OK, let me confess that my driving habits were formed from 40 years of driving New York City's "mean streets," where motoring is considered one of the martial arts. Give me a parking space that's twelve inches longer than my SUV, and I'll parallel park that baby in a couple of turns on the wheel and in under ten seconds.
I have done this in many times in downtown Minneapolis and elicited amazed stares from outdoor diners.
The initial move to the Twin Cities suburbs left me wondering how Minnesota drivers stacked up against their wilder Eastern counterparts. For the most part, I have been pleasantly surprised.
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Local drivers have proven to be remarkably civil. Letting other drivers into packed lanes with an exchange of waved hands. This is is unheard of in New York (or New Jersey), where a lane merge is a war of nerves where the mergee and other drivers engage in an act of "chicken" as they inch closer and closer until someone's nerves give way.
I have little to complain about my fellow Minnesota drivers, but..........there are three things that I must mention.
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1.) Mr. Left Lane (Or Ms. Left Lane): You know, where that car cruises on below the speed limit in the left lane, blissfully unaware of other drivers flashing their lights at him? I've driven the Autobahn in Germany. The left lane is for PASSING!
You may see headlights in back of you as distant pinpricks of illumination, then gasp as two seconds later there's a BMW 7 series within inches of your rear fender. That's because he's doing 150 miles per hour, and you are NOT SUPPOSED to be in the left lane! Mr. Left Lane has not gotten this message. However, the percentage of "left laners" has steadily gone down over the years. A hopeful sign.
2.) I Think I'll Go Now: You know the feeling. You're waiting to pull out of the mini-mall or gas station parking lot, but there's an endless line of cars coming in both directions. You get so frustrated, you just want to GO! Sadly, some of us actually do.
In the last two weeks, I've been happily driving along the speed limit on single-lane county roads when cars have suddenly decided to "go" in front of me. Naturally, this causes immediate disbelief and panic, then your avoidance driving skills kick in as you swerve and dodge to prevent disaster.
3.) Yes, The Light HAS Turned Green: When you're facing a stoplight in New York, you have about four milliseconds to respond when that little light turns from red to green.
Immediately after, a full chorus of horns from cars behind you will urge you on. In Minnesota, many drivers appear to be completely unaware (for a LONG time) that they are now facing a green light. I have resisted the urge to tap my horn, since it doesn't seem to fit the "Minnesota Nice" profile. I just wish they would PAY ATTENTION!
Having said all that, I'm still grateful to be driving around in a State where courtesy (by and large) is still the rule. And...............I still retain my NY drivers ability to react to a red light turning green almost INSTANTLY. As I zoom away, ahead of the pack, with a little smile on my face!
