Why are people such oblivious and complacent drivers?

[9500ier]

I blame the totally slack American driving tests. In England, the driving tests includes driving on real roads. And not easy roads. Here are some facts about the English driving test:
1) Includes very narrow roads where 2 way traffic can barely pass to test ability to maneuver in tight spaces.
2) Includes 3 point turn on one of these tight roads, without touching the curb or taking more than 3 turns.
3) Backing around a corner without hitting the curb
4) Driving on a road while keeping up with the traffic, not speeding, but not slowing down traffic by obsessively staying at PSL either (I failed my first test for going at speed limit!).
5) Parallel parking
6) Emergency braking
7) These tests must be completed in a car with a manual gearbox otherwise you get a limited license only
8) Road etiquette - indicating when changing lanes, using the mirrors, letting faster cars pass, etc. Can be failed for not observing these things.
9) It is about an hour long of which 45 minutes is driving on roads.

The Finnish driving test includes skid pad on wet track, moose test and other even greater challenges.

So these European driving tests mean that everyone with a British License had to demonstrate real driving skill at some point in their life.

In Georgia and Florida where I have lived, you drive around a parking lot in an automatic at 5mph, and they consider that a test of car control and road manners. WTF! No surprise we end up with so many drivers who have no place on the road.

wtf is a moose test?

You have to slalom around a field of meese?

p.s. what is the plural of mooses?

[Batman]

A moose test involves crossing a line, then swerving to avoid some closely placed cones, while maintaining control of the vehicle.

Bizarre maneuver for a driving test. Plus they also do skid pad driving between cones on a wet track.

The Fins are nuts! That's why they dominate rallying.

[kpatz]

I figured "moose test" was swerving to avoid a moose in the road...

The plural of moose is moose. Don't ask me why. I like "meese" or "mooses" better. After all, if goose => geese, how come moose !=> meese?

If the plural of house is houses, how come the plural of mouse isn't mouses? Or why the plural of house isn't hice?

[9500ier]

I figured "moose test" was swerving to avoid a moose in the road...

The plural of moose is moose. Don't ask me why. I like "meese" or "mooses" better. After all, if goose => geese, how come moose !=> meese?

If the plural of house is houses, how come the plural of mouse isn't mouses? Or why the plural of house isn't hice?

Yeah, so its like fish and deer... gay!

It should be meese though because it sounds freaking hilarious and goose x 2 = geese.

[SoulSeeker]

I encounter drivers like that at my job everyday I go to work.

[supercowpowers]

A moose test involves crossing a line, then swerving to avoid some closely placed cones, while maintaining control of the vehicle.

Do they also test your ability to see if the other lane is clear so you can choose between hitting a moose or a mini van full of children?

I was always taught the proper response to deer encounters is just slow down as much as you can because the crazy bastards usually move in the direction you just went to avoid them. Are moose lazy enough to just stand in one place?

[Akosikojak]

I blame the totally slack American driving tests. In England, the driving tests includes driving on real roads. And not easy roads. Here are some facts about the English driving test:
1) Includes very narrow roads where 2 way traffic can barely pass to test ability to maneuver in tight spaces.
2) Includes 3 point turn on one of these tight roads, without touching the curb or taking more than 3 turns.
3) Backing around a corner without hitting the curb
4) Driving on a road while keeping up with the traffic, not speeding, but not slowing down traffic by obsessively staying at PSL either (I failed my first test for going at speed limit!).
5) Parallel parking
6) Emergency braking
7) These tests must be completed in a car with a manual gearbox otherwise you get a limited license only
8) Road etiquette - indicating when changing lanes, using the mirrors, letting faster cars pass, etc. Can be failed for not observing these things.
9) It is about an hour long of which 45 minutes is driving on roads.

The Finnish driving test includes skid pad on wet track, moose test and other even greater challenges.

So these European driving tests mean that everyone with a British License had to demonstrate real driving skill at some point in their life.

In Georgia and Florida where I have lived, you drive around a parking lot in an automatic at 5mph, and they consider that a test of car control and road manners. WTF! No surprise we end up with so many drivers who have no place on the road.

I agree for the most part Batman75 on what your saying, I agree in England & some Western European countries people have been taught a little differently than in the States and I know the $ figure to get a operators license is a heck of allot higher than the US (maybe thats part of the equation for "better drivers")

I can tell you that's not the case in most of Eastern Europe though and actually most of the other countries around the world I have been in (44 so far). The road skills/etiquette goes right our the window when it comes to driving in non western European Countries just like here in the States,
Even saw some "crazy" drivers in Germany which I believe are not only the best car makers but the best drivers in the world also, even with the Autobahn (btw I really miss the Autobahn) To me it all comes down to basic common appreciation/respect for the fellow man, In which I have seen in most people around the world. Always a few bad apples no matter where you go.


Another theory I have about us Americans is the "First on race day" mentality we have, (and not only us the Japanese were really good for this also along with some Europeans) from Red light to redlight people will gun the throttle just to cut you off to get in front of you to make a right/left turn.
Also I can't count how many times on the interstate people will do whatever it takes to pass you in left lane and swerve back into the right lane slam the brakes right in front of you to hit the off ramp exit instead of just slowing down get behind you for a second and then make the exit. This maneuver along with most of/if not all stupid driving behavior I think comes down to lack of Patience, something most of us Americans don't have
Just my 2 cents worth.

[Batman]

I can tell you that's not the case in most of Eastern Europe though and actually most of the other countries around the world I have been in (44 so far). The road skills/etiquette goes right our the window when it comes to driving in non western European Countries just like here in the States.

Another theory I have about us Americans is the "First on race day" mentality we have, (and not only us the Japanese were really good for this also along with some Europeans) from Red light to redlight people will gun the throttle just to cut you off to get in front of you to make a right/left turn.

Agree on the driving skills outside of Western Europe. In Miami the reason we have the worst drivers in America is because most people got their licenses in South America.

I don't agree with the notion that Americans have a "first on race day" mentality. Some do (and I generally like them), but there are a boat load who hog the left lane, block overtaking and act as if its their right to hold up faster traffic. This jerk behaviour is a lack of road etiquette instilled by poor laws and poor training. If I had a diplomatic license and a hummer, I could have some fun with those left lane hogs!

[Akosikojak]

"but there are a boat load who hog the left lane, block overtaking and act as if its their right to hold up faster traffic. This jerk behaviour is a lack of road etiquette instilled by poor laws and poor training. If I had a diplomatic license and a hummer, I could have some fun with those left lane hogs!"



Agreed Batman75, for the most part we are on the same sheet of music.

[The Chariot]

On the flip side, there are those who take going faster than everyone else a bit too seriously. You know the type..... Its rush hour on the surface streets and they zip back and forth between right lane and left lane cutting people off with no signal warnings (or 1 sec warning at best). They cause everyone else to jam the brakes, are utterly selfish and oblivious that their actions causes a ripple effect which backs up traffic behind them.

What do they save by risking everyone else's life on the road, maybe 2-5 minutes hour of an hours drive, if that? Sometimes its really funny to watch them do that for a couple of miles and still end up right next to you where they started! These are the type who do just the opposite of lane hoggers and others who purposely try to slow down traffic --- this is the type who think its their job to cut off, piss off, f-off others and be a jerk-off by punishing everyone who doesn't drive as aggressively as them.

People like that act more like they own the road than the left lane hoggers... and I care for neither type!