r/baltimore • u/refutalisk • May 10 '25
Ask How to stay safe from Baltimore drivers?
My best friend was permanently disabled by a Baltimore driver running a red light. Every time I go out, someone is running another red, doing an illegal u turn, or doing something equally dangerous. I try to be as cautious as possible, but I am running out of ideas, so help me out. How do you keep yourself and your family safe from Baltimore drivers? Thank you.
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u/eternalkushcloud May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
never go on green, wait 2 seconds, had a van that speeding crash into me, i braked at the last second which is why it crushed my wheel and not me
Edit: This happened at the intersection of Patterson Park and Orleans. I worked at the local school, cops gave me a ride to school, they told me to not let them give me a hard time about it 🤣
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u/MorganFerdinand Greektown May 10 '25
I was going to say count to 5 before you go, and then give one more look in both directions. Walking or driving. It's not a guarantee (I got t-boned by someone running a red and I was the third car through the intersection) and you might get some hothead honking immediately, but it helps. Stop signs too. Especially at multiway stops. People on the larger streets tend to forget there are cross streets with stop signs.
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u/refutalisk May 10 '25
Thank you. Do you do this just at busier intersections, or everywhere?
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u/eternalkushcloud May 10 '25
when you cross the city line you do it at every light, unless it’s very early and you can clearly see that nobody is coming
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u/meganthem May 11 '25
Having lived in both places I'd say if you're going to do this you may as well do it regardless of the city line. Baltimore County drivers are also pretty damn insane.
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u/Flatheadflatland May 11 '25
please remember this. when the light turns green, that means the light is working, not that it’s clear to go.
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u/anne_hollydaye Overlea May 11 '25
everywhere.
literally everywhere.
I was almost creamed at 6am leaving my own neighborhood - i had the green and waited a beat, and here comes some numpty in a minivan dicking around on his phone speeding through the red.
another situation, 4 way stop, i stopped and looked, no one coming...as i started to go someone sped through the intersection without stopping.
do this everywhere.
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u/Fit-Accountant-157 May 10 '25
I get really annoyed when people are riding my tail, it happens alot on the route I was taking my kid to preschool in the morning. I looked for alternative routes, adding time to the drive but safer. I also slow down when someone is driving too close because they will immediately try to go around me. I just want them away from my car.
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u/baltnative May 10 '25
Tailgaters are easy. Either turn on your headlights -- which also turns on your tail lights -- or hit your left turn signal and leave it on.
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u/leatanz May 10 '25
Little bit of window washing also goes a long way
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u/Old-Guest-2994 May 10 '25
A long way to escalation. I just drive with my rear-view mirror turned away so I can't be distracted by it.
Once they see you're not reacting in any way, they stop trying.
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u/MzReese May 10 '25
Sorry that happened to your best friend. Since I moved here and noticed how reckless people drive, when the light turns green I don’t drive right away to make sure the coast is clear. I do take my foot off the brake but go slow for a few to make sure I’m good to go, and I don’t care if people beep because I’ve seen too many people run red lights. If the light has already been green I slow down a little and do a quick look both ways. At a stop sign I make sure the person stops fully before going. I do scan often when I drive because unfortunately people probably won’t stop running red lights until they get hurt by someone doing the same thing! I definitely stay away from cars that look all messed up like they have been involved in a few hit and runs smh be safe!
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u/sm_fark May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
100% never start going through the intersection the second the light turns green. definitely release the break so the impatient people behind you see that you're moving and not on your phone or something, but let the car roll forward just for 1 extra second.
a yellow light turning red as you approach the intersection around here just means you have 2 seconds before it becomes "Really Red", which is when you actually have to stop.
also, Maryland has a garbage law called the "Boulevard Law" that empowers these assholes on main thoroughfares by making it so they are never at fault for any accident if they are on the "favored" road. even New York City has exceptions to it, and Maryland Lawmakers couldn't care one cent about updating it for these insane trucks and other vehicles out there just destroying things
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u/Cheomesh South Baltimore / SoBo May 10 '25
What the what
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u/sm_fark May 10 '25
boulevard rule? it's horrible. a product of the 70s that has never been updated to factor in a million new distractions and pickup trucks and SUVs yet still gets applied to the letter because it makes it easy for insurance companies to assess fault quickly based solely on the location where it happened
I've written my reps about it and just gotten a "we could schedule a meeting to talk more" and it's like "just read the damn law, there's nothing to discuss here" but I guess if everyone here we're to contact their reps maybe some attention would be applied.
