Back in the US and have some questions

nudeyorker

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Could they also include women applying make up while driving?

Funny Story... I was in a play once and a friend and I were running late to the performance and we were driving back to NY on the Saw Mill River Parkway applying our stage makeup. There was a group of business men driving who probably never recovered from the experience.
Sometimes there are extreme conditions when you just have to put makeup on while driving.
 

vince

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I'm shopping for a new car at the moment and if it doesn't have built-in Bluetooth handsfree and phone controls on the steering wheel, it's a deal breaker. I really pissed off the VW dealer :tongue: My current ride has them and I really like the feature and it's so much safer.
 

gymfresh

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Here in Florida the state law is that you put on your headlights when the first drop of rain hits your windshield. Not that most people bother. But maybe more than anywhere else in the continental US, 3 raindrops can turn into a torrential downpour in a matter of seconds.

Very few American drivers take "Drive Defensively" to heart. (My personal variation on that is "Driving Is a Team Sport".) thickjohnny, you may remember the "DD" PSAs from when you lived in the States before. But nowadays hardly anyone knows what that phrase means and most drivers are much more concerned with themselves than with any other cars on the road. Misaligned headlights or inappropriate lights on? The other guy's problem. I think that most people using fog lights on clear roads have them on because they make them look badass, or they're left in the default position to go on whenever their headlamps go on.

The last 4 cars I've owned have had an "automatic" setting for headlights, so quite honestly I rarely ever think about touching the lights switch in my car. Set and forget.

As for rear fog lights, US-built cars don't have them and the imported cars have them disabled. Most Mercedes and BMW models have either a setting for rear lamp that doesn't do anything, or a different headlamp switch assembly that lacks the setting. When I was in Belgium rear fog lamps were a big deal, but few Americans know what I'm talking about.

What about Americans who drive with their parking lights only, because it's "just dusk"? That'll get you a ticket in a hurry in Europe, but it's perfectly fine in many US states.

Turn signals in theory should be used, but most people don't bother. Here in Florida I know people who have forsaken their use altogether, because it alerts other drivers to do insane things like rush to cut you off. Happens constantly. I admit that I calculate whether it's worth it to use my indicators when changing lanes based on the likelihood I'll
just be giving the guy in the lane over some incentive to squeeze me out. It seems to be a point of macho pride around here (Miami area) to never, ever let anyone get in front of you. The instinct to cut people off has become reflexive. Zipper merge? Fuggeddabouddit.

When I was learning to drive in high school (Virginia), I took Driver Ed in school, private lessons, and also practiced a lot with my parents. Got lots of good advice with emphasis on conservatism and courtesy. We did a lot of highway driving on I-95 and the Beltway, and I remember that one of the courtesies I was taught was that when an 18-wheeler passes you after dark and then wants to come back into your lane, flash your headlights when he has safe space to do so. He will thank you by turning his lights off momentarily. If anyone does this courtesy for me in my passenger car (as some have), I use my indicator to change lanes and then give them one quick "blink" in the other direction once I'm in my lane, as thanks.

My Germans friends who visit are constantly pointing out things on the road that would never, ever pass muster at home. Things like cars and pickup trucks with hubs that stick out many inches from the sides of the body, lots and lots of stuff hung from mirrors and on rear shelves that obstruct views, and everybody holding phones. They've even appalled at kids under 13 in the front seat.

And don't get me started on the creative driving. Hardly a week goes by down here that I don't see someone in the right lane making a left turn when the light changes... right across 4 lanes of traffic (in each direction!). Virtually everyone where I live assumes it's "OK" to make a U-turn at will when you're at a red light. And it seems no one understands what a red arrow or a flashing red means. It's a wonder there aren't more horrible accidents.

It's all pretty loosey-goosey over here. As long as you're not belching out smoke or driving with various lights obviously missing, you're good.
 

gymfresh

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Haven't studies shown that the real issue is the distraction of having a conversation with someone who's not in the car, not the physical act of holding the phone? On this basis, some researchers have called for a ban on both hand-held and hands-free calls.

