The Vent About J-Drivers Thread

[iago]

I'm afraid it's actually you that's missing the point.
Perhaps a trip back to the title of the thread may refresh your memory.

Why don't you start your own new thread. You can title it "J-Driver Sycophants"

So, by bad J-Driver, the venting is limited only to those bad drivers who are ethnically Japanese, as opposed to drivers in Japan? Foreigners get a free pass?

Guess I did miss the point. Carry on.

[iago]

Gahhh it really surprises me there are hardly any accidents with this Japanese driving style of some.

Think about that some more...

[wernst]

Think about that some more...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ted_death_rate

One of the lowest.

[iago]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ted_death_rate

One of the lowest.

Interesting, isn't it?

[wernst]

Interesting, isn't it?

leg wrong side bed? or your period?

[Shakes Spear]

Guess I did miss the point. Carry on.

Thanks. I will.

[Shakes Spear]

Oh this topic again. Yeah parents dont use seatbelts on their kids ought to be shot for lack of common sense. Saw the other day minidriving mom with the son standing on the passenger seat, driving very fast. Sometimes I really really want karma to set in and suddenly crash them just to teach them some common ____ing sense.

another irritation is the ____ing cars who dont respect the zebrazone when turning corners and always try to make the turn before you cross the street.

Gahhh it really surprises me there are hardly any accidents with this Japanese driving style of some.

The accidents happen, but because of the low speeds they're not usually fatal.
Of course the numbers will be up this year as there have been a recent rash of deaths involving motorists and school children.
I'd have to research them to find out if the drivers were Japanese or foreign though.
Perhaps iago could enlighten us.

[iago]

leg wrong side bed? or your period?

Nope, a genuine observation. There's clearly a widespread breaking of the documented rules of the road by drivers in Japan (continuing through red lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings being a notable couple of examples), yet Japan is pretty low in the index of road deaths.

My assumption is that if you expect drivers to ignore the pedestrian crossing, you don't step out in front of a moving car. If you expect a couple of cars to carry through on red, you don't zip off the line as soon as your light turns green without checking what the other guys are doing.

You can't change the behaviour of every other driver on the road, so you have to ensure your own behaviour avoids putting yourself in conflict with them.

You're actually more at risk if you expect the other guy to strictly obey the rules, and don't allow for the possibility that he won't.

[Hijinx]

Interesting, isn't it?

Would be interesting to see the statistic on deaths per km driven.

[wernst]

Nope, a genuine observation. There's clearly a widespread breaking of the documented rules of the road by drivers in Japan (continuing through red lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings being a notable couple of examples), yet Japan is pretty low in the index of road deaths.

My assumption is that if you expect drivers to ignore the pedestrian crossing, you don't step out in front of a moving car. If you expect a couple of cars to carry through on red, you don't zip off the line as soon as your light turns green without checking what the other guys are doing.

You can't change the behaviour of every other driver on the road, so you have to ensure your own behaviour avoids putting yourself in conflict with them.

You're actually more at risk if you expect the other guy to strictly obey the rules, and don't allow for the possibility that he won't.

Well said! nice comeback. I have to admit, Im VERY stubborn in these situations as I know If they hit me they are at fault, because I cant stand these thinking they are the king of the road. I know one day I will get hit by a car and suffer the consequences if I continue this attitutde.

[iago]

Would be interesting to see the statistic on deaths per km driven.

Yes, it would. I expect one reason the US rates almost 4 times Japan in the stats is the much higher level of car ownership and use in the States. Lots of paper drivers in Japan.

[thefg]

I could see two very young children's faces peering over the dashboard on the passenger side with their faces very close to the windshield, and, obviously, in no restraints whatsoever.

Do J-parents really love their own children?

this is very common in many countries.

i always feel like stopping them and explaining to them how bloody stupid it is to have unrestrained kids in the car.

these idiots should have their children taken away from them - for their kids own good. it would send a message.

[iago]

Well said! nice comeback. I have to admit, Im VERY stubborn in these situations as I know If they hit me they are at fault, because I cant stand these thinking they are the king of the road. I know one day I will get hit by a car and suffer the consequences if I continue this attitutde.

Problem is, in Japan it doesn't work like that. The police apportion the blame on the assumption (in most cases) that both parties contributed to the accident by trying to occupy the same space at the same time.

I've been in only one accident in Japan where I was stopped at a light and the car behind rolled into the back of me. In that incident, he got assigned 100% of the blame, but usually it's not that clear cut.

[thefg]

taxi drivers can stop anywhere anytime to pic up/drop off customers

on pedestrian crossings, at traffic lights at junctions - anywhere!

I had this one c-nt slam his brakes on infront of me and pick up a customer on a pedestrian crossing. i managed to avoid hitting him.

