So I Narrowly Avoided Being T-Boned this Morning/Foreign Drivers Rant

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 09/15/2014 at 10:23 • Filed to: Rant

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So yeah, that happened because of sheer stupidity and a lack of any common sense or logic on account of the other "driver". Here's what happened:

So here's the map; I am the blue line and the idiots are the yellow line.Turning off of Northwestern Highway, that bend is a one lane turn and turning onto "main street" of my college campus I was going to turn left into the parking lot in the lower right corner.

As I get closer to the turn and put on my signals, I see this 90s T-Bird pull in behind me. I'm going reasonably fast(15mph) and they're just exiting the bend. But as I'm slowing down slightly and getting ready to turn in, I don't know nor do I want to know what that idiot was thinking, but he speeds up and moves into the left lane, which is the lane for oncoming traffic in what could only be described as a shitty attempt to pass me? He does this just as I start turning the wheel to pull in to there; I see him out of the corner of my eye and slam on the clutch and brakes. He stops and I see two foreign exchange students of Arab decent just looking straight ahead as if they were looking for directions. They then drive away, the passenger turns around briefly to see my dumbfounded face as they drive off. I then pull in and park to head off to class.

Now they could be confused and not know where they're going, but what the fuck was that?? Do foreign exchange students even learn to drive before they come here, or do they just apply for a license and just drive?? If so, what the hell? They shouldn't be driving if that's the case until they actually learn to drive sensibly!! Or do they get some special right to not take a driving course because they're from another country. I don't know but whatever reason this is the case, and it's bullshit.

It isn't the first time either. I was almost in a head-on collision with another foreign exchange student in my Astra when they ran a stop sign like it wasn't even there! Learn to drive or GTFO the road!!

No offense to any Foreign Oppos on here as I'm sure you're all good and sensible drivers, but yeah.

Rant over

Raphmoe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:31

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wow, it is crazy how so many accidents nearly happen to you. Thankfully you are such a good driver and can avoid the idiots driving poorly all around.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Raphmoe 09/15/2014 at 10:34

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I've had about 10 nearly-happening accidents in the last 3 months alone! It seems drivers are getting dumber and dumber with each generation honestly. We have eyes for a reason, and hopefully common sense; use them people! Thankfully, I'm positive that everyone on Oppo is a good driver and has driver smarts; it's a part of being a car enthusiast IMO.

mcseanerson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:36

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While this can be a touchy subject I've lived in areas with a strong culture of a single group of foreigners and it seems like they are striving so hard to maintain their culture that they don't want to adapt to American culture. I'm all for that but there are some things, like rules of the road, that need to be adopted.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > mcseanerson 09/15/2014 at 10:39

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Simply put, if they cannot conform to our rules of the road and drive properly, they shouldn't be driving at all. Could save lives potentially.

mcseanerson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:41

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A lot of them aren't supposed to be driving legally.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > mcseanerson 09/15/2014 at 10:42

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All the more reasons as to why they either shouldn't drive or shouldn't be here because they cannot conform to something a simple as this.

Raphmoe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:42

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agreed, we enthusiasts need to carry the torch of good driving. What car(s) do you drive?

mcseanerson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:43

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Well the whole reason a lot of people are driving illegally is because they are here illegally.

waymoe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:45

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Nearly 10 almost accidents. Me thinks you are the bad driver. Just based on probability.

twochevrons > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:48

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Well, I can answer your questions about foreigners obtaining drivers' licenses (at least how it is in Minnesota).

You can drive on your foreign license for 2 months after you arrive in the country. To get your MN license, you still need to go through the same theory and practical tests as everybody else, but the waiting period between the two does not apply (I did mine within a week of one another). I kept my New Zealand license for when I go back home to visit, but I'm not sure whether that is entirely legit or not – I'd have been pretty mad if they'd invalidated it, though. To be honest, I think that the tests here aren't anywhere near rigorous enough, and even a pretty pathetic driver could get their MN license without too much bother.

Interestingly, back home in NZ, there is a big debate on this issue, after a number of horrific crashes involving tourist drivers. Most NZ highways are narrow and winding, with relatively high speed limits and no median. Combine this with tourists used to driving on the other side of the road, on Interstate-style highways, and the results are pretty disastrous. Right now, there is a fairly big push for rental companies to make some kind of assessment of driving skill, or at least to work with police to cancel the rentals of unsafe drivers.

The NZ license test is pretty rigorous, covering both city and highway driving (part of my test was to perform a legal U-turn on a major highway), so the people that live here aren't such a worry. But tourists in rental cars are very easy to spot (and avoid) from afar.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Raphmoe 09/15/2014 at 10:51

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Well I drove a '08 Saturn Astra as my first car. I now drive a '14 FoST and an '84 944. Once it's fixed, I occasionally drive my dad's '74 911 as well. My dad also has a Harley, so my family(rather my dad's side) is very enthusiastic about cars.

duurtlang > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:52

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Did you signal you were going left?

Anyway:

or do they just apply for a license and just drive?

