Driving in America

[Sprailenes 47]

and it doesn't help that they don't believe in street signs so even if you're trying to get somewhere you have no clue where you're going.

[BermyCat 1]

I think that people in Atlanta have all been driven insane by the rush-three-hour traffic that occurs twice daily. When they are not actually parked on the highway, they drive like bats out of hell.

One of my major breakdowns after moving here happened after a driving incident. I was at a red light. A guy in a truck drove up just as the light changed. He quite purposefully shoved my far into the intersection and speed off. I remember telling Phil that if we didn't find a part of the US where people aren't psychopaths, I was going to move back to K-W.

~ Catherine

[Emancipation 2]

I think that people in Atlanta have all been driven insane by the rush-three-hour traffic that occurs twice daily. When they are not actually parked on the highway, they drive like bats out of hell.

Really? In our experience the traffic is heavy but people aren't aggressive.. it's fast.. but not really scary as in people doing dumb death seeking maneuvers with their cars. Hubby & I always enjoyed going to Atlanta as far as driving goes.. nice welcomed change from the chaos of the North East.

[Krikit 1,163]

Really? In our experience the traffic is heavy but people aren't aggressive.. it's fast.. but not really scary as in people doing dumb death seeking maneuvers with their cars. Hubby & I always enjoyed going to Atlanta as far as driving goes.. nice welcomed change from the chaos of the North East.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I find that speeding is more acceptable in Canada... at least where I'm from. You get on the 406 and nobody is driving under 110, with traffic generally flowing at 120. And the 401? You guys are right, its crazy. Whenever Bill comes up and drives to Toronto he's always amazed with the traffic flowing at 150 (in the rare time of day when traffic is actually flowing). When he drove his American car up the speedometer wouldn't even clock in the speed because it only went up to 140.

When I drive in the US I get constant reminders to slow it down! I think its due to the larger police presence you see in a lot of states versus the lack of patrolling I find here in Southern Ontario. People don't care when they are confident they won't get caught!

[Misty1979 0]

I would like to see the pic krikit

Hey Misty, you don't drive a Ford by any chance do you??

Lol nope, I drive a piece of junk Volkswagon Passat...why?

[thetreble 19]

I find that speeding is more acceptable in Canada... at least where I'm from. You get on the 406 and nobody is driving under 110, with traffic generally flowing at 120. And the 401? You guys are right, its crazy. Whenever Bill comes up and drives to Toronto he's always amazed with the traffic flowing at 150 (in the rare time of day when traffic is actually flowing). When he drove his American car up the speedometer wouldn't even clock in the speed because it only went up to 140.

When I drive in the US I get constant reminders to slow it down! I think its due to the larger police presence you see in a lot of states versus the lack of patrolling I find here in Southern Ontario. People don't care when they are confident they won't get caught!

Exactly.

And Jill, I know they passed that 50 kms over law last year. But to be honest with you, there isn't enough of a police presence on the 401 to make a difference. I still do 150 on t he 401 now and dont have any fear of being caught.

[Sprailenes 47]

On the 401 at least people will signal when they decide to cut you off.

Here... they just cut you off and usually they'll do it at the very last minute causing you to hit your brakes, flip the bird and then worry about whether or not they're going to get out of their car and shoot you.

I find that speeding is more acceptable in Canada... at least where I'm from. You get on the 406 and nobody is driving under 110, with traffic generally flowing at 120. And the 401? You guys are right, its crazy. Whenever Bill comes up and drives to Toronto he's always amazed with the traffic flowing at 150 (in the rare time of day when traffic is actually flowing). When he drove his American car up the speedometer wouldn't even clock in the speed because it only went up to 140.

When I drive in the US I get constant reminders to slow it down! I think its due to the larger police presence you see in a lot of states versus the lack of patrolling I find here in Southern Ontario. People don't care when they are confident they won't get caught!

Exactly.

And Jill, I know they passed that 50 kms over law last year. But to be honest with you, there isn't enough of a police presence on the 401 to make a difference. I still do 150 on t he 401 now and dont have any fear of being caught.

Do you have a fear of getting into a wreck and dying?

