anyone's behavior?

This forum seems to becoming your personal diary for everything that happens in your day that irritates you about Portland.

Is this the first time you've been honked at in a car? Is it only in Portland that it's happened? I somehow doubt it. So someone honked at you. Maybe you were driving badly. I know you probably don't think so, but it's possible.

wow you seem, so angry.

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by danwilsonbsee

Ain't that truth - when the speed limit reads 65mph, it means you're allowed to drive 65mph.

There are actually highways here with a 65 speed limit????


I have found there are a lot more of both extremes of driving here. People either going 45 in a 55 or 70 in a 55, but not a lot of people going 55-60. Lots of changes of speed as well (you know the old "I'll pass you and then slow down a bunch").

I think the thing that has gotten me most though is the lack of merging skill. Seems like no one EVER wants to use a blinker, they just assume that you should let them in. That and the Kamikaze 3 lane change, I have to get off at this exit but totally wasn't prepared moves that people will make (JUST GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, or go around the block and try again). I've seen people almost come to a stop on the highway trying to do this, as well as stopping downtown traffic because they didn't know where they needed to turn. Just admit you missed the turn and go a street down.

[ColoNative]

Originally Posted by khyron

I'll be reading up to get my Oregon license soon I imagine, but just out of curiosity does Oregon not have a minimum speed law? In the other states I've lived in, when you're driving on a highway or other major thoroughfare in good weather you're not supposed to drive more than X mph below the posted maximum limit (for varying values of X). Anyone know?

Khyron, my aunt has been ticketed for driving 10 mph under the posted limit, but I don't think it's a written rule that say "driving x mph below the posted limit". Here are driving rules that deal with slow driving according to Oregon Revises Statutes:
811.130 Impeding traffic; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of impeding traffic if the person drives a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles in a manner that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of traffic
(Class D violation)

811.315 Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive: (a) In the right-hand lane available for traffic; or
(b) As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) This section does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing passing in ORS 811.410 to 811.425.
(b) When preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure of slow driver to drive on the right, is a Class B traffic violation.


811.425 Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle if the person is driving a vehicle and the person fails to move the person’s vehicle off the main traveled portion of the highway into an area sufficient for safe turnout when: (Class B violation)


If you are interested in all the obscure rules read Chapter 811 of the ORS the Rules of the Road


Good luck on you driving test. When I took my drivers test, a motorcycle cut me off on SE Powell while he was making an illegal right turn around me...I got a point taken off my test for almost hitting him...keep your eyes open