Well, not anymore. Seattle’s reputation for being bad drivers should be wiped clean. And if you live in Southern California, like I do, then you would understand.
I lived in Seattle for two years and I used to think the worst drivers lived in Seattle and surrounding areas. But after living in California for about 6 months, now, my opinion has changed.
It really makes my head spin, watching the way people drive out here. And I put a list together to show you everything I’ve noticed:
1. TURN SIGNALS, PLEASE! People out here do not, I repeat, DO NOT, use them! I used to think that maybe it was just one or two people, but after driving around a while, I’ve noticed it’s EVERYONE! Like seriously, if your sitting at a light not moving, it would help to know that your trying to make a left hand turn, and maybe, just maybe I wouldn’t blow my horn at you to move, if I knew your turning by having a turn signal on! Or even worse when driving on the highway people just cut over without using turn signals, and it makes it kind of scary to drive, because you don’t know if the person next to you is going to try to get in your lane, because they’re not using turn signals. I wonder where these people learned this and from what age group. There should be a study about this.
2. No Cutting In Line! OK another thing drivers do out here is cut you out. They’ll just wait until the last minute to get over into your lane, to the point where you have to slam on your brakes, sometimes. I’ve noticed this mostly when drivers are in driveways and parking lots and on highways. So these people will cut over into your lane and they’ll do it without using a turn signal.
3. RIGHT OF WAY, Stay out of my lane. Recently I was driving straight in a parking lot when a driver from the opposite lane cuts into my lane to make a right hand turn. It was like he didn’t even see me driving there. If I was going any faster, he would have hit me. These people need to pay attention. And if you have to turn, first you have to stop, second make sure no one is coming, and third when it is safe to turn, turn! All the while using your turn signal to let others know your intention of turning.
4. Was that a stop sign? OK people, you know what they are, you know what there purpose is, so why can’t you just follow the law!? You must stay at a stop sign for like 5 seconds before proceeding. And if there are other cars like at a 4 way stop intersection, then the person to the right has the right of way (if you all got there at the same time) If you where there first, make sure no one else is going through. BUT, if you were not there first, IT IS NOT YOUR TURN TO GO! IF YOU SEE OTHERS WAITING TO GO THEN IT IS THEIR TURN, NOT YOURS. And, just because someone in front of you went, does not mean you go through the stop sign too. Its a stop sign, not a traffic light, after the person in front of you goes, you have to stop at the line too. Also USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS TO LET OTHERS KNOW YOUR TURNING.
5. RULES OF THE PARKING LOT! There are a few things that you should be aware of, when driving through parking lots and looking for spaces.
a. Max speed should be 10-15, sometimes less, unless posted otherwise.
b. PEDESTRIANS have the right of way ALWAYS. If a person is walking in the parking lot, DON’T RUN THEM OVER!
c. If someone is BACKING out of a space, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT race by them. Instead, STOP and let them out of their space! Racing by them may cause you to get into an acident, because the person may not see you. Or if someone is trying to back out, BE NICE, stop and let them do it.
OK, my rant is over. For now, at least until I think of something else. If you have noticed anything else let me know, I’ll add it! Also if you don’t live in CA, tell me why your state has the worst drivers!
