Are car drivers getting worse or is it....

[Chuck Wintle]

just me? Tonight I was cut off by a driver who never even looked to see if it was clear to change lanes. I hit the brakes just in time to slow so as not rear end the car. And another driver thought they would cut in front just by getting aggressive and moving over. They did not get in finally. But this has left me wondering where are peoples heads at times?

[Rick Potter]

I could answer that final question, but propriety demands I pass on this one.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hey Chuck, it could be worse. You could be driving in either Toronto or Boston where driving is a full contact sport.

Seriously though between talking on cell phones and texting drivers have gotten progressively worse. Add in the aggressive ones who are sure they own the road and commutes are a pain in the butt. My wife drive the I-95 loop around Boston twice a day back and forth from work and at 6AM if she isn't doing at least 75 mph in the right lane other drivers including 18 wheelers are all over her. You are probably safer in Kandahar.

[Joe Tilson]

Let's face it. They are thinking; "It's all about me".

[glenn bradley]

Let's face it. They are thinking; "It's all about me".

Not to be an egocentric narcissist but . . . , they're all thinking about me

Hey Chuck, it could be worse. You could be driving in either Toronto or Boston where driving is a full contact sport.

Ah, Boston . . . where everyone drives with one hand. The better to free up the other for out-the-window-communicating.

[Brian Elfert]

There is an entrance ramp locally where this Fall the wait to get onto the highway was as long as 30 minutes. Drivers constantly drive in the right lane until the very last minute and then barge their way in. Luckily, a new entrance ramp just opened a month ago that most of the drivers don't know about yet so I go that way and avoid the wait.

"It's all about me" is right. A lot of the moves the drivers make to get into the turn lane from the right lane are downright dangerous. I have seen drivers make a left turn from the right lane while other drivers are turning left from the turn lane and the ramp is only one lane wide!

[Myk Rian]

I know how to do the PIT maneuver, so I'm waiting for some Jackal to try cutting me off. Ya gotta keep your foot on the gas.

[Mark Bolton]

Something that kills me for the past few years is virtually no one uses turn signals anymore. I bet most of the drivers out there have never even heard of getting a ticket for not signaling. I wish the cops would start a ticketing campaign for that.

With regards to general driving, this time of year seems to bring the worst out in drivers and probably puts me at a higher "testy" level so I am more easily irritated. I am (as usual) looking eagerly to January. This time of year really tries my patience.

[glenn bradley]

Something that kills me for the past few years is virtually no one uses turn signals anymore.

Perhaps if they required turn signals in the video games where most of today's new drivers learned to aim a car they would use them by second nature the way many of us do. Using turn signals is not a conscious operation for me. When I am approaching the turn my finger just flips the lever; its like magic. I can understand how many folks who find their recreation in a couch-bound position might lack the strength to flip the little lever .

Whatever happened to giving undivided attention to the task of driving?

You have hit the nail on the head. With Driver's Education a thing of the past in our schools, very few folks are lucky enough to be taught to drive anymore. They are taught how to aim a car and that is about it. If there isn't a sign to tell them the speed, where to stop and where to park, they are lost and heaven help anyone between them and the next set of instructions .

This thread has obviously hit one of my peeves; I'll be quiet now

[Brian Elfert]

You have hit the nail on the head. With Driver's Education a thing of the past in our schools, very few folks are lucky enough to be taught to drive anymore. They are taught how to aim a car and that is about it. If there isn't a sign to tell them the speed, where to stop and where to park, they are lost and heaven help anyone between them and the next set of instructions .

The state of Minnesota still requires driver education and behind the wheel training even though most drivers ed is done through private driving schools now. I suspect most states are similar. Just because public schools aren't doing it doesn't mean there isn't still training done. I took drivers ed classroom training through the public schools, but my parents had to pay extra for it and it was after school. I went to a private school for behind the wheel. The public schools dropped behind the wheel for liability reasons even though car dealers let them use cars for free.

The state of Minnesota is requiring new drivers to have 40 hours driving with an adult before taking the test starting Jan 1. The parent also has to take a 90 minute course. The driver testing centers are totally booked until year end so teens can avoid the new rules. I think parents are probably pushing their teens to take the test now so the parents don't have to take the time to go the class.

[Judson Green]

With the backup cameras, lane change sensors who needs to pay attention any more. Besides I'm WAY to busy texting, chatting, updating my Facebook, eating a cheeseburger, checking email and respond .... (Hay, some jerk is honking and giving me the finger, how rude) responding to this post.

[ray hampton]

With the backup cameras, lane change sensors who needs to pay attention any more. Besides I'm WAY to busy texting, chatting, updating my Facebook, eating a cheeseburger, checking email and respond .... (Hay, some jerk is honking and giving me the finger, how rude) responding to this post.

You forgot to mention that people apply make-up or change underclothes while they are driving ?

[Bill Orbine]

just me? Tonight I was cut off by a driver who never even looked to see if it was clear to change lanes. I hit the brakes just in time to slow so as not rear end the car. And another driver thought they would cut in front just by getting aggressive and moving over. They did not get in finally. But this has left me wondering where are peoples heads at times?

Did you look to see if the jerk had New Jersey plates?

[Doug Ladendorf]

Did you look to see if the jerk had New Jersey plates?

Hey now. I have found aggressive and stupid drivers to be universal. They seek out "opportunity" wherever it can be found.

[Dick Latshaw]

Unfortunately, a lot of those jerks seem to find their way down here this time of year. (Not to say that we don't have our own share year round. Left lane on I-75, blinker on, driving 50mph.)

But it's better than Boston. I still have nightmares thinking about all those folks trying to merge to get into that tunnel to Logan Airport.