NJ Driving Rules

When I drove OTR, I used to hear drivers talk about how bad Houston drivers were but I didn't believe the stories. 

Then I went there. 

Never...... again. NEVER. 

Tojo72

Rob Gronovius

I was stationed at Fort Dix in Jan 1999-Aug 2001, back when the world was going to end on Jan 1, 2000. I don't recall the drivers being poor; I was also stationed a few times in Kentucky where the drivers are truly terrible.

 

 

At that time Fort Dix was and still my might be a somewhat unpopulated rural area with less traffic,not a true representation of Jersey driving.

I used to enjoy  going to  the air shows at McGuire AFB

It's not like I stayed on Dix all the time. Being from Vermont, I drove north into New England, we also went to Philly (still driving in NJ), Cherry Hill, Burlington, etc. I had a cousin that worked in Red Bank.

Bad traffic on the turnpike or expressway was due to congestion. Like a million cars all trying to get on. I don't consider this bad driving, just a lot of people.

One time I was on the East Gate at U-Tapao and had just finished checking a bomb convoy a few minutes earlier when a cab ran into the back of a long truck trailing pipes.  The driver hit the pipes and was killed and the G.I. had enough sense to run to the gate and dive into the tall grass near the perimeter fence The local police showed up soon and started asking about the passenger.  By that time he had hidden himself in the tall grass on the preimeter fence and I imagine was looking for a way to get out of the area.  Very soon a armored vehicle appeared on the hill near the gate.  This was a heavily armed response team for that sector, probably alerted by a nearby guard tower that something was up.

As shook up as this guy was he managed to crawl up the hill toward the A.P.C. where they let him crawl past them and into the vehicle and then loaded back into it and headed back toward the ammo receiving area and fire department.

ikar01

 

In Thailand there was a rule, biggest thing on the road had right of way.  That would have been a large double deck bus that stopped only for passengers.  They would yield for armored vehicles though.  If you were involved in a accident in something like a cab or baht bus, run!  Get as far away as fast as you can and stay out of site and hopefully make it back to base unseen.  The passenger will be held responsible since the vehicle would not have been there if it wasn't hired.  If there was a fatality the passenger would be responsiible for taking care of the driver's family forever.  Injuries were negochible, depending on severity.

 

Do I ever remember that.  Was also told to throw whatever baht bills you had on the seat on the way out.

The first time my wife was in Jersey we were in my Father's car and she was uncomfortable with how close people drove to the person in front of them.

She was also nervous when in Okinawa, way too much traffic, especially scooters and motorcycles cutting in and out.

In Thailand there was a rule, biggest thing on the road had right of way.  That would have been a large double deck bus that stopped only for passengers.  They would yield for armored vehicles though.  If you were involved in a accident in something like a cab or baht bus, run!  Get as far away as fast as you can and stay out of site and hopefully make it back to base unseen.  The passenger will be held responsible since the vehicle would not have been there if it wasn't hired.  If there was a fatality the passenger would be responsiible for taking care of the driver's family forever.  Injuries were negochible, depending on severity.

Rob Gronovius

I was stationed at Fort Dix in Jan 1999-Aug 2001, back when the world was going to end on Jan 1, 2000. I don't recall the drivers being poor; I was also stationed a few times in Kentucky where the drivers are truly terrible.

 

At that time Fort Dix was and still my might be a somewhat unpopulated rural area with less traffic,not a true representation of Jersey driving.

I used to enjoy  going to  the air shows at McGuire AFB

I was stationed at Fort Dix in Jan 1999-Aug 2001, back when the world was going to end on Jan 1, 2000. I don't recall the drivers being poor; I was also stationed a few times in Kentucky where the drivers are truly terrible.

St. Petersburg, Russia is a driving adventure too...not for the faint of heart.

I hear Italy is pretty bad too,the 405 in Orange county, and the Beltway around DC are pretty bad

Nothing can compare to the trip I took to India last year.  Hyderabad and Bangalore - absolutley insane.  There are no rules except to honk honk honk.

A Honda Coiupe?  You mean one of those small cars they made from 71-73?

If so, my wife had a 1972 Coupe andafter I got used to its appearance and size, it was actually fun to drive and park.

Hi Tojo!

          Change the name of the state and you have where I live, in TEXAS! Explanation of woman getting ticket for Following to Close on the Freeway after she hit me from behind at 65 M.P.H. " But officer I was going the Speed Limit." Funny that, So was I!  Her car had to be towed, Mine Not even a scratch!. Lesson. Never follow an Older Grand Marquis too close in a Honda Coupe!

Every once in a while we would send a C-130 up to Alaska.  It would come back with King Crab most of the time.

We sent a couple T-33s from Minot to Maine.  The guys needed some long distance flying to finish off their monthly requirements.  They ended up bringing back enough lobsters for the whole squadron.

