Weird Drivers - Five Min Rant

By quixjote on Jan 21, 2011 | In Uncategorized | 1 feedback »

It aggrevates me, but it seems that a majority of the Portland Area drivers just don't know how to drive.  Oregonians are a very confused bunch of drivers at that.

Heading North on I-5 during rush hour, you can always expect to see slow to stop-and-go traffic through the Terwilliger Curves. Two curves that should be going at 50 MPH, usually average 20. No, there is no wreak usually... it is just SLOW.

As sad as it sounds, 20 MPH is not an exaggeration either. As soon as I get tho the normal slow down point I let my van coast UP to 20. Generally I do not have to touch the breaks at that point, as the people in front of my accelerate from 0 to 40 to 30 to 5 to 50 to 0 and so on.

A commute that used to take 35-35 min back in 2006 is averaging closer to 1H15M now. WHY?  This is not necessary. Even if there are more drivers on the road, there would also be less from people staying home more.  Also people should just learn to drive.  So many of the young drivers have their requirements reduced to get their their Driver's License.

Don't believe me? Applicants are no longer required to prove that they know how to Parallel park any more.  Now they just have to park along an empty curb.

Typical Rule of Thumb in Portland, OR area for drivers:

Is it sunny?  OH GOD I'M BLIND!
Is it Raining? OH GOD I'M MELTING!
Is it Snowing (Or even a few snow flurries in the sky, not even on the ground)? OH GOD, I MUST GO UNGODLY SLOW OR I WILL END UP IN A DITCH!
Is it Overcast? Oregonians Drive "Normally"

Comment from: Nick [Visitor] Email
It's true! I never learned how to parallel park! I don't think that has any bearing on the traffic backup, though I do see the point about inexperienced drivers. After all, it only takes one or two distracted idiots to start that lovely accordion effect, and if you've got a bunch who do the start-stop bit it gets old FAST. Er, slow. The slow gets old fast. Yeah.

Anyway, I know history has shown I'm not the most exemplary driver, but I do like to think I'm above starting a freeway pileup... or perhaps I've just never been in the right place at the right time to do so... I know I do a heck of a lot better than most people in the "snow" we get. My favorite memory is watching a utility van drive perfectly well up the Burnside hill, then watching the driver panic and try to do a U-turn on the side of the hill, and then watching him slide sideways down the middle of the road for a good sixty yards.
01/22/11 @ 22:15
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