Oprah Winfrey started a "No Phone Zone" national pledge to get people to refuse to use phones while driving (handsfree or otherwise) except in emergencies. She does let people choose other levels of pledge. Fewer than half a million drivers have pledged at any level.
 

B_thickjohnny

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Yep! My cars in Europe had bluetooth handsfree because I HAD to have it (it was the law) and I bought a Volvo here because of that plus I wanted rear fog lamps, auto-on headlamps (actually Volvo cars don't even need a switch as they are on 24/7) and I wanted yellow rear blinkers - another feature I personally believe is safer. Can you really see red blinkers? I wanted folding mirrors and honestly, I also wanted the safety of a Volvo.

The other thing missing on US cars is the safety kit! No first aid kit in any Chevy I've ever seen - or Cadillac for that matter. And they say they're competing with Mercedes and BMW. i think it's all about cost here (in the US). It costs money to add a rear fog light or folding mirrors or a first aid kit so why bother?
 

vince

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The other thing missing on US cars is the safety kit! No first aid kit in any Chevy I've ever seen - or Cadillac for that matter. And they say they're competing with Mercedes and BMW. i think it's all about cost here (in the US). It costs money to add a rear fog light or folding mirrors or a first aid kit so why bother?
Yep. Americans generally like their cars big and cheap. That's what VW has finally clued into and is the reason the new "Passat" being manufactured in Tennessee is much larger and lower spec than the one they sell in the rest of the world.
 

Calboner

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Why do Americans drive with their fog lights on ALL THE TIME? They're called fog lights for a reason and aiming them up, blinding people driving towards you is not cool. Are there no laws about this - outlawing foglights except in fog?

Why do so many Americans drive in the pouring rain or even late evening (sunset) without headlights? I asked one guy this and he said he can see just fine and saw no reason to put his lights on. The fact that other people can't see him didn't make sense to him and he didn't really care about them.

Why don't Americans use their blinkers? EVER! They drive from lane to lane, go from one lane across two or three and exit without so much as one blink!

Why don't Americans learn how to use their flashers to say "thank you" when they're let in line on a street or highway etc? In Europe a quick flash of the flashers means "thank you".
Quick answer, because we are Albanians, I mean Americans and can do as we please.

Longer answer, fog lights are on because you never know when a fog is going to roll in and you need to be ready.
I can't tell if this was meant as a joke. The fact is that one very often does know when a fog is NOT going to roll in, and even if a fog does roll in, people with fog lamps can switch them on in an instant. So the behavior of people who drive around with their fog lamps on all the time cannot be explained in this fashion. My hypothesis is that they do so because they take satisfaction in serving their own advantage at the cost of inconvenience and danger to others. This, I believe, falls under the heading of your general explanation, "Because we are Americans and can do as we please."
Lights when it's raining? Have you been drinking? Light and wet rain water causes glares. Street and highway lighting is enough and also lighting from cars that have their lights on.

Lights at night? Highways have lights, some streets have lights, if there's a full moon why deplete the battery? One of the best things to do is drive back roads on dark nights with the headlights off. Maybe use the blinkers then so nobody gets hurt.
Where you go with this looks to me like satire, but I can't be sure. In any case, it is certainly dangerous for people to drive in heavy rain with their headlights off. I was once driving in a rainstorm and needed to change lanes. As far as I could tell, there were no cars beside or behind me in the lane into which I needed to move. There was, however, a faint shadow in the rain and mist. I decided not to change lanes, on the chance that the shadow might be another motor vehicle. It proved to be a giant SUV roaring along with no headlights. If I had interpreted the shadow to be merely a feature of the landscape, there could easily have been a collision. If the other driver had had his or her lights on, there would have been no danger.

Drivers who think only of their own needs when they decide whether to use headlights are either dolts or assholes.
Blinkers get used as needed but I'll be damned if I am going to waste them as a way of saying :"Thank you." A simple hand wave and head nod are enough.
It is very often impossible to see into the cabin of another car, either because of reflections on the windshield or because of darkness. But the pertinent fact is simply that the custom of which Thickjohnny speaks does not exist in this country. If you go using your blinkers when you are not signaling a turn, you will merely confuse and mislead other drivers.

