Are European Drivers Better Than US Drivers?

///M Power-Belgium · 10-23-2017, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anglo

People in cities like Rome, Paris drive like Maniacs, they cut through gas stations to avoids traffic lights etc.

California has the best drivers in the world!

I agree . In France the traffic and drivers are bat crazy !

Red Bread · 10-23-2017, 10:06 AM

Egypt is probably the scariest place I've driven. Jamaica is a close second.

Bups · 10-23-2017, 10:09 AM

India. Indonesia. Indiana.

NickyC · 10-23-2017, 10:13 AM

They have to be, it's impossible to be any worse than your average iDumbass gadget zombie American driver.

vinylengraver · 10-23-2017, 10:17 AM

This is purely anecdotal, so take it for what it's worth:
I just got back from a 3 week trip to Italy.
Here are some observations:

There's no way in hell an average driver in North America could successfully negotiate a 3-lane roundabout, yet people over there do it all the time, at speed and with surprising ease.

The apparent chaos you see during rush hour should by our standards result in streets of Rome flowing with blood, yet I have not witnessed a single accident during those three weeks. Not a single one...

The cab driver on my way from the airport was constantly fiddling with his GPS while texting someone on his phone while changing radio stations and all this on a manual car squeezing through narrow street nearly-missing parked cars, motorcyclists and pedestrians... and yet we got there safely and nobody got hurt in the process.

Despite of what most of us believe, majority of cars you see are old, underpowered and pretty beat up - no airbags, no lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring or emergency braking, no sir. Just a 900cc turbo-diesel, 6MT and a steering wheel without any buttons. By US standards, this would be a sure way to day, every single day. And yet somehow all those crazy maniacs seem to live long lives while enjoying it too.

Does that mean they are better drivers?
You decide.

X Driver · 10-23-2017, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

They have to be, it's impossible to be any worse than your average iDumbass gadget zombie American driver.

Haha, want to say the same thing about the European drivers

Lups · 10-23-2017, 10:20 AM

Indiana is a shit show for sure but the stunts they pull in Kansas when it rains are something one can't forget...

Then you have the rest of the prairies. Endless roads and then some fucker jumps behind a corn field.

I'm glad there is no proof of my mild but civilized road rage episodes, but the worst I've had was in Idaho probably.

Lups · 10-23-2017, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

They have to be, it's impossible to be any worse than your average iDumbass gadget zombie American driver.

Shut it man, you should see our pedestrians. Those fucking freaks totally beat your zombies

Lups · 10-23-2017, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobb

Whatever you're drinking, can you please pour me a large one

Sure man! I hope you're not lactose intolerant...

Lups · 10-23-2017, 11:00 AM

Oh!

If you guys ever have a chance to be a passenger in Seattle while a german engineer drives, i suggest you do it.

///M Power-Belgium · 10-23-2017, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lups

Sure man! I hope you're not lactose intolerant...

Anna you should buy a cow .

Lups · 10-23-2017, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Anna you should buy a cow .

I think it's important to support the dairy industry!

Phil! It's snowing! All i need is a wallet, a car, a really plausible excuse if the cops show up and an empty parking place. I fucking love first snow.

///M Power-Belgium · 10-23-2017, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lups

I think it's important to support the dairy industry!

Phil! It's snowing! All i need is a wallet, a car, a really plausible excuse if the cops show up and an empty parking place. I fucking love first snow.

From last weekend the weather in Belgium is cold (cold wind)
But last week (monday and tuesday) we had 26° C , that was really crazy for October !

EALm4 · 10-23-2017, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Of course we are better . Check Max-Verstappen !

Please..... he got away with a podium this weekend bc Räikkönen's tires were shot :P

Did ED with my car and Euro drivers are much more courteous than US drivers. The only time I saw a "slow" car on the left was when I was coming back from Stuttgart headed to Munich and there was literally only one lane open due to construction. Even then, as soon as the construction site opened up to regular flow of traffic. Everyone kept to the right and all the other cars looking to pass stayed left. In the US you would've seen people weaving all in between once the lanes opened up. There was never a time were I was like "WTF is guy doing??!?" Except when I saw a mini van pass me doing 120+mph with the driver texting and the passenger in the back seat asleep. I sped up to catch a second look and was astonished lol

I did see a couple sport bikes pass left lane cars but that was on an unrestricted part of the autobahn and the bikes simply were moving too fast.

Lups · 10-23-2017, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

From last weekend the weather in Belgium is cold (cold wind)
But last week (monday and tuesday) we had 26° C , that was really crazy for October !

Jesus we are old Phil if we are talking weather.

Alfisti · 10-23-2017, 11:41 AM

Depends where in Europe but overall i'd say it's just a different kind of stupid.

