Sally Redux

Probably.

It was sort of a jokey remark, I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

Michael

New York City is the same so it's not directed specifically at London. But your statement is true that US drivers can get distracted especially on the freeway when it is moving quickly. As I get older, my mind drifts and all of a sudden I miss an exit. Also don't have someone sitting in my car constantly talking to me since then I really get distracted. Multitasking seems to come to a stop in that situation.

Jonion

The similarity between NYC and London is simple.
The bigger the city, the more self-important the drivers (and pedestrians to some extent) tend to be.

I have mixed feelings when driving in London.
In my own car I hate it.
In a hire car (with collision protection) I absolutely love it.
All those people barging their way around with no consideration at all for anyone else grrr!

Yes they do tend to think that indicators are not a signal of intent but their way of telling you they have the right of way.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise, fear and surprise...

lander91

As a pedestrian in London, I can definitely say there are bad drivers - there's a roundabout I have to cross every day, and I regularly have drivers trying to beat a red light and blast through the green man.

And as an occasional driver in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I agree big cities seem to have more aggressive drivers than smaller towns.

On a lighter note, I have yet to see bad/aggressive driving as terrible as what my husband is currently displaying in GTA4 which he finally got working on his computer today... "but I'm such a pro driver!" as he skids a limo across an intersection and smashes into a building in order to make the turn.

Pulaski

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Jonion

Just because we keep being told how everyone here expects absolute accuracy

I already quoted that

Although it depends which sketch/version/typed/spoken, they use both 'nobody' and 'no one'.

jeffreyhy

Concentrate on the similarities, not the differences.

The driver is always toward the center of the road.

Regards, JEff

jeffreyhy

My observation is that indicators are only used as an afterthought, after the driver is already into the lane change, and then only for 1 or 2 quick flashes.

On the other hand, if one gives advance notice that they'd like to change lanes it only gives other drivers time to tighten up the space to the car in front so as to prevent it. Totally justified if the lane changer has been traveling in the hammer lane and has now decided to cross 3 lanes of traffic to get to his exit 100 feet ahead.

Regards, JEff

Malashaan

In Vermont, I took 8 lessons with a professional instructor and then passed the test comfortably; I probably could have taken less lessons and still passed. I gather it varies from state to state, but for peace of mind, I think it's worth investing in professional lessons if there is any way to afford it.

SultanOfSwing

My favourite (sarcastic use) indicator related UK annoyance was the twunts on the motorway who would start indicating a lane change, after they had alread veered in front of you way too close and without warning.

markonline1

The use of indicators here is bloody non existent, and I'm not just talking about freeways. At the bottom of my street is a little parade of shops, or should I say strip mall. The amount if twunts that just slow right down then turn in without indicating is unbelievable. I wouldn't consider doing that, especially with a car behind me, but drivers round here just don't give a stuff about other road users!

ShadowBob

Thought I'd chime in here as I failed my driving test on first attempt in California last week. I only got one 'major' which was for turning the wheels when attempting to turn left and waiting for traffic to pass at an intersection. Force of habit from the UK, but turns out, the wheels on the car have to be absolutely straight, so don't turn in until it's clear to go kids!

Lesson learned for me, better luck next time.

Michael

If you turned the wheels, the testing officer must have thought you moved too close to the on coming traffic. If you would have stopped and then turned the wheels, that would have probably been OK.

You probably learned that from the London driving aggressiveness.

ShadowBob

I don't think I've ever actually driven in London and I wouldn't try. Pedestrians in the capital are bad enough, I hate to think what they're like behind the wheel.

Turning in at a crossroads is common practice in the UK, particularly when there is little room to manuevre. If you're turning right and an oncoming car is turning right also, you turn the car towards the exit, effectively parallel to and mirroring what the car opposite is doing.

Jonion

No, it's never OK to do that.
I'm surprised anyone in the US cares enough to spot it though considering how lapse they are with other driving scenarios.

Anyway, the reasoning is this: If you turn the wheels at a junction (whether stopped or not) you are now at risk of moving into the oncoming traffic. If you were to make an error (slip on the clutch or accelerator for example) you now leave your lane and enter another. Having straight ahead wheels prevents this.