Driving Courtesy (or the lack of it in the US)

[wicked1]

I was just reading a thread somewhere about the Japanese turning off their headlights at stop lights, and it got further into basic driving courtesy in most parts of the world that we don't have here.
A lot of it had to do w/ headlights on tall SUV's and brights, and the way people in the US just don't care if they blind you.
Then, anywhere else in the world people apparently respect the passing lane, and won't drive slowly in it.. Here people seem to want to teach you a lesson and force you to drive the speed limit in the passing lane, regardless of flashing your lights or tapping the horn..

But then someone mentioned a minor american annoyance that really really bothers me now that I have a hybrid w/ auto-stop.......
Stop light creep.. WHY do people slowly creep up a few inches.. stop.. creep up a few inches.. stop again.. creep up again, etc. I just sit there, because I don't want to re-start my car, but then I end up w/ a lot of space in front of me, and the people behind me start to honk! WTF is wrong w/ people here?!?!?!?!? That happens to me at least a couple of times a week. Where do those people think they're going to go at a red light?

I just had to vent about that one, and figured maybe someone here could relate...

[ITEM9]

I hear you man. It doesn't matter though, that person is probably a jerk anyways. Hold your ground and take pleasure in pissing them off. I do. I'm sadistic like that though...

[SuiteMike]

I can relate all those issues, but the creeping on lights, my friends do it and i dont get it, alot times my buddy almost rear ended this car by just creeping i was like cant you keep your foot on the brake? as for being honked at for space i sometimes has as much space a big truck can fit in there but I dont get honked at to go up, if they did i prob will give them the bird anyways, but my biggest issue is the passing lane...when I was in NC most the roads are 1 lane or 2 lane highways and everyone respected it, now that I am back in Cali, i was stuck behind a uhaul in the carpool yesterday going 55mph....why on earth would you go in the carpool in a uhaul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But anyways that was a lil vent so you dont feel alone =P

[ITEM9]

On second thought, if you are preventing people from getting into a turn lane or something, then I would move. I hate when people are oblivious to the fact that they are in the way and could move a little to let others though. Otherwise, enjoy.

[406Gman]

I am an admitted reformed "jerk driver" and now that I follow the Econ mode time to shift, stay in the green philosophy I love the people that zoom around in their big SUVs and trucks only to meet me again at the next light. I can only imagine how much I spent in extra fuel and personal energy being stressed about getting around the next car to be in front. Of course I still have the occasional Sport mode "NO you Aint" off the line. (OK not totally reformed)

[franck2725]

you all are not alone with this problems.here some province even came up with a road sign to tell people to keep right(avatar is actualy a real road panel)and still they fall asleep on left lane.road courtesy is dead if you ever come to Quebec the passing lane is on the right of the road but dont tell anyone they will jam that one too.

[CR-Z Canadian]

I cannot recall who of us has the signature line about sneaking up on the traffic light, but I always laugh at that one. Happened to me this morning - when you can see the headlights of the SUV behind you at the lights - in the UPPER part of the back window - it means he's close (and some pissed)!

So you have that in the US as well - I thought it was native to Canada.
Contrary to popular belief, we're not all that courteous up here in the Great White.
Or maybe we're just a nation of bad drivers
I used to marvel, when driving I-75 to FL, at how all the slow cars in the passing lane had Ontario plates. Personally embarrassed about it, and I'd like to apologize publicly for that.
We're not good at being courteous here, but we can apologize like no other people on the planet!!!

[Willard]

Driving in the US is only 2nd to driving in a 3rd world country. The one thing I dearly miss about Germany was the driver discipline. It was amazing. Nothing comes close.

[romiata]

I agree

[Varmint]

My company will have customers fly out from LA and other places that are supposed to be notorious for bad driving. Near our offices, you're allowed to use the breakdown lane during rush hour. It more or less becomes the high-speed lane, only with merges every few hundred feet. Some of those customers now insist that we fly out to meet them. They just can't handle us MA drivers and our deviant road rules.