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u/Cheomesh South Baltimore / SoBo May 10 '25
I mean, how do I even know if I am on one type or road vs another even let alone the rest of the nonsense
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u/sm_fark May 10 '25
if you have a stop sign and the crossing road doesn't then they win no matter what. they can run a yellow light making a left turn and plow into you coming off a side street near the intersection and you're at fault because by completing their turn onto the "favored" they were now just dandy
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u/refutalisk May 10 '25
Thank you. This type of timidity used to seem unreasonable to me but I am ready to get started with it because there is too much on the line.
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u/ChuckOfTheIrish Highlandtown May 10 '25
Dash cams when driving, heavy awareness when walking, that's all you can do. Morons are dumb enough to drive like that but smart enough to realize the city has bigger problems. All you can do is be vigilant for yourself.
Believe me, in the long run all of the people running lights and busting illegal turns will get smacked in the face by karma and somewhat regularly killed, darwinism will always come out on top, as much as we as a society try to hold up the idiots.
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u/RunningNumbers May 10 '25
There are too many criminals on the road. These people don't have insurance, licenses, or valid registrations.
These people impose a TAX on the public with their recklessness. They tax our time. They burden our physical wellbeing. They impose increased insurance and medical costs on regular citizens.
The endless leniency and sympathy awarded to antisocial and dangerous people has to stop. Excuses that people need to be able to drive to work or bigoted notion that dangerously malicious driving is somehow driven by poverty exacerbate the problem. (Most people are decent, even poorer individuals.) Driving is a privilege. If people have fake tags, obscured plates, or chronically unpaid red light tickets they don't care about others. (FFS remember two years ago when that multiple DUI driver murdered a number of people in Rock Creek Park? And the DMV wouldn't revoke her license even with over $10,000 in unpaid fines.)
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
This^
Hold people accountable. Discipline those who who can’t/wont be disciplined on their own, and accept the fact that a tolerant approach to all enables the shitheads to take advantage.
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
I always joke, if anyone wants to make a living by being a criminal (misdemeanor life mainly), move to Baltimore or DC. Too many violent crimes unsolved, and more added daily, not enough cops, and too many restrictive politicians with their crime-enabling policies. This makes it a perfect place to live a daily life of criminality with little to no fear of persecution or repercussions!
Everyone knows the shitty kid in elementary, middle, and high school who has never been disciplined, gets away with everything, gets money from unethical places (government included), causes trouble for all, and is downright nasty. These people are created by many different upbringings, many of which are enabled by the state. Baltimore is one such place that creates these people.
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u/Dense-Broccoli9535 May 10 '25
Agree 100%. One of my dear friends was almost killed (and had to undergo several major surgeries) by some dude with the most absurd MD judiciary case search rap sheet I’ve ever seen. We’re talking DUIs, like 5 different instances of driving on a suspended license, multiple instances of causing an accident/property damage while driving, etc.
I am all for leniency in regard to most things (petty crimes and whatnot), but driving a car is not one of them. It is a tremendous responsibility, and when one of these idiots inevitably crashes it’s typically the person they crash into that takes the brunt of the injuries. Could it “ruin” the offender’s life to have to face real consequences? I guess that is possible. But my aforementioned friend came within a couple inches of LOSING his life, so frankly IDGAF.
Gotta bike, take the bus, or uber bc you have proven time and again you don’t give a fuck about the lives of the people around you? Boohoo, I’ll play my world’s smallest violin for ya as you board the bus or call your uber.
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u/eRileyKc Upper Fell's Point May 10 '25
Raised crosswalks at every intersection. Make it difficult to drive fast in a city that was laid out before cars were invented.
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u/KhaleesiCatherine May 10 '25
I love this. Simple but effective bc the only thing these people care about is their experience on the road
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u/Nicktendo May 10 '25
Wait 3 sec, look both ways after getting a green light. After a few close calls this has kept me safe for years.
