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hot_pastrami · 06-09-2004, 04:19 PM

In Utah, it's not the drivers from other states who create a roadway menace, but the locals. It's mostly just a general unpredictable stupidity a work, and it makes even a short journey a bit like tiptoeing through a minefield.

Firstly, there is a relatively large number of elderly drivers on the roads. Secondly, the ratio of Prozac-infused soccer moms in minivans is approaching 1:1 at an alarming rate.

When entering a freeway (65-75 MPH), people around here don't accelerate beyond 40 MPH until they are on the freeway itself. The left lane is always littered with slow-movers. In the city, if someone misses a turn, they'll stop in traffic, blocking a dozen other cars, calmly waiting to turn illegally, and avoid the 30 seconds it would require to correct the mis-navigation at the next block. 4-way stops are a fascinating mystery to these people. If you try and pass someone, even if they have been cruising under the speed limit for several miles, they will accelerate once you are alongside them, and try to prevent your passing. Once the passing lane is gone, they will decellerate to their previous speed. Similarly, if you signal to get in front of someone, even if you have plenty of room, they will speed up and close the gap.

I wish I could say that these were the exceptions rather than the norm around here. I also wish I had a solid gold house and a rocket car. But we can't have everything.

06-09-2004, 04:19 PM	#5
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	In Utah, it's not the drivers from other states who create a roadway menace, but the locals. It's mostly just a general unpredictable stupidity a work, and it makes even a short journey a bit like tiptoeing through a minefield. Firstly, there is a relatively large number of elderly drivers on the roads. Secondly, the ratio of Prozac-infused soccer moms in minivans is approaching 1:1 at an alarming rate. When entering a freeway (65-75 MPH), people around here don't accelerate beyond 40 MPH until they are on the freeway itself. The left lane is always littered with slow-movers. In the city, if someone misses a turn, they'll stop in traffic, blocking a dozen other cars, calmly waiting to turn illegally, and avoid the 30 seconds it would require to correct the mis-navigation at the next block. 4-way stops are a fascinating mystery to these people. If you try and pass someone, even if they have been cruising under the speed limit for several miles, they will accelerate once you are alongside them, and try to prevent your passing. Once the passing lane is gone, they will decellerate to their previous speed. Similarly, if you signal to get in front of someone, even if you have plenty of room, they will speed up and close the gap. I wish I could say that these were the exceptions rather than the norm around here. I also wish I had a solid gold house and a rocket car. But we can't have everything. __________________ Hot Pastrami!