Amen!  This has happened to me in Duluth.  Also, if Duluthians would use their turn signals once in a while, that would help too.

I've experienced the same in most of the 35ish states that I've driven. The worst drivers, IMO are in Kentucky. Duluth ranks in the middle.

Maybe we could bitch about something dumber.  Pay attention to your own driving and don't assume other drivers will do what you want.  Or, you can get so upset that there are inattentive drivers, that you pull off the road, take a picture that in no way demonstrates your point, post it and wait for the rest of the world to agree with you and claim that they are also the only drivers paying attention on the road.  And, if something doesn't go your way, you can ease your mind with the fact that at least one Viking turned out to be successful after playing football.  I'm not saying, I'm just saying...

This seems neither a particularly Duluthian issue nor a particularly substantial one.

If you can merge for oncoming cars, I think you should, if you can't, the merging car should wait.  That is what the word "yield" means.  However, Duluth drivers almost never merge for other drivers even if the other lane is completely empty.  I think we have the least courteous drivers in the US.  The ramp at 27th Ave is terrible as neither car can see the other until you are on top of each other.  Very poor design.

I love how politics gets dragged into this it wouldn't be a pdd post without it you right wing nut job ;)

Driving 60+ miles (round trip) daily for work and back, through the thick of it all, I see it too.  If I can move over to let the car on the freeway, I do so.  If not, then I stay put.  I don't slam on my brakes or romp on my gas to "beat" them, they have the yield sign they need to learn to yield and I generally stay put.  I'm not out there barreling down the freeway at Mach 90, I tend to stick really close to the speed limits in perfect conditions, slower when weather dictates.  Sure, I could go faster, I'm not scared, but I don't want to because frankly those "coupons" they give out for going faster are not my idea of a good time.  

Another big one is traffic heading twards I35S from Canal vs traffic from Lake Ave to I35S.  Lake ave traffic has a yield sign, Canal traffic does not.  Lake traffic has room to stop and yield without blocking traffic should the lights change, Canal traffic would be held up in the middle of the intersection if they yielded.  At yet at least once a week some twerp coming from Lake Ave forgets how to read and barrels through failing to yield and almost smacking into someone (sometimes it's me, sometimes its the car in front of me).  

Lastly, try merging onto I35N from the Scanlon ramp.  That sucker's wound as tight as the Park Point "S" curve!  My car gets up and goes just fine, depositing me in traffic at an acceptable speed, but Granny No-Go seems to think it's perfectly OK to merge on at about 40 MPH and nearly finding herself in the St Louis.

Not complaining, just venting the steam off.  While we're at it, should we start talking about the twerps doing Mach 90 in the left lane?  Pretty sure it's not necissary to go quite that fast, as you are not allowing the rest of us to "pass and get over."

I think people everywhere are just getting stupider all the time, as well as more selfish. Perhaps it's the Idiocracy effect at work. Putting them in operation of a somewhat complicated machine in a situation where they have to interact with and be courteous to others (ie. merging) is a perfect magnifying glass into just how marshmallow-brained they are. Add to that the ones driving under the distraction of talking or texting and you get a ton idiots making moronic moves which I witness every single day driving around Duluth. I love when I come to a 4-way stop with the person who was there first but won't guy because they're talking on the phone and their distracted moron brain would rather just wait for a more obvious time to go. You're really doing everyone around you a service, you imbecile. And all of you out there who think you can text and drive (and seem to think you can hide the fact that you're doing it), will you finally learn your lesson when you kill someone???

Maybe people need a refresher on the proper etiquette of merging. Years ago, my dad rear ended a young woman driver (the worst, right?!) because she actually stopped at the bottom of the ramp. My dad, doing his job properly, thought the woman would keep driving, so he was looking back into traffic to see where he would fit into the flow. He ended up getting the ticket for some idiot's incapacity to follow the merging rules. Lack of properly educating the young drivers, mayhaps?

Abby I agree.  I think some sort of refresher every time you renew your license should be mandatory.  Even if it's a quick worksheet/quiz on the "little things" we all forget at one time or another, perhaps you have to pass 70% of it to even be allowed to fill out the renewal form?  I know it's wishful thinking, but we can keep hoping right?  I strive every day to be a better driver, but I would love to know what little things I'm forgetting to do too.  

Wildgoose - I hate that ramp, but it's closest to my favorite morning gas station and the quickest way for me.  However had I been the car attempting to merge and seen the half-mile of empty road behind you I would have been able to figure out how to adjust my speed to slip into that open spot nice and easily.  