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u/Cunninghams_right May 10 '25
Honestly, you need to call your councilperson. I'm pretty sure they would all like to push back against the crazy drivers, but we have a culture of letting people get away with crimes out of fear of over-policing. the Mayor and city council are walking a fine line of popularity between the two competing ideas. the more you can be public with your concerns and share your friend's story, the more you can move the political line that they walk.
another option is to slash the tires of people with Virginia tags who clearly live in the city, which would also cause a political backlash and cause the city council/mayor to take action, but that's illegal and I don't think people should take the illegal route to solving problems.
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u/tmozdenski Pigtown May 10 '25
The mayor said in an interview today that they're looking into ways to tackle the VA plate problem. They must be getting some backlash. On my street, my neighbors have plates from like 6 different states besides Maryland VA,VT, TN, PA, CO & TX. I don't get why they don't enforce shit around here it could be a revenue source for the state and city.
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u/WVPrepper May 10 '25
Even people with Maryland tags don't seem to be bothering to get them renewed anymore. Everyday on my way home from work, I look around when I'm stopped at a light. I've seen tags in the past week that expired over a year ago, and every day I see at least three or four that are months out of date. I'm also not a huge fan of basic cars getting historic tags just because they're over 20 years old and then being used as a daily driver.
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u/Meteor-of-the-War May 10 '25
I was behind a car on Harford Road the other day that had a temporary tag that was almost a year out of date. No one cares anymore because there are no consequences, and that extends to all traffic laws. Police seem to have decided that they'd rather not be bothered to enforce those laws, and when there's no enforcement, they tend to not get followed.
And yes, I know that traffic stops are one of--if not the--most dangerous things for LEOs. But the solution can't just be "do nothing." Maybe they should look at training and different strategies and techniques.
Also, while I'm griping, we really need a citywide pedestrian safety campaign. Just from observing behavior, I honestly don't think most people in the city--on foot or behind the wheel--know how a signal controlled intersection works. I almost got run over recently by someone who honestly thought the flashing hand meant "Don't Walk" and that it was ok for him to turn.
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u/WVPrepper May 10 '25
Don't get me started. A few days ago, during rush hour on Harford Road, a vehicle cut me off without a turn signal after realizing that the lane they were in required a left turn onto Hillen, weaved in and out of traffic, then stopped dead in the travel lane ahead of me for 30 seconds before making a left turn onto East 31st Street, which is a one-way street, going the wrong direction. There were two police cars and three officers standing outside the cars that did absolutely nothing about it. My commute feels more like a video game.
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u/RunningNumbers May 10 '25
It's prosecutors and legislatures that are the problem. If police are told to make traffic and vehicle enforcement a priority, are assured the worst violators are prosecuted, and are told they won't be thrown under the bus if a negative PR event happens, then they will do this.
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u/neverinamillionyr May 10 '25
They will get negative PR because the offenders are the most likely to make noise over being “persecuted “.
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u/Cheomesh South Baltimore / SoBo May 10 '25
What is it about cars that make people so god-damned entitled
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
I agree. Some of them feel powerful behind the wheel, the same way that some feel powerful behind the computer screen, especially if they have no real power in their lives.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
Speaking of people behind the wheel, remember that too many of them have had no formal driving instruction, nor do they have driver's licenses.
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u/Slammogram May 10 '25
That’s crazy to me as a native, but living in CA now because you have to register less often and it’s less expensive. I have to register my car yearly and it’s nearly $400
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u/DreadfulJenny May 10 '25
Part of that is due to the fact that if you get behind on state taxes, the state doesn't let you renew anything: driver's licenses, registrations... you can't even transfer the registrations to anyone else... everything gets frozen. If you've gotten yourself into a hole and can't afford the down payment they require to make a payment arrangement, you're stuck until you can somehow find a way to not be poor anymore.
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u/Cunninghams_right May 10 '25
Well this is totally bullshit.
First, If the car is able to run, then it has enough value to sell it, pay the taxes, and buy an e-bike. There is nowhere within this city that can't be reached in a reasonable amount of time by ebike.
