http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/52103_local_rudedrivers.html Houston drivers are among the nation's rudest (5/21/03 - HOUSTON) — A new survey by the Steel Industry Alliance claims Houston has rude and unsafe drivers. The steel industry polled drivers in 20 US cities. According to the survey, Charlotte, North Carolina ranked as the safest city to drive while Houston ranked only 18th. New Yorkers top the list of rudest drivers with Houstonians ranking eighth. The The findings also show that women drivers spend more time primping in the mirror and half of all motorists admit to dashboard dining.
Couple of thoughts here: 1. we have more freeway than anywhere in america...we're the 2nd biggest city in terms of actual land area in the country...we're the 4th most populous city in the country. i think it's a victory we're not #1 on this very subjective study. 2. where's dallas on this list? anyone spent any time driving in dallas? it's not pretty 3. i'd like to know what the other cities were that ranked ahead of us.
To and from work, I average one horn-honking per trip. My favorite targets include people who do not instantly recognize a newly-turned green light, people driving slower than others because they are on the phone, people who wait too long to pull out in front of traffic, and people who slow down for turns without signalling. There is no better feeling than a loud, prolonged honk that rattles the driver in front of you to the point where they look up in their rear-view mirror, alarmed, and momentarily become disoriented.
LOL this is exactly why the old lady gave me the #1 sign...we were at a light and she didnt move..so I gave her a little honk.....and thats when she gave me the...um...birdie. But you never know.....she could have been missing a finger and was throwing the peace sign at me.
Used to be - if you honked - you got return shotgun fire. Honk was only for impending accident or declaration of war. Hence, the more genteel response of your elder.
Austin isnt much better, but at least here people actually let you merge into traffic. Driving in Houston made me fear for my life on a daily basis - seriously. If you look down for 2 seconds on the freeway, you will be up someones rear bumper.
I'm not surprised at all! I have seen 2 road rage incidents. 1. Yesterday, some guy in a red Tacoma was driving fast as hell down Kirkwood/Dulles. Trying to pass traffic, he switched to the right lane, but the guy in front of him also switched soon after and cut him off. Tacoma guy swerves to the right into the grass to avoid a collision. But then he swerves back to the left lane, passes the guy, moves in front of him and stops his car! He then gets out of the car, goes up to the other car and starts screaming at the guy. "Are you stupid!? Didn't you see me?" I could hear him from inside my car. Later, the Tacoma passes me up driving like nutcase. This was the first real road rage incident I've seen. 2. Some lady was having some serious issues and driving like a maniac. She would flash her beams at anyone in front of her. If they didn't move right away, she would maneuver in front, then slow down in front of them. She kept doing this. She was mad at something. Not as exciting as the first, but definitely a road rage incident.