BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers

Subject: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: frogprince
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:02 PM

We generally cross from Port Huron, Michigan to Buffalo, New York at least every other summer. I've always found it interesting that, while the Canadian roads are lined with signs warning of heavy fines for speeding, and the posted limits are lower than U.S. freeways, the traffic is just about as fast as on our side. On the other hand, I don't recall seeing as many Canadian drivers jump lanes 6 times a minute to gain one car length at a time. In July we drove more 2 lane secondary highways in Canada then I have in almost 40 years. What I noticed was this: In the U.S., if you are in a no-passing zone, approaching a hill or curve, at just over the speed limit, there is a still a chance that someone will pass you. But on this trip in Canada, if we were "only" 25 or 30 kmph over the posted limit, it was almost a certainty that someone would pass.
What gives? What's behind the difference in mind set?

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:31 PM

The area is sparsely populated compared to the US. Most drivers going from Port Huron to Buffalo would use the 402, 403, & 401 superhighway combination to make the trip. Those roads are heavily trafficked. If you chose Route 3 which is the more scenic two lane route the amount of traffic is probably much less. The terrain is relatively flat and the locals who know the roads fairly well are more likely to take a chance that they will not meet something coming the other way. If they see a USA license plate as opposed to an Ontario one they take it for granted that you are unfamiliar with the road and are too slow for them. It is just a mindset that is ingrained within them.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: CarolC
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:32 PM

US drivers are crazy. Canadian drivers are even more crazy. Ever driven on the 401? *shudder*

In Quebec city, in the old city, there's a road that winds around a hill and it's all blind curves. The pedestrians don't look for oncoming traffic, and the drivers don't look for pedestrians. And down along the river, when I was there back in the 70s, the road didn't have any markings at all, even though it was the equivalent of a several lane highway. The cars were all over that road and had no regard for staying in anything that could be considered a lane.

In Orillia, on the other hand, the drivers were very considerate while I was there. One time, when I stepped down off a snow bank onto the shoulder of the road, all of the traffic stopped even though I was only on the side of the road and not in it.

JtS told me recently that a much higher percentage of people he's known in Canada have died in vehicular accidents than people he's known in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:32 PM

A large van from Alberta damned near crashed into me this morning when the driver decided to leave the on-ramp lane to the interstate. He didn't seem to understand why I honked.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:13 PM

I hope if youse ever come to Moncton, New Brunswick, you bring some kinda APC.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: kendall
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:26 PM

Most drivers tend to be both Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde depending on the level of irritation.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 09:29 PM

That level seems to me to be increased by the number of drivers who cannot take the foot off the gas pedal when they can see the red light just ahead... put their signal light on when thet turn... etc.

The worst are the igits that speed... no idea how bad they can be hurt and hurt others.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Amergin
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 10:10 PM

On highway 95 between Couer d'Alene and the Canadian border is a 2 lane mountain highway. A high percentage of fatalities are caused by Canadian drivers....

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 10:18 PM

Yeah, those Americans drive like it's their road.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 10:25 PM

I think there is a great deal of regionalism across both countries, but my experience has been closer to frogrprince both in the East and the West. I found Canadians more apt to be in the passing lane at high speed, but the 'weavers' were more likely to be Americans. During my first ever drive up the Alcan, I had a spot of car trouble, and I noted that more Canadians were curious and offered to render aid, than Americans.

I know Canadians are only human, and there are great bastards and criminals among 'em, but by comparison with Yanks, it's pretty hard for me to find much fault with 'em.

Here's one: I find Canadians to be insufficiently militarized!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 10:38 PM

That's on accounta we don't like to fight, but, if we have to, it don't take that many.... just takes good ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: 3refs
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:04 AM

Well, as a cab driver from Orillia, I've pretty much seen it all! Twice I have chased people with my horn blaring and lights flashing, because they were going the wrong way on a ramp that lead to Hwy #11. For those of you not familiar with Hwy #11, It's the road that takes all the weekend terrorists(sorry, tourists)to cottage country north of Toronto. On a long weekend, it can be stop and go, bumper to bumper for 150 miles. What normally would take you(not me)2 hours, could take 6-8 hours. It's like that most of the summer!
More often than not, when I see someone totally screwing up behind the wheel, their from Quebec, out of country, a senior citizen, an impaired driver and if their not one of them, they're Chinese! I know it's racial profiling, but I can pick out a Chinese driver from half a click away!
The best drivers are from places where it snows a lot! Anywhere in Canada, except B.C. and Quebec. Most people from the northern states are good drivers. You show me one Toyota Camry weaving in and out of traffic, brake lights on all the time and I'll show you a Chinese person on their way to the casino!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 02:04 PM

Agressive driving likely reflect the culture,and local values. I suspect driving practices in many small towns and rural areas in both countries may be quite similar. Many USA cities tend to be larger, and I suspect faster and likely with more agressive drivers. Regardless, driving in both countries is much less stressful than many world areas. On a related note, a few years back, I found Quebec driving (Montreal) to be faster and more agressive (somewhat European). Lately, I have found the local police has tamed drivers down a bit.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 02:14 PM

The first Marine went over the top parley Vous
The first Marine went over the top "       "
"          "                  " and picked up the pennies the Canadians dropped etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: john f weldon
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 03:39 PM

Canadian best drivers: Halifax.
Canadian worst drivers: Montreal, no contest. Me included.
American bad drivers: Maine, usually due to age.
World's worst drivers: The Former Yugoslavia.
World's best drivers: Antarctica.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Peace
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:11 PM

We now have--at least in Alberta--a law that says you face doubled fines if you pass emergency workers at more than 60 km/hr. We wanted that at 50 km/hr, but the people who make the laws don't work in the ditch. And it takes a long time for mentalities to change because of laws.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:45 PM

Not sure what it proves but:

More US drivers than Canadian drivers, over the last decade, have failed to notice roadside bombs---.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:19 AM

Eastern Canada drivers are way more civil, cautious, and relaxed than rural Ontario drivers, based on 4 trips east in recent years.

