Are drivers getting worse?

[Endlessseason]

What the crap is wrong with people? My oldest son and his wife were just T-boned again this afternoon in their brand-new car. I got the call as I was coming down from skiing. They hadn't even received the license plates for their car yet. His wife is pretty messed up as they were hit on her side, but we're pretty sure she'll be alright. It is a very panicky feeling to approach a completely clogged intersection, emergency vehicles everywhere with their lights flashing, car fluids and shattered parts all over the road, and you know it's your own family. It's terrifying.

His car sustained several thousands of dollars of damage, but since it's new the damge will probably not exceed the value. The perp's insurance company will probably insist on fixing it and, of course, it will never run or look quite right again.

Within one year, this now makes 2 separate broadsides and one rear-ender he's had to deal with, another broadside and another a rear-ender for my other son, a life-altering broadside to my wife's brand-new SUV from a sixteen year-old girl driver, and finally, one of my daughters getting ragdolled by a freaking idiot driver while walking with her boyfriend downtown IN A CROSSWALK!

That's seven separate accidents for our family in less than a year, NONE the fault of our family. Every single one of the other drivers received one or more citations in every case. You can't believe how much time, money, physical therapy, lost wages, insurance problems, and grief this crap has caused.

I had a conversation with one of the policemen at today's scene and asked him if it was just me or are people getting stupider? He told me not to get him started. People run stop signs, race to beat intersection lights, ignore double-yellow lines, transition their turns into the wrong lanes at intersections, become completely clueless at flashing red/yellow lights (everybody THINKS they have to stop; even the stupid drivers in the yellow-flashing lanes which screws everybody up and makes the situation even more dangerous). He said it is absolutely unbelievable how bad drivers have become.

The ER doc told me that nearly one-fourth of their visits are car accidents now. He didn't have historical data but felt it was definitely up in recent years.

Is anyone else noticing an increase in stupidity? What the crap is happening?

[pointedem]

Hailing from NY, i can say that the drivers here (UT) are horrible-
they just dont pay attention.

[P_McPoser]

Damn. That's some bad luck mang!

[buckethead]

damn, that's a horrible string of accidents!

much worse: i've noticed 2 (other) driver habits that pi$$ me off the most:

1. not bothering to signal - more often than not these days
2. flying through red lights seconds after changing from yellow. this morning, i had a green light and a woman flew through the intersection - loooking straight ahead, not even glancing towards the oncoming traffic (me)...this happens at least a few of times a week on my (short) morning commute...i honk at these cars and they appear to be deaf as well as stoopid.
if i had more time in the morning i'd follow these people to share my opinion of their driving

maybe these folks have never seen what a car crash looks like...except in a stupid car chase scene!

and i almost forgot...everyone's on the phone...all the time.
maybe it's the microwaves

[G]

It's just waaaay too easy to get a drivers license.

I bet the proliferation of safer cars (for the driver) and larger & taller SUV's have let to more complacency, from a feeling of insulation from one's own stupid actions. It's been months since I've seen anyone on the road actually use a F&*ing turn signal.

Well, that and also people are just plain stupid. While cycling down the road today, I was passed by a driver in a SUV travelling with three BIG dogs jumping everywhere around the vehicle, one of the dogs (probably about 80 Lbs or so) was sitting ON THE DRIVER'S LAP with it's head out the driver's window. I have no idea how the driver could clearly see around the thing.

That said, I think you and your family are way ahead of the curve here. Bummer.

[Conundrum]

I had to deal with it this December. I was in the right lane and a older lady pulled out of a parking lot into my lane, I went into the left lane (5 lane road, two each way and a turn) and then she attempted to make a u-turn across all five lanes in front of me and I t-boned her. No injuries but $4k of damage to my pickup. She told the cop that she never saw me but I was speeding (because that makes sense). I was about 200 feet from an intersection I was stopped at and the speed limit was 35 so there was no possible way I was speeding. She was cited and then appealed my claim to her insurance company stating it was my fault. They eventually paid but I'm still dealing with shit from the accident 6 months later.

My problems pale in comparison to your families so +vibes+ to you and yours but the cop said this stuff is happening more and more and the only thing you can do is buckle up and be on your toes.

[Mtn Man]

Such bad news on such a good day on the hill. I'm sorry to here about all of the dismal driving. Coming from NJ, the driving always gets worse as the density grows.....