I drove around him without doing/saying anything. At the next set of lights i needed to cross lanes before the lights and i left it a bit late crossing the yellow line to do so. (no traffic)

but the taxi driver (who had just endangered me and others) pressed his horn - why i have no idea given he was in a different lane behind me and i was not in anyway endangering anyone. anyway a policeman on a motorbike a the junction heard the horn saw me, pulled me over and i got a ticket. i had to waste 2hrs of my life sitting through total waste of time lecture when i renewed license

what a c_nt.

Its ok for taxi drivers to drive anyway they wish

This was my 1st run in with the law and i have to say the policeman was very very aggressive and rude. I was actually very surprised how angry he was ....it was all jolly interesting

[thefg]

the following people are not obliged to follow the rules of the road in anyway whatsoever;

Taxi drivers
Bicyclists
Yakuza

[iago]

I drove around him without doing/saying anything. At the next set of lights i needed to cross lanes before the lights and i left it a bit late crossing the yellow line to do so. (no traffic)

So you were ticketed for crossing the yellow line?

I see taxis doing that a lot. Most times, I guess, they don't get caught. It's a lottery.

I wonder if taxi drivers get cut some slack because it's their business, or they're just more attuned to spotting the Shirobis... I've only seen taxi drivers pulled over a couple of times.

[wernst]

the following people are not obliged to follow the rules of the road in anyway whatsoever;

Yakuza

Dont forget rich people

[John Grey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ted_death_rate
One of the lowest.

Maybe a simple fact will help?
The average speed of a car in Japan is 10km/h, in Europe is over 30 km/h....

I bought our car 4 years ago and have driven it about 4000 kms since then.... my nerves simply cannot take any more this absurd driving. I simply use it once a week for a one big shopping trip....

The roads are a joke, the infrastructure is a joke and the driving ability is the greatest joke.
The huge difference between Japan and Europe is, that in Europe one has to be able to drive safely while actually really driving in an awake condition, before they give you a license. In Japan the point seems to be to make driving a car available to each and everyone, completely without any condition.... given the ridiculous infrastructure of the country there is something to be said for it. Of course the financial losses to businesses because of the traffic conditions here, would be unacceptable in non-third-world countries ;-)

[John Grey]

Would be interesting to see the statistic on deaths per km driven.

You would need to take into account the speed at which the cars roll. Using the speed of japanese traffic, I find it almost impossible to imagine anyone having an accídent.

But then, the japanese manage... its a real sad, sad joke.

[Shakes Spear]

My assumption is that if you expect drivers to ignore the pedestrian crossing, you don't step out in front of a moving car. If you expect a couple of cars to carry through on red, you don't zip off the line as soon as your light turns green without checking what the other guys are doing.

You can't change the behaviour of every other driver on the road, so you have to ensure your own behaviour avoids putting yourself in conflict with them.

You're actually more at risk if you expect the other guy to strictly obey the rules, and don't allow for the possibility that he won't.

Now this is spot on. Unfortunately it crystallizes the point I've been trying to make to you about the purpose of this thread.

It's to vent about all of the aforementioned incidents. No one expects to change the way people drive here and none of us are looking for sage advice.
We just want to blow off a little steam at the way the idiots maneuver their shitboxes around this pathetic excuse for infrastructure.

By the way, I (unlike you) have never had an accident in Japan in my 6 years here (knock on wood) and it's due almost solely to all of the assumptions you alluded to.

p.s. In the case of thefg and the taxi driver, I would have gotten out and made him well aware of his mistake face to face.
I may assume that other drivers are going to do something stupid to endanger me, but that doesn't mean I have to stand for it.
I've put the fear of Buddha in many a driver, both male and female. Is it going to change the way they drive? Maybe. Around me? Probably. Does it make me feel a little better? Mos def!

[Hijinx]

Okay, here's one (happened to me today): overly cautious drivers who try and relinquish their right of way.

I'm waiting at a stop sign for a car to go by; I have the stop sign the other car does not. The car stops at the intersection anyway and waits for me to go. I continue to wait; the other car waits. Finally, I gesture to the woman trying to indicate that I have the stop sign, but she does not. She finally gets it and starts up again but giving me a snide look as she goes by. Yeah, lady, excuse me for obeying the traffic rules of your country.

[Taffy]

Okay, here's one (happened to me today): overly cautious drivers who try and relinquish their right of way.

I'm waiting at a stop sign for a car to go by; I have the stop sign the other car does not. The car stops at the intersection anyway and waits for me to go. I continue to wait; the other car waits. Finally, I gesture to the woman trying to indicate that I have the stop sign, but she does not. She finally gets it and starts up again but giving me a snide look as she goes by. Yeah, lady, excuse me for obeying the traffic rules of your country.

