Re: Crazy Yosemite Drivers

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Calaveras

On the way back late in the afternoon, we were in the usual line of slow traffic with a SUV ahead of me, with 3 or 4 people in the vehicle. This driver spent half the time driving right down the center of the road, having to move right whenever there was an oncoming car. This went on for miles, even on blind turns. There's a lot more traffic at 4 pm than there is at 7:30 am. When we got to the last 35 mph zone, the driver ahead avoided a head-on by a foot. Maybe that finally scared the passengers because the vehicle pulled over right after that near miss.

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qumqats

It's probably the first time they've driven in a large vehicle/RV/SUV AND the first time they've been in real mountains.
They don't know how wide they are and are over compensating.
My guess is they're scared to death of the road.

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hotrod4x5

I was driving the speed limit just east of the Tuolumne Meadows store headed out of the park. A guy tail gated me, then finally passed. No sooner had he gotten by me did he have to slow down for the entrance station. When we started down the pass, he became a snail and I was stuck behind him as he crawled down the pass at 30-35 mph, braking for every turn (he was already going slow enough). I just don't get some people!

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Dave
This seems to be a constant topic around here.

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chick-on
Have also seen many times on Tioga... people scream by me speeding...
and in 10 minutes we drive by ... ranger out talking to them...

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parklover
People who will not pull off drive me nuts also but also the ones that are driving over the speed limit and tailgate. The last time we were in Yosemite my husband was already going a few miles over the speed limit when a BMW started to tailgate us then would drop back and then tailgate again. We pulled off at the next pull off and lo and behold the BMW pulled right in behind us so we sat there and waited for them to leave. After a few minutes of both cars sitting there, my husband pulled out and the BMW pulled out right behind us and started tailgating again. We were really stumped about why they stopped in the pull out behind us and then pulled out when we did. We were wondering if they were uncomfortable driving and wanted someone in front of them for some reason.

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tomdisco

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parklover
People who will not pull off drive me nuts also but also the ones that are driving over the speed limit and tailgate. The last time we were in Yosemite my husband was already going a few miles over the speed limit when a BMW started to tailgate us then would drop back and then tailgate again. We pulled off at the next pull off and lo and behold the BMW pulled right in behind us so we sat there and waited for them to leave. After a few minutes of both cars sitting there, my husband pulled out and the BMW pulled out right behind us and started tailgating again. We were really stumped about why they stopped in the pull out behind us and then pulled out when we did. We were wondering if they were uncomfortable driving and wanted someone in front of them for some reason.

FBI field training?

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Calaveras
Hwys 41, 120, and 140 are state highways so I can't imagine there is a different set of laws just because they cross a park boundary. But I have never seen one instance of a cop pulling over a slow driver with a stack of traffic behind them anywhere ever. If they did that on a regular basis like they hand out speeding tickets, drivers would get the message and pull over more frequently. Everyone knows that there is virtually no chance you'll get a ticket because you're heading a line of traffic going 10 mph under the limit. Traffic flow would improve a lot if everyone knew they were at risk of a ticket for holding up traffic.

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BTW, my original post was not intended to pick on slow drivers. The SUV ahead of me who was splitting the center line was mostly driving the limit. There are crazy drivers at all speeds. It's a myth though that fast drivers are automatically unsafe. Driving is just like anything else, individual skills range from non-existent to top notch. It's mostly low skill drivers who believe faster drivers are unsafe. This is no different than people who believe that those of you who rock climb in Yosemite are crazy people tempting death. They seem to be unaware of natural ability and skill difference.

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Dave

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Calaveras
Hwys 41, 120, and 140 are state highways so I can't imagine there is a different set of laws just because they cross a park boundary. But I have never seen one instance of a cop pulling over a slow driver with a stack of traffic behind them anywhere ever. If they did that on a regular basis like they hand out speeding tickets, drivers would get the message and pull over more frequently. Everyone knows that there is virtually no chance you'll get a ticket because you're heading a line of traffic going 10 mph under the limit. Traffic flow would improve a lot if everyone knew they were at risk of a ticket for holding up traffic.

For the cop it's a safety issue and a "who's going to get the ticket" issue. If the cop is 10 cars down the line, how is he going to safely pass all those cars to get to the problem? Then, when he gets there, who gets the ticket? The guy going slow or the 5 people tailgating?

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ttilley
So...my most memorable 'failure to use turnouts' example was admittedly from a couple decades ago...I was driving down US50 on a winter Sunday evening, and some asshole decided to drive all the way at about 20 MPH or so, straddling the dashed white line whenever a passing lane opened up so nobody could pass. All the way down until it became a freeway. Apparently, no police anywhere around Placerville ever wondered why there was no traffic in their town on a Sunday evening for a really extended period.

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I'm not sure the 'safety' and 'whos going to get the ticket' thing fully explains it.

