stupid drivers, and who are they?!!

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by thebarber

theres also being too cautious....like doing 80 on the 401

We will never agree on that point and if you did my commute everyday you might think differently as I used to drive a lot differently under different circumstances.

One thing which we can't dispute is people going over 100 km/h are breaking the law. People going 80 km/h are not.

People passing on the shoulder or on the right, going from the express into merge lanes through solid lines to cut in front of traffic, not signaling lane changes, tail gating, weaving in and out, and driving slow in any lane other than the right lane are all breaking the law. People driving 80 km/h in the right lane on a 3 lane highway are not breaking the law.

I can't control how fast those idiotic people on the road want to drive who think the MAXIMUM posted speed limit is a suggestion, but I can control how fast I am going when/if things go wrong.

I choose to greatly increase my statistical chances of avoiding or surviving an accident by driving slower, using proper tires in the conditions (this means winter tires in the winter) and driving defensively, because I know I am not a perfect driver and I need to be vigilant about safety for mine and others sake.

People can be too timid to drive, but that is not the largest problem on our roads. It's the people who are too confident about their own abilities as a driver who think they can control any situation and need not worry about the laws of physics or the highway.

It has even been proven by traffic flow experts that if people drove slower that highway congestion would go away. Instead everyone is speeding up to go no where and clogging it all up. I often do not touch my brakes on my entire 50 km one way trip on the 401. You can think I'm being too cautious, or that I'm too timid, but that's just one more misconception that you share with other people who think they don't have to follow all of the rules on the road.

[MUSKOKA800]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

We will never agree on that point and if you did my commute everyday you might think differently as I used to drive a lot differently under different circumstances.

One thing which we can't dispute is people going over 100 km/h are breaking the law. People going 80 km/h are not.

People passing on the shoulder or on the right, going from the express into merge lanes through solid lines to cut in front of traffic, not signaling lane changes, tail gating, weaving in and out, and driving slow in any lane other than the right lane are all breaking the law. People driving 80 km/h in the right lane on a 3 lane highway are not breaking the law.

I can't control how fast those idiotic people on the road want to drive who think the MAXIMUM posted speed limit is a suggestion, but I can control how fast I am going when/if things go wrong.

I choose to greatly increase my statistical chances of avoiding or surviving an accident by driving slower, using proper tires in the conditions (this means winter tires in the winter) and driving defensively, because I know I am not a perfect driver and I need to be vigilant about safety for mine and others sake.

People can be too timid to drive, but that is not the largest problem on our roads. It's the people who are too confident about their own abilities as a driver who think they can control any situation and need not worry about the laws of physics or the highway.

It has even been proven by traffic flow experts that if people drove slower that highway congestion would go away. Instead everyone is speeding up to go no where and clogging it all up. I often do not touch my brakes on my entire 50 km one way trip on the 401. You can think I'm being too cautious, or that I'm too timid, but that's just one more misconception that you share with other people who think they don't have to follow all of the rules on the road.

I'm sure people drive with reckless abandon in Ontario simply because our police dwell on speeding only. I'll bet 99% of OPP tickets are written for speeding while not a kilometre passes without seeing drivers who are too lazy/inconsiderate to use their signals for turns and lane changes, making double/triple lane changes, making left and right turns clear across multiple lanes, usually with no signal, yakking on phones and texting, obstructing the PASSING lane etc, etc, etc...
The only time we hear of any other infractions being ticketed is when they have the long weekend blitzes on the 400 series highways (do they still have those since the camera loving Cam Woolley retired). Too bad they ignore the chaos that goes on the other ~355 days of the year.
I agree we also badly need re-testing every 10 years of so. This should be followed by unanimous video surveillance and immediate licence suspension those who pass then return to their sloppy driving habits.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Far too many abuse the privilege.

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by MUSKOKA800

I'm sure people drive with reckless abandon in Ontario simply because our police dwell on speeding only. I'll bet 99% of OPP tickets are written for speeding while not a kilometre passes without seeing drivers who are too lazy/inconsiderate to use their signals for turns and lane changes, making double/triple lane changes, making left and right turns clear across multiple lanes, usually with no signal, yakking on phones and texting, obstructing the PASSING lane etc, etc, etc...
The only time we hear of any other infractions being ticketed is when they have the long weekend blitzes on the 400 series highways (do they still have those since the camera loving Cam Woolley retired). Too bad they ignore the chaos that goes on the other ~355 days of the year.
I agree we also badly need re-testing every 10 years of so. This should be followed by unanimous video surveillance and immediate licence suspension those who pass then return to their sloppy driving habits.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Far too many abuse the privilege.

