You bring up a very interesting topic: driving styles/habits. Having
lived in and driven in many major US cities, along the Mississippi River
System (which includes the Ohio River & tributaries), I find that one of
the main reasons we feel that drivers in one city or another drive like
maniacs is simply that we're not used to the differences in driving
styles of different regions.
Example: As a native of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region, I'm very
comfortable with driving most roads in that region. Sure, the region
has it's share of idiot drivers (there is, and always will be, after
all, a world-wide glut of idiots), but I find Cincinnati, Ohio to be a
really irrational, insane area to have to drive in. Same goes for
Chicago and St. Louis. Very hostile-aggressive driving styles on the
"freeways" and Interstates of those two cities. Natives of those cities
would probably not give it a second thought. Cincinnati,
Minneapolis/St. Paul feature a different kind of goofiness, involving
far less open hostility, and, in the case of MPLS/StP, a lot of
obliviousness (is that an actual word??).
All of the above mentioned regions (including my home region) feature
too much of a "hooray for me/screw you" mindset among a varying
percentage of the region's driving public.
I'm sure it's no different for other regions of the country......how
about Atlanta, GA?......four lanes, in each direction, for very fast
moving, bumper to bumper traffic. In my way of thinking, the
Interstates near and around large, metropolitan areas offer FAR too much
opportunity to get caught up in someone else's wreck......which is why I
always look for the secondary and "back" roads to get through built up
areas.
Here's a thought for you all: Most of us (I'm generalizing, here) are
kind, considerate and willing to help others in need......until we get
behind the wheel. Then, it's every man/woman for themselves. I find
this to be highly irrational and difficult to understand. I suppose
it's one of the reasons I prefer to live out in the country, among a
population of neighbors (mostly farmers) who mind their own damn
business (we don't need no stinkin' 'yuppie' zoning laws), but will drop
everything they're doing to come to the aid of a neighbor in need.
So, as far as driving in Toronto; I've been given some scenic route
suggestions that will bring us to our destination without having to deal
too much with "super-slab" traffic issues.
Thanks, guys.
Bud Osbourne
-----Original Message-----
From: Nory [mailto:nory1@adelphia.net]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 9:38 PM
To: Spridgets List; abcoz@hky.com
Subject: Re: Toronto area information sought
All I can tell you about Toronto is they drive like maniacs up there
in Canada (no offense intended to our Canadian friends)! I don't
think their cars have turn signals, and if you're not going 85 MPH,
they'll run you down. When they wreck, there are no injured parties
- They're all dead. Real bad accidents up there because they all
drive so fast! I just went to Niagara Falls, Ontario this weekend,
and you notice the difference as soon as you cross the border. Oh,
we have plenty of speeders here, but up there, it's almost everybody!
Don't get me wrong - I love Canada. It's an absolutely beautiful
country (you notice that as soon as you cross the border too), but I
really hate driving around up there.
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