Best of luck to your family!

B)

[Xover]

born and bread UT drivers SUCK ASS!!!!
plain and simple

as pointed'em said above - or meant to fully say - born and bread UT drivers are by far the worst i've ever seen and i've driven in all of the most populated cities in the U.S. and SLC isn't even close to being one of these

i remember when we first moved here ... i was completely appalled at:

- the number of people blatantly running full on red lights
- people not understanding that the left lane is the fast lane and you should politely get the phuck out of the way
- people not pulling all the way into the middle turn lane and thus blocking the adjacent lane

the list goes on and on Endless

my best suggestion to you (not saying by any means you or your family is in the wrong) would be to take your kids to any other major city and teach them and yourself how to drive "properly" - at least you will know then and so will they - 'bout all you can do

p.s. sorry 'bout your fam

p.s.s. got your message, but have the lil one today and tomorrow; make some big, fast turns for me

[Squatch]

It's just waaaay too easy to get a drivers license.

I bet the proliferation of safer cars (for the driver) and larger & taller SUV's have let to more complacency, from a feeling of insulation from one's own stupid actions. It's been months since I've seen anyone on the road actually use a F&*ing turn signal.

DING DING DING

America as a country is becoming more affluent, and is affording larger, faster, more powerful cars. As a consquence people feel unsafe in cars with so many SUVs around--so they buy big cars too. This coupled with a huge increase in cars on the roads, and the idea that driving is a right, not a privilege, has made the roads a shitshow. Ending someone's life with a car is far too easy to do and carries inappropriately small consequences.

Sorry about your bad luck there, endless. Hope everything turns out ok.

[G]

We need to require student drivers to learn in something like this:








Seriously, driving around in that van for many months I was a hell of a lot more aware of what my surroundings. You're forced to be much more conservaitve with your feet ony two inches behind the front bumper, no front collision protection other than a single layer of sheet metal. Vans like this are one of the most common large vehicles in NZ, and people are surely nicer drivers there.

[uglymoney]

This is why I support mass transit. Not because I want to use it, but because all of the idjiots who don't think that driving is a skill. People who aren't prone to driving excellence, should take the bus.

Personal rant. Left turn at green light while waiting for uncoming traffic. People who do not pull into the intersection as the law entitles so that they may turn left either when traffic clears, or oncoming traffic is stopped by the light.

I become so aggravated if I am waiting behind one of these morons and am forced to sit through another cycle of a light because of their ignorance. Honking at them yields glares that make me conclude they think I am the idjiot, which cleary signals an intense lack of focus on drivers education in this country.

Green light = proceed into intersection. Cross traffic MUST yield to traffic in intersection when their light turns green. Simple, yet so hard for the feeble minded to grasp.

And in Utah, whats with the kids that drive around honking their horns?

[Benny Profane]

I am seriously thinking of a new car just for the side airbags.

[fiddler]

As someone who spends 5 days a week driving a 40 foot bus around town, what I see all day, every day is enough to make you want to stay indoors with the doors locked and the curtains closed. Running red lights, failing to yield, you name it. And the stupidest thing you can do, that causes more accidents than almost anything; TAILGATING!
But of course I have learned over my 28 years breathing diesel fumes that buses are actually invisible. Thats the only thing that could explain why people do what they do around something so much bigger than them!

Endless, I sure hope this string of motoring disasters has finally run it's course!

[SkiingBear]

I'm of the opinion that driving has become "just something we do". Nobody really thinks about the potential they have to cause harm. Don't even get me started about the jacked up trucks and SUVs all over the place. Yeah, a lot of good the side impact standards are going to do when the bumper comes through my window.

That said...

I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone in this thread, but I have to believe that in many, if not most, accidents both parties share some degree of the fault (I concede that in some cases it's all one sided).

I've spent the past 5 1/2 years driving for a job. I was putting on 20K-25K miles per year for work, plus the 15K-20K miles per year in my personal vehicle...without one single accident. Not even a little bump. I pride myself on being aware of what's around me and always trying to drive in a manner that leaves me an out. I've hit the brakes many times to avoid others that had no clue I was there. When I notice that the girl driving behind me is texting on her phone...I pay attention to how she's driving.

