What's the Worst NYC Driver Habit?
by Marian Lorraine
We will never forget the first time we barreled down the FDR at about 11pm, white knuckled and exhilarated by all the weaving and honking and Mad Max-style mayhem. We wish we could have that feeling all over again..
ANDRE
Where I hailed him:Hell's Kitchen
Where he hails from: Puerto Rico
Years as a cabbie: 3.5
Previous profession: Worked in a school
They go too fast, too slow - they don't use their turn signals - that's the worst. Or they don't stay in their lane. One time I saw this guy drift into the middle of two lanes without realizing it. He stayed there for about a minute. Everyone was honking at him; but another problem is that everyone is always honking here, so you can never tell if it's directed at you.
SAM
Where I hailed him:Herald Square
Where he hails from: Yonkers
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Building maintenance
Everyone always asks me why I want to drive here for a living; most people don't want to drive here ever. But the worst part of driving here isn't the other New York City drivers. I have more problems with bikers going too far into the road or pedestrians walking in the street. Seriously, don't do that. Another problem is the people who don't drive here regularly. They get scared and slow everyone down. There's definitely a rhythm to driving here that you only get after you do it enough. You learn when to change lanes, when to speed up, even when to bend the rules a little bit. If you made every driver in Manhattan a native New York driver, you wouldn't have any traffic.
DASS
Where I hailed him:Chelsea
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Bank teller
New York drivers have no patience, none at all. I live in Jersey, but when I come here I turn into a different man. In New Jersey I like to drive nice, with my seatbelt on, take it easy. New York is a different story; road rage is a real problem, people are always angry with me. People are stressed out.
SUN
Where I hailed him:West Village
Where he hails from: Nepal
Years as a cabbie: 2 months
Previous profession: Production assistant
New York drivers are fine. I have nothing bad to say about them. The other cabbies are great. We're all in the same boat, like a team sport. But when you get someone from out of state, like New Jersey? They have a totally different system. They're slow, they get lost. Out-of-state drivers are the worst. New Yorkers are fine, even on the phone, they know what they're doing.
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