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Is this going to become a yearly thing for Jim Graham?
The Councilman (seemingly hell-bent on spending his recent free time to cultivate his already-prominent crotchety old man persona) is back at it again, this time in Courtland Milloy's Post column on the District's new traffic-control system. This time, Graham stops short of equating our neighbors to the north with the Prince of Darkness, but still believes that they are "the most reckless drivers, with some of the most outrageous driving habits."
"I am determined to slow these people down," Graham said. You hear that, Maryland? The self-proclaimed "King of Speed Bumps" is calling you out!
Just in case you forgot, Graham talked the same smack last year in an interview with WJLA, during which Graham called Maryland drivers "the devil incarnate." Of course, most of our readers -- a solid 63% -- happened to agree with him.
We suppose, in the interest of science, it's time to test the waters again. Stand up and be counted, people. Has anything changed? Are Maryland drivers the most reckless? Or are you taking the Grahamstander's side?
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They are, of course; but at least most of them pay for parking. You hear that Jim?
Um, has he not been in Virginia lately? There's a reason why their State Troopers are on permanent PMS.
Wait, DC leaders want to convince people DC deserves Congressional representation, right?
I don't know why but the Maryland AgTag drivers are the worst, something about the plates compels the driver to go 30 over the limit while having a nextel 2-way conversation.
Maryland drivers who eat Jumbo Slice are the worst.
Maryland drivers should be required to drive in the right lane with their hazards on.
Seriously, what part of you're a block from my house alone in an SUV approaching two sequential red lights and a traffic jam, I'm in a crosswalk don't speed up it's a f*ing felony to hit me knowingly with your killing us both in multiple ways POS don't you understand? F*ck his comments about pizza: Jim Graham fixes Maryland drivers, he has my vote again. And by fix I mean spay.
That being said... Jim Graham is a Dbag.
Love the quote "Only in the last five years have we seen the emergence of a really professional cadre of parking control officers."
in tomorrow's WP... "Second City Councilman Caught Smoking Crack"
Jim Graham and Lon Anderson should be crossing guards instead of pretending to be transportation gurus.
You park illegally. You get a ticket.
You exceed the posted speed limit. You get a ticket.
I don't know what people are complaining about. I've lived in Virginia for 11 years, drive into DC very regularly, and have only ever gotten 3 parking tickets (which I deserved) and no speeding tickets.
Follow the law. Stop whining.
can't we all just...
...learn to drive?
Sorry folks! Study Finds DC Drivers are Worst in Region: http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0509/625038.html
Sorry folks! Study Finds DC Drivers are Worst in Region: http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0509/625038.html
What a misleading headline. Should say DC drivers the dumbest or least-knowledgeable. "Worst" would imply high accident rate, lots of moving violations (of course cops here don't enforce those too often), etc. I'm from California, and have relatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, all three of which rank behind DC, based on this quiz. Except for Boston drivers, I'm pretty sure most are better than DC.
Atlanta drivers are worse [and less knowledgeable!] than VA, DC or MD. Also, I don't drive much, but I don't notice a real difference between the three. Just silly banter depending on which of the places you happen to live.
Agreed, MikeB. This test is based on knowledge, not necessarily how well you drive. My biggest beef with DC/MD/VA drivers is that they just don't seem to be paying attention with what's going on around them. A knowledge-based exam can't test for that. New York and New Jersey drivers break the rules all the time, but I'm much more confident that they won't hit me b/c they didn't know I was there. I constantly have that fear with DC/MD/VA drivers.
Case in point: I just took the test and got 90%. Very few people who've been in a car with me would say I'm an A- driver.
I don't know but almost every time a driver cuts me off, or fails to use a blinker the car has Maryland plates. And to top it all off every time I see the worse behavior i.e. cutting across multiple lanes of traffic or backing up on the interstate, its a Maryland plate.
I don't ignore that there are assholes all throughout the region but it seems Marylander's are the worse offenders. Thats just my observation!
