# Why do American drivers do this? Are they purely short-sighted with no ability to think ahead? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666 "2018-08-15T17:12:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/61 "2018-08-16T03:33:20Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > What makes you think this is trait unique to Americans? Ehm… actually yes it is more prevalent with Americans than with many other nationalities. Unique, no, but super common in situations other than “the light caught me by surprise”, yes. It is also how most Americans walk, and specific enough that when you see a tourist who moves like that you can bet your money on “American”. Americans think other people “have smaller personal spaces” because yes, we are often comfortable standing closer to each others than the Americans; foreigners tend to feel that Americans “have less respect for personal spaces” due to that custom of stopping without braking. It takes a while to convince your instincts that this person barreling down on you isn’t going to run you down, he’s actually going to stop a fair distance back, and that you really really shouldn’t step back because not only will he not understand that you were feeling threatened, you will offend him. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/62 "2018-08-16T04:19:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I also don’t understand why people feel the need to keep inching forward. The guy at the light has stopped. Then he creeps forward a few inches, and everyone behind him does the same. I don’t see the point and don’t do it. Even if I’m second in line and the guy in front of me turns right on the red, I stay put. I’ve been at lights where there’s one lane for straight and left turns, and a “go-around” lane so people going straight can pass those who want to turn left. I’ve seen the road back up with left-turners so far back that the “go-around” lane is completely choked off. Under those circumstances I appreciate the inchers-forward because if enough of them do it the “go-around” lane takes longer to choke off. (Hope I’ve explained this clearly.) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/63 "2018-08-16T12:15:12Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Our turn lights are almost always either green arrow or red circle . If there’s no flashy yellow arrow, you wait there until it turns green, even if there’s fifteen miles of empty road coming the other way. There are relatively few lights that are green circle with left turn yield here, which is why the addition of flashy yellow is so awesome. Huge improvement! Is the red circle steady, or flashing? I can’t speak for your part of the world, but non-protected left followed by protected left have been common here since the 1970’s. In the past, it was a red, intermittent light, meaning, “STOP”, and then go if it’s clear. It would then be followed by a green circle, meaning you have a protected turn. The last twenty years have seen these replaced by arrows, so now instead of a flashing red circle, we get a flashing yellow arrow. The only difference is you’re required to stop for the flashing red circle before proceeding, whereas no stop is required for the intermittent yellow arrow (assuming the coast is clear). They’re not _all_ modernized yet; we still have some of the old-style flashing red circles here and there. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/64 "2018-08-16T12:48:05Z")
This is starting to sound like the thread about those annoying folk who insist on slowing down traffic by backing out of parking spaces, instead of doing the quick, safe, and easy thing and pulling out forwards. On the one hand, you have people who think about the results of their actions and what’s likely to happen as a result, and on the other hand, you have the folks who only look ahead five seconds or less, and care more about the fact that they’re slowing down now than that they’ll be slowing down even more later. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/65 "2018-08-16T12:50:10Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > When the light turns green, do you immediately get back up to speed, or do you “reverse coast” back up to speed? I don’t know what “reverse coast” means. I do accelerate back to the speed limit. When I say I am ‘coasting’ I mean that I take my foot off the accelerator and only use the brake such that I am traveling as fast as possible when the light changes to green. It is faster and uses less energy to accelerate from (say) 20mph to 45mph than to accelerate from 0mph to 45mph. So if I coast up to a red light and it changes before I have to stop, I am saving time and energy, for me and for everyone else (if I get back up to the speed limit at the same rate). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/66 "2018-08-16T13:48:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I don’t know what “reverse coast” means. I do accelerate back to the speed limit. When I say I am ‘coasting’ I mean that I take my foot off the accelerator and only use the brake such that I am traveling as fast as possible when the light changes to green. > > It is faster and uses less energy to accelerate from (say) 20mph to 45mph than to accelerate from 0mph to 45mph. So if I coast up to a red light and it changes before I have to stop, I am saving time and energy, for me and for everyone else (if I get back up to the speed limit at the same rate). > > Regards, > Shodan By “reverse coast” I just mean slowly accelerating back up to speed. That’s what I’ve seen coasters do. So when someone is doing that, I go into another lane. Even if I have to stop for the light, when it turns green, I quickly accelerate and am still in front of the “coaster” because they are usually taking their good ol’ time getting back up to speed. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/67 "2018-08-16T14:24:14Z")
If you are accelerating you are not coasting so why would you use that phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/68 "2018-08-16T15:05:16Z")
I just made it up, and put it in quotes to show it was not literally coasting. I was just trying to portray accelerating at the same rate that the person was previously decelerating while coasting. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/69 "2018-08-16T15:19:39Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I just made it up, and put it in quotes to show it was not literally coasting. I was just trying to portray accelerating at the same rate that the person was previously decelerating while coasting. I thought your meaning was clear from context. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/70 "2018-08-16T15:28:26Z")