[JillA 2]

I find that speeding is more acceptable in Canada... at least where I'm from. You get on the 406 and nobody is driving under 110, with traffic generally flowing at 120. And the 401? You guys are right, its crazy. Whenever Bill comes up and drives to Toronto he's always amazed with the traffic flowing at 150 (in the rare time of day when traffic is actually flowing). When he drove his American car up the speedometer wouldn't even clock in the speed because it only went up to 140.

When I drive in the US I get constant reminders to slow it down! I think its due to the larger police presence you see in a lot of states versus the lack of patrolling I find here in Southern Ontario. People don't care when they are confident they won't get caught!

Exactly.

And Jill, I know they passed that 50 kms over law last year. But to be honest with you, there isn't enough of a police presence on the 401 to make a difference. I still do 150 on t he 401 now and dont have any fear of being caught.

You do? I wouldn't want to risk it, even if there's a small chance of getting caught it does happen and I can't afford the fine nor for my car to be impounded...

[The_Dude 1,142]

lol, I had a friend who got caught doing 195 on a freeway on a motorcycle. It was 4 a.m. and he just wanted to see how fast he could go. He was lucky enough to pass a Highway Patrol just as he got up to speed. The patrol car was pulled over to the side. He saw the lights go on and pulled over as soon as he could. It took the officer nearly 5 minutes to actually catch up to him. The astonished officer let him go with a warning. He was really surprised that he even pulled over.

[Marilyn. 340]

I was so scared to drive on the freeways here in LA when I first moved here.. now I have gotten more used to it though...

[minnew 4]

Well I don't have any experience driving in major cities like Toronto, I am from SK....we don't have "interstates" or freeways. The drivers can be pretty idiotic here too. When I have visited my fiance I have had some experience driving on interstates on the way to Atlanta and a bit of driving through Atlanta and Omaha.

I still freak out a bit as I am not used to it, everyone drives very aggressively and when you signal to move to another lane its not please let me in, its I am coming over so you better slow down, because usually they will speed up!

So far my worst experience was driving from my fiance's parents home to a friend of my fiance's place on I-85 north of Atlanta. It was an "afternoon" shower, Well to me it was like a HEAVY downpour, the wiper blades were on full blast and I still could not see ANYTHING!! There was traffic all around me and I slowed down to as slow as I could go on an Interstate. My fiance kept on saying just follow the white line! I am freaking out and saying I can't even see it! I kept on saying I am going to pull over! He said NO WAY!! You will most likely cause an accident or someone else won't be able to see you and plow right into you! I had people passing me like it was nothing!! Most of the people behind me did slow down and follow thank goodness, but I don't know how the people that were passing me made it!

[Krikit 1,163]

So far my worst experience was driving from my fiance's parents home to a friend of my fiance's place on I-85 north of Atlanta. It was an "afternoon" shower, Well to me it was like a HEAVY downpour, the wiper blades were on full blast and I still could not see ANYTHING!! There was traffic all around me and I slowed down to as slow as I could go on an Interstate. My fiance kept on saying just follow the white line! I am freaking out and saying I can't even see it! I kept on saying I am going to pull over! He said NO WAY!! You will most likely cause an accident or someone else won't be able to see you and plow right into you! I had people passing me like it was nothing!! Most of the people behind me did slow down and follow thank goodness, but I don't know how the people that were passing me made it!

All I have to say is Rain-X. Seriously. It's a lifesaver. I worry about people who DON'T use Rain-X, it's that good.

[minnew 4]

So far my worst experience was driving from my fiance's parents home to a friend of my fiance's place on I-85 north of Atlanta. It was an "afternoon" shower, Well to me it was like a HEAVY downpour, the wiper blades were on full blast and I still could not see ANYTHING!! There was traffic all around me and I slowed down to as slow as I could go on an Interstate. My fiance kept on saying just follow the white line! I am freaking out and saying I can't even see it! I kept on saying I am going to pull over! He said NO WAY!! You will most likely cause an accident or someone else won't be able to see you and plow right into you! I had people passing me like it was nothing!! Most of the people behind me did slow down and follow thank goodness, but I don't know how the people that were passing me made it!

All I have to say is Rain-X. Seriously. It's a lifesaver. I worry about people who DON'T use Rain-X, it's that good.

Rain-X...humm good to know! Thanks Krikit! I will definitely have to get some next time my future hubby and I drive down South to visit his family!

[JillA 2]

Rain-x is good and lasts forever.... you're supposed to re-apply it every so often but mine lasted well over a year!