Ok so I had my DL in Denmark for 3 years, driving all the time and only had 1 near accident (caused my someone else).

Then I move over here...................just in the last month I've been in 1 hit and run accident (thank you GMAC for not EVER covering hit and run accidents even though you claim you do!) and 1 very VERY close call.

It seems to me that maybe just maybe americans are not the best drivers in the world. They drive the most, no doubt about it. But could they benefit from some professional driving lessons and an attitude change???

I say hell yeah!

Or is it just me?

It's not you. We live in an area where 90% of the drivers think turn signals are optional and so is driving in the rain with your headlights on! HELLO!!!! We also have the driver who loves to tailgate...now tell me, is it REALLY gonna get you there quicker to be on my bumper?? Oh and let's not forget the driver who pulls out in front of you only to drive 40 MPH on the main highway where you're going at LEAST 55 MPH. GAH!

OK...rant over.

It's not you - it's the lack of driver's education here which is mandatory in Europe. They give DLs to anyone and once people get them they think they don't have to obey a single rule of road - no turning signals, cutting people off, driving too slow...

There's tons of driver education across the US. It's what you do with it once you've had it. Some people take the course to maybe get a discount on their insurance (I hope they have full coverage!) or in some high schools, teens take it to get a discount on their parent's insurance when they start driving AND to get a grade in HS. Of course we also have the DUI schools too...for when you are caught drinking and driving, usually first offense if I'm not mistaken. Sheesh.

Or maybe its because it only takes 10 mins to take a driving test which stevie wonder would find it hard to fail, once round the block and you pass.

Tony

Ditto on your rant Karen!! We suffer the same bad driving here in NC!!!

Young drivers here have their driver seat so far back you can hardly see them. I really dont know how they see to drive , plus the music is so loud there windows are shaking.

Aye, here too in Oklahoma. One day driving around I amused myself by counting how many cars I saw with accident damage. I quit counting after I saw two cars with no hoods in less than 5 mins. Oh yeah, and the duct tape and plastic replacement windows are classic too.

I'm the USC, and I agree with you COMPLETELY!!! I live in FL which has every possible bad driver: tourists (all rental cars must come with voice activated GPS systems...reading a map is when you pull of the road, NOT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING!!!), retirees (some are very good drivers, some need to realise not all of us are retired...), teenagers (OK, I know, we all have teenagers, but, really, kids, do we need to hear your rap and reggaeton 4 BLOCKS AWAY?!?!?), and, my personal favourite, do all the northern states send their bad drivers here? Sure seems like it!

I agree with the drivers education idea...American drivers should be better educated, and not just once...every time your license is renewed, you should have to take a driving test...pain in the butt, but I think it would be worth it in the long run...

I have noticed the surfeit of bad drivers in the US as well - and some of them seem to be driving the biggest SUVs or truck monstrosities on the road - it is like the 'I have a big vehicle so I don't have to follow any rules' mentality takes over. Add to that a high volume of drivers as well as many transport trucks on the Interstates and well, can you spell disaster? There are fatalities daily on the roads around Atlanta. The other thing that really bugs me is all of those drivers who insist on driving while talking on cell phones - I know that I am a good driver but I certainly don't feel comfortable trying to drive and pay attention to the road AND talk on a cell phone! I think that should be illegal - but it won't be because everyone will protest that it is an infringement of their rights - even if it claims someone else's life.!

No. It's just that the majority of drivers in the USA are average high school alumni, and/or college alumni with a degree that is useless.

Since going to Peru, I am not going to complain about the driving in the US (and I live in FL, one of the worst states to drive in).

Ohio drivers are terrible too.

Who told these people that it's a good idea to text, rummage in the back seat, and generally NOT LOOK AT THE ROAD when driving??? Then when they almost hit you and you yell at them THEY get offended and tell you it's NOT their fault.

Tailgating is cool too. I like to slow way down when they do that. That makes them happy.

I agree about the driving test. A monkey could have passed it. I actually found the written test harder than the practical. The practical was.... drive through these cones, reverse back out of them, drive round the block, 10 mins later here is your license.

I've lived in Belgium though, and the driving there is pretty similar. It's seriously annoying,

I think it depends on where you are. I live in UpState NY. But in NYC, driving requires taking a valium. It's sooo stressful and all the rules are different than ANY other city in the state of NY. It totally wires me and often I just take a train in. Thank God for public transportation. I also find driving in Atlanta HORRIBLE. Traffic literally seems to drop from the sky. And people drive over from Alabama and they don't have to have car insurance there, so watch out! I prefer driving at home. Not near the amount of traffic. Not so much crazy driving. The worst is the highway as it gets closer to Canada and that's the tourists or Canadians heading home. But driving in Accra, Ghana, requires being blindfolded. So my SO is going to be in for a HUGE surprise here. Imagine going from, make your own rules and often the roads aren't paved. It's crazy there.

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!

You know what ticks me off? Having to purchase mandatory insurance to cover me against drivers who don't HAVE insurance. So, in effect, I am buying their insurance so they don't have to. Unbelievable.

RE: Alabama Drivers - yes they do.

http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/MLI_FAQ.html

I guess I am too old but I do not see what's so cool about this

I know first hand about that. Last month we were hit by an illegal mexican with no insurance - of course. He pulled out in front of us and then just left the scene before the police came. Despite the fact that we have uninsured motorist coverage and are covered for a hit and run accident there was a BIG catch. You need to PROVE to the insurance company (GMAC!!!) that the other driver didn't have insurance (police report is not evidence). My question is how are you supposed to prove the driver didn't have insurance when it was a hit and RUN accident???!!!!

I'll admit I'm quilty of the loud music when driving in our tiny little town or on the highway. Turn it down a bit when I'm driving in the city......

I'd look into that further - it doesn't sound right. The standard is that UM coverage will cover hit and runs, regardless of whether the owner can be identified. If they're going to deny your claim, there would have had to be some language in your policy that specifically excluded that situation.

Ever been to Italy??
Ever been to Mexico??
You have no idea what a bad driver is.

After being to Cairo.....EVERYONE in the U.S is a good driver! Cairo is nuts!

Ever since going to Peru, I might complain about idiots on the road, but bad drivers here are nothing compared to there. They make their own rules, and even bad driving (like here in FL) isn't as awful as good driving there. Ugh.

I've been to Italy. I've been to Mexico. I've been to Greece. I've been to Spain. I've been to many many countries. Hands down, the worst drivers are in Malta.

*reminds self to never go there*

A friend of mine told me about her harrowing driving experience in the Puerto Rican countryside...one lane up a small mountain, no guardrails, and a large truck barreling down the mountain at the same time...

Needless to say, she let her mom drive after that...

Reminds me of my experience on the Amalfi coast. I had nightmares after that. I can safely say that I will NEVER do that again.