It is really cute watching Graham and, ahem, others rant and rave about Maryland drivers. Too bad there isn't a real study... oh wait... there is:
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/993/where-the-worst-drivers-live/
Maryland has nothing to be proud of. Virginia is pretty good.
Washington D.C. has worse drivers than both.
I guess could make that old argument about D.C. not being a state... but it wouldn't really apply here, would it?
HOLY HELL am I tired of all of this Maryland driver bashing! Time for a DreadPirate broadside.
You, Virginia - yes, YOU, - are constantly in the left lane doing the speed limit. The left lane is for passing. If you have someone on your ass - which is admittedly "reckless" - then STFU and GET IN THE RIGHT LANE. I will happily shove the pirate ship right up your minivan's tailpipe if you don't. If I sense you're deliberately ignoring me to prove some sort of moral point, I'll move even closer until my bowsprit is gently clanging against your baby-on-board placard.
D.C. - where do I even start with you? Illegal U-turns - that's a good start! L'Enfant's grid/axes street plan, as crazy as it may be, does NOT entitle you to ignore one way streets and make U-turns just to avoid traveling an extra one, two, or even three blocks out of your way. STFU and keep turning right, you'll get there eventually.
Graham - I find it slightly ironic that a gay dude can be rightfully accused of hurling politically motivated stereotyping grounded in ignorance and oversimplification (as I am doing here). I'm not going to accuse of him of being a hypocrite - yet - but it would be curious to see whether he keeps that little Beetle at the ridiculously low city speed limit of 25 MPH whenever he's scurrying about.
I totally agree about VA. I come from a state where the speed limit is 65 and everyone in the left lane is doing 80, but here I try to get in the left lane on 66 and there's always some jerk doing 50 in a 55.
A note to each and every douchebag from Maryland who is going to try and defend their god-fucking-awful driving. On a highway the left-most lane is called the FUCKING passing lane...not the "drive 10 miles under the speed limit and wonder why people are passing you right while extending their middle finger" lane. Learn how to fucking drive and learn the fucking rules of the road. Dickbag.
See my comment, supra. You must be confused...
And this is exclusive to MD drivers? I see just as many VA and DC drivers in the fast lane going well under the speed limit.
You sound like one of these drivers who seems to think that the speedometer is a personal challenge. Please try and obey the speed limits. And if you can't please try to hit the Jersey barrier and not me when you lose control at 110 mph.
And please take a sedative of some kind. You sound like your head is ready to explode.
maryland? it's virginia drivers that scare the shit out of me. every time a car seems to be on a suicidal mission, there's a VA plate.
Nay, suicide requires intent. Virginia drivers are a study in obliviousness. Suck it, Bsmith, with style!
People, stop with the pointless ranting and raving. Personal opinions are as worthless as anecdotal evidence. Just read the real studies:
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/993/where-the-worst-drivers-live/
Wait, what's the point of posting a comment if you can't rant and rave?
Exactly!
You already posted that. If people don't respond, it's not because you didn't speak loudly enough. It's because you're being ignored. Seriously, it's way more fun to talk about all the things that frustrate us about drivers from other jurisdictions.
But in terms of that "study" - check out the responses to ma912 above. Knowing the rules to pass the written portion of a driving test doesn't make you a good driver. When I first took the written test in Pennsylvania when I was 16 I scored 100%, but my mother still wouldn't let me out alone on the road for another 6 months.
The repetition was intentional.
Right. And we now have 4 links to the same study.
When the Grahamstander stops parking his own car illegally, uses mass transit more than just for a photo-op, and--heaven forbid--actually walks somewhere, then I might take him seriously on traffic issues...wait, who am I kidding?!
When a City Council member parks in an illegal parking place, it is no longer an illegal parking place.
You are my new god. I will pay your bail.
You want to really make a different, make it illegal to drive a car that is more than 10 years old with temporary tags in the city. You will cut down on both accidents and armed robberies.
yes yes yes. DC drivers sometimes stop at crosswalks. MD drivers NEVER do.
Bullshit. Most DC drivers don't know a crosswalk from a clusterfuck.
Pretty entertaining the suburban drivers who think that
District residents are complaining because you're not "good enough drivers." We're not.
