[plainsong]

There are so many stupidly designed intersections back home. I agree with Rick, why do they put the stop sign so far back that you can't see around obstructions? Is it that hard to either move the thing up, or trim the hedges? I was with a friend one night and a cop pulled her for not stopping. She had stopped. Full three seconds, but then she had to roll up. Maybe he was having a bad day or had to make a quota or something. She fought and won the ticket dispute though. The judge knew the area, and you have to edge up. Of course the area was never fixed.

 

[stuartr]

I agree with Rick -- I think it is a shame that driving is so vital in the US that it is akin to violating someone's civil rights by denying them a driver's license. If our public transportation were at all devoloped (outside New York I mean), we could hold people to a higher standard. It really is astonishing that we allow pretty much anyone to take command of more than 1000 lbs of metal and drive it at 70 mph down a highway. One false move, and they and anyone else in their way is dead.
In any case, it is an interesting difference in Russia. Getting a license is very difficult. There are extensive lessons, training for driving in different road conditions, obstacle courses with cones, required first aid lessons and much more difficult tests. I think there are even classes on car maintainence Even then, many people (especially old people) self-exclude themselves, thinking that they don't have the reactions to be safe on the road. That said, Russian drivers are crazy, but it is a different culture of driving.

edit: And I am not saying this because I begrudge anyone getting their license, I just think there should be a better and more vigorous training method, as well as viable alternatives to people driving on their own.

 

[plainsong]

Speaking of road conditions, when I went to college at Winthrop, I went into Charlotte all the time. Going from SC to NC, by judging the road conditions SC was the poorer cousin of NC.

When I worked at the night shift, you'd see truck drivers do nice things like force you out of your lane, when it's only you two on the road, or maybe drive in both lanes, usually at 80mph. Seeing stuff like that can really give make you not like truck drivers. But then again, it's their business environment that does it. Unreasonable deadlines and impossible schedules make it the nature of the beast I suppose.

And these were the professional drivers.

 

[rickcr42]

Quote:

Russian drivers are crazy, but it is a different culture of driving.

must be all that vodka

seriously

they do pretty much give a drivers liscence to anyone that applies and even if you fail you can come back a week later and try again

When i was younger the requirements were far more difficult but so many complained it was "too hard" that instead of making those who did not get it LEARN the skills needed to pass the test they lowered the standards on the test !!!!!!!!!!

GIVE ME A BREAK !

I don't know how it is elsewhere but it is harder to get an inland boating permit than it is to get a motor vehicle operators liscence !

There are many instances where the requirments to obtain permission to do something that even if you screw up the chances of actually causing physical or property damge are nil are at a higher standard than giving some knucklhead unfettered access to our roads and nations highways

 

[Stephonovich]

Yeah, I suppose due to other morons, right of way means jack. You give the person to your right the right of way if you arrive at the same time. Or, of course, around here, whoever has the biggest truck gets right of way

stuartr; 1000 pounds? Try 2500+ at LEAST. Our little '92 Ford Escort weighs about 2500 lbs. Our '88 F-150 weighs 7000 lbs. Most SUV's start at 5000 lbs.

plainsong, most truckers around here flat-out haul. Unfortunately, they also often kick up gravel stuck in their mudflaps and the like (coming off farms from picking livestock up), which causes cracks in your windshield. Not a happy thing. Still, a semi is the best way to speed. First, they're big enough to hide you from radar, at least from the front. Second, they've got a CB. If a trucker ever slams his brakes on for no apparent reason, he knows something.

(-:Stephonovich

 

[plainsong]

Yes, bad driving habits 101: Get home from college on weekends quickly by hooking up behind the truck driver.

Noooo, never done that.

Here in Finland, it's my understanding that you have to take the test with a manual transmission, and there's a summer and winter part. If you take the test in the summer they have a setup that simulates winter conditions. But here they play the game of how far up the other guy's behind can you go? And the color yellow means speed up. Otherwise people seem to be fairly good about stuff like using their blinkers. Fender benders are common, but bigger accidents tend to make the news.