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Dave

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ttilley
So...my most memorable 'failure to use turnouts' example was admittedly from a couple decades ago...I was driving down US50 on a winter Sunday evening, and some asshole decided to drive all the way at about 20 MPH or so, straddling the dashed white line whenever a passing lane opened up so nobody could pass. All the way down until it became a freeway. Apparently, no police anywhere around Placerville ever wondered why there was no traffic in their town on a Sunday evening for a really extended period.

A few weeks ago I was doing almost that. The road had about 2 inches of slush, and I think there were chain controls but no one had chains. I was in 4wd and going about 25. One of the cars behind me looked anxious to pass. The funny part is that the guy behind me had to have passed a car upside down on the road. That should have been proof the road was slippery.

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I'm not sure the 'safety' and 'whos going to get the ticket' thing fully explains it.

For the cops it does, and it does make sense. How is the cop going to safely pass 10, or more, cars on a windy mountain road? I wouldn't risk my life to ticket someone going slow.

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ttilley
I'd have assumed that a semi-curious Placerville officer might have pre-positioned himself down the grade. No need to pass anyone.

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eeek
The CHP has been known to use a spotter that radios ahead. The offender then gets flagged over when he reaches the other officer.

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ttilley
In my case there was no slush, and a long line of cars started at the top of the grade and went all the way down.

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I'd have assumed that a semi-curious Placerville officer might have pre-positioned himself down the grade. No need to pass anyone.

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Edit: And I'm assuming you weren't really doing what I described, which was straddling the white lines whenever a passing lane occurred so as to prevent anyone from passing.

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Dave

No, I was just going slow. If they wanted to pass, and kill themselves, that's their problem. I wasn't playing traffic cop, just driving responsibly. I could have pulled over but the pullouts were slushier than the road and probably full of ice.

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plawrence
If there were five or more vehicles behind you, then you should have pulled over at a turnout, regardless if it was slushy or not. If there were fewer than five vehicles behind you, then it was your discretion to do so or not.

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Dave
how is he going to safely pass all those cars to get to the problem?

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eeek

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Dave

How is he going to safely pass all those cars to get to the problem?

Turn on those flashy lights and people get out of the way (usually).

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plawrence
I was just going to suggest that. The officer just needs to turn on his siren and lights so all the cars in front of him can pullover to let him pass.

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I've actually seen Law Enforcement Rangers in Yosemite do that – not to pullover the slow driver at the head of the line though, but to move quickly through the line so they can get to another emergency call quicker.

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Dave

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plawrence
I was just going to suggest that. The officer just needs to turn on his siren and lights so all the cars in front of him can pullover to let him pass.

Do these lights go around blind corners?

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Dave

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I've actually seen Law Enforcement Rangers in Yosemite do that – not to pullover the slow driver at the head of the line though, but to move quickly through the line so they can get to another emergency call quicker.

That's right, something far more important than someone going slow.

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plawrence
The sound of the siren does.

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Dave
There's not always something urgent that needs attending to by the rangers.

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I don't mind them using radar to tag speeders, but they also need to crack down on other types of bad drivers too.

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Dave

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plawrence
There's not always something urgent that needs attending to by the rangers.

And you know this how?

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Dave
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

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szalkowski

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Dave
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

We presume that this means you are going to stop bothering to respond to inane posts on this thread.
(DrivenMadly Yours)
The Marmots

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was concerned with my safety. I could not care less about theirs

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Ulysses61

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was concerned with my safety. I could not care less about theirs

Incredible. ....

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mtn man
I guess they are in a hurry to get to the Camp Curry Pizza porch!

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chicagocwright

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mtn man
I guess they are in a hurry to get to the Camp Curry Pizza porch!

I hate to make excuses for bad driving but the pizza at Camp Curry is REALLY good!

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mtn man
Now most of them are only running the stop at a couple of miles an hour but what is astonishing is the the high percentage of vehicles that don't come to a complete stop. I guess they are in a hurry to get to the Camp Curry Pizza porch!

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mtn man

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mtn man

Back to crazy drivers: At this same corner the bike path on the south side of Southside drive comes into the intersection and widens out (almost looks like a golf cart path). I watched once as a foreigner in a rental car turned onto the bike path and attempted to drive on it. He didn't get very far as the path narrows. He couldn't back it out or get turned around. A ranger arrived and got him backed up and back onto the road. Comical.

On one of our last Yosemite visits, we were riding our bikes down the path near the Visitor Center when a car came up the part of the path where it is wide. The driver turned into the road that goes to Degnan's, which is the wrong way, and then turned left onto the path. It appeared that they thought they could drive right up to the visitor center and park there. There was a ranger there and we all tried to get the driver to understand that they were not on a road but they did not understand English very well. The ranger was just about to lead a walk so we offered to ride our bikes in front of the car and take them to Northside Drive. It was a challenge to get them to follow us.

