FLORIDA ARE ALL DRIVERS NUTS?!?!?!?
 

Just returned from a few days in Florida (west coast, Tampa to Naples and between) and while it was quite nice and we had a wonderful time, I must say that I have never seen drivers as crazy as the ones there. From tailgating to excessive speed, rudeness, cutting off, etc, etc, etc, they are the worst I have ever experienced, and I have driven all over the world. The rates of speed driven on I-75 was truely frightening and the habit of tailgating within inches of the car in front is just nuts. On top of that, often the tailgaters would also be making hand gestures of the not so nice kind. And, just in case you were wondering, I was not driving in the fast lane. I was tailgated while in the right hand lane. I don't know what it is about the people there that makes them drive like idiots. Perhaps the humidity gets into their brains, or they smoke too many quasi-Cuban cigars. Whatever it is, it is downright amazing to see a whole state full of such crazy and poor drivers.

I had a condo in Winter Park for many years and traveling on 436, I-4, etc. was dangerous (in my opinion) because of tailgating at high speeds.

I agree. I have never seen such crazy drivers. Even the semis and other large trucks are barreling down the freeways at what can only be described as dangerous speeds. I found myself driving usually 5-10 mph over the posted speed limit just to keep out of the way of the other drivers and was passed on a regular basis by fully loaded dump trucks (full of dirt and rocks) and semis that had to be going at least 90 mph. Now just how many feet do you imagine it would take one of those big rigs to stop from that speed in an emergency? I really would have to advise anyone going to Florida that the roads are dangerous to the extreme due to the craziness of the drivers. <BR><BR>Can any Florida residents expand on this and explain why this is? What makes you all such crazy and poor drivers? Why do you have to drive at speeds that can only be described as excessive?

Florida is a NO-FAULT insurance state, so people just don't care. Add to the mix the number of foreigners, illegal immigrants, those who can barely speak and read English and the older people and you have a real mess. Plus, the Highway Patrol is underfunded, undremanned and simply not around to curtail the crazies....

My niece moved to the Palm Beach area a few months ago and is terrified of driving there -- she swears that's where everyone retires to after they've lost their licences in other states. We visited and sure enough, there was a continuous scary series of crazy driving.<BR><BR>Did I mention that my niece and I are originally from Boston, which is allegedly the home of the worst, most aggressive drivers?

Last fall my cousin who lived in D.C. was killed in Orlando on the street in front of his hotel, when he was crossing the street and struck by a speeding car. I think it is the south in general. I lived in Texas for several years and was always amazed by bad driving habits. Running red lights, tailgating, weaving through cars. One driver came so close I got side swiped with damage to my car. After reading your message I can better understand why my cousin was killed.

Thanks for your post. Not to mention all these people with the black windows. The young girls drive so aggresively- switching lanes on whim, tailgating, etc. Then throw in truckfuls of migrant workers, blue hairs all over the lanes (that's a Willie Nelson song "Blue Hairs Driving in my Lane")rednecks, lost tourists and you have total chaos on the roads. I agree with you, Florida is the WORST!

The real answer lies in Jack's last sentence I think. For the most part, the roads aren't patrolled well and everyone knows it. I-275 between Tampa and St Pete is, and daily. No one speeds in those segments...where you see the oleander dividing the two halves of the road--there are normally police hunkered down in there. Everywhere else...watch out. <BR><BR>I had someone tailgate recently, then flip me off when they pull around me, then pull in directly front of me and slow down. I travel that road with cruise control on to keep my own speed within limits as you tend to drive as fast as the faster traffic, so know I was going about 73-74 in a 65 MPH speed limit, not in the far left lane, nor had I changed lanes. It's incredible. And yes, tailgating by semi's is routine. <BR><BR>These are the rudest drivers I've encountered anywhere, yet we didn't even make the top 10 as announced yesterday. Miami was right up there, as was Dallas, which surprised me as I've always found Dallas drivers extremely considerate. Want to merge into LBJ at rush hour? No problem..but don't try that here...they'll speed up for the sole purpose of keeping you out. And why are pick-ups the worst offenders??

Wow, a post where everyone agrees! It must be true then. I've never driven in Florida. I'm in no hurry to start.

I will stick my neck out. I have lived in Orlando for 30 years and can attest to the bad driving. I have also traveled extensively across the US and have noticed that in the cities there is very little difference in the way people drive. One big contributing factor here is the large number of tourists in rental cars who are unfamiliar with the roads, read maps while driving unfamiliar cars, and make quick stops and turns across several lanes of traffic to get to their exit. The part of I-4 around disney is the worst, I cringe whenever I have to travel this stretch of road. The locals do tend to get impatient and a little fed up with this and it shows. Just my two cents.

gmoney,<BR>Thank you for your honesty. Do the people of Orlando know that those bad tourist drivers bring in billions of dollars to the local economy when locals are upset with tourists?<BR><BR>

I as well read in the New York Times about the cancer research doctor who was killed in Orlando in front of his hotel by a speeding car while he was crossing the street. His name was Alvito Alveres. The world will not receive the rewards of his ground breaking cancer research as a result.