Happy trails to you all, it's almost time for me to brave that vast sea of idiocy again.  Have a wonderful afternoon everyone!

I always get over in the left lane when I see someone needing to get on the freeway, coming down an entrance ramp. I mean, why not? Unless there's constant cars in the left lane, of course, which never happens in Duluth since traffic is minimal here. I think it's kind of a jerk move to not give someone some room to enter the freeway.

RandomPerson's comment has me mad. Yes, it's polite to move over to the left when someone is entering the freeway and it's clear and safe to do so. But there is no legal requirement to do so. No "supposed" to.

From the State Driver's Manual, p 70-71;
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/DLTraining/DLManual/PDF/2010ClassD/2010ClassDManual_Part6.pdf

"Entering the Freeway

Entry ramps are short, one-way roads that provide access to freeways. At the end of most entry ramps, you will find an acceleration lane that allows you to increase your speed in order to safely merge with traffic that is already on the freeway.

To avoid disrupting traffic flow or "cutting off" other drivers when you merge, try to adjust your speed to accommodate vehicles already on the freeway. You must yield to other vehicles when you are merging.

Use your turn signal to let other drivers know your intention. Watch for an opening in the nearest traffic lane and merge into the flow of traffic when you are able to do so.

Do not stop on the ramp or in the acceleration lane unless it is absolutely necessary.

When an acceleration lane is not available, and a "Yield" sign is posted on the entry ramp, obey the sign. Stop, if it is necessary. Do not force your way into the lane of traffic."

When you're on the onramp, YOU have to control your speed to get on or stop. Yes, I get over about 95% of the time, but I get really mad when the person entering doesn't look and doesn't care that there's a car immediately to my left. I do drive defensively, but learn the law or stay home.

Life in a developed western democracy is so scary and fraught with risk. After that harrowing account I'm not sure I can find the courage to put the keys in the ignition this morning, knowing that this day may well be my last.

Tammi, sarcasm does not translate well online (still waiting for the 'sarcasm font') I meant the "young woman driver" comment in jest as I myself am a young lady driver. It was merely a detail I added to the story, playing on the stereotype that many have against young drivers. As for my dad not doing his job properly, he was the one following the merging rules, but yes, he was the one that hit her and he should have been more attentive. Though really, who expects someone to come to a dead halt at the end of a merging ramp? I mean really.

Abby, a thousand pardons.  I reread your comment and I totally get the sarcasm now.  Sorry I blew up.  And you're right -- coming to a halt at the bottom of a ramp is durned foolish.

Thanks Random,

I guess that's what you get for bitching on PDD.  More bitching.  I'm gonna have to file that away in the old memory.  Thanks for all the great driving tips! You're right, I wasn't upset that I almost got rammed into next week by a 2,000 pound piece of steel, I was probably just upset that I had to switch off the old cruise control. I was also a little upset that I had to pay attention to the flow of traffic and the other driver didn't (I can be so jealous and petty over trivial things like keeping my head, shoulders and limbs all in the same place).  And that picture I posted above, that's actually one I cribbed out of the text book for Traffic Safety 101, it's in the chapter under "aggressive merging for dummies." It's entitled "push down the gas pedal and pray for daylight."  I'd also love a good description of your car so I can give you and your creative interpretations of traffic laws a wide, wide berth from now on.  

Whew.  I am wound up now, folks.  Paul I think I'm gonna need a Peanuts cartoon here, too.  Where did I put that dang happy place, anyway? I'm sure it's around here somewhere ...

Did you know? : This would be that sceen if the speed limits of the freeway were 1/2 of what they are. (likely even worse due to backups)

[img]http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m623/Intager/half_speed.jpg?t=1297544388[/img]

1/2 the speed means your on the road twice as long which means 2x the traffic.

Big ups to scoe, and the interlude from Junior Brown.  Saw him live once about ten years ago, and he played the sh!t out of that git steel, too.  Not to threadjack my own post here (although this "bitch" is clearly played out) but is "Highway Patrol" the best ode to Smokies ever?  I kinda think so.

tl:dr all this blather.

ugh. 

Don't even get me started on Duluth drivers and their total lack of knowledge/use of proper driving rules and etiquette. 

I'll take Twin Cities driving any day.

Back to reading the happiness book from the other post...

Why don't you quit driving like you are from Minnesota and get out of the merge lane? If you think it's better in the Mpls/St. Paul area, then you really don't know how to drive.

It took Al eight months to come up with that zinger! Me way ... that's a real knee slapper!