Why can't Americans drive ?
Jun 12th 2007, 9:03 am
#61
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles Ca
Posts: 375
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
I think that there are a couple of issues. some which have been hilighted already. The driving test is a total joke no matter what locals think. To think that you can be qualified to drive after a 10 minute once around the block and a quick parralel park in an empty street is not a test of driving skills. Nor is the written test. That is how it was for me anyway. Now it maybe that you have to drivers ed if you are under 18 or young but there are plenty of people that start driving later in life who do not have to do this.
Its incredibly that you can learn and qualify on an automatic and be allowed to drive a manual car. They are two very very different beasts.
The other big problem at least here in LA is the road layout and signage. As someone else said I have to get on the on ramp cross 5 lanes of traffic within about 200 yards to cross onto the freeway to get home each night, ridiculous. The signposts for freeway entrances are often completely hidden around a corner and invisible until you have actually got on the freeway. Some genius thought it would be great to put the freeway entrance sign around a blind bend so as youre travelling at 70mph down the 134 you have about 100 yards to cross over assuming you saw the hidden sign around the blind bend to get to the 2 freeway.
I am sure bad signage is the cause of a huge number of accidents. Another example the 134 and 101 freeways cross each other. There are signs telling you how to get from the 134 to 101 and vice versa in one direction but not the other, until you have left the freeway. I am sure these freeway designers were on acid when they designed them. There is just no common sense at all.
No wonder you see people suddenly swerve across 5 lanes to get to their exit.
And dont get me started on the tiny little carpool regulation signs that flash by. There is so much writing on them it has to be impossible to read them. Some of them are very important telling you how many people you need and at what times.
And why do they do road markings. The eye scans from top to bottom not bottom to top. So I read Only Turn Left instead of Left turn only for example.. makes no sense at all
Its incredibly that you can learn and qualify on an automatic and be allowed to drive a manual car. They are two very very different beasts.
The other big problem at least here in LA is the road layout and signage. As someone else said I have to get on the on ramp cross 5 lanes of traffic within about 200 yards to cross onto the freeway to get home each night, ridiculous. The signposts for freeway entrances are often completely hidden around a corner and invisible until you have actually got on the freeway. Some genius thought it would be great to put the freeway entrance sign around a blind bend so as youre travelling at 70mph down the 134 you have about 100 yards to cross over assuming you saw the hidden sign around the blind bend to get to the 2 freeway.
I am sure bad signage is the cause of a huge number of accidents. Another example the 134 and 101 freeways cross each other. There are signs telling you how to get from the 134 to 101 and vice versa in one direction but not the other, until you have left the freeway. I am sure these freeway designers were on acid when they designed them. There is just no common sense at all.
No wonder you see people suddenly swerve across 5 lanes to get to their exit.
And dont get me started on the tiny little carpool regulation signs that flash by. There is so much writing on them it has to be impossible to read them. Some of them are very important telling you how many people you need and at what times.
And why do they do road markings. The eye scans from top to bottom not bottom to top. So I read Only Turn Left instead of Left turn only for example.. makes no sense at all
Jun 12th 2007, 9:18 am
#62
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: HMP Strangeways
Posts: 5,206
Jun 12th 2007, 10:15 am
#64
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
More Yanks on this bloody thread than Brits. Think we've hit a sore point!
Jun 12th 2007, 12:22 pm
#66
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Jun 12th 2007, 2:22 pm
#68
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: south east USA
Posts: 33
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
[QUOTE=and a quick parralel park in an empty street is not a test of driving skills.
in a street? i did mine in a minature secluded car park. parking and drove through some cones, that was it, hadnt ever driven before in the UK, got my US driving licence within 5 days of touching down at miami airport.
in a street? i did mine in a minature secluded car park. parking and drove through some cones, that was it, hadnt ever driven before in the UK, got my US driving licence within 5 days of touching down at miami airport.
Jun 12th 2007, 3:32 pm
#69
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 9,845
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
Maybe driving here isn't so bad after all 
Jun 12th 2007, 3:35 pm
#70
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
Why can´t British drive......?
Sorry, but over here in Spain I see British drivers commiting similar offences as they have no concept of driving on the ¨wrong side of the road¨.
However, I think British are better drivers considering the congestion on roads over there and the need for a bit more discipline.
There are idiots on the road everywhere.
Sorry, but over here in Spain I see British drivers commiting similar offences as they have no concept of driving on the ¨wrong side of the road¨.
However, I think British are better drivers considering the congestion on roads over there and the need for a bit more discipline.
There are idiots on the road everywhere.
Jun 12th 2007, 3:35 pm
#71
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
Jun 12th 2007, 3:39 pm
#73
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 9,845
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
It's India.. maybe the Brits gave them driving lessons
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Jun 12th 2007, 3:40 pm
#74
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
Roundabouts as you call them, or circles as we down here in lower New York State use to call them, are not a part of our roadways any longer. We did away with the last one about 40 years ago and that was the Hawthorne Circle as best I remember. So difficult to know how to use something that you are not familiar with.
Jun 12th 2007, 3:49 pm
#75
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Why can't Americans drive ?
Perhaps if the cops had the brains to go to the passenger side of the vehicle to have a word with the driver and check his inspection/registraion (as they do almost everywhere else) the dozy bastards wouldn't get run over....and dont gimme that crap about the driver might have a gun and its safer at the drivers door......well as "more are killed at traffic stops than any other activity" it kinda proves that maybe standing with your arse 3 inches from a semi doing 65mph just incase the 90 year old blue rinse in the Buick Century is packing a loaded Smith and Wesson and wants to bust a cap in his ass isn't exactly the smartest thing in the world to be doing.
