Have your driving habits changed with time?

[squarecut1]

As in more or less aggressive, rash, etc etc.

I think I have become more impatient (though not aggressive or rash). For example, when there is no right turn lane (a very common occurrence around here) and the light is red, find myself cutting through gas station / pharmacy etc to make a right. I never used to do that before.....

 

[BUTCH1]

Around here the cops see that and they will write you for it, I'll do it if I'm late for something but watch for cops and if one appears I'll pull up to the pumps till he clears the area. Overall as I've gotten older I'm finding that I do drive slower overall though.

 

[squarecut1]

Around here the cops see that and they will write you for it, I'll do it if I'm late for something but watch for cops and if one appears I'll pull up to the pumps till he clears the area.

Yes, I think it is a matter of time before I get pulled up for it, if I continue doing that.

 

[zerocool84]

Around here the cops see that and they will write you for it, I'll do it if I'm late for something but watch for cops and if one appears I'll pull up to the pumps till he clears the area. Overall as I've gotten older I'm finding that I do drive slower overall though.

There must not be a lot to do if you are getting ticketed for that.

 

[Engineer]

Yes. As I get older, I find myself driving like my dad (slower and more cautious). I guess I'll be driving like my grandpa did by the time I get to his age.

 

[MongGrel]

Yes, as far as seat belts, I never used them in the 70's, I use them every day now, for the last 20+ years.

Especially after having been married to someone in the past that worked in a head injured adults ward, and the vast majority of those were from not using seat belts or motorcycle accidents without a helmet.

A few other things also, in between cameras being set up at lights, and things in general.

 

[master_shake_]

i never not used my seat belt and i don't speed ever.

even when i got my license i didn't speed and always wore my seat belt.

the only thing that has changed for me is the amount of fucks i give while driving.

 

[RockinZ28]

Most definitely. Used to drive absolute balls out everywhere up until around 25, many tickets, license suspended twice and a couple destroyed cars. Never paid any attention to my surroundings. Hardly a day went by I didn't go over 100mph.

Still drive pretty aggressively, but with restraint, as I can consider the consequences of my actions these days. Mostly just set my cruise for 7mph over the limit, and battle falling asleep.

 

[BUTCH1]

There must not be a lot to do if you are getting ticketed for that.

Small town cops LOL, I got a $250 ticket for driving an unregistered vehicle when I put one of those 49cc motor kits on my bike, I took it to court since the FL DMV's website has a page that basically states that a bike with a motor kit on it is still a bike and cannot be registered. The DA protested my printout as "hearsay evidence" and the judge upheld that, I protested on the grounds that the DMV provided the information and I had printed the URL on top if your honor wishes the bailiff to go to the site. The judge now got pissed and remarked "that's just someone's opinion at the DMV, in MY courtroom I decide what DMV laws are relevant". I had to shut up at that point because I didn't want a contempt charge thrown on top as well. The cop also tried to say I was going 35MPH on a sidewalk, luckily I took pics of the sidewalk in that area, it crosses a set of RR tracks and has huge humps on it, I told the judge that the maximum speed of the bike was 30MPH and if I was on that stretch of sidewalk going that fast on a beach cruiser I would still be in the hospital. The judge threw out that charge after seeing my pics so it wound up costing me $300, 250+50 court costs.

 

[MongGrel]

Most definitely. Used to drive absolute balls out everywhere up until around 25, many tickets, license suspended twice and a couple destroyed cars. Never paid any attention to my surroundings. Hardly a day went by I didn't go over 100mph.

Still drive pretty aggressively, but with restraint, as I can consider the consequences of my actions these days. Mostly just set my cruise for 7mph over the limit, and battle falling asleep.

Yeah, had a Camaro back in the 70's when I was in late teens went over 100+ on a regular basis.

Haven't in a long time here on a open road.

 

[Imp]

Yep. When I started driving, going waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the limit was pretty common. Finally decided to lower it down, then committed to it after I got pulled over.

I've also sort of learned to block out assholes honking behind me while I make a turn.

