Over the past three weeks I (Rachel) have been asked many times, "What is the biggest difference between New York and the Midwest?" I can answer in one word: DRIVING
The 5 Biggest Differences Between New York and Midwest Driving
5) Merging In New York the merging lane is very short, so most cars must come to a complete stop before merging onto a parkway or interstate. I'm used to zipping along a long merging lane and filing onto the interstate with ease, but in New York if you zip down the merging lane you'll probably get slammed. You have to stop, look for a brief opening, and floor it onto the parkway!
4) Red Light Cameras In New York most traffic lights have cameras that take pictures of car license plates that run red lights and then those car owner's are mailed a ticket. The effect is that as soon as the light turns yellow people either gun it (what I usually do) or slam on the brakes (what Greg usually does). Rarely do people run red lights, and when they do you almost always see a camera flash and you know they're busted!
3) Aggressive Driving In New York you are either an aggressive driver or you get run over. It is extremely rare for someone to "let you in," instead you have to sort of nuzzle your way into a lane. At first I was very timid about this because I felt rude, but I'm starting to learn the art of nuzzling.
2) Horn Honking In New York you get honked at all the time. If you're not going fast enough, if you're going too fast, if you don't get over, if you cut someone off, if the light turns green, if the light doesn't turn green, etc. In the Midwest horn honking is rare, and I still jump almost every time someone beeps their horn.
1) Rushing In New York everyone is in a hurry and you better not get in anyone's way. The second the light turns green the horns start honking if you don't instantly hit the gas. There aren't a lot of speed limit signs because they know most people don't bother to look at them. Everyone is going as fast as they can.
So - over the past few weeks this Midwest girl has been learning a lot of new driving techniques - I'm faster, more aggressive, and hopefully soon I'll stop jumping every time I hear the honk of a car horn. :)
The 5 Biggest Differences Between New York and Midwest Driving
5) Merging In New York the merging lane is very short, so most cars must come to a complete stop before merging onto a parkway or interstate. I'm used to zipping along a long merging lane and filing onto the interstate with ease, but in New York if you zip down the merging lane you'll probably get slammed. You have to stop, look for a brief opening, and floor it onto the parkway!
4) Red Light Cameras In New York most traffic lights have cameras that take pictures of car license plates that run red lights and then those car owner's are mailed a ticket. The effect is that as soon as the light turns yellow people either gun it (what I usually do) or slam on the brakes (what Greg usually does). Rarely do people run red lights, and when they do you almost always see a camera flash and you know they're busted!
3) Aggressive Driving In New York you are either an aggressive driver or you get run over. It is extremely rare for someone to "let you in," instead you have to sort of nuzzle your way into a lane. At first I was very timid about this because I felt rude, but I'm starting to learn the art of nuzzling.
2) Horn Honking In New York you get honked at all the time. If you're not going fast enough, if you're going too fast, if you don't get over, if you cut someone off, if the light turns green, if the light doesn't turn green, etc. In the Midwest horn honking is rare, and I still jump almost every time someone beeps their horn.
1) Rushing In New York everyone is in a hurry and you better not get in anyone's way. The second the light turns green the horns start honking if you don't instantly hit the gas. There aren't a lot of speed limit signs because they know most people don't bother to look at them. Everyone is going as fast as they can.
So - over the past few weeks this Midwest girl has been learning a lot of new driving techniques - I'm faster, more aggressive, and hopefully soon I'll stop jumping every time I hear the honk of a car horn. :)