And lastly, why do Americans stand anywhere they want on an escalator when clearly someone wants to walk past them? Stand to the right; walk on the left. Same as the road rules although Americans obviously don't know that slow traffic should stay to the right and let people pass on the right.
Once again, this is an instance of the want of a custom. In Boston, it is the custom to stand on the right on an escalator, and I have heard that such a custom exists in Washington, DC, too, though I have not observed it for myself.

I think that the basic fact pertinent to all the behavior that you observe is that human beings will tend to be selfish, inconsiderate assholes unless there are specific social or legal sanctions to compel them to behave otherwise. Apparently, in the cases that you identify, such sanctions exist in Europe but not in the US.
 

B_thickjohnny

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It is very often impossible to see into the cabin of another car, either because of reflections on the windshield or because of darkness. But the pertinent fact is simply that the custom of which Thickjohnny speaks does not exist in this country. If you go using your blinkers when you are not signaling a turn, you will merely confuse and mislead other drivers.

The Volvo XC60 I drive has darkened rear windows (made that way) and so waving cannot be seen. So I flash my flashers ONCE to say thanks for letting me in. I've noticed that when I do, the driver moves to the next lane or slows down. Maybe coincidence but I think you're right - they're more than likely confused.
 

b.c.

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Why do you assume all Americans act in the same manner? How do you know how every American acts?

Well, actually, I was about to ask the same thing. Seems a pretty broad generalization, imo. I think there are too many variations to generalize any driving characteristic as particularly "American".

Regarding "fog lights". Don't you mean high-beams? High beams (for seeing greater distances at night) aren't the same as "fog lights", those smaller accessory lights that vehicles may or may not be equipped with. In fact, you're less likely to be able to see in a fog with high beams, whereas fog lights project light lower and closer to the ground.

I drive with fog lights on in slightly overcast conditions, in rain, and as additional lighting at night. Besides, I like the look of my car's profile with those lit (my daytime lights remain on as an automatic function of the car).

My HIGH beams I never use unless on a open stretch of dark highway with no approaching traffic. And certainly not in fog.

Though people allowing one to pass is not too common (they're more likely to try to keep you from passing), flashing a light as a sign of thanks would be a useless gesture. No one would know why you're doing it. Nor are there many people trying to rush pass you on an escalator... just as soon ride. Some things are best left strictly Euro, I guess. :cool:
 
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B_thickjohnny

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Calboner: I forgot to say, that Cadillac and maybe other cars have a feature that turns the headlights on when the wipers go on. Maybe some day that will be a permanent feature on all cars.
 

B_thickjohnny

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Regarding "fog lights". Don't you mean high-beams? High beams (for seeing greater distances at night) aren't the same as "fog lights", those smaller accessory lights that vehicles may or may not be equipped with. In fact, you're less likely to be able to see in a fog with high beams, whereas fog lights project light lower and closer to the ground.

I drive with fog lights on in slightly overcast conditions, in rain, and as additional lighting at night. Besides, I like the look of the car's profile with those lit (my daytime lights remain on as an automatic function of the car).

I've been talking about the below the bumper fog lights not high beams. If aligned properly they light up the road ONLY directly in front of the vehicle. They are not designed to project light like your high beams. I see way too many fog lights out of alignment and aimed high - blindingly high.

With respect to liking the look, I guess you can have your right to have the look but that's not the purpose of those lights. They're not a fashion lights; they're FOG lights and shouldn't be used for any other reason but for fog.

Insofar as the range of fog lamps, even very good fog lamps, is very short. So short, in fact, that they are functionally useless above about 25 miles per hour; whatever you can see only by the light of the fog lamps, you're going to hit above that speed.
 

TurkeyWithaSunburn

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The Volvo XC60 I drive has darkened rear windows (made that way) and so waving cannot be seen. So I flash my flashers ONCE to say thanks for letting me in. I've noticed that when I do, the driver moves to the next lane or slows down. Maybe coincidence but I think you're right - they're more than likely confused.

I've never heard hazard lights referred to as just "flashers".

Automotive lighting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'd say you're more likely to cause confusion with non-conforming (to US drivers) "thank you". Than simply not doing anything.