US is slowly getting to Autobahn Speed

I had an interesting situation with my father about five years or so ago here in Houston. He was about 80 at the time and was (still is) quite a good driver. However, he was in the left lane of I-10 driving about 60 mph. Joking, I pointed out to him that in Houston, the center concrete barrier separating the freeway is used to cull out the irritating drivers who drive too slowly in the left lane - a type of survival of the fittest. He told me that in his AARP driver training they told them to drive in the left lane to avoid the drivers coming in and out of the freeway at the on/off ramps!

I just couldn't believe that the largest retirement group in the US is teaching all the elderly to drive in the left lane of our freeways as a default! We have enough freeway shootings here as it is!

Originally Posted by zeeand7

I had an interesting situation with my father about five years or so ago here in Houston. He was about 80 at the time and was (still is) quite a good driver. However, he was in the left lane of I-10 driving about 60 mph. Joking, I pointed out to him that in Houston, the center concrete barrier separating the freeway is used to cull out the irritating drivers who drive too slowly in the left lane - a type of survival of the fittest. He told me that in his AARP driver training they told them to drive in the left lane to avoid the drivers coming in and out of the freeway at the on/off ramps!

I just couldn't believe that the largest retirement group in the US is teaching all the elderly to drive in the left lane of our freeways as a default! We have enough freeway shootings here as it is!

What?? No wonder I realized the other night that somehow right lane traffic is lighter than left lane traffic on the interstate.

Originally Posted by zeeand7

He told me that in his AARP driver training they told them to drive in the left lane to avoid the drivers coming in and out of the freeway at the on/off ramps!

Now I know where my grandmother got that same harebrained idea, which she told me once or twice years ago. I wonder if they also taught her that a drink makes her drive better . . .

Originally Posted by mason

Well, guys, let me share a true story just to show it is actually crazier to drive in US than in Europe. I was coming back up to NYC from Maryland last night. As the traffic moving along, I was driving on the left at like 70 mph. I saw a cop car coming along with lights flashing. So I moved into the right lane to yield, just like many other drivers on the left lane. Just about the entire left lane opened up for this Mr. cop, a Toyota Sienna decided to just stop on the left lane to yield instead of move to right. That wrecked havoc. Cop had to slam on the brake and drive around the Sienna, as did many cars behind the cop car.

It was crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

I-95 is like a magnet for the worst and craziest drivers, often in the worst-condition hoopties ever. It's a terrible highway all the way from Miami to Maine (well, it gets a bit better around the New Hampshire border).

Originally Posted by zeeand7

...He told me that in his AARP driver training they told them to drive in the left lane to avoid the drivers coming in and out of the freeway at the on/off ramps!

Is this serious?

There's a petition online for this stuff. What a crazy internet we live in!

http://www.petitiononline.com/paidtww/petition.html

Originally Posted by lensman314

Is this serious?

I wouldn't be surprised. I wonder why the AARP people tell them to leave their blinker on, though.

Originally Posted by Kamdog

I wouldn't be surprised. I wonder why the AARP people tell them to leave their blinker on, though.

I don't know, but the Rotary Club tells them to avoid left turns, and to instead make a series of right turns. No lie!

Originally Posted by Tanning machine

I-95 is like a magnet for the worst and craziest drivers, often in the worst-condition hoopties ever. It's a terrible highway all the way from Miami to Maine (well, it gets a bit better around the New Hampshire border).

Well, my little incident was at actually on I-295, which makes things worse since it is a two lane highway.

Originally Posted by lensman314

Is this serious?

Absolutely serious. I couldn't believe it when he told me.

Originally Posted by john lance

Here's my suggestiion as to why, and it is true without a doubt that the Germans (in general) are the best drivers in Europe....

Learning to drive does not just start from scratch the moment you take your first try behind the wheel. It starts as a child, when you watch how your parents drive. Watching them drive fast but carefully, with consideration for others, on and off the roads, for maybe a dozen years or so before officially learning to drive, probably breeds the same kind of behaviour.

In addition, the Germans have for decades also had the World's best equipment to drive on. You can be the best driver in the World but if you are trying to hurl along at 130 mph in a Cadillac (if they could go that fast) you just don't have the same control as doing the same speed in a BMW.

Originally Posted by pharding

Germans definitely drive much better than Americans. Obviously this stems from both the home and school. Additionally there are significant cultural differences that carry over into driving. Americans are obsessed doing what ever is best for the individual at the expense of both the community and society. Germans value order and the good of the community over individual rights. They respect authority, laws, and social rules. They are much less consumption oriented than Americans. They are much self-disciplined than Americans.

Plus they have greater penalties for poor driving and automobile accidents. If you get careless on the Autobahn, crash, and get killed, they will close down the Autobahn in both directions, cart the body off to the morgue, remove the bushel basket sized pieces of the car if it is a high speed crash, sweep down the autobahn in both directions, and then give the estate of deceased a monster bill for trashing the Autobahn.

so so true. It's a huge cultural difference. American is filled with vast incompetence and uncaring ppl who will only care about themselves. So many people just live their lives with disregard for others, it's all a "get mine" attitude.

Also, the requirements for a drivers license in this country are an absolute joke. If you have a pulse, you will get your license.

I honestly wish our licensing program was expensive and rigorous like those you see in Europe. Our roads would become far safer and those privileged to drive will have an excellent motoring experience.

The gov't could easily make up this deficit by increasing fees and requiring mandatory training for poor drivers.

Originally Posted by zeeand7

Absolutely serious. I couldn't believe it when he told me.

That is very scary.
I dont know what to say without ranting!