On my second S.E.A. toiur the base was holding a carnival for the local orphanage.  The C-130 gunship squadron, 16th S.O.S. had a couple ships flying back from the Philipines after repairs and were hauling cases of COORS.  They auctioned them off one bottle at a time and from what I hear made a bundle for the orphanage.

I was at Shaw in the '70's, our sister command base was around Austin.  Everytime there was a flight, the camera bay was full of Coors when it came back.

Had a plane come back from Maine once.  Photo guys went out to unload the cameras, had to wait on the crew to unload all the lobster.  Told them, we'll clean all that up for a couple of them.  Got told to stuff it.  They swapped out the film cans and buttoned up the bay.  Next time the bird flew, every camera malfunctioned.  Salt corrosion.  That put an end to all extra baggage from anywhere.

First time I drove on that mess was something I will never repeat.

Here's one for Texas:

I was taking some people to the airport after we finished traffic accident investigation school back in hte 70s.  On my way from the airport and heading toward my home base of Little Rock, I was passed on the highway by a Texas Ranger.  As he went by I looked down from the cab of my F-150 and saw that he had a can or COORS in his hand.  I was a little surprised, but it was his jurisdiction, not mine and the rules were probably a bit different.  Besides, he wasn't trying to take it past the state line, that would have been bootlegging.  The Air Force did it all the time, they just loaded some into their C-130s and flew home.

Nothing can be worse than the DC beltway.  Absolut nightmare 

Space Ranger

Based on my experience of 6 years living there, those rules also apply in Connecticut. And thanks to all the Yankees who have relocated here, they now apply in Texas.

I live just east of the Orlando city limits.  I can't afford to go to the parks anymore.

Since I moved here I have been in at least 7 accidents, almost all have been in stop and go traffic. I stop and the guy behind me didn't.  Just a couple days ago I was going into a turn lane and decided to get into the right one and ended up alongside a pickup.  While waiting for the light the truck suddenly rolled into the rear of the car in front of him, backing up after a few seconds.  Just as the people in the car got out the light changed and I got out of there.

Another problem we are getting more of are these idiots caring up and down Colonial drive, having their music so loud I can hear it from my house and as they seem to see how many backfires they can cause other times.  

Motorcycles have been doing more wheelies than ever.  Yesterday I saw at least five go by the end of my street and one come from the Yamaha dealer by the gas station doing the same thing around the neighborhood and through the stationnear the pumps as he rode back to the dealer.

It's getting old fast, wish I had a EMP projectorto quiet things down.  Latest thing on my street, a slingshot.  Very loud and very fast, especially at night.

Based on my experience of 6 years living there, those rules also apply in Connecticut. And thanks to all the Yankees who have relocated here, they now apply in Texas.

Y'all need to spend some time driving around Orlando and Miami and when you do be sure you are driving a rental car. You don't want to risk severe damage to your personal car. As for road rules, they don't exist between Orlando and Tampa, especially when trying to get past traffic going to Disney World. Pack a lunch because you'll be there all day.

I grew up in Jersey and other rules should be obvserved:

When approaching a traffic circle, speed up to get into the lane you need.  This especially applies if you are being persued by at least one police car.

When aboiut to enter a jug handle, make sure you are the first to enter.  Otherwise you might as well pull out something to eat.

AS far as the turnpike is concerned:

It doesn't matter how big your car is, it you are in the slow lane and tanks are starting to enter into your lane, move over.  Otherwise the experience will not be pleasant, but will be memorable.  So will the meeting with the N.J. State Police, the ticket and the expense of buying a new car.  (Based oin a actual incident).

When heading south on the turnpike, ignoe the space track tower as well as what looks like a ICBM missile launch site down the hill past the railing.  Remember...they..do..not. exist.

They're still around, but I'm not sure how well they're doing.  They used to have a flight department way back in the day that was one of my customers.

Don't know if still around, but there was a trucking company by that name.  Was CB slang for the left lane, as that was where you generally found their rigs, foot to the floor.

Goldhammer, I wasn't familiar with the Monfort moniker, but I do recall it called the 500 dollar lane, as that was what the fine was if a trucker was caught there while not 'actively passing' another vehicle.

That is really funny, However, people in Chicago have been following those rules ever since Henry built his first Model T.

Having been a Oregon State / ODOT certified driving instructor, I firmly believe that the driving test should include a written portion where the person must explain and give examples of two terms; YIELD, and RIGHT-of-WAY. I'd be willing to bet that less than 30% of the driving population understand either of those.

How many can remember that the left lane was known in some parts as the"Monfort" lane, and why?

Here in Minnesata a rule is, the left lane is the lane you drive in.  The right lane is only for the underclasses.  Even if you drive ten mph below the speed limit, you'll look like a fool in the right lane.

They even passed a law about driving in the left lane but it has made NO difference.

Jersey requires slower traffic to keep right on mulit-lane highways, and use the left lane only to pass.

Jersey drivers find it so liberating to come here to PA and to be free of that law, that they plant their butts in our left lanes and then cruise along at 40 miles an hour.