Discussion
just back from a week's driving in and around New York. US drivers are so much more chilled than us in the UK. we in the UK have a mentality of 'oh no, you're not pulling into that gap mate' whereas US just seem to accept that it needs to be done and in the end helps everyone. even in NYC, where i assume everyone is in a hurry :]
loved it. even in a wafty chevvy impala!
loved it. even in a wafty chevvy impala!
You do drive in a chilled manner. People overtake on whatever side. One thing I do notice is that folks don;t pull out if you are coming down the sliproad. They don;t have to, of course, but you get used to that in Blighty. Although average speeds are, I think, lower, it doesn't really bother you. You end up doing the same, and just driving along, in a relaxed manner. It;s nice. Driving in NYC is a hoot. It;s one of those places where you can drive like a 
, and no-one cares. Barging into lanes, etc, and no-one bats an eyelid. brilliant!
, and no-one cares. Barging into lanes, etc, and no-one bats an eyelid. brilliant! I live over here now and regularly drive between Connecticut and New York on the I95. Drivers here are nutters. No one cares about people pulling in and cutting each other up because everyone does it! Seriously, its absolutely normal to be driving in the outside lane, pull across 3 lanes to the inside lane, then straight back out to the outside again to get past whoever is in your way.
The driving standard here is very poor. People just don't get worked up about almost being involved in multiple car pileups on each and every journey
The driving standard here is very poor. People just don't get worked up about almost being involved in multiple car pileups on each and every journey
agxster said:
I'm going to the US soon and for my rental have pre-booked a V8 4x4, they say Chevy Tahoe or similiar. Will probably drive like crap but who cares it's a V8 and it's not often I get a chance to drive a car with one! 
They are big, and comfy, and ideal for long roadtrips! My bro took his Tahoe to Bulgaria!Edited by agxster on Friday 24th September 16:13
Blue Meanie said:
You do drive in a chilled manner. People overtake on whatever side. One thing I do notice is that folks don;t pull out if you are coming down the sliproad. They don;t have to, of course, but you get used to that in Blighty. Although average speeds are, I think, lower, it doesn't really bother you. You end up doing the same, and just driving along, in a relaxed manner. It;s nice. Driving in NYC is a hoot. It;s one of those places where you can drive like a , and no-one cares. Barging into lanes, etc, and no-one bats an eyelid. brilliant!
This isn't strictly legal in some States, but everywhere seems to do it., and no-one cares. Barging into lanes, etc, and no-one bats an eyelid. brilliant! If you are driving in NY, make sure your horn works, it's used as much as your steering wheel!
Deva Link said:
Most US cars are very softly sprung and are very quiet (helped by generally lower speeds) - the whole experience is so much more relaxing you just cruise along.
Sure, some folks complain that US cars are too wafty, but they are meant to be set up like that. Driving through Pennsylvania last week, I braced myself when coming across some potholes in the roads that would have hurt on a UK road, but then merely leapt across them like a light-footed gazelle.shakotan said:
Deva Link said:
Most US cars are very softly sprung and are very quiet (helped by generally lower speeds) - the whole experience is so much more relaxing you just cruise along.
Sure, some folks complain that US cars are too wafty, but they are meant to be set up like that. Driving through Pennsylvania last week, I braced myself when coming across some potholes in the roads that would have hurt on a UK road, but then merely steamrollered them in my yank tank.Sorry I couldn't resist
Did roughly 2000 miles a couple of years ago the North East of the country, i found like other people have said, the driving is more relaxed, yes the standards are low, its expected for people to drift across lanes without signalling and to sit on your tail but everyone does it so people are surprised when it happens. Speeds are generally lower but you flow a lot quicker, not once did we see a phantom traffic jam caused by panic braking
I have done about 300k miles on US roads; depends on where you drive. I agree with pretty much everything said, but there is one huge bonus: there are still spectacular and fairly empty roads in man states, brilliant twisty back roads, huge open highways, and you can drive forever. There are truly some very beautiful roads in the US...I enjoy driving there...a few pics I took here and there
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/RMcG/alod%20slides%20-%20non%20auto/File0458.jpg[/IMG
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/RMcG/alod%20slides%20-%20non%20auto/File0458.jpg[/IMG
A4069 said:
US drivers are so much more chilled than us in the UK. we in the UK have a mentality of 'oh no, you're not pulling into that gap mate' whereas US just seem to accept that it needs to be done and in the end helps everyone. even in NYC, where i assume everyone is in a hurry :]
I have been driving in the UK since may this year and i couldn't agree more with you. Just yesterday, I almost got into an accident in park lane cause the driver of a grey mini with license plate VKIO DGO didn't want to let me pass. I indicated and he was far away from me so I had room to turn. The second he sees me indicate, he floors it. A van was stuck to my tailgate. I was thankful he didn't run into me cause I had to go back to the middle lane since the tosser in the mini had to squeeze in. I wouldn't usually care if I was on my own but the wife is pregnant and was scared when she saw what was going on which pissed me off even more cause I am doing the very best I can for her and it's idiots like these that are selfish and don't realise what their recklessness may cause.UK drivers are at their worst where 2 lanes merge into one, maybe at a junction or after a roundabout. If anyone has the audacity to try and pass most drivers will try their hardest to close the gap. Saw it today actually, an X3 and a shed of a people carrier basically travelling side by side on a single carriageway trying desperatly not to let the other one into the gap.
