Robert Kirby, a now retired columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune, was once a police officer in Utah. He tells the story of pulling a guy over for speeding. The driver handed him his registration and license as well as his Temple recommend, across which officer Kirby wrote “Void” and handed it back to the man with his ticket.
We have all heard stories of somebody driving to church, getting upset with a fellow driver, and both trading words and/or middle fingers, only to pull up to the church and seeing the other driver pulling into the same church parking lot. I guess this is more likely to happen in a heavily Mormon populated area, since out in the “mission field”, all Mormons know every other Mormon for miles around.
I’ve mellowed a lot in my driving and interaction with other less skillful drivers than myself (which seems to be just about everybody else!) I think my old age is a major factor, but also the consequences of getting into a road rage incident seems to be much more likely to escalate into violence nowadays, especial where I live in Sothern California.
I’ve driven in lots of places around the world, and experienced lots of different driving styles. I’ve driven in Rome and Naples Italy, which was the scariest place I’ve ever been on the road. Next would be New York City and Boston. I lived in South New Jersey for a year and half, and mastered the multi-lane traffic circles they are famous for.
Two weeks ago I was in Kauai, which if you haven’t been there is a very rural, layback island, nothing like Oahu with Honolulu and Waikiki. Mostly two lane roads everywhere. After a week there, I realized that not once in six days did I hear a car horn honk. There are lots of cars on the roads, and lots of stop and go traffic during rush hour, but everybody is just so chill that there is no aggression. They have passing lanes every so often, but they are rarely used (except by tourists). If it is crowded, and somebody needs to get on the road, or turn left, they will stop and wave them in.
I’ve driven Interstate 15 between Provo and SLC in Utah, and didn’t notice much difference than normal Los Angeles traffic. No worse, but also not any better. Should religious people in general, and Mormons in particular be better drivers, more courteous, more patient with their fellow drivers? For those readers that live in Utah, what is your experiences with your fellow Mormon drivers? Does anybody have any stories about vehicular encounters with General Authorities? Maybe a 70 that cut you off, or a Q15 member yielding to let you in?
Image by Azmi Talib from Pixabay
Wheat & Tares 
Every region has its driving quirks. I live on the east coast in a densely populated area, and I get frustrated with drivers’ politeness, especially in rush hour traffic. Utah (and perhaps to a large extent Mormon) drivers are their own breed. Growing up in Utah, I used to joke that they drive by the spirit because some things the do behind the wheel defy logic or rationale thought. In reality I think this has little to do with their beliefs and everything to do with enormous, wide roads (thanks, Brigham) and western car culture.
Good morning,
Having lived in all 4 time zones in US, I agree with S about regional quirks. To me a driving style is a reflection of someones’ self perceived importance. If a driver feels like that their destination is the most important then to H-LL with everyone else on the road.
I have seen the California effect. As Californians move to other parts of US, they take their LA driving habits with them. Just recently we were at Costco parking the car at Costco and another car darted in front of us taking the spot. We found another spot. When I walked past them at the store entry, we commented ” you must be from California, (they responded yes, how did you know?) because locals do not drive like that”.
We have lived in Texas, where if you do not drive 80-85 mph in the metros, you will be the cause of an accident of slowing down the traffic. A huge driving shock of Texas, is when I was passed in what I call the Texas lane–the right side shoulder. In Texas, no driving laws matter, unless a patrol car is in the area. After years of adapting to Texas driving culture, it was hard to slow down when we moved to the Midwest. It was also a shock, after moving, to not be “flipped off” every day for driving the speed limit, which was the case in Texas.
I have seen the larger the city, the less care for other people, since they are now strangers. The large cities also have large international communities, which bring their Latin American/ African/Asian driving habits into the US to a whole nother level. I have lived in Florida, where driving behind the senior crowd takes practicing patience to a higher level.
