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Topic starter
I'm convinced, and, please, tell me I'm wrong. It appears that many of the good folks who learn to drive on STX, and possibly on the other islands, must, I repeat, MUST have been taught to cross the line when in a curve so as 'straighten out the curve' and not have to turn the wheel too much. Evidence abounds, just by seeing the vehicles with damage to their right front, ranging from minor skirmishes to full blown eradication of their right side.
My early experiences, however, were just the opposite. A car coming down the hill on its curve left was completely in my lane, forcing me to 'hit the trenches' in order to avoid certain destruction. Happened again soon after with a, no lie, police car doing the same thing!
I've since learned to 'hug' the far side of the curves and have, thus far, managed to avoid obliteration. But the votes have yet to be tallied.
Can anyone explain this phenomena? After almost four years I still get arrhythmia when entering a curve while wondering if my number is up or, even worse, there is a poor soul walking on the outer edge without the means to dive into the bush and avoid death.
My neurons may not be totally in synch but I don't remember this type of occurrence in the states...
Please enlighten me...
Posted : July 6, 2013 1:27 am
Brainlessness abounds on Crucian curves. If there were painted lines down the middle, that might help. People also stop on blind curves to make phone calls, catch crabs, etc. Then they wave at me to go around them, possibly into imminent oncoming traffic.
Posted : July 6, 2013 12:09 pm
Topic starter
Yeah. I forgot about that part. I keep my mongoose foot with me at all times when driving.
Posted : July 6, 2013 12:42 pm
Happens in STT as well. Cannot tell you how many close calls I have had over the years (countless) with people barreling down the middle of the road (Taxi Vans like this, especially) forcing you so far off the road that you are millimeters from a guardrail, certain that there is no way he will still not tear the side of your truck off, blasting thru intersections, without stopping at the STOP sign, while yakking on their cell phone, on a blind corner, paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to what is going on around them and any on coming traffic that has right of way (this was a white guy driving), people passing blindly from behind a slower moving car because they just have to get where they are going, 30 seconds sooner, just to name a couple of instances. I drive a pickup so at least when I have to climb the side of the darned road to avoid being crashed into by these morons, I do not rip out the bottom of the vehicle.
Some days have been a 3 time, scare the crap out of me, heart pounding out of my chest encounters type days. Drive defensively and carefully, have excellent reflexes........and say your prayers that you make it thru another day. After all these years, I could probably qualify and win at demolition derby driving. Be careful - They are everywhere!
Posted : July 6, 2013 1:19 pm
Topic starter
Okay. I'm ready to hop on ebay to start my search for one of those nifty APC's. Hope they accept paypal...
Posted : July 6, 2013 2:21 pm
I think it has a lot to do with lack of painted lines on the side of the road.
Posted : July 6, 2013 2:55 pm
Add to the above..."yield" is not in the local vocabulary.
Posted : July 6, 2013 4:00 pm
I feel sorry for the vacation guests that come for a week, rent cars, struggle to remember which side of the road to stay on, have to deal with our steep winding roads, the lack of road signs and directions, the above mentioned usual idiots on the road to contend with and have no lines on the road to show them where the edge of the road is or what the heck lane to get into at intersections w/no lines. I applaud all that survive.
Posted : July 6, 2013 6:28 pm
Topic starter
Ever notice on the roads that DO have lines, the lines on the curves almost always are worn away. Which says to me, 'Lines?! We don't need no stinkin lines!! We drive when we want, where we want and STAY OUT OF OUR WAY!'
Posted : July 6, 2013 7:03 pm
have to love the sign on mahogany road leaving frederiksted right beside the ditch on the left
"stay out of ditch"
Posted : July 7, 2013 3:13 am
