Picking up on my list of differences between America and Israel. Last time I discussed roads infrastructure, so only makes sense to talk about the cars and the drivers today.
So, yeah, everyone knows by now that American cars are generally huge, compared to ours. We drove a humble Dodge Avenger which is larger than the family car we have here at home (a Hyundai Accent). Most cars around us in California were larger, with tons of SUV’s and trucks all over the place.
American cars lack one crucial feature though, one that we have virtually on any car in Israel. It’s so simple and so brilliant: lines of rubber, usually black, stuck along the sides of the car:
So simple, so sensible. What it means is that when you park alongside another car and someone opens their door to get out, it won’t scratch your car. In America, you have to be careful when you open the door – or else you scratch some big shot new truck parked next to you. Tried and tested, trust me.
As for the drivers, or rather the driving culture, well, things aren’t as bad as in Israel, but American drivers, particularly in LA seemed fairly road-aggressive to me. I was expecting the English road mentality. In the UK, when you want to change lanes, you just have to signal and drivers immidiately slow down to make room for new. Well, doesn’t really work in the US, but that’s fine. In Israel, you signal and they hit the pedal to make sure you can NOT squeeze in.
Overall, driving in the US wasn’t so bad, once I got the hang of the huge intersections. Fast, aggressive but fairly orderly. As a veteran of Israel driving, I really enjoyed driving in America and even the long distances were easy to cross.
on Jun 12th, 2009 at 2:54 am
“In Israel, you signal and they hit the pedal to make sure you can NOT squeeze in.”
LOL, the same is absolutely true in Lebanon and the UAE. Using your signals only invites trouble.
on Jun 14th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Hey, we are in the middle east too
Comments like the one you made make me hope true peace will come one day and we can all kill each other on the roads while traveling and sightseeing in the Middle East!
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I am always amused when i read comments about American drivers. In so many cases the drivers are not even Amerucan. Try driving in New York City. 99% of the taxi drivers in Manhatten have a hard time speaking english, are from the midle east and drive like they are trying to get away from an invading armi. LOL
I found generaly that the Hwy in Israel were good roods. Some of the side roads are not that good. But what the heck. When I am in Israel I pay no attention to the roads. I let Tzachi, Annette or Amos do the driving.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
#
Fram jad:
In Israel, you signal and they hit the pedal to make sure you can NOT squeeze in.”
LOL, the same is absolutely true in Lebanon and the UAE. Using your signals only invites trouble.
# #2 Israeli Mom
on Jun 14th, 2009 at 10:12 am
From Annette.
Comments like the one you made make me hope true peace will come one day and we can all kill each other on the roads while traveling and sightseeing in the Middle East!
Hey, we are in the middle east too
You two are very funny. Good to know that we Americans are not the only crazy drivers in the world.