I've seen that many times. However, below is the result of a tw@t who didn't stop at a stop sign and farked up my leg good and proper



So I quite agree that Japanese drivers are shite

[Hijinx]

I've seen that many times. However, below is the result of a tw@t who didn't stop at a stop sign and farked up my leg good and proper



So I quite agree that Japanese drivers are shite

Ouch! That'll put a pall on the day.

[wernst]

I've seen that many times. However, below is the result of a tw@t who didn't stop at a stop sign and farked up my leg good and proper



So I quite agree that Japanese drivers are shite

howley ____. I hope you shoved some boot up his ___.

[Taffy]

howley ____. I hope you shoved some boot up his ___.

If I could have, I certainly would have.
One thing is certain, the doctors learned some very interesting English words when they were trying to straighten that leg!

[oxymoron]

I've been driving in Japan since 1996 ( seven years living there full time and about 3-4 months/year, since) and never had an accident. Very lucky. I think.
I agree with most of the vents, aired in this thread and here are the ones I hate most.
1. The attitude of drivers merging into traffic on a main road. "Look out arseholes, here I come, so screw you!".
2, Red light = 6 more cars can continue through.
3. Pedestrian crossings = human 10 pin bowling.
4. It's perfectly OK to double park in front of a Conbini while nipping (pun intended) in for some cigs.
5. If they need to change lanes at the last second, it's OK not to use indicators.
6. On a weekend, it takes well over an hour to travel 20 kms, to get out of Nara, unless travelling on a tollway.

Generally, if you drive defensibly, you'll probably make it home.
On the plus side, I've never received any parking lot/shopping trolley damage, unlike Australia.

[wernst]

2, Red light = 6 more cars can continue through.

LOl this made me laugh.

On the plus side, I've never received any parking lot/shopping trolley damage, unlike Australia.

Then this, Japanese take very good care of their cars, washing them almost daily and are excellent parkers. Yet they way they treat scooters, bumping and scratching with bikes against it or sometimes tip it over in a parking area is insane. They dont care about scooters.


Well we should be glad living in Japan I guess, the traffic videos I see coming out of Russia.....sjeesh

[cucashopboy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ted_death_rate

One of the lowest.

But!

The definition of a road death in Japan is someone who dies within 24 hours of a traffic accident, a very limiting definition, and the number of traffic accidents is Japan is not decreasing.
See this article in yesterday's Japan Times.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fd20120513pb.html

[Piethrower]

Okay, here's one (happened to me today): overly cautious drivers who try and relinquish their right of way.

I'm waiting at a stop sign for a car to go by; I have the stop sign the other car does not. The car stops at the intersection anyway and waits for me to go. I continue to wait; the other car waits. Finally, I gesture to the woman trying to indicate that I have the stop sign, but she does not. She finally gets it and starts up again but giving me a snide look as she goes by. Yeah, lady, excuse me for obeying the traffic rules of your country.

Sounds like another microaggression. You should've dragged that lady out of her car and smacked her face & fanny in turns until she promised not to commit egregious crimes like 'relinquishing her right of way' to foreigners. Alternatively you could've enlisted her help in pulling out the bundle of disposable chopsticks that's been lodged in your a$$ for at least the last 5 years.

I'm giving you a snide look too, btw. It's in response to your snide post. And no doubt the woman stink-eyed you because she could hear you calling her a stupid Japanese c*nt amid all that 'gesturing.'

[Chromedome]

Here in Tokyo the taxi drivers have taken to turning left at the lights when the lights have changed to allow people to turn right. One cut me off doing it yesterday when I was on my bicycle, beeped his horn too to warn me to get out of the way while I was pulling up to stop at the junction like all good citizens do, right opposite the police box too.

The policeman managed not to give any sign he'd noticed that the taxi driver had just committed a blatant traffic violation right in front of him. Got to admire that training, it's the same technique the Dennys waitress uses to go past my table with the coffee jug when my cup is empty.

I guess you didn't see the OK to turn left on red sign if clear?

[Hijinx]

Sounds like another microaggression. You should've dragged that lady out of her car and smacked her face & fanny in turns until she promised not to commit egregious crimes like 'relinquishing her right of way' to foreigners. Alternatively you could've enlisted her help in pulling out the bundle of disposable chopsticks that's been lodged in your a$$ for at least the last 5 years.

I'm giving you a snide look too, btw. It's in response to your snide post. And no doubt the woman stink-eyed you because she could hear you calling her a stupid Japanese c*nt amid all that 'gesturing.'

Sorry, nope, you're incorrect.

[Hijinx]

I can see this thread has broken down into: those who've driven in J-land for a while, and those who haven't--guess which posts represent which.