 

[Ctn]

When I went for my driving test years ago, the instructor told me to do a 3 pt turn in a lane that's 3 metres wide with no driveways. I told him i cant and failed that portion of the test but ended up passing the overall test

 

[Stephonovich]

Ctn, 3 point turns are easy if you've got a RWD fairly powerful vehicle, like a truck. Crank the wheel and gun it in 1st. The tail kicks around nicely. Much harder on pavement, of course, but if there's any loose gravel on the surface (parking lots often have dirt, gravel, and other crap scattered randomly about) it helps. I'm not sure if it's illegal (probably falls under reckless driving or something), but it's a ton easier than a 3 point. In our truck, I can't do a U-turn in a 4-lane road. Ever been perpindicular to the road with traffic oncoming while you're frantically grabbing Reverse? Not so fun.

plainsong, here, we drive automatics. My instructor told me years ago, in the 70s, they had manuals as an option, but they ended up replacing the clutch and transmission too often, due to morons slipping the clutch/stalling the car. So now we drive autos. Sucks bigtime. I heard people walking about dissing manuals. "I just can't figure out that stick thingy. It's too hard." Made me want to run up and kill them. IMO, you ought to know how to drive a manual before you can get a license, even if all your cars are autos. My dad insists all of us know manuals. I learned on one, and personally, like it a ton more. Much more control. Plus, engine braking, in case your brakes fail. Also, on slippery surfaces, automatics are usually pretty stupid and will upshift at any wheelspin, which can then bog you down. We've got a hill coming up to our house that, in the winter, or mud, you'll be be lucky to be doing 5MPH by the top of the hill, but yet you better be in 3rd, or rarely, 2nd. Otherwise, there's just too much torque and you end up going nowhere. Our automatic Dodge Intrepid upshifts to 4th on said hill. The only reason it makes it up the hill is because it weighs 2.5 tons, and the momentum carries it up.

(-:Stephonovich

 

[Ctn]

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephonovich Ctn, 3 point turns are easy if you've got a RWD fairly powerful vehicle, like a truck. Crank the wheel and gun it in 1st. The tail kicks around nicely. Much harder on pavement, of course, but if there's any loose gravel on the surface (parking lots often have dirt, gravel, and other crap scattered randomly about) it helps. I'm not sure if it's illegal (probably falls under reckless driving or something), but it's a ton easier than a 3 point. In our truck, I can't do a U-turn in a 4-lane road. Ever been perpindicular to the road with traffic oncoming while you're frantically grabbing Reverse? Not so fun.

Firstly If I had a RWD car at the time and tried what you just said. The wheels would be bent

3m isnt enuff to even put the car sideways on that lane.

 

[stuartr]

Quote:

Originally posted by plainsong But here they play the game of how far up the other guy's behind can you go? And the color yellow means speed up. Otherwise people seem to be fairly good about stuff like using their blinkers. Fender benders are common, but bigger accidents tend to make the news.

yeah, yellow means speed up here too, but in Japan it is crazy. Yellow means go as fast as you can, and if it just turned red, you are still ok...you have a little more time with both lights red than you do in the states though...

 

[Stephonovich]

3 m = ~10 feet (9.84) Eh, I dunno. Depends where you were, what the weight distribution of the car was, and how much torque it has. With our truck, I'm fairly certain it could be done, again, if the surface was loose enough. Really, you're just pivoting on the front axis of the car when done properly. If there's enough room for the vehicle to be perpendicular to the road, there's enough room to do a 1-point turn. But yeah, I can see your point. And I probably wouldn't do it myself either, for fear of bashing something up

In the midwest (at least the Tri-state area; where Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota meet. Centered around Sioux City, Iowa, if anyone knows where that is) there's three types of drivers. Nebraska drivers usually go 60-65MPH (speed limit on our highways is 60, which sucks), stop well in time for yellow lights, blah blah. They're not really cautious, just laid back, and don't really care when they get somewhere. Iowa drivers usually do 70-75MPH (speed limit on most Iowa highways is 65), tear through red lights, never signal, in other words, they're a living hell to drive with. South Dakotans drive 75+ (highways are 65, interstates are 75 up there), but always signal, and are very well behaved in the city. My friends and I define Nebraskans as lazy (hey, I'm a Nebraskan too), Iowans as stupid idiots waiting to get killed, and South Dakotans as crazed but cool. I love driving on the South Dakota interstates. You pretty much start at 80MPH and go up from there. There's people that go 95-100MPH and do just fine. Why? Because they know how to drive well, and because midwest highways are FLAT and STRAIGHT. You could see an obstacle or accident miles ahead. I really wish they'd make mandatory driver re-education, actually having a decent program, and just remove the speed limit for highways like that. The Germans do fine with the Autobahn.

