Alright guys (and gals). What's going on? Why so many stories about close calls? Is the avg. American's driving really getting that bad. Do we need annual testing to keep people aware of the rules of the road?

My story...
Yesterday, I'm sitting at a stop light in the Vette. 2 lanes turn right and I'm in the middle lane (becomes far left lane after turn). Gold Camry sitting next to me goes sprinting off and cuts across both lanes and ends up in front of me after the turn. While I'm surprised by the maneuver, I'm not upset or anything and let it go.

About a 1/2 mile down the road (these are one way streets in downtown Cincinnati) both left lanes turn left onto another one-way street. Knowing that I want to make a right turn right after that turn, I pull over into the middle lane again so that I'll be on the right side after the turn.

So, the situation is that the far left lane is left turn-only and the middle lane (where I am) is turn or straight. Light goes green and the little voice in my head tells me to go deep into the corner. Sure enough right as I turn in, I hear tires screeching and a horn honking coming from that same Camry. I looked over to see the nose of a Camry about to kiss the drivers door of the Vette. I goosed the gas to get as far out of the way as possible and looked up in the rearview to see the Camry going straight while in the turn-only lane.

What's the deal with drivers these days?

 

The problem isn't with people having free access to driver licenses.

It's a problem with having free access to air.

Some people simply shouldn't be permitted to breathe.

Glad both you and the car are okay.

 

The deal is they leave the house for the drive to work or wherever with their right foot but leave their brain at home.

 

Good thing you saw him and glad nothing happened....

 

I've always said that people around here lose all brain functionality the minute their hands touch the steering wheel.

 

Glad nothing happened. I learned my lesson and take things easy on the road.

 

My own personal opinion.....I think most (> 50%) of people driving are stupid and should not have a license.

 

Glad to hear nothing happened, and that you were able to avoid him.

 

 

Heading home, sitting at light, light goes green, lady in SUV coming towards me just makes a left in front of me. I hit brakes, she never stops, just keeps on making the turn while carrying on her phone conversation. Mother-in-law is broadsided in a multiple-lane intersection by a man who didn't realize the light was red for him because he was calling his office to tell them he was running behind schedule. Thankfully she was only bruised. I really watch for people on cell phones. An experiement on MythBusters conducted on a driving course, proved they can be as dangerous as a person who is DUI. Here in the DFW area, they are!

 

I live in Houston, here is my take....

Congestion is getting worse and worse, and peoples nerves get frayed.

Way too many distractions for drivers - cell phones, navigation systems, sound system etc.

**** poor driver training and standards for obtaining a license - not keeping up with the changing driving environment (Think Germany)

Need for far greater mass transit in order to get people out of their cars. We really have very limited options for getting around without a car.

 

In California you can be mentally incompetent to stand trial, but you can get a drivers license. Go figure.........

 

One has to be very afraid driving - always suspect that the idiot(s) in the other car(s) are actively trying to kill you. Too many drivers are not only using cruise control, they act like they have an auto-pilot! Situational Awareness!

 

If I see a driver make one mistake, I try to get as far away as possible figuring he will make another. Most of the time they do.

When I drive with the top down, I have an excellent view of all the other cars. There are a lot of bad drivers out there.

 

Was the driver on a cell phone? I have seen this type of driving by people on the phone. Glad you were aware and were not in an accident.

 

Sounds like you were on Central Parkway turning onto East Central Parkway.

The main problem is that drivers training teaches both how to operate a vehicle and a little about driving. For too many people their brain goes into idle when the instructor goes into the driving part. Some get their license to operate a vehicle and go through life without ever learning or caring to learn how to drive. Those are the ones WE have to watch out for as they go on their merry way, oblivious to everything around them.

 

Driver wasn't on cell phone that I could see but it did look like she was having a very animated conversation with two other passengers.

Actually the sequence was Rosa Parks to 2nd to Main. I was coming from KY and I took the Roebling bridge across the river.

 

Defensive Driving. Never leave home without it.

 

Camry driver probably had a cell phone stuck in their ear. People are just rude to begin with and in their on little world.

 

I'l spare you the boring details, but I was driving yesterday, and three people almost hit me, and a half dozen others were wandering around the road with their heads up their asses (and phone against their ear)...in a 5 mile lunch run!