It’s not just Americans - I’ve seen it here. If I see a red light or stopped traffic ahead, I take my foot off the accelerator - very often (and especially in multi-lane situations such as offramps) some idiot behind me will accelerate, swerve to overtake, then swerve in ahead of me, accelerating toward the obstruction ahead, then brake hard just before reaching it. Every time it happens, I think the following little thought: “Well, you’re an idiot, but an idiot in front of me is less dangerous than an idiot behind me.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/71 "2018-08-16T15:30:12Z")
I used to worry or get upset by people zipping in front of me. Then I had the revelation that those people are almost never the cause of my commute being slower and aside from some primal urge to “one up” or be the alpha, there was little reason to care who passes me or otherwise rushes to be in front of me. It’s the slowpokes and dawdlers who I need to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/72 "2018-08-16T15:35:33Z")
There are always exceptional situations but basically people who get impatient because I’m coasting to a red light are dumbasses, wasting gas and brake lining for no reason. It’s really not that complicated, again in general. It’s true there are cases where you want to get out of the way of the cars which haven’t reached the previous light if that’s still green. But usually where you have enough momentum to coast meaningfully that’s not a concern. I’m not talking about coasting to a stop halfway down the block in stop and go traffic, but not having your foot on the gas when it’s obvious the car’s momentum will carry it easily to the already visible red light in front of you. It’s just dumb to maintain throttle in that case, but a lot of people not only do, but even accelerate into the red light to get around you, or honk: stupid. I’m also doubtful though this is a particularly US phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/73 "2018-08-16T15:45:57Z")
Edit to add, I also doubt people who swerve around me when I coast to red light are sagaciously estimating I’ll be a slow accelerator when the light changes. That wouldn’t be the natural assumption looking at my car (I do accelerate moderately in general, I’ll let it rip every once in a while with a clear path ahead, and I’m coasting partly to hear the overrun burbles of the exhaust 🙂 ). They just aren’t thinking, is my conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/74 "2018-08-16T17:59:22Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It’s because I’m actually thinking _farther_ ahead than you. I’m thinking about what you’ll likely be doing after the light goes back to green. So far you’ve shown that you’re one of those slow-ass drivers, and there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll still be that slow-ass at getting back up to speed after the light changes. > > We’re both better off if I’m ahead of you at that point. I’m with **Horatius** on this. Drive your damn car; quit dicking around. Or if you have to dawdle, do it behind me. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/75 "2018-08-16T18:09:15Z")
Yep. When I drive, it’s like playing chess. Think ahead and watch for traps. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/76 "2018-08-16T18:39:07Z")
I hate being slowed down by the car in front of me, whether it is on the open highway or approaching a red light. If the speed limit is 45 and the car in front of me is doing 20 because he sees a red light up ahead, it’s annoying. This is not entirely a rational position, I know, but I am answering the OP. I don’t like my options being constrained by some self-righteous crusader in front of me. Sometimes I coast up to a red light myself if I’m in the mood, but never when a car is behind me. Coasting up to a red light probably does save gas but I’m guessing it’s worth pennies a tank. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/77 "2018-08-16T18:42:41Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > I’m with **Horatius** on this. Drive your damn car; quit dicking around. Or if you have to dawdle, do it behind me. If I time my arrival at the lights so they’re green when I get there, how is it dawdling? Do you really think speeding up to and stopping at each light (getting 0 mi/h while stopped) is faster? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/78 "2018-08-16T18:48:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Usually, when I have seen people do what you do, that means they are going to be slow to start going once the light turns green. I hate that, so I try to go around them so I can be ahead of them once the light turns green. This. It’s actually thinking further ahead than you think we’re thinking. 9 times out of 10 the OP is the sort of driver who is going to wait for juuuuust the right shade of green before lightly caressing the gas pedal to idle on through the intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/79 "2018-08-16T19:33:53Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > By “reverse coast” I just mean slowly accelerating back up to speed. That’s what I’ve seen coasters do. > > So when someone is doing that, I go into another lane. Even if I have to stop for the light, when it turns green, I quickly accelerate and am still in front of the “coaster” because they are usually taking their good ol’ time getting back up to speed. It tends to be self-regulating - I am preserving my speed as much as possible, so I get a flying start in re-accelerating to the speed limit. I mentioned above that I win if I can coast to the light and go thru without stopping because it changes. If someone pulls around me into the next lane, and then speeds up so as to wait at the stop light, and I can cruise past him, that’s a double win. Gotta do something to make the commute interesting. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666/80 "2018-08-16T19:36:24Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It tends to be self-regulating - I am preserving my speed as much as possible, so I get a flying start in re-accelerating to the speed limit Ok, sure, YOU do that. Most coasters I’ve seen don’t. > [@](#): > > I mentioned above that I win if I can coast to the light and go thru without stopping because it changes. If someone pulls around me into the next lane, and then speeds up so as to wait at the stop light, and I can cruise past him, that’s a double win. > > Gotta do something to make the commute interesting. > > Regards, > Shodan That’s cool. I like to trap people in the slower lanes who try to use those slower lanes to pass people in the fast lane when there is no room for people in the fast lane to go any faster anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-american-drivers-do-this-are-they-purely-short-sighted-with-no-ability-to-think-ahead/819666.md?page=5)