We're complaining because you fuck-nozzles drive 10-15 mph over the speed limit through our residential neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, you're patting yourselves on the back because of your familiarity with the Uniform Traffic Code.
Fucking hilarious.
Anyway, I live in NE, and I've already written my Councilmember *several* times that my vote is mostly dependent on how much he makes life a living Hell for suburban drivers.
This outweighs ridiculous issues like "voting rights" by a ratio of about 100,000:1.
Just sayin'.
Know what else is entertaining?
Driving the speed limit in the left lane. It's almost as fun as riding my bike in the right lane.
I love my commute through my beautiful city. :)
Oh, and you smarmy, self-righteous, hemp-powered Prius-driving DC drivers ALWAYS obey the speed limit when you come to MD or VA for an unexpired gallon of milk or a u-bend?
I see just as many of your ilk speeding through my neigborhood so STFU.
Oh please. 30% of the cars in the P St WF parking lots have MD/VA tags. Ticket and tow, I say. Melt them down and use the resulting slag and dross to speed "repairs" on the 14th St bridge.
My neighborhood is in MD, sonny jim. I see DC drivers speeding, weaving, blowing through crosswalks, etc. If y'all are going to preach, get your own damn house in order before you do.
Hey, if whicheverthefuckpolitician from some inner MD 'burb want's to trashtalk DC drivers for endangering MD residents, I say more power to them. In fact, station all the state troopers and put up all the speed cameras you want. It won't bother me a bit, I'll even smile a bit.
See, I don't drive in MD but once or twice a year. I've got little reason to. :) This is in stark contrast to the 600,000 or so average joe out-of-District drivers that commute in and out of my city each work day. :)
Wow, thanks for sharing.
Hey, if whicheverthefuckpolitician from some inner MD 'burb want's to trashtalk DC drivers for endangering MD residents, I say more power to them. In fact, they can station all the state troopers and put up all the speed cameras they want. It won't bother me a bit, I'll even cheer them on.
See, I don't drive in MD but once or twice a year. Aside from Ikea and the Apple store, I've got no reason to.
Do you really? Or did you just make that shit up for dramatic effect? Because I see MD drivers speed down my DC street 10-15 miles over the limit about every 5 minutes. Long ago, I lived in both Del Ray Alexandria, and Bethesda (both close-in burbs), and I don't remember ever seeing that many DC drivers when I was there, much less one getting air over the "calming bumps" like I see MD and VA drivers doing in the city, literally- every day I come home and almost get hit as I cross my street. I think for MD drivers 25 just means under 55.
Alright, so MD drivers are awful, but VA drivers definitely take the cake. Ever noticed that VA drivers seem to be continuously disoriented by DC? It's as if, if they're not on a highway or some other eight-lane road, they're totally confused about what's going on. Even when they're on the highway, it's one on-going lesson about just how insecure people really are (and MD drivers are guilty of this too). They'll drive 55 in the left lane, then speed up when you try to pass them. It's one huge, 'mine's bigger than yours and even if I'm not comfortable going 75, I'm going to speed up to 75 for just long enough so you can't get by me. Then I'll slow down again.' Ever notice that there's ALWAYS traffic in VA? Always.
Really though, first thing's first. Enforce the cell phone ban. Make these people actually pay attention to driving and end the constant yapping (because I don't know about you, but every other person I see in a car in DC is on the phone). It's amazing to me that we've reached a point in human existence where we are more or less incapable of being alone with our thoughts (as I comment on a story - I know).
If that fails, I say ban all cars in DC that aren't taxis, buses, or delivery trucks/vans. Make people walk, ride, or use public transportation. It'll lower health care costs, make the streets safer, and generally make life more pleasant for everyone. Who's with me?
Do people really notice license plates of moronic drivers? I just assume that if you're in a car in DC, regardless of where you're from, you're an idiot. Also, pedestrians? Idiots. Walking is for suckers. Besides, you might tip over and fall down or something. As for people on bicycles, they are the pinnacle of human evolution. Fine examples of humanity that exemplify all the admirable traits of Boyscouts (kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty) with the exquisite aroma of low tide. Yessir, until Americans come to resemble Tetsuo: The Iron Man, our next best bet are bicyclists.
