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Reuters (via MSNBC) has a story about an annual driver survey that now ranks New York City drivers at the top when it comes to overly aggressive driving. Miami had been number one for the last few years, but New Yorkers have since taken their rightful place as the rudest Americans (behind the wheel). So how does D.C. stack up? Washington was actually ranked fifth on the list of least courteous driving cities last year, but has since fallen out of the top five. So have we really become nicer drivers? Umm... not so much:
Most people, 43 percent, reacted to bad driving by honking the horn. But 36 percent resorted to cursing, 13 percent waved their fists or arms and 10 percent made an obscene gesture.Soooo. How many of these bumper car folks do you reckon were cab drivers?Seven percent were so angry they called the police and one percent admitted they had slammed into the car in front of them.
"In Washington, D.C., four percent of drivers admitted to slamming into another driver," said Bush. "They stand out in that one particular category."
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moreover, what percentage of these people are maryland cab drivers?
i can personally attest to this. i got hit by some jackass on the michigan ave bridge near catholic. he had to move into my lane to avoid rear ending the huge, stationary construction truck. i had moved over already, and he tried to come up from behind and pass me and move over. but he didn't make it in time. and proceeded to move over anyway.
his explanation to the insurance adjuster: "i had my blinker on. he should have let me over."
fortunately that also meant that i didn't have to pay for any repairs....
It's not really clear from the article, but do they define "DC driver" as someone with a DC license? Because including Doug and Linda Boring from La Plata might offset the Mount Pleasant guy who's driving on a suspended license. Or it might not, seeing as MD drivers are the devil incarnate, Satan not being known to properly use his turn signals. He just leaves that left one on all the f**king time. I can't wait until I retire so I can do 20MPH under the speed limit in the left lane and leave the left turn signal on in my Ford Crown Victoria ALL THE F**KING TIME, as well as stick my nose up to the windshield because that extra 6 inches makes all the difference in the world. Or maybe I should just buy a white Mercedes with a vanity plate that says "G-ZUS B 4 ME" and yell into my phone all the time? The only drivers who seem to know what they're doing are the crotch rocket kids weaving in and out of Beltway traffic at 100MPH. At least they're trying to kill themselves.
So, when I first moved to the DC area, I actually had this happen to me. I was merging onto 495...at about 15 MPH....guy on the tail end of the merge didnt like it (there had been plenty of space)..accelerated up straight into the side of my car. Had to work it out with the police later because I didnt stop. Frankly, it was dark in DC and someone had just intentionally hit my car. I didnt really feel safe stopping and having a conversation about it.
was merging onto 495...at about 15 MPH....
See that right there was your problem. When the speed of traffic is 70+ mph and you're only doing 15 mph to merge you're gonna get hit, not because you deserve to but because you need to be up to speed when merging onto a major highway. Some of those exit ramps are so short that if you're only doing 15 mph you will cause an accident just by pulling into the flow of traffic.
Uh. Really? Gee Whiz Guys, thanks for the insightful replies!
Traffic was going 15 MPH or, often, less. It's called "in rush hour someone zigged instead of zagged and so traffic crawls for the nest 4 hours". Im not a soccer mom or an 80 yr old man.
Merging at 15MPH on 495, and given that it's night I doubt it's because traffic was going at 15MPH. Sorry dude but you kinda deserved it. You merge onto the highway at the speed of traffic. Going below that is always what is going to fuck you over.
What part in DC can you merge onto 495?, please enlighten us on this worm hole.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=wilson+bridge+dc&sll=37.370157,-95.712891&sspn=31.535394,49.921875&ie=UTF8&ll=38.795537,-77.041197&spn=0.024551,0.038452&t=h&z=15
I don't know how he would've accomplished his old-lady merge there, though...
Ahhh, the only 200 ft section of 495 in DC, but no on ramp from DC.
I am not going to rise to the obvious bait set forth by IMGoph and the monkster, but will merely note that "slamming" is acceptable when the target is doing less than the speed limit in the left hand lane. That's a gentle hint to move your ass to the right.
"No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'."
"If you two wanna turn yourselves into a greasy spot out on a country road somewhere, go right ahead. I don't give a shit and I don't think anybody else does, but you two monkeys are not going to do it on my racetrack... You trade paint one more time, you so much as touch, I'm gonna Black Flag the two of you, and tear apart your racecars for three-hundred laps."
Blah. Another day, another state ___ has the worst drivers post. Yawn. Everyone knows VA drivers are dangerously incompetent, shockingly inconsiderate, and all around bad BAD people. At least DC and MD drivers GO instead of lollygagging around in a minivan like a lost special needs child.
Yesterday, I actually had crosswalk rage. I need to get out of dodge. It's gone to my head.
Oh, I've had someone honk at me while I was in the cross walk and had the right of way. He got the bird.
Oh, I've had someone honk at me while I was in the cross walk and had the right of way. He got the bird.
No need for honking, flashing your brights, or making obscene jestures at roadhogs. That's just plain rude. Simply flash your handgun, and slowpokes move over, real sharp-like.
Let's take a look at the survey:
Question: Has the idiotic behavior of other drivers, who can't seem to go the speed limit, who leave their turn signal on all the time, and who stop in the middle of the street to use their cell phone, even made you so upset you just wanted to do something?
Yes: 89%
No: 11%
Headline: D.C Drivers Admit to Bad Road Rage Behavior
The offspring and kin of Mama CHUD Chinatown Sue sez that whenever there's a bloody crash and the CHUDs get there before the paramedics...it's chowtime..BIGTIME!