Europeans have far better lane discipline and can understand a roundabout which as an ex-pat Aussie drives me nuts in Toronto with ludicrous number of 4-way stops.

However the scooter drivers are insane, as are pedestrians which seem to have a kind of deathwish.

EALm4 · 10-23-2017, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

However the scooter drivers are insane, as are pedestrians which seem to have a kind of deathwish.

I hear that. Any sort of metro city has problems with those. I was in Zurich and a lady was crossing the road when the light rail train was cruising around. She dropped something and gave ZERO fucks, bent over and picked it up right in the middle of the tracks. The train driver slammed on the brakes or whatever and passengers got jolted but nothing crazy since it wasnt moving fast enough for anyone to actually get thrown. The lady just looks right up with a blank stare and walked off like nothing happened.

bimmer456 · 10-23-2017, 12:01 PM

Anyone drives better the L.A. drivers no doubt.

Lups · 10-23-2017, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Anyone drives better the L.A. drivers no doubt.

La is easy. I don't know why you guys bitch and moan about it so much.

bimmer456 · 10-23-2017, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lups

La is easy. I don't know why you guys bitch and moan about it so much.

I guess it's better than India. People don't know how to drive here though.

Lups · 10-23-2017, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I guess it's better than India. People don't know how to drive here though.

They can, and the roads are not too bad and the cops are nice. Stop bitching about tiny make up accidents.

bimmer456 · 10-23-2017, 12:26 PM

Actually the roads suck and the cops are racist. Not sure what you mean by accidents, but yes there are plenty of those too and lots of people dying because of drunk drivers, but the drunk drivers never die. I get bogus tickets from the police and I always get the case dismissed so that says something.

10-23-2017, 10:06 AM	#24
Red Bread Major General 4463 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Egypt is probably the scariest place I've driven. Jamaica is a close second.
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10-23-2017, 10:09 AM	#25
Bups Masterdebater 206 Rep 176 Posts Drives: Toyoda Camray Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barcelona iTrader: (0)	India. Indonesia. Indiana. __________________ “How are Mr. Trump’s hands?” My hands are fine. You know, my hands are normal. Slightly large, actually. In fact, I buy a slightly smaller than large glove, okay? No, but I did this because everybody was saying to me, “Oh, your hands are very nice. They are normal.” - Donald J. Trump.
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10-23-2017, 10:13 AM	#26
NickyC Lieutenant General 17438 Rep 10,645 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	They have to be, it's impossible to be any worse than your average iDumbass gadget zombie American driver.
	Appreciate 2 Red Bread4463.00 MKSixer34173.50

10-23-2017, 10:17 AM	#27
vinylengraver First Lieutenant 378 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Langley, BC iTrader: (0)	This is purely anecdotal, so take it for what it's worth: I just got back from a 3 week trip to Italy. Here are some observations: There's no way in hell an average driver in North America could successfully negotiate a 3-lane roundabout, yet people over there do it all the time, at speed and with surprising ease. The apparent chaos you see during rush hour should by our standards result in streets of Rome flowing with blood, yet I have not witnessed a single accident during those three weeks. Not a single one... The cab driver on my way from the airport was constantly fiddling with his GPS while texting someone on his phone while changing radio stations and all this on a manual car squeezing through narrow street nearly-missing parked cars, motorcyclists and pedestrians... and yet we got there safely and nobody got hurt in the process. Despite of what most of us believe, majority of cars you see are old, underpowered and pretty beat up - no airbags, no lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring or emergency braking, no sir. Just a 900cc turbo-diesel, 6MT and a steering wheel without any buttons. By US standards, this would be a sure way to day, every single day. And yet somehow all those crazy maniacs seem to live long lives while enjoying it too. Does that mean they are better drivers? You decide.
	Appreciate 2 wrickem2101.00 Kankles1484.50

10-23-2017, 11:41 AM	#38
Alfisti Brigadier General 6496 Rep 3,030 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Depends where in Europe but overall i'd say it's just a different kind of stupid. Europeans have far better lane discipline and can understand a roundabout which as an ex-pat Aussie drives me nuts in Toronto with ludicrous number of 4-way stops. However the scooter drivers are insane, as are pedestrians which seem to have a kind of deathwish.
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10-23-2017, 12:01 PM	#40
bimmer456 Major General 2950 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Anyone drives better the L.A. drivers no doubt.
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10-23-2017, 12:26 PM	#44
bimmer456 Major General 2950 Rep 5,984 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Actually the roads suck and the cops are racist. Not sure what you mean by accidents, but yes there are plenty of those too and lots of people dying because of drunk drivers, but the drunk drivers never die. I get bogus tickets from the police and I always get the case dismissed so that says something.
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