We can sit here and say that "all the other drivers" are getting worse...but they're saying the same damn thing.

No, outside of everyone taking responsibility for their own driving, I can't come up with a solution.

Edit: I wanted to add that I'm sure that there are plenty of people that could legitimately criticize my own driving, and would call me a shitty driver. That said, there are 2 things no man will ever admit he sucks at...fucking & driving.

[pechelman]

I dont think its that theyre becoming "worse" but here is what I think;

1. Waay more disctractions. From cell phones to dvd players in cars, to cd players, xm radio, drinking soda in the car and then remembering which out of the 203 cupholders they put it in...you get the idea

2. Our culture is a very high demand and super quick grant their wish. For example anything you want to know or buy, you go do it on the internet in 5 minutes. Basically what Im saying, is that our culture is now no longer near a patient and willing to wait for things. That also not only implies people are in a huge fucking rush, but that they lose attention to what they are doing easily if they arent gratified \ at their destination now.

[Squatch]

you bring up a good point. a lot of accidents are caused when both parties are unaware. most accidents can be prevented by another driver compensating for that person. even if you have the right of way, you can just yield to the person who is driving incorrectly. it's when the person with the right of way doesn't see the person driving incorrectly or something like that make accidents happen.

[MacDaddy]

editvvvv

[freshie247]

IN short,....YES!

[Bum Z]

Two words: cell phones. Shut The Fuck Up and drive, asshole!

[bc]

you bring up a good point. a lot of accidents are caused when both parties are unaware. most accidents can be prevented by another driver compensating for that person. even if you have the right of way, you can just yield to the person who is driving incorrectly. it's when the person with the right of way doesn't see the person driving incorrectly or something like that make accidents happen.

EXACTLY!!!

Holy shit, if I drove around with a cell phone plastered to my ear or stuffing my face with tacos I'd've collided with a few dozen careless drivers so far.

Endless: sorry about your family's luck --hope everyone heals up / is OK. I thought Sacramento drivers were bad, but it sounds like SLT's are even worse. Good luck out there! Sucks to get a season-ending injury while skiing, but it'd definitely suck more to get one while crossing the street or driving to the grocery store. Hope everything works out for ya. Don't know how it is in Oootah, but at least in Cali I've been able to "up"-negotiate the payments from other drivers' insurance plans.

[jonesy]

fiddler-My hat goes off to you. Don't know how you could herd a bus around up there. After 32 years of commercial driving I'll be getting off the road none too soon. Most people drive like children....no reguard to anyone or themselves. Unfortunatly Adult drivers and there families are indangered by these children in cars. Hope your family fairs well endless.

[Egon]

And in Utah, whats with the kids that drive around honking their horns?

Yeah the preemptive honk is pretty annoying. I don't know why shitheads around here do it.

[Plakespear]

there are 2 things no man will ever admit he sucks at...fucking & driving.

Someone needs to use this as a signature.

It's funny, Before I lived in NYC I used to think that the drivers there were absolutely terrible. Than I moved there, and my job required me to drive vaious vehicles all over the city, including 14' cube trucks. I became such a better drive piloting those trucks around midtown during rush hour. I also realized that NYC drivers are some of the best. The number of accidents are very low when compared to the volume of traffic.

When I moved to the suburbs of Philly, I saw some of the wrost driving I have ever seen. Why the hell are suburbanites the worst drivers?

[MOHSHSIHd]

People blow at driving in CO too...I have been nearly killed many times this year.

Just the other night I was turning left with a green arrow and I saw two teenage chicks coming flying through the redlight, BOTH on their Razer phones, and neither of them realized they just went through a light that had been red for like 15 seconds already....this kinda shit happens daily...

right now we have all the fucking graduation traffic too....cant wait till everyone clears out for the summer

[Steven S. Dallas]

1. Waay more disctractions.
2. Our culture is a very high demand and super quick grant their wish. our culture is now no longer near a patient and willing to wait for things. That also not only implies people are in a huge fucking rush, but that they lose attention to what they are doing easily if they arent gratified \ at their destination now.

I agree with both of these wholeheartedly, except for the "near a patient" part, which I don't get. Short attention span and general pushiness are huge internal factors; the fact that people have longer and longer commutes, spending more time in the car than is healthy, may be an important external factor (especially in the sprawly West).