Those are really good points.

[Pars]

Not in my area, it's 365 days and one wrong move and the Toronto police is on my ass. I've got 6 Starbucks surrounding my house that are about 2 min drive away. If i'm not passing a police cruiser on the way to Starbuck, I'll end up meeting them in the line-up for coffee (luckly, It's not a police line-up).

I think Toronto, specifically the Markham/Scarborough area have the worst drivers and the police presents in that area is scares. Go figure.

If the world was a perfect place, there wouldn't be any bad drivers, we just need to learn to keep our cool and keep our distance. Personally, speeding/speeders don't annoy me. In fact, I like being passed by a speeder and am quick to get out of their way.....less chance for me to get pulled over when there's someone going faster.

The really annoying drivers are the ones who are going slower then the rest of the traffic and hogging the left lane. In those situation, I'll just hang back and watch the entertainment while someone tries futilely to get them to move and wait for an opening. Then there's the people who are going too fast for conditions. In the city area, when the road gets slick, I'm the one who's passing everyone, but up north, in the snow country, I'm either mid pack or slower. Which is alright since I'm around drivers who are experienced. Not so in the city, if they're trying to pass me, I put them in the idiot category and give them lots of space. If it's a two wheeler, I'll go down on the accelerator and leave them behind (I don't want the idiots trying to pass me and then spinning out in front of me or side swiping me). If it's another 4 wheeler, I'll back off and let them pass and then get them to clear the way for me. Especially in very heavy snow where my lighter SUV won't cut through the snow as well a heavier SUV, but around the turns, I'm just as nimble as the cars, and got the traction control and 4 wheel drive in reserve if I overdue it.

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by Pars

Not in my area, it's 365 days and one wrong move and the Toronto police is on my ass. I've got 6 Starbucks surrounding my house that are about 2 min drive away. If i'm not passing a police cruiser on the way to Starbuck, I'll end up meeting them in the line-up for coffee (luckly, It's not a police line-up).

I think Toronto, specifically the Markham/Scarborough area have the worst drivers and the police presents in that area is scares. Go figure.

If the world was a perfect place, there wouldn't be any bad drivers, we just need to learn to keep our cool and keep our distance. Personally, speeding/speeders don't annoy me. In fact, I like being passed by a speeder and am quick to get out of their way.....less chance for me to get pulled over when there's someone going faster.

The really annoying drivers are the ones who are going slower then the rest of the traffic and hogging the left lane. In those situation, I'll just hang back and watch the entertainment while someone tries futilely to get them to move and wait for an opening. Then there's the people who are going too fast for conditions. In the city area, when the road gets slick, I'm the one who's passing everyone, but up north, in the snow country, I'm either mid pack or slower. Which is alright since I'm around drivers who are experienced. Not so in the city, if they're trying to pass me, I put them in the idiot category and give them lots of space. If it's a two wheeler, I'll go down on the accelerator and leave them behind (I don't want the idiots trying to pass me and then spinning out in front of me or side swiping me). If it's another 4 wheeler, I'll back off and let them pass and then get them to clear the way for me. Especially in very heavy snow where my lighter SUV won't cut through the snow as well a heavier SUV, but around the turns, I'm just as nimble as the cars, and got the traction control and 4 wheel drive in reserve if I overdue it.

I don't know if you're really smart or if I think you're really smart, because I agree with you

I think all your points are bang on.

I've live in the Scarborough/Markham area for a couple years now and people at work didn't believe me that the drivers there could be as bad as I said until a couple of them had to go to some meetings in the area.

[MUSKOKA800]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

I don't know if you're really smart or if I think you're really smart, because I agree with you

I think all your points are bang on.

I've live in the Scarborough/Markham area for a couple years now and people at work didn't believe me that the drivers there could be as bad as I said until a couple of them had to go to some meetings in the area.

I have a buddy who lives near Kennedy Road. Before the first time I was to go to visit he warned me of the drivers on Kennedy Road. After many visits since I can concur that the "steering wheel holders" in his vicinity need some education. Evidently getting a license in some foreign countries doesn't require much skill, common sence or confidence.

[Pars]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

I don't know if you're really smart or if I think you're really smart, because I agree with you

I think all your points are bang on.

I've live in the Scarborough/Markham area for a couple years now and people at work didn't believe me that the drivers there could be as bad as I said until a couple of them had to go to some meetings in the area.

Thanks Voodoo22.