Standard of driving

[Frosty]

In my view its the US drivers which have a poor standard.

Remember they don't do much of a test, they drive Autos and they aren't taught anything about lane discipline.

The people who think its more relaxed in the US, yes it is, but only because they drive relatively slower than we do and the roads are much wider. I.E. on a motorway we do on average 90mph, (do 70mph and you will be passed all day) and we have 3 lanes, they do mostly 70mph on a freeway and could have up to 5 or 6 lanes. This also translates down to smaller roads.

The problem is that US drivers will jump lanes to fill the safety gap you have left infront of you and then bang on the brakes causing everyone else to brake. They drive their autos in 2 ways, stop and go, they don't have the ability to slow the car through gearchanges etc so simply drive up behind then brake.
The phone culture has really caught up with them as well, the US seems to have lagged behind the UK, they all seem to have just got their mobiles (cells) and feel the need to be on them while driving which causes people to just sit there in their own little world in the "fast lane".

The point about road rage been less is valid, but you have to remember the guy you are making gestures to may have a 9mm pistol under his front seat or could be high on weed.

All the above are generalisations and there are exceptions on both sides.

These are not just my views either, i have been lucky enough to be over there 4 times this year, and on 2 of those i drove people round who have never been to the US, they both came back with exactly the same comments about "everyone is on the phone" and "the standard of driving is rubbish".

If i had to choose between a good UK driver and a good US driver, i would pick the UK driver every time, we have a better road awareness and car skills.
But choice of driving venue would have to be the US, the roads although not always finished well are made so that even your dear old granny can get around.

Oh and to all the people who say they get involved in road rage in the UK, maybe you should consider your driving, are you in the correct lane ? doing the right speed ? or not looking round when you pull out ?
If you are, then why are people gesturing at you!!![}]

[millie]

I find driving in Florida OK but you have to be very vigilant all the time. The only thing that drives me mad is the fact that if you want to change lanes eg when your lane is ending noone lets you out. This happened all holiday. I indicated and waited for a gap to get out and noone lets you go like they do in the UK. I don't think they are courteous at all. Changing lanes is a nightmare if it is busy.

[floridageoff]

We will be on our 14th visit to Orlando this November and we have seen an accident every time we have been there. We were nearly involved in one ourselves this year. Careless driver behind us not realising the lights were at red. He had to mount the pavement / sidewalk in order to avoid hitting us. It totally shook us up. I think the key is to drive defensively whilst over there and expect the unexpected.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The problem is that US drivers will jump lanes to fill the safety gap you have left infront of you and then bang on the brakes causing everyone else to brake.
The phone culture has really caught up with them as well, the US seems to have lagged behind the UK, they all seem to have just got their mobiles (cells) and feel the need to be on them while driving which causes people to just sit there in their own little world in the "fast lane".
[/quote]
I agree wholeheartedly that those are the most dangerous characteristics of American driving.
The undertaking and cutting in, if you leave more than a couple of car lengths from the car in front, is the main reason for the endemic tailgating you see everywhere.

No matter what lane I am in, I always seem to end up with a huge SUV(with the driver on a mobile) a couple of feet from my back bumper/fender.

Another reason for the high accident rate is the grass median strip between the freeways. Put a wheel on that at speed and you have the very common rollover accident.

[ellie]

We find driving in Florida pleasant, and have not experienced the daily aggression, tailgating and speeding that occurs on our roads locally. We do avoid the I4 but find the toll roads well worth the minor cost as they are so free of traffic.

I must admit that driving round Miami can be a bit scary, especially on the I95, but every morning on my way to work some maniac wants to drive right up my bumper no matter what speed I go, and seems oblivious to the dangers to himself and others. So it really isn't much different.

Don't forget that some UK drivers can be a bit of a liability in Orlando. Especially when they get off the 'plane and have never driven on the RHS before.[msneek]

Wherever you are you need to keep your wits about you when driving.

[Ray&Sarah]

Ray says that after driving in both Paris and Florence, the US is a breeze.[msnwink][msnsmile2]