September 16, 2008 4:08 PM BST
Mary--
My late uncle used to tell me, "Don't
ever move to Florida. It's full of old people, tourists and Canadians." (He was semi-retired, so he could say that.) I laughed at that, until I had to drive there.
Georgia was no picnic, either.
Now, granted that I drive like Speed Racer. There's a
reason my car is nicknamed "The Princess Flyer," and it's well earned. I learned to drive in the San Francisco Bay Area, and learned to drive in snow in the Chicagoland Area. I'm heaven in a hell of a package...and hell on wheels.
So I'm a fine one to talk about driving technique.
My vote, though, has to go to Chicago--my second home--for worst drivers. To wit:
1. Stop signs AND stoplights are ignored. Unfortunately, so are too many train crossings.
2. They don't bother to see is there is a vehicle in the lane(s) they decide they should be in.
3. They don't bother to signal--it's optional equipment on most vehicles.
4. They hit the gas instead of taking their foot off the brakes for the next ten miles. Are they stopping or not?
5. Insist on backing into
two parking spaces, so they don't ding the paint job.
6. Drive pickup trucks, Urban Assualt Vehicles, and minivans as a personal tank. (Some are even armed.)
7. Have trouble passing a parked auto because they don't know how wide their truck is--and the auto is double or even triple parked.
8. Are all over the road because they're on the cell phone--texting.
9. They don't look to the rear...period! Rearview mirrors are also optional on most vehicles.
10. They block crosswalks so pedestrians have to walk into an intersection. Come to think of of--pedestrians don't use crosswalks!
And the further north and east I go, the worse they get. Can anyone here from Pittsburgh explain to me why you stop at the end of a freeway on-ramp?
Luv 'n hugs,
Mina Sakura
"Almost-Angel, Girl Genius, and Ultra-Flirt"