[Deathblob]

Might depend on where you live in Japan. Drivers up here in Hokkaido aren't that bad, maybe because they are pretty driving all the time, instead of taking the train/subway to work. Taxi drivers are horrible, sure, but that's pretty much true everywhere I've lived.

[John Grey]

Two completely different types of shitty driving.

I'm quite familiar with the 405, as well as I-495 in DC, I-285 in Atlanta, etc.

Those drivers are assholes but they are well aware of it.

The drivers in Japan are just completely clueless and void of any semblance of common sense......

I can only confirm that, but I want to add another observation. Japanese in general seem to have great problems about the space that surrounds them, I noticed this first in supermarkets, where they almost always look in one direction, while pushing their cart and going into another one. Of course people like that can be observed in any country, but in my experience that behaviour seems to be normal for Japanese.
As in traffic, everybody seems to watch out for everybody else, but never for their own actions.
Whern I play sports like football with them, it is also the norm, they only seem to know forward. Sides or what is behind them, simply does not exist...

[John Grey]

You seem to be developing a habt of putting yourself in conflict with other road users. That's not the mark of a good driver, but I'm sure you won't see it that way.

I think you are ignoring cause and effect. They do have a habit of simply driving into a main street from a parking lot, simply ignoring the traffic there.

[John Grey]

Quote Originally Posted by wernst View Post
Gahhh it really surprises me there are hardly any accidents with this Japanese driving style of some.

Think about that some more...

So your solution seems to be to make everybody drive at 10 km/h? The lack of accidents is a simple consequence of the absurd speeds they drive.

This however happens to be a thread about the driving ABILITIES of japanese people..

Yes traffic may only kill 4000 a year, but:
"... there's more data on preventable deaths. Physical inactivity killed 52,000 people, high blood glucose and high dietary salt intake accounted for 34,000 deaths each, and alcohol use for 31,000 deaths."
Japan Times, 14.5.2012


So basically you tell us, we should be grateful that they are asleep at the wheel?

[John Grey]

......
I agree with most of the vents, aired in this thread and here are the ones I hate most.
1. The attitude of drivers merging into traffic on a main road. "Look out arseholes, here I come, so screw you!".
2, Red light = 6 more cars can continue through.
3. Pedestrian crossings = human 10 pin bowling.
4. It's perfectly OK to double park in front of a Conbini while nipping (pun intended) in for some cigs.
5. If they need to change lanes at the last second, it's OK not to use indicators.
6. On a weekend, it takes well over an hour to travel 20 kms, to get out of Nara, unless travelling on a tollway.

Generally, if you drive defensibly, you'll probably make it home.
On the plus side, I've never received any parking lot/shopping trolley damage, unlike Australia.

Five out of six is not bad, but #1 is wrong... If they were to think like that, at least it would be a fair fight. The problem is, they do not think anything at all. They usually are simply oblivious of others. Maybe it has to do with their ignorance of individuality, or maybe they simply are that stupid.
But my observation has been always, that they behave like that unintentionally..

[John Grey]

Sounds like another microaggression. You should've dragged that lady out of her car and smacked her face & fanny in turns until she promised not to commit egregious crimes like 'relinquishing her right of way' to foreigners. Alternatively you could've enlisted her help in pulling out the bundle of disposable chopsticks that's been lodged in your a$$ for at least the last 5 years.

I'm giving you a snide look too, btw. It's in response to your snide post. And no doubt the woman stink-eyed you because she could hear you calling her a stupid Japanese c*nt amid all that 'gesturing.'

I am afraid that your last sentence is precisely the thing that the people of this country (not just as far as traffic goes) would need a a lot more of.

Maybe then they would get a life instead of their absurd existence. And they might make some inroads against the stupidity and corruption makes such a mess of their country.
Instead of helping every idiot 24 hours a day to avoid loosing face, they should point out that he does behave like an a...hole.

Worldwide observation might even teach you, that this is actually the only way to force people to learn and change?

[John Grey]

I guess you didn't see the OK to turn left on red sign if clear?

Next time you read the sentence you yourself wrote, try to notice those two last words....

Your logic is the approximate equivalent of the way (most) japanese people drive, thank you for showing us such an exceptional example.

[wernst]

addition 2 and 3.


Today when leaving my house for work, some girl was driving her bike in front of me. At the crossing I noticed it was long since red. This _____ just crosses while a car comes and she is like lalala crossing very relaxing, driving in the middle of the street like she owns it. The car had to break for this ____. Shame because wouldve love to see her fly.



And as I walk towards the station, there is a parking in front of the hotel. A car is waiting to drive up the sidewalk to the entrance, while me and anther guy trying to pass before the car. BAM suddenly cars speeds up in front of us. Some 80 year old in the driver seat giving us a angry stare. _______. Seriously some people deserve some bad karma.