Oh yeah, how do I drive? By myself, with no convoy of cars to hide, usually 5MPH over, unless it's our local dinky ones, Highways 9 and 12, in which case you can go as fast as you want, 'cause there's never cops on it. With a convoy, I follow whatever they're doing. And before anyone says "5MPH doesn't save you any time", yes, it does. I recently didn't make it in time to a print shop, and why? Because my mother was in the car insisting I follow the speed limit, and go 60 MPH. I was 2 minutes too late; it was closed. I've timed it, and if I go 65 the whole way to Sioux City, I shave about 3-4 minutes off. I would have just made it. What really gets me, though, is that if SHE needs to get somewhere (like when we were late getting home and she had to be 30 miles away in 5 minutes), she didn't say a word when I was doing 75+ the whole way home. Hypocrisy, I tell you. I hate it.


(-:Stephonovich

 

[dd3mon]

mmm angst. tasty.

Appease your mom when she's in the car, it's easier that way (yes- I've been there).

Drive how you like but someday you'll get a wakeup call. I did, and I still certainly wouldn't consider myself "overcautious" - just not quite as crazy. I know how to handle a car in all situations, I just don't push the limits all the time anymore, like I did when I was your age.

-dd3mon

 

[terrymx]

its ok, i didnt past the first time either. i do admit some of the examiner makes you uncomfortable driving. i reverse to fast and slightly touch the road's curb, and i was disqualified. good luck o your next try and dont accel fast.

just remember when you do have a license, be a very careful driver. it sucks getting into an accident. my driving style changes completely after i had mine.

 

[Stephonovich]

Oh yeah, I don't doubt it. I like the way my dad thinks about speeding and whatnot. "I don't do it because I've ceased caring when I get there, but if you want to, you're paying the ticket." He doesn't tell me not to do anything, but just makes it very clear that if/when I'm caught, I will be paying it in full. My mom, OTOH, has told me if I get a ticket, I lose my license. Ought to be an interesting little battle if it happens. I get the unfortunate feeling that my mom would win, though. They have a way of constant nagging and yelling until they get their way

(-:Stephonovich

 

[wallijonn]

Stephonovich,

I drive a Miata. Most people can't even see you. So yes I am a cautious and good driver; I look both ways when I enter an intersection, as I have seen too many people taking red lights. Remember that there are bicyclists on the road with you, too.

As far as weather - yeah I've riden in Massachusettes, Colrado, Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska blizzards. I've "driven" over 3" of ice on the road (yeah - right), snadstorms, downpours, etc. So I'm not likely to over react behind the wheel. I use the 3 to 5 second following rule. You follow too closely to me and I start to slow down - you had better go around me because I am not going to get into an accident for you nor am I going to pay a speeding fine for you. If you're speeding in the right lane - you're wrong - I don't care what state you come from.

As for sliding, I love to break loose the rear end of the Miata; I am a mad man on curves, etc. But when I am on the road where there are people I become a very defensive driver. It comes from first riding mortorcycles. When I drove the City Bus I was too cautious - seeing as how everyone wants to sue the City. You drive around 40,000 pounds of a vehicle and tell me that you're going to whip that baby around corners.

I'm just saying that each state has different laws, different population densities, different environments, etc. So no two people from two different states are likely to drive the same. What works in Montana may not work in NYC. Put someone from NYC in another city and he may not even be aware that right turns on red are allowed. You go to NYC and you take that red light and you'll probably end up with a $500 fine. You can drive through Jay Walkers and pedestrians on the crossalk in NYC but you had not better try it in most states. Cut off a bicyclist in Arizona or Colorado and if the cop sees you you will end up with a hefty fine. Heaven help you if you run over a bicyclist and he was in the right of way. Go through densely populated neighbourhoods 5 mph over the speed limit and run over a small child. Good luck.