As a European reading articles/replies on Jalopnik and Oppo this seems true for Americans as well. It's not without reason an American drivers license can't be converted into a EU (well, Dutch or German, don't know about the rest) one without additional tests while licenses from some other countries are accepted without additional requirements.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > mcseanerson 09/15/2014 at 10:52

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Fair enough. Where you at?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > waymoe 09/15/2014 at 10:55

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Sure, so when I'm sitting at a 4-way intersection and an driver on the phone turns in the middle lane when it's not his turn and it's my right of way, it's my fault because they weren't paying attention right?

Or when someone else blows a stop sign as I'm getting ready to turn, it's my fault?

In this case, it's my fault as well right?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > twochevrons 09/15/2014 at 10:55

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Fair enough.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > duurtlang 09/15/2014 at 10:56

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I signaled to turn left right when I exited that bend. Blinker on the whole time.

twochevrons > duurtlang 09/15/2014 at 10:57

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This. As I implied above, the Minnesota license test is a joke compared to what I went through to get a license in New Zealand. I was amazed that they didn't even do anything related to driving on snow/ice, since the roads are covered in it for about half the year.

I quite like Finland's mandatory skid-pan and night-driving training.

waymoe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:58

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Uh yea. Be aware of your surroundings. If someone is on their phone and you see them turning BUT ITS MY TURN you don't fucking turn. You're just as much at fault as they are. Don't take it too hard, Waymoe is busting chops now.

mcseanerson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 10:58

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Now I live in Chillicothe which is so white that I've heard people make statements like "There was a black guy in one of my classes."

I used to live in Columbus, Ohio and I also grew up a lot in Florida.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > waymoe 09/15/2014 at 11:06

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No shit! Don't you think that I was paying attention, or else maybe I would've been hit so many times?? But clearly I avoided those accidents because I wasn't paying attention.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > mcseanerson 09/15/2014 at 11:09

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Ah, Chillicothe is that weirdly named city I see on Craigslist whenever I'm looking for car stuff in Ohio. :P

What's it like there?

wkiernan > mcseanerson 09/15/2014 at 11:12

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Then there's an easy solution; go up to them and say "You know, I bet where you come from a guy has to demonstrate on-the-road competence before they hand him a driver's license. Not here! You guys better watch out; American drivers drive like shit." Next thing you know they'll be using their turn signals and everything.

waymoe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 11:18

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Theyre not almost accidents if nothing happens. An almost accident is you stop an inch short of a deer or you swerve to narrowly avoid another car. Gripping the steering wheel tightly as you curse under your breath at the guy on his cell phone is not an almost accident.

mcseanerson > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 11:26

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Chillicothe is actually pretty awesome. Tons of b roads that nobody else appreciates so low traffic, we used to host the season ender for SCCA Pro Rally, and there's a kart track that holds autocrosses nearby. Good weather (in my opinion) and some history and places to shop (when you're 50 miles from the closest interstate places to shop mean a lot to people around here)

mcseanerson > wkiernan 09/15/2014 at 11:28

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That sounds like a great idea!

Tapas > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 11:43

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I used to be a student in University in the US and I'm not from the US. As a non US citizen, we still need to pass the same drivers test as US citizens. But our licenses are limited term (need to be renewed annually or cant be renewed past the Visa expiry or both). Thing is, of course anyone would drive right for the test and get the license. After foreign students (or all foreigners) get the license, they have to drive according to US laws. In many countries in the Middle East, Asia and even Africa, traffic laws are really not enforced and people have horrible driving habits. This is not an excuse, I agree with you. If anyone is spending the time, money and effort to move to another country, they should put in equal effort to assimilate with the culture and follow the laws.

Manuél Ferrari > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 17:52

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When I went to Australia for a year for study abroad I didn't have to learn their driving rules. I just bought a Holden and started driving.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manuél Ferrari 09/15/2014 at 17:56

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But Rusto, Rusto Badger don't need no license.

Manuél Ferrari > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 17:58

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(except I nearly caused an accident immediately after buying the car)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manuél Ferrari 09/15/2014 at 18:03

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*sighs*

Manuél Ferrari > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 18:08

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(sorry!)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manuél Ferrari 09/15/2014 at 18:16

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story time?

Manuél Ferrari > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 18:17

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It's embarrassing...

Basically I was so excited to have a car again that I drove the WRONG WAY down a side street. Actually I didn't get even close to causing an accident as nobody was around. But a parked cop saw me and pulled me over!

I told him I just bought the car and was so sorry that I accidentally drove on the American side of the street. He let me go with a warning.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manuél Ferrari 09/15/2014 at 18:20

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What you think this is, New Zealand? :p

Manuél Ferrari > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 09/15/2014 at 18:27

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LOL

CB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 10/03/2014 at 13:36

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To be fair, I've been in the car with people who have lived in Canada all their lives and managed to fuck up the rules of the road.

We can't just single out immigrants or any specific group: driving like a shithead transcends cultures.