I will be going there first week in June. I will be renting a car, now I am scared!!! I can understand how this has happened on these roads in this state. Well I will certainly say a few prayers before I get behind the wheel. I was afraid of flying now I will be afraid of driving. My husband will be doing most of it and I am not showing him this post!!! I will never get there if I do!! I will read my maps first before I get on the roads. I promise.

I don't know that I would extend the argument to say that the South in general is full of bad drivers. I think people in the South tend to drive a little slower, are more apt to let someone change lanes in front of them, and are less agressive, except for young drivers. Still, there are bad habits that tend to persist in this region more than elsewhere, like not using turn signals and not having a clue about passing lanes.

I have lived in Florida for over 20 years. The first 6 were in the Orlando area, the rest have been spent in South Florida. The drivers are much worse in South Florida than in Central or West Florida (insurance rates will verify my observation).....but it's bad everywhere! <BR><BR>There are so many non-natives in Florida. There are the retirees who can't see or react. The tourists who drive rentals and don't know where they're going. The many foreigners and immigrants who either don't read or speak the language, or are used to different driving rules, or they just don't care! Then in winter we have all the snowbirds, most of whom are from NY or NJ, where apparently driving is not always necessary (due to public transportation). <BR><BR>Talk about road rage. A guy once flipped me off for stopping at a traffic light to let an ambulance through the intersection! Right turns from the far left lane and vice versa are daily events down here. This is not an exaggeration.<BR><BR>Top it all off with poor state funding (we have no state or local taxes in Florida) and you have a big mess!

Hello,<BR><BR>Yes we do realize all the money that these tourists bring to our area, what I said was that we get fed up with all the bad driving, not the tourists in general. We have learned to live with all the out of state visitors, and appreciate what they do for the local economy (both good and bad). Many times visitors to disney think that they are in a "magical land" and have adopted the "nothing bad can happen here" attitude and drive very recklessly. Just for the record, my absolute worst place to drive is in Boston, Bad roads combined with bad drivers makes for a very bad situation.

I recently drove through the state of Florida on I-75, I-95, I-4, Florida Turnpike and US 1 during a 2 week span. I saw 1 count em 1 State Highway Patrol Officer on the roads. People were going way over the speed limits and letting trucks go 70 is ludicrous!!! Maybe we should copy this thread and forward it to Jeb Bush or someone else in state govt.

Combine a large number of terrified elderly drivers with many lost tourists and get chaos. The peole who live there become so frustrated that they become homicidal.

The key is ENFORCEMENT and the PRESCENCE Of Highway Patrol. Where the heck are they all??? Eating donuts or what????

For my money Orlando is the worst, but not just around WDW. My kids loved all the speed going to the park but hubby and I are the slower types, we were nervous driving anywhere. It finally dawned on me who the offenders were, locals. Visitors stayed right, and slowed down, while what appeared to be a bunch of country music types (their bumper stickers) sped by running lights and stop signs. Things seemed to get better toward outside the town, but local plowboys and yokels in Orl. made a nervous wreck out of us. I agree they are nuts.

Emma, surely you jest!!!

Someone should send these postings to the agency in charge of Florida tourism. I don't know how to do it or where to send it.<BR><BR>I personally would not want to rent a car in Florida after reading this and I don't want to go to a place where tourists are harassed.<BR>

Well let me tell y'all a thing or two see. I drive fast and hard and it is my god given right. I pack some heat too and between me and my car and my gun there aint nothin better. You can have my car when you pry my gun from my cold dead fingers. Stupid yankee prigs.

There is a traffic law in FL that states unequivocally that you are NOT to stop for a red light until it has been red 3 full seconds. An octagonal red sign means slow to 15 MPH and proceed with caution. A yellow equilateral triangle is just a pretty decoration alongside a highway--pay it no mind.<BR><BR>x, they are not eating coffee and donuts, they just don't exist. Those we do have hang out in such places as parking garages during Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young concerts trying to make grass busts. You know...taking care of the really dangerous stuff to keep our communities safe! :&gt;

So true! I was in Florida a week ago, driving a rented car between Tampa and Brooksville. Absolutely the worst driving experience of my life (and I've maneuvered NYC, Philly, Boston, etc.)<BR><BR>The elderly, in particular, pose such a danger. They all drive huge, heavy cars, but appear too weak and their reflexes too slow to handle them. Plus, so many can barely see over the steering wheel. They turn and pass without signaling and pull out of side streets-SLLLOWWLLYY-- right in front of you. While I was there the papers reported that an 88 year old man had hit and killed a 43 year old pedestrian. <BR><BR>The topper? Never saw a cop anywhere at any time. <BR><BR>

Drivers got so bad near TIA we stopped renting, and now heft our bags and hitchike across the HF on out to Pass-a-Grille. We thumb along central or anything north, and stay clear of the fast 2-seaters on 22 s and 49th.