Monocyclists, however, remain worse than Hitler OR Falco.
"If that fails, I say ban all cars in DC that aren't taxis, buses, or delivery trucks/vans."
Yikes! I dare say that all of the vehicles you just mentioned are possibly the WORST traffic offenders of all. I can't even count how many times I've been nearly hit by a cab driver on his cell phone, or a delivery driver who decided to plow through a crosswalk. And don't even get me started on Metrobus... exhibits A, B, and C for starters.
Jim Graham once again proves what an ignorant, flaming asshole he really is. And doesn't Courtland Milloy have somethig more important to report on, like the state of Marion Barry's bowels?
Sure there are lots of bad MD drivers but there are plenty of awful DC drivers too. I see them all the time piloting their GMC RhapMobiles at 30mph+ over the posted speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic, passing on the right what all the time talking on the ceLLee to their hOmEEzz. Or in their fucking SmartCars driving 15mph while straddling two lanes with the right blinker on constantly.
I hope that when Mr. Graham drives his little VW KlownKar full of oiled up Chippendales, er...city employees through MD or VA, he's obeying all traffic laws. It'd be a shame if he got pulled over and cited by the police for speeding. No doubt he'd go all Paul Strauss on 'em.
Anyone else think it's kinda timely that right after the Grahamstander got smacked about his plan to ban pizza parlors, this story of him demagoguing Maryland drivers comes out?
Rather convenient change of topic for the little man.
Well, it was either that or bring out his anti-loitering bill for the twenty-seventh time. That legislation has been loitering around City Hall for years. Are there no politicians who are moral who are willing to pass some bold, common sense anti-anti-loitering law legislation? As an incentive, I'll offer this fresh, delicous baby in a tub of mambo sauce. Five for $5.
DC drivers are the worst, by far. I live and drive in DC all the time and there are far more problems from the average DC plated car.DC cab drivers, especially.
It's like every day is f*cking Sunday. At a 4-way stop sign, DO NOT spend 5 minutes politely waving everyone else ahead of you, just go! If you want to make a left turn on a busy street, you just MIGHT have to either go before the cars the other way start coming, or run the yellow light at the end of the cycle. Otherwise YOU WILL NEVER GET THROUGH!
It drives me nuts, it's like they're half asleep. I'll take an aggressive jerk who doesn't know how to use his turn-signal before a comatose DC driver any day.
I agree. Aggressive jerks I can deal with. It's the ones who drive like they're TOTALLY F**KING HIGH that drive me ape$h!t. Zero f**king clue as to their surroundings. They always seem to be looking LEFT as they make a RIGHT turn into ME. Or they're loitering in the left lane, talking $h!t into their phones. Why can't Jim Graham pass some anti-left-lane-loitering legislation?
The worst are the senile batfarts in HUGE freaking Oldsmobiles/Cadillac Crown Victorias. They usually seem to suffer from shrinking grandma/grandpa syndrome. You can barely see their scalp above the dashboard, and they're always leaning in with their forehead against the windshield, as if that extra three inches of squinting will actually allow them to see where the f**k they're going. God help you if you're trapped behind them when they're trying to parallel park. They need to make a 26-point turn to even try and begin to get their juggernaut car in the space.
Then there's the TINY hausfraus in the two-story Nissan Apocalypses. You can't see their heads either. And for some reason, even though they're in a goddamned SUV with shocks that could absorb the weight of the car dropped from a suborbital altitude, they still SLOW DOWN TO 2MPH WHEN THEY GO OVER SPEED BUMPS.
Are any of these exclusively MD/DC/VA traits? No. Are any of them racial-specific traits? Yes. They're examples of that most ignorant, self-involved, lazy race: the human race. The sooner we start breeding with CHUDs and Morlocks, the sooner these annoying traits will disappear, replaced by a taste for human flesh and the ability to see in the dark.