 

[akugami]

I drive slower if I have my kids in the car...for example no more gunning yellows.

 

[eldorado99]

Yep, I drive quite a bit slower and more cautiously than when I was a teenager, I think the vast majority of people will be the same.

 

[shortylickens]

A little more careful. But I dont know if its directly related to age.

I notice here in Virginia that loads of people have a nasty habit of running red lights. I dont wanna die. So I look both ways when my light turns green.

 

[Adrenaline]

My driving didn't change with age. It changed when I had kids.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Not at all. I never get in a hurry to get anywhere. There's no reason to be impatient when I can put on an audiobook or podcast and actually enjoy the drive regardless of how long it takes. I don't understand why people get so anxious on the road. Why is it so important that you make your drive as short as possible? Do you hate driving that much?

 

[shortylickens]

Not at all. I never get in a hurry to get anywhere. There's no reason to be impatient when I can put on an audiobook or podcast and actually enjoy the drive regardless of how long it takes. I don't understand why people get so anxious on the road. Why is it so important that you make your drive as short as possible? Do you hate driving that much?

I hate driving. Mostly because I'm sure I'm going to get killed by the psychos here.
But that doesnt excuse me being dangerous, so I try to keep cool and not die. Or kill someone else.

 

[HitAnyKey]

My driving didn't change with age. It changed when I had kids.

This!

Nothing like looking back and seeing the little guy sleeping like a baby while Dad drives like a Granny.

I make up for it by driving really fast in Forza on my Xbox

 

[rh71]

Absolutely my habits have changed, though I do still occasionally drive spiritedly. Up to my mid-20s I felt like I had to race everywhere and tailgated my way into 2(?) accidents - err incidents. Then one day I realized how much more stress-free my life is if I just stopped doing all that and I could still drive aggressively when I was actually in the mood to do it. There's no reason to race from red light to red light on local roads. Oh and it's ok that someone just passed me. Now I also see how much of a dick move it is to tailgate.

Having kids never really made me go any slower. As a matter of fact, I was stopped by a cop who got me at 75 with my 2-yo boys snoozing in the back (mom too). He asked me why I was doing 75 with 2 kids in the back. Umm... 75 is not 90mph dude... calm the f*ck down. I do 75 most of the time like the rest of traffic - he just caught me doing it when the rest of traffic was actually obeying the limit.

 

[squarecut1]

So I look both ways when my light turns green.

Yes I do that too.

 

[squarecut1]

Do you hate driving that much?

I don't particularly like driving.

But I'm never aggressive. Always drive defensively

 

[SlitheryDee]

I don't like driving at all.

Then do something to make it more enjoyable. Podcasts, talk radio, music, audiobooks, anything so you don't have to resort to unsafe driving just to occupy your mind. I really think that's a lot of the reason people drive the way they do. Sitting in a car staring at the road is boring, so people amuse themselves by driving aggressively, trying to make the best time they possibly can, trying to "win" vs. other drivers on the road, etc.

The problem is that with everyone trying to do that at once, everyone ends up getting in each others way. They all drive white-knuckled, jostling for position, getting themselves so much more keyed up than they should be in control of a vehicle. The whole system would probably work a lot better if everyone would just relax.

 

[manimal]

oh ya. I am much more relaxed as a person and dont feel like I have to do a pull every day to 150.


Also feel alot more mortal at speed. My bike scares the crap out of me above 80

 

[mmntech]

Yep. When I started driving, going waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the limit was pretty common. Finally decided to lower it down, then committed to it after I got pulled over.

I've also sort of learned to block out assholes honking behind me while I make a turn.

So you're the guy I got stuck behind doing 50 in an 80 zone last night.

I don't rage as much as I used to. People in Toronto drive like dicks though, so it's hard some days.

 

[MongGrel]

People on phones in la la land have scared me a lot more than most things in recent years.

I've almost had more accidents with "I don't give a shit I'm talking here" soccer mom types not paying attention than speeders etc.

People talking on phones in general, but the ones with a couple kids in a minvan yacking away oblivious have been the ones that have almost hit me more than a few times.