Is driving courtesy completely gone?

[Blackbelt]

I have a fairly long commute(35 miles one way). I have been making this commute for the last 14 years. I am 52 years old, and have driven a lot of miles in the last 36 years. I have driven in a lot of different places, and have seen a lot of good and bad driving.

What i see happening is that driving courtesy is becoming a thing of the past. At least in the Pittsburgh metro area. I have driven in areas where i never saw much of it in the first place, like SoCal and Philly for example, but i always saw plenty in Pittsburgh and also other areas. It just seems to me that over the last 4-5 years, that the drivers are becoming more rude, aggressive, and downright dangerous. Merging onto a highway these days is becoming a white knuckled affair. People jerking from lane to lane, cutting people off...trying to race ahead of a line of cars and force their way into the front, and other inconsiderate(and dangerous) maneuvers. There have always been aggressive and bad drivers, but it just seems to me that they are becoming the rule instead of the exception.

Is anyone else seeing this, or am i just imagining this?

[Mendel Leisk]

I've noticed on more than a few occasions when changing lanes (and I needed to change lanes) into a decent space: the driver behind that space wakes up and starts closing up the gap as you move over, and then gets all surly and tailgaty.

Before I get all holier than thou I'll admit, we all have these tendencies, drilled into us through evolution I guess. You have to work on it to stay in the right head space, but I concur: there are a lot of drivers who are in the wrong head space.

If you have the time, watch the the video linked at the top of this G.H. thread:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f...st-mpgs-21573/

My foremost impression listening to this guy was how great it was to hear someone advocating sensible, responsible driving.

[PaleMelanesian]

Oh, I see it too.

I think part of the blame goes to the vehicles. They isolate the driver from the world around them - small dark windows, sound insulation, loud stereo. Each driver is separated from the other drivers by 2 layers of modern car - their own and the other driver's car. The psychological effect is that the others on the road are "cars" and not "people".

It's ironic, though, that the jerks who want to flip you off are driving cars with windows so dark, you can't even see the finger they're waving.

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by Blackbelt

Is anyone else seeing this, or am i just imagining this?

Believe me, it's not just you.

I've been noting a gradual change over the last 20 years.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

I blame video games. And throw away society. And the self-centrism promoted by today's society of ethics removal.

[Damionk]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

It's ironic, though, that the jerks who want to flip you off are driving cars with windows so dark, you can't even see the finger they're waving.

How do you know they are flipping you off if you can't see it?

[Shiba3420]

Originally Posted by Taliesin

Believe me, it's not just you.

I've been noting a gradual change over the last 20 years.

The only reason I might not think that drivers have changed, is because I have. I was highly agressive as a teen. Although it wasn't about getting there faster or being at the front of the line. It was just about driving fast and hard when conditions permitted it. The box that holds the shifter became detached twice in my first car from the way I banged it around accelerating for all it was worth. I will say that I usually did this on back roads with almost no traffic, and I always stayed a safe distance behind when I came up on slower traffic...

So now I have to wonder, is it society or is it me? I'm guessing 30% me and 70% society.

[Blackbelt]

Originally Posted by Shiba3420

The only reason I might not think that drivers have changed, is because I have. I was highly agressive as a teen. Although it wasn't about getting there faster or being at the front of the line. It was just about driving fast and hard when conditions permitted it. The box that holds the shifter became detached twice in my first car from the way I banged it around accelerating for all it was worth. I will say that I usually did this on back roads with almost no traffic, and I always stayed a safe distance behind when I came up on slower traffic...

So now I have to wonder, is it society or is it me? I'm guessing 30% me and 70% society.

Not so much the "hot dogging"as much as just plain ignorant and rude driving. Like someone speeding up so you can't change lanes(i had one do that yesterday after tailgating me so close i couldnt see him in his pickup truck), or the flipping off, or other such nonsense.
Maybe it has been deteriorating over a longer period as Taliesin said, and i just haven't noticed. Or it could be i am just getting old and cranky..LOL

[Taliesin]

Originally Posted by Shiba3420

So now I have to wonder, is it society or is it me? I'm guessing 30% me and 70% society.

Up until very recently my driving style hasn't changed over those years.

Heck, not long ago I owned a Chrysler Crossfire. It's not really a "sports car" but it might as well be. I took it to triple digits a few times, not many though.

I also have noted the HUGE difference between rural, small towns, and big cities. When you see the diference within one day it really noticable, but that difference has diminished as the smaller cities gain the same mindset you find in the large cities.

[Chuck]

Yes, bad driving has been out for awhile


Motor Mania (1950) - Can you say road rage?

Blackbelt - You are not alone.

Dallas is pretty bad and occasionally on the list of rudest cities to drive in.