Rural Ontario drivers are way more civil, cautious, and relaxed than urban Ontario drivers, based on scores of trips around Ontario from Ottawa to Toronto to London to Owen Sound, the near north, the Bruce, etc, on all types of highways.

I don't see US drivers anywhere but in Canada because I never go to the Excited States, but there sure are a lot of them who like to pass me up and down highway 21, and I virtually never have to pass them. As for safety, well, I'm still alive and accident free.

The worst Canadian driving I've seen (and drivers by extension I suppose) has been in Montreal, though regular 401 through Toronto drivers aren't getting any better. Sorry if that includes you.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Peace
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:28 PM

I was raised in Montreal, have been back numerous times and I agree with Mooh. IMO, the only place that even comes close is NYC--and I've never been to LA so I won't speak to that.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: heric
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 11:18 PM

SF Bay Area drivers go the posted speed limit on highways which I just can't figure out. Makes me want to shoot. I can't drive 65.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 11:25 PM

Sounds like heaven.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: bankley
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 03:11 PM

I learned to drive in Montreal... that's like learning to swim in Cousteau's Ocean without scuba gear...


lucky I can speak and read Francais...

"Sens Unique- Si vous continuer de meme te va finir ben fuckay"

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 01:34 AM

U.S. Drivers hold records and have won championships all around the world and the list of legendary greats from the USA is more lengthy than any other country. Canadians have Gilles (deceased) and son Jacques Villeneuve with top credentials. Then the list drops off a good bit going to Ron Fellows, Patrick Carpentier, the deceased Greg Moore, and of course the dubious "Thrill from West Hill" Paul Tracy.

Actually you all need to lose points for Paul Tracy.........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 11:06 AM

Them Newfies got ya all beat, b'y!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: frogprince
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:04 PM

Didn't expect to see this thread back again; wish, just for curiousity, that they had given some indication of what all violations the guy has been fined for.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:10 PM

I think it's mostly a regional and a local thing rather than any kind of national tendency. I've heard many times now about wild driving in Montreal and Quebec City. Toronto is definitely hectic.

Shane is probably as bad a driver as any American, given the fact that he's normally drunk, doesn't give a damn, disobeys signs and lights, and has long had his license suspended but still drives anyway on those occasions when he manages to steal someone's car. His brother Don won't let him drive the pickup.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Ed T
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:13 PM

Tiger Woods changed drivers for the third time this year, returning to a Nike ... I don't know if he has ever tried a Canadian or not?

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: kendall
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 01:09 PM

This is too general. All yanks are not alike, all Canadians are not alike.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 02:45 PM

Indeed, Kendall. It's all in good, teasing, fun.

But the drivers in Moncton would get at least a silver... IMO, a platinum... for sheer idiocy and inattention. An hour or so ago, I saw a van had t-boned a small car. That van went by me a km earlier doing at least 80kph in a 50kph zone... in heavy traffic, weaving in and out. She was on the cell ohone when she went by me. Fact is, there are lots of traffic lights so she wasn't gonna get anywhere any faster, except to the hospital. Stunned as me arse.

I'll be happy when the cameras are put up and people start getting tickets. I know it sounds like I am exaggerating, but it's unreal what I see EVERY time I am on the road in this city.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 03:27 PM

I spent the winter of 1983-1984 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, half of which lies on the flat-land beside the Saint John River, and half of which is divided between the top and side of a high escarpment. During that very snowy winter, only one traffic rule really mattered: people going uphill always had the right of way. If once you stopped on the way up, the chances were pretty good you would have to skid backwards all the way to the bottom before you could get under way again.

People turning left onto the main road heading up the hill had to take their chances ...

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 05:11 PM

Charmion... I spent six winters there. After the first winter, I had a VW Bug with 6.5 rear tires with studs in them. I used to dodge around the "sliders". Sometimes, at 5PM, I used to take the Bug up the hill on campus at UNB in the left lane (NOBODY would dare come DOWN in a snowstorm) and then come back down and wave to the stranded, sat in their fancy and expensive cars, not able to get anywhere.

Of course, after supper, we of Sigma Lambda Beta Rho would shovel, push and shove and make them go. Up or down. It was a house tradition and we sang our house song all the while... to the chagrin of more than a few. It's a bawdy song.

As Transporation Engineering student, or, better yet, as a human with a brain, I could never understand the three way stops at T intersections on some streets on "the hill". Bloody dangerous!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Drivers vs U.S. Drivers
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 12:31 AM

I've only been to Toronto, and I was glad somebody else was driving. Toronto drivers are a lot like Boston drivers. Very exciting.

Now for real entertainment I reccomend Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh. There's just something about the drivers there. I'm not sure what comes over them. But you can pretty much count on getting cut off, shouted at, and having to dodge a couple of jaywalkers, not to mention that person who parked his car the wrong way, and is now pulling out in front of you.