Edited by Republik on Friday 24th September 17:20
i've just got back from Canada and simply couldn't believe how everything just worked so well. We were staying in Downtown Vancouver which is of a similar build to London (the bits of London I've seen!). Not 1 accident, not 1 person beeping at my stupid English driving habits, not a 'near miss' (that wasn't my fault anyway!).
The road infrastructure was another very pleasant surprise. The roads are much wider in general, but it's the 'free right turns' thing that helps everything roll along nicely. If you've not seen this, when you pull up to most junctions, so long as their is nothing coming, you can just turn right. But be very careful about people crossing the road, their pedestrian crossings don't/can't take this into account!
I jsut don't understand why we can't just adopt their approaches to roads.
The road infrastructure was another very pleasant surprise. The roads are much wider in general, but it's the 'free right turns' thing that helps everything roll along nicely. If you've not seen this, when you pull up to most junctions, so long as their is nothing coming, you can just turn right. But be very careful about people crossing the road, their pedestrian crossings don't/can't take this into account!
I jsut don't understand why we can't just adopt their approaches to roads.
A4069 said:
just back from a week's driving in and around New York. US drivers are so much more chilled than us in the UK. we in the UK have a mentality of 'oh no, you're not pulling into that gap mate' whereas US just seem to accept that it needs to be done and in the end helps everyone. even in NYC, where i assume everyone is in a hurry :]
loved it. even in a wafty chevvy impala!
This time last week I was sitting in freeway traffic in Los Angeles.loved it. even in a wafty chevvy impala!
I couldnt disagree more with you!
By any chance, were any of you "chilled out driver" observers over the other side of the pond on holiday?
Did you by any chance marvel at the lack of jams when you went out too?
Go back and pretend you are working - join the rush hour traffic and marvel at the complete lack of lane discipline meaning you nearly get wiped out many times a minute, the fact no-one will let you of a side road, lights are blocked, 4 way give-ways are 4 way drag strips, and you queue for hours to get into LA / NY /Dallas etc . . .
Then come back and tell me about "chilled" US drivers . . .
Or about "chilled drivers" when you are a flowing, twisty two way road into the mountains . . . with a double yella down the middle, and someone doing 20 under the limit in-front . . .
Or on a 5/6 lane freeway up the hill out of Cincinnati into Kentucky . . . wall to wall with "sem-eyes", each one doing 0.0000005mph faster than the one on their nearside . . .
Or sit in a jam on a freeway in Texas and marvel at the "chilled drivers" down the hard shoulder on both sides (cnetral reservation side too), down the grass verges, or up/down the verges onto surface streets . . .
Or approach the "traffic circle" in Fort Worth after it's rained . . . and marvel, once again, at how many "chilled drivers" have just parked another SUV / pickup up the lamp post on the far side. . .
Holiday = you are chilled.
Working = you need to get somewhere like you do back home - and you aren't so chilled . . .
Bri
Did you by any chance marvel at the lack of jams when you went out too?
Go back and pretend you are working - join the rush hour traffic and marvel at the complete lack of lane discipline meaning you nearly get wiped out many times a minute, the fact no-one will let you of a side road, lights are blocked, 4 way give-ways are 4 way drag strips, and you queue for hours to get into LA / NY /Dallas etc . . .
Then come back and tell me about "chilled" US drivers . . .
Or about "chilled drivers" when you are a flowing, twisty two way road into the mountains . . . with a double yella down the middle, and someone doing 20 under the limit in-front . . .
Or on a 5/6 lane freeway up the hill out of Cincinnati into Kentucky . . . wall to wall with "sem-eyes", each one doing 0.0000005mph faster than the one on their nearside . . .
Or sit in a jam on a freeway in Texas and marvel at the "chilled drivers" down the hard shoulder on both sides (cnetral reservation side too), down the grass verges, or up/down the verges onto surface streets . . .
Or approach the "traffic circle" in Fort Worth after it's rained . . . and marvel, once again, at how many "chilled drivers" have just parked another SUV / pickup up the lamp post on the far side. . .
Holiday = you are chilled.
Working = you need to get somewhere like you do back home - and you aren't so chilled . . .
Bri
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