The DC Traveler

Once again, Washington, DC area drivers were ranked the fifth worst in rudeness and hostility on the road.

Sadly, I must agree with the latest AutoVantage Road Rage survey.  A large portion of our area drivers have become overly aggressive, drive as if the speed limit is as fast as you can go until a car blocks your way and assumes that using a turn signal is not an indication of intent, but results in a God-given right to force their way over without looking.

Another trend that seems to be growing exponentially is texting while driving, especially among younger drivers.

The most shocking part of the survey is that 1% of drivers surveyed stated that they had actually deliberately slammed their car into the car in front of them.

Neighboring Baltimore jumped onto the list at #4, while Miami drivers were rated as the worst nationally. And Pittsburgh drivers were considered the most courteous. 

Some additional national stats and trends were also reported, including that 59% of drivers think it would be helpful to require hands-free cell phone usage, and 52% of drivers believing that cell phone use while driving should be made illegal.

To help people understand the new nuances of driving in Washington, DC area, as I posted last year, here are my Ten Rules for DC Drivers:

1. The heavier the traffic, the closer you should tailgate the driver in front of you.  How else will they know you’re running late?
2. The speed limit on the Beltway is…wait, there is no speed limit on the Beltway.
3. Using turn signals telegraphs your next move in your personal road battle — never use them.
4. When driving on any highway, NEVER leave more than one car length (even at high speeds) between you and the car in front of you.  If you do, somebody will fill in the space.  Tailgating is a competitive sport in DC.
5. The overhead electronic traffic information signs are not there to provide useful driver information, just to make the DC region look more progressive.
6. Old Rule - The faster you drive through a red light, the lower your odds of getting hit.  New Rule - The more anti-photo reflective paint you have on your license plates, the lower your odds of getting a ticket from a red light camera.
7. Exiting the highway is properly accomplished by staying in the far left lane until you are just a few feet from your the exit, then violently swerving across 3 lanes to exit.  Points taken away for using turn signals (see Rule #3 above).
8. “Accident Ahead!” warning signs inform you of problems immediately after you pass the last exit before traffic comes to a standstill.
9. If you are late to work and it’s gridlock, feel entitled to use the shoulder on any highway.
10. Metro buses do not need to follow the Rules of the Road.

New Bonus Rule: Using a cell phone is no long a cool thing to do while driving. With all the area hotspots and the growing Wi-Fi availability, it’s much more productive to and in use your laptop while traveling at 85 mph. 

Feel free to add to my list. Just add your comment below.

And as a case in point, just yesterday on I-66, I experienced an all too typical road-raging maniac driver. I suspect if I could do a Vulcan mind-meld with him, his thoughts would be:

• The more I shake my fist at people, on the faster traffic in general will move.
• My immediate de it sire to change lanes without signaling, by forcing my way over is Constitutionally protected.
• If people do not instantly slam on their brakes to let me in when I change lanes, Iron Man or UN peacekeeping troops should be called in.
• Flipping people off is the cheerful nonverbal way to tell people “I love you man.”

Images - Raging driver, gridlock - from personal collection - © 2008 - Jon Rochetti

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