These worst of all these are the Mormons driving to church. Our chapel, like many, is in a quiet neighborhood. The speed limit is 30 mph. Members will zoom down the road, racing to be to church on time or “less late”. The youth, rushing to get to 5:30 AM seminary will drive 50-55 mph easily down the road. I spoke to the SP about the problem and the topic was ignored (like every other topic). I told him, you will pay attention after there is an accident. It is so bad, I have called the police department, asking them to set a speed trap, to get the LDS community to slow down. The Mormons in my neighborhood have a reputation of being fast drivers in getting to their unnecessary church meetings.
Question, how would Jesus drive?
I’ve lived in NY, Ma., Va. Fl., Tx., Co., Az. and Utah. The one notable difference I’ve noticed in Utah? Drivers like to flip you off for the most minimum of perceived offenses. We really like the middle finger here in Utah more than any other place I’ve ever lived.
Anecdotal on my part and some close friends who are all Utahns, but many experiences with bad Utah drivers have in fact turned out to be California transplants. It’s even more obvious in the winter. And yet, when I’ve visited California, I’ve had generally good experiences. Yes, they speed as much or more than Utahns do, and you have far more people trying to sneak through a light once it turns red (getting worse in Utah), but I experienced nothing but courtesy in trying to navigate unknown roads. Put your turn signal on and it’s as if the Red Sea is parting.
I struggled in Boston, and I wasn’t even the one driving. Everyone claimed aggression was the only way to go. The thinking seems to be that when most of your roads are just paved cow trails, you need to look out for yourself. It made me grateful for Utah drivers and Utah roads.
Still, you see a lot of aggressive drivers among members. I’ve never really understood it.
“I’m on the Lord’s errand . . . and NOTHING is going to stand in my way.”
Faith, you comment reminded me of the different pedestrian right of way rules in parking lots. Here in California, pedestrians have the right of way anyplace in the parking lot, you just walk. In New Jersey, you must yield to cars. I remember walking with some coworkers to our car in the parking lot of a big industrial place. I just walked out into the parking lot, and one of them had to grab my arm and pull me back from getting hit.
I also forgot to mention Mexico City. I didn’t drive there, but rode in a car driven by my wife’s uncle. He was a local, and it took us an hour to get to his home. After we got out, my arm was bruised from my wife grabbing it so hard every time we almost hit somebody. It was worse than Naples!
I’m from Minnesota (the mission field 😁) and we are called Minnesota Nice when it comes to driving. There is a story that 4 cars at a four way stop will run out of gas waiting for another driver to go. (Also I live in a city of abt 100 thousand and we have 5 wards, so I don’t know all the members.)
The one finger salute here is one finger wave. When driving on a country road farmers will have their hands at the top of the wheel and lift the index finger to give you a wave. My husband reciprocates.
In Rome we were pedestrians. We risked our lives just crossing a street because stop lights are just a suggestion. Worst driving I’ve ever seen.
I lived in So Cal. I had to drive on freeways and I white knuckled it every day. So Salt Lake driving is a piece of cake compared to that!
My year living in India was utter chaos. The sidewalks are literally four feet off the ground to keep people from driving on them. Pedestrian death was very common. Thanks to too much traffic and not sufficient infrastructure, luckily we could never drive very fast! My company provided a car service as they didn’t want to be liable for me trying to drive there.
Utah native converted SoCal resident here. I actually think people drive well in SoCal generally speaking unless it’s raining. There’s just so much involved in driving in freeway land that it can be overwhelming but I think most drivers are kind.
Thinking back to Utah, my experience growing up there and learning to drive there was that the drivers were also considerate. However, I feel like the patience of the Utah drivers has been pushed to its limit. I blame a short sighted government. Having only I-15, I-80, I-215, and Bangerter Highway was sufficient in the 80’s and 90’s. Fast forward thirty years ad the population has grown, the valley has filled in, and yet these same freeways have to accommodate everyone. In central OC were I live, I can be on I-5, I-405, I-55, I-73, I-133, and I-241 in 5-8 minutes from my house. In Utah is I-15 or side streets. The state planners of Utah should have made space for additional roads as people moved in. They did not. Now it’s too late. Utah traffic and drivers are now horrible as a result. It’s unfortunate.