Nissan Apocalypse. I love it. This could be a better name than Canyonero.
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!
Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
The Federal Highway comission has ruled the
Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.
Canyonero!
12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!
Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)
Face it, all motorists think the other sucks. As George Carlin once said, if the guy in the car passes you, he's an asshole but if he's slowing you down, he's a moron. Ditch the cars, ride a bike. then you'll see how bad it is on the road. Everyone needs to take it down a notch especially through neighborhoods where kids play...remember them?
Anecdote:
About a year ago, the city installed speed humps on East Capitol street as it makes its way around Lincoln Park. For *weeks* my neighbors and I on Capitol Hill would watch as commuters from Maryland would speed past the park--often traveling 15-20 mph over the posted 25 mph speed limit.
And when the cars would hit the humps, they'd bottom-out, throw showers of sparks, some would practically get airborne.
And the crowds of folks who live around there would be laughing and cheering. As a community-building phenomenon, it was only surpassed by an Amish barn-raising. I get choked up just thinking about it.
God bless America.
I dunno. Virginia drivers can be just as bad. Example: last week I saw a car gunning down 23rd toward the light at L, which was yellow. I didn't step onto the street when the light changed because I saw how fast this car was flying. The woman on the opposite side almost got plowed over by the maniac (female, brown shoulder-length hair, dark blue Nissan) who blew her horn at her as she veered left onto L. It was a scary sight. I hope there was one of those traffic cameras at that intersection.
I LOVE AGRESSIVE JERKS TOO! I HATE CALM PEOPLE, PATIENT or FRIENDLY PEOPLE! I MEAN WE HAVE PLACES TO GO!!! JERKS IN A CONSTANT HURRY RULE! SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD BE A HIT TOGETHER! OR AT LEAST HIT SOME PEOPLE TOGETHER!! CALL ME: 202-AAA-RGGG.
CALL ME: 202-AAA-RGGG.
I called that number and was transferred to the German Goo Girls mailorder pr0n outfit.
Not that I'm complaining.
Two things:
Nobody bothers to behave when they're not in their own 'hood. I won't rehash the MD on DC crimes, but for DC on MD crime, come to the Beltsville Costco on Saturday. At least half the tags are from DC, and not one of them gives a sh!t about the natives.
If you are a pedestrian on a sidewalk and you want to cross a street, DO NOT step in front of a moving vehicle COMING STRAIGHT AT YOU to do it. The little stripies on the street may get the driver a ticket, but that won't make you any less injured or dead.
Wait (that's right, I said WAIT) for the traffic to go by, and cross after the cars leave. Kindergarden 101.
Wait (that's right, I said WAIT) for the traffic to go by, and cross after the cars leave. Kindergarden 101.
Cool, I'll let all the 3-5 year olds on my street know, you arrogant fuckwit.
Mary landers are awful. They rarely even signal when changing lanes or turning. By far the worst in the region.
Born and live in DC, lived in MD & VA for times as well, I have to say that idiots are everywhere. VA drivers have no practice driving because they are always sitting in traffic on 66 and bridges; MD drivers are aggressive and entitled, DC drivers are a mix of both. The linking characteristic between all three places is entitlement and an inflated sense of importance, e.g., if you miss a turn, turn on the next block, don't stop and try to make an illegal u-turn to inconvenience everyone else (I see this all the time). As a pedestrian, I also have to say that they are just as horrible and entitled as well (running across GA Avenue without looking while wearing all black in the dark ,serously?), they just don't have license plates so I can't see where they're from. It's all of us, pedestrians and drivers, from all three areas.
Typically, most drivers drive like "retarded monkeys".
Have you ever actually seen a retarded monkey drive? At least they can parallel park in less time it takes to evolve.
One thing that has always annoyed me about Maryland drivers is that many of them never seem to turn their headlights on during rain.
It's a law in both MD and VA (I'm unsure about DC) to turn your lights on during showers. Unfortunately, whenever I'm driving through MD during a storm, no matter how bad, lots of people seem content to just drive along in the rain behind me with their lights off, making them nearly impossible to see. I rarely have this problem in VA.