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DavidK42
PLEASE...not another thread hijacked by a Curry Village Pizza debate?!?!?!? Didn't this one drive it sufficiently in to the ground?

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chicagocwright
Just a little levity to a thread that seemed like it needed some. And I still dream about that pizza I had on two consecutive nights after long days at Yosemite...

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Dave

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chicagocwright
Just a little levity to a thread that seemed like it needed some. And I still dream about that pizza I had on two consecutive nights after long days at Yosemite...

Someone said the pizza at Degnans was good. Saturday was my last day for the season so I thought I'd walk over there and try some. Closed. Private party. Had to settle for the mediocre take and bake from Mariposa. So it goes.

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hotrod4x5
Their pizza is usually very good. The last time I was there, however, I think the conveyer was going too slow, ours was burned, and everyone else's I saw was burned. Normally they are wonderful.

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Dave

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chicagocwright
Just a little levity to a thread that seemed like it needed some. And I still dream about that pizza I had on two consecutive nights after long days at Yosemite...

Someone said the pizza at Degnans was good. Saturday was my last day for the season so I thought I'd walk over there and try some. Closed. Private party. Had to settle for the mediocre take and bake from Mariposa. So it goes.

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chicagocwright
First, I've never had Degnan's Pizza but I don't know if I can trust the opinions about Degnan's based on the slander against Curry Pizza Deck.

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Second, after the counterfeit imitation non-pizza created by the terribly misnamed California Pizza Kitchen I think all Californians should be disqualified from any pizza judging conversation. (CPZ was created after I left California.):

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Dave
]I have not eaten at either pizza place.

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eeek

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Dave
]I have not eaten at either pizza place.

And you are still alive. Conclusion?

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chicagocwright
First, I've never had Degnan's Pizza

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chicagocwright

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Dave

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chicagocwright
Just a little levity to a thread that seemed like it needed some. And I still dream about that pizza I had on two consecutive nights after long days at Yosemite...

Someone said the pizza at Degnans was good. Saturday was my last day for the season so I thought I'd walk over there and try some. Closed. Private party. Had to settle for the mediocre take and bake from Mariposa. So it goes.

Well now that this is the pizza conversation I have to rant.

First, I've never had Degnan's Pizza but I don't know if I can trust the opinions about Degnan's based on the slander against Curry Pizza Deck.

Second, after the counterfeit imitation non-pizza created by the terribly misnamed California Pizza Kitchen I think all Californians should be disqualified from any pizza judging conversation. (CPZ was created after I left California.)

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parklover
Maybe we should start a thread called. “ Pizza I have known and loved.” Any opinions on where you can get the best pizza in Oakhurst?

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DavidK42
PLEASE...not another thread hijacked by a Curry Village Pizza debate?!?!?!? Didn't this one drive it sufficiently in to the ground?

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tanngrisnir3

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DavidK42
PLEASE...not another thread hijacked by a Curry Village Pizza debate?!?!?!? Didn't this one drive it sufficiently in to the ground?

I was just at Curry this weekend, looking forward to sharing the best pizza in the park w/my g/f....

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plawrence
So you decided to bail on having the world's greatest pizza and instead munch on just chips & salsa two miles away because the line was too long? Exactly how long was the line for the fabulous Curry Pizza Deck pizza?

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parklover

On one of our last Yosemite visits, we were riding our bikes down the path near the Visitor Center when a car came up the part of the path where it is wide. The driver turned into the road that goes to Degnan's, which is the wrong way, and then turned left onto the path. It appeared that they thought they could drive right up to the visitor center and park there.

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plawrence

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parklover


Once upon a time, that's where the parking lot for the Yosemite Valley Vistor was located. Maybe they're real Yosemite old-timers who hadn't been to the park in ages!

And even if they're newcomers to Yosemite, just think about this: how many U.S. National Park Visitor Centers are there that one CANNOT drive up and park their vehicles near it?

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It looked like they were in their 30's so they were not old timers. But you do have a point since I have been to many NPS units and right off the top of my head, I can't think of any that do not have parking lots either in the front or in the back. Another possibility is that they were driving with a GPS and it did not have current info in it. However, the part that they were driving on is the section that is the narrow section where the trees divide the pedestrian mall in front of Degnan's and the AA Gallery from the bike path and is clearly marked as a bike path where they turned onto it. They also could have gotten confused or were not able to read the signs in English.

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parklover

Another possibility is that they were driving with a GPS and it did not have current info in it.

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plawrence

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parklover

Another possibility is that they were driving with a GPS and it did not have current info in it.

That reminds of a time when I got a new GPS for my car about six years ago. For fun (since I already knew how to get there) I programmed it to direct me to the Yosemite Lodge. To my surprise and amusement, it told me to make a lefthand turn from Southside Drive onto Swinging Bridge and take the bike path to the Lodge.

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