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Oeslian t1_j3wucdd wrote

Reply to comment by kittybellyfulloflies in PSA: 4-Way Stand-Offs. “You go first.” “No, you go first.” “I’ll wait.” “No, you go, I’ll wait.” by Unique-Public-8594

I’m from the Bay Area originally, I honestly think Vermonters are worse drivers. They are very good about driving safely in winter conditions, even when it’s not winter. However, I have noticed many Vermont drivers are oblivious to any other cars on the road. I regularly get pushed out of my lane, or have people pull right out in front of me and go 15 under while I am cruising at the limit making me slam my brakes. I see this sort of behavior so often it seems endemic to the state. I have even seen it within my own social circle from people who claim to be safe drivers.

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lavransson t1_j3x1iw1 wrote

I'm from the Washington DC area originally, and when I first lived in Vermont I thought the drivers were better. I do still prefer driving and living in Vermont by miles.

But like you, I'm noticing that Vermont drivers do pull out in front of you more. I was taught, "If you turn from a side road into a main road and cause the driver behind you to brake, then you should not have pulled out, you should have waited (or accelerated faster)." Many drivers in Vermont don't do this.

I also see a surprising number of red light runners, more than in DC (per capita). I am not sure why this is, but I figure it's two things: people thinking, (1) "There's hardly anyone out here on the roads, what difference does it make?" and (2) "There a less than 1% chance of a police officer being around, so I'm just going to run this light."

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texmarie t1_j3xktv5 wrote

Still better than Maryland drivers though!

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pondusedtobeupthere t1_j3zaumy wrote

No way in hell there are more red light runners in VT than the District. I’ve driven all over the country, and I’ll take a courteous, friendly VT driver over any other driver in any other state, hands down!

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lavransson t1_j3zb44r wrote

I mean that per capita, not absolute. I stand by what I wrote. I’m really surprised at how often people glaringly and casually run red lights in Vermont.

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pondusedtobeupthere t1_j3zbt0q wrote

I live in the DMV. I stand by my response.

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lavransson t1_j3zhpxt wrote

I do like VT waaaay driving better. People in the DMV are so aggressive and intense. I literally drive with one hand over the horn. I’m 4 years in Vermont, I think I’ve honked the horn once.

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readyreadyvt t1_j40tucg wrote

Red light running is relatively new here, at least at the levels it’s happening. I rarely saw this when I moved here 25 years ago. In the last 5-7 years, it’s really picked up. Honestly, I’ve assumed it’s a custom brought from elsewhere.

The longtime Vermont habit that blows my mind is passing on the shoulder (often through an intersection) when the car in front of them is turning left — without checking opposing traffic.

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SrirachaCashews t1_j3z0z2t wrote

I think our aging population has a lot to do with this. The pull out in front of you/drive 15 under is a classic old person move

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