Before cell phones, my dad stopped along I-15 in Orem to help a 60-something guy in a suit change a flat tire. It turned out to be a Seventy, Rex Pinegar, who was grateful and sent a thoughtful note afterwards which my dad kept the rest of his life and showed to family several times. My dad said he was a very kind person. Rex was going to Salt Lake for some meeting at church headquarters. He had been stuck there for a good 25 minutes with no one to help him. Changing a tire was a little beyond him, not sure why. Maybe the suit needed to stay clean.
Manilla was the worst traffic I have ever seen. If its three lanes on one side of the road there are six pseudo lanes of cars and every intersection has cars pouring in from every odd angle. How anyone gets anywhere is a puzzle to me.
@BB, I would agree that Kauai drivers are generally very laid back, but as a cyclist I would trust Utah drivers more than those in Hawaii, except in areas that see a lot of cyclists.
@Chadwick, I disagree with your analysis. Like most Americans from the West, you seem to ignore the well known effects of induced traffic. If you built new six lanes freeways, you will have your fast commute for maybe five years and then the freeways will be filled up again by commuters driving from even farther out because of sprawl communities get built even farther out and somehow people believe they can live there and have a fast commute. Utah has done a good job of investing in public transportation, which is the only meaningful way to deal with high populations, although a bad job in requiring vertical building (i e. density) rather than horizontal building (urban sprawl) that most big population centers come to realize is the only realistic way to handle these challenges so people can walk or take public transportation for most trips. But most Americans and especially those in the West are too in love with their cars to be willing to stop polluting and damaging the fragile desert environment by building out more and more. And Mormons with their large families tend to have the worst carbon footprints of all.
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The utter chaos/stampede/mad rush of any Shanghai traffic light change. The little guy I saw w/o legs wheeling himself into the mad chaos on his piece of plywood with tiny wheels- how did he survive? Nothing I’ve ever seen anywhere else, including Zion, comes close.
@10ac yes that’s a great point. Public transportation should be included in the conversation.
As noted, I haven’t lived in Utah for a while. I remember being excited when TRAX and Frontrunner were announced, only to be disappointed at the cost. Very expensive for “public” transportation which I think partly explains why it’s not used as much as it could be. Secondly, these options are susceptible to weather. Thirdly, the run times are too infrequent to be flexible to commuters. Lastly, these options basically serve the I-15 corridor but fail to provide options to the commercial centers in East Cottonwood, West Valley, and any university other than the U. So perhaps agree to disagree that Utah has done a good job of investing in public transportation.
Faith, “How would Jesus drive?”
Conservative Jesus drives a pickup and would be constantly hauling stuff for his neighbors. He drives 80 in a 70 to keep up with the flow of traffic because “render unto Caesar” and all that. He doesn’t give the finger but he uses the horn abundantly because “the trump shall sound.” He’s particularly talented at driving on black ice and hydroplaning.
Liberal Jesus doesn’t own a car because of the environmental impact and instead exclusively uses public transport. He’s particularly popular on the subway because he always seems to have a few extra tuna sandwiches to share. When he’s not on a train or a bus he can be found campaigning for European-style high speed rail.
Historical Jesus can’t afford a car or public transport and relies on hitchhiking along with those twelve hippies he hangs out with.
Dad Joke Jesus drives a Christler.
I remember decades ago, (when cars were rear wheel drive) driving to class at the U of U in the winter and grumbling about certain drivers must be from CA because they don’t know how to drive in the snow. Like, for instance, if you are going up a hill and approaching a stop sign, you roll through the stop sign unless a car is there—so you don’t get stuck.
New York City was one of the more challenging places to drive. I also remember you couldn’t be 16 yrs old and drive alone in NYC because of their graduated driving permit system.
France was one of the more pleasant places to drive—more uniformity in how fast people drove and the passing lanes were used just for that.