One of the problems in Florida is that the State Police have two major jobs: patrolling the Interstates and accident investigation. Apparently their staffing is set according to the former. But if there is a little fender bender 20 miles from the Interstate, a cop has to go investigate (yes, in place of the local cops), taking that car off the road for a few hours.

First of all anybody blaming immigrants who do not know the language is an idiot just because those guys cannot get high paying jobs therefore cannot buy a late model car that can go at such speeds.

I've been in Florida along the Tamiami trail quite a bit. I think tourists and the elderly are not always the problem. <BR><BR>There are so many intersections and lights but people drive so fast. Cars are pulling out from everywhere but people are still doing 65-70 down these extremely congested streets. <BR><BR>There are 6 lane roads that are very residential and past schools but no one slows down. <BR><BR>The elderly that drive a bit slow and/or overly cautious cause accident with the overly impatient. <BR><BR>A very common accident is someone slowing down for a pedestrian and the driver behind gets impatient (or never slows down) and hits the person (or people in the crosswalk). <BR><BR>It seems the locals (and those who have recently become locals from all over the country that think Florida is the "promised land" like the Joad's) should take thier share of the blame!<BR><BR>10..9..8..7... (getting ready for the flaming)

Florida reidents are good drivers, it's the older retires (who live here part time) and tourists who are the problem. Both groups go nuts when they cross our border, maybe it is the heat.

It's amazing how true most of the above statements are. But my biggest complaint is in town driving. I can't believe the standard procedure of running not only all yellow lights, but even ones that have clearly turned red. I often approach a traffic light as it is turning yellow and make a very gradual stop as it is turning red, only to have a car behind me lay on the horn and give me the finger because they wanted me to run it and they were going to run it after me! And often, people will still bypass me to the next lane and still run the light. When I am stopped at a red light and it turns green, I have learned not to go, but to wait for all the people who are still crossing the intersection even thought their light has long turned red. They just keep coming. <BR>No wonder we have so many accidents. The "snow birds" have pretty much gone back north, so the locals have no one to blame but themselves. This morning while driving maybe a total of 10 miles in town, I passed four accidents.

Another reason to stay out of FLorida.

A 93 year old neighbor of mine here in Ft. Myers who still drives recently remarked that she was worried because her driver's license will expire this year and she was worried she wouldn't be able to pass the eye test. She seems to be nearly blind, and she is almost totally deaf. Then two weeks ago she received her renewal notice in the mail. She can fill out the form and return it with her check and her license will be automatically renewed for another 6 (YES SIX!!!) years. And you wonder why we have problems?

Here's where to email complaints:<BR><BR>Florida State Highway Patrol:<BR>[email protected] <BR><BR>Florida Dept. Of Transportation <BR>[email protected] <BR><BR>PR Director for Tourism Dept.<BR>VISIT FLORIDA<BR>Robby Cunningham, Director<BR>Public Relations<BR>Phone: (850) 488-5607, ext. 337<BR>Fax: (850) 224-2938<BR>E-mail: [email protected]<BR>

Someone should send these postings to the agency in charge of Florida tourism. I don't know how to do it or where to send it.<BR><BR>I personally would not want to rent a car in Florida after reading this and I don't want to go to a place where tourists are harassed.<BR>

I am a Florida resident and have lived in this state all of my life. From Miami to Orlando and everywhere in between. Our roads are in better condition and are wider and designed for speed. DO you notice how the expressways are banked at curves like a racetrack? I drive I-95 everyday and traffic cruises at 85-90 mph. You can go 100 in the carpool lanes at times. We do not have the bad weather that many other states have and it is much safer to drive faster here. My advice for the tourists who do not like the driving is to stay to the right on all roads. I have driven in the North and you all drive amazingly slow. Chicago, Boston, Seattle etc. The expressways in the north have bone-jarring cracks and potholes and the on and off ramps are poorly designed. You have major roads that are just two lanes wide. Talk about poor planning. The speed limit is 65 or 70 and please be prepared to drive at that speed or above. I have driven in far worse places than here. California driving is very similar to here. Germany, Italy, Venezuela, Korea are all much, much worse.

count on me and anyone else:<BR><BR>Here is the address for Florida's Tourism Dept.<BR>Florida's Tourism Dept.<BR>126 West Van Buren St., FLDA <BR>Tallahassee, FL 32399-2000 <BR>Tel: (904 487-1462) <BR>Tel: 1-888 7-FLA-USA <BR>

Everything Will said is exactly right. I now live in Florida but I am from Chicago. Its too hard to drive fast in Chicago cuz of the bad roads, you risk a flat tire everytime you leave the house. My advice to those who don't like tailgaters...Speed Up!

It is like that on all part of I-75!!

I was in FLA a couple of weeks ago and I saw more accidents including 2 fatalities than I see in a month up North. The only time the FHP were around was at a construction site and then they were standing around yakking.