Do they still do that “Please obey all traffic rules” sign off after General Conference? Hearing that for years in the UK was always a bit odd and made us think ungenerous thoughts about American drivers….
Simon C, I don’t remember hearing that.
I do, however, remember the opening lines of a sacrament talk my mother once gave many years ago: “My husband is a very humble man. He even believes the speed limit applies to him”.
Several ward leaders at the time were known for being rather leadfooted.
Growing up in CA, I remember a youth temple baptism trip in which one of our YM leaders got a speeding ticket on the way to the temple. Those of us in the other cars saw him pulled over on the freeway shoulder, so it was widely known. Eventually, he caught up and rejoined us at the temple, where he entered confidently and actively administered the ordinances. It became something of a ward joke for years afterward. Except I didn’t find it funny at the time; it really challenged my 14-year-old notions of true repentance and what it meant to be “temple worthy”. As if breaking the law doesn’t disqualify one from a temple recommend.
I lived in both Northern and Southern CA for many cumulative years. One general rule I learned from driving in both places is that if you drive assertively and confidently, other motorists tend to respect you and are willing to share the road. If you drive too aggressively or too timidly, everyone around you will become impatient and mad at you. Also, SoCal drivers place the definite article “The” in front of freeway names (NorCal residents do not). Before traffic/routing apps like Waze became the norm, SoCal drivers closely tracked the traffic reports and were very protective of their shortcuts and freeway routings (the recurring SNL sketch “The Californians” parodied this culture hilariously). And it is possible to have urban freeway saturation–when I lived in San Diego, I had to take 3 freeways to get to the grocery store (less than 2 miles from my house as the crow flies) and a different combination of freeways to get to church (no more than 3 miles away). The dense network of freeways divides the city up into urban islands, which requires a bit of skill and planning to navigate.
When I was a kid, I was in the car when my mom observed a newly-licensed teen driver (who happened to be in our ward) speeding through the neighborhood and driving recklessly. As soon as we got home, my mom called up the teen’s parents and gave them an earful, and the young person lost driving privileges as a result. When I became old enough to drive, my parents repeatedly warned me that they have “eyes and ears all over town” in the form of fellow Church members who will not hesitate to report bad driving back to my parents. Because I witnessed such an event when I was younger, the threat worked, and I drove carefully and avoided getting pulled over, at least until I was in my 20s and no longer living in my hometown.
Another Church-related driving lesson–as a new driver I was taught to be extra slow and cautious when driving in the church parking lot on Sunday, because there were always little kids running around when church let out. My parents always made it a point to park nose-out at church, to avoid backing up when it was time to go home. Apparently, they knew a family years before who had a toddler that was run over and died in the church parking lot. The car was backing out and the driver was completely unaware of the child until it was too late. As I have grown up and lived in many different states, I have come to find that almost every Church member I meet seems to have known an occurrence of a small child getting run over at church.
Hedgehog…
“Several ward leaders at the time were known for being rather leadfooted.” Tell me about it. I remember the ‘exhilarating’ feeling of being driven at high speed on many a youth activity by various leaders, including 80-90 mph down winding country lanes during a car rally by the son of a prominent 70 no less (He told those in the car not to tell anyone!)
The most exciting place I have driven is Germany where most of the highways were unrestricted. Our hire car (toyota corolla) would only go 185 kph (115 mph), and at that speed we had german cars flashing past. Our grandchildren reported being taken at 220k (140mph) by the audi driving YM president.
Some road national road toll numbers for interest in road deaths/100,000 people.
Aus 4.5
Canada 5.8
Germany 3.7
UK 2.9
USA 12.4
Germany, UK,and USA have good highway systems; German and British cars are good, urban speed limits are enforced, drink driving is not allowed.
What I wonder, looking at traffic fatality rates between countries is what is the process for getting a drivers license in each country? I remember years ago, having a Sunday School teacher from Europe (can’t remember if he was British or German—probably British) and he mentioned how much easier it is to get a driving license/permit in the U.S.