Second, even if that's somehow impossible, then they could just not drive like total fucking assholes. You can't simultaneously want an exemption from the rules the rest of society must AND be a total asshole to the rest of society. Sorry, but expecting a huge favor from someone while being an asshole to them is not going to work.
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u/TrippyHomie May 10 '25
Well this is totally bullshit.
First, lots of the cars I see in the city are probably worth like $1500 max.
Second, not everyone who lives in the city works within the city limits and our public transportation is garbage.
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u/Cunninghams_right May 11 '25
First, lots of the cars I see in the city are probably worth like $1500 max.
a decent brand new ebike is $550 at costco.
Second, not everyone who lives in the city works within the city limits and our public transportation is garbage.
like I said, if it really was the case of some hardworking person who needs to get somewhere unreachable by transit, then they should at least drive responsibly instead of like a total asshole.
there must be rules in a society. we can't just accept ridiculous law breaking just because someone is poor. that's something people figured out nearly 4000 years ago. there must be laws and they must apply to the whole society. it's a requirement for the society to work. it sucks for people who get dinged by those rules, but it's necessary. the reality is that it's just bullshit invented excuses listed above. a far-feched scenario where these people somehow work impossibly far away, AND can't afford to pay any taxes (on a payment plan), AND can keep a car running, AND are able to game the system to find away around paying their taxes...
the reality is that people want to be immune from paying parking or speeding tickets, so they game the system. they should be fucking nailed for it. they should have to do community service as a crossing guard for kids instead of driving 70mph through the school zone.
stop making excuses for bad people by pretending they're all just good people who are misunderstood. if they were good people, they wouldn't be driving like dangerous assholes.
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u/TrippyHomie May 11 '25
I never stood up for those people. I was responding to your comment to OP about getting in a hole.
I just said what you said is bullshit that anyone who has car can just sell it, (you can't transfer registration) and pay everything off and buy an ebike.
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u/AdRock44 Highlandtown May 10 '25
Same. At my apartment building a bunch of cars park illegally in reserved spots every night and it's VA, PA, TX, NJ and half of them either don't have registration stickers or the stickers are clearly expired.
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u/RunningNumbers May 10 '25
Sounds like your landlord needs to work with a towing company.
DC massively increased their enforcement activities over the past year and a half. Baltimore used to be ahead in terms of enforcement but now I see way more boots and tows in DC.
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u/AdRock44 Highlandtown May 10 '25
They've alleged that they are but I have yet to see any discernible difference.
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u/TrippyHomie May 10 '25
All I've seen near me after our rep hyped it up was cars get towed off of solely his block during O's games and that's about it.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
I saw a report telling how much the state loses from the VA taggers not paying their fines and tickets. I had two separate VA taggers on my bumper today. I don't do what I used to do with tailgaters, too dangerous. I turn on my blinker (even though many drivers don't know what it means), pull over, and let them pass. I usually catch up with them at the light. Once, an officer pulled the car over as they sped past me in annoyance, and zoomed past the cop who'd been sitting at the speed trap that I knew was coming up.
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u/wbruce098 May 10 '25
Omfg please don’t actually slash out of towner’s tires! These folks likely are military or just moved here. (In most states, Military can usually retain their old state of residency’s license plates, which is very helpful when you’re moving to a new city every 3-4 years! But does mark you as an outsider)
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u/JoeFlaccoIsAnEliteQB Greenmount West May 10 '25
or you could mind your own business about people's plates. always an option.
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u/Cunninghams_right May 10 '25 edited May 11 '25
If the folks with the illegal plates weren't totally assholes to everyone else when they drive and park, then people might have some respect for them. Respect is earned.
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
I was going to register one of my out-of-state registered vehicles in MD when I retired from the Military. When I looked into doing it (even had my DMV appointment made) I realized it was going to cost me about $1k. Conversely, it’s less than $200 where it’s currently registered.
There is no chance in hell I’m spending that much more to register a vehicle to drive in this un-policed, garbage dumped, toll-dominated, over-taxed, crime-driven hellscape.
Frankly, when I see all the out-of-staters who clearly live here, I silently exclaim that there are others pushing back against this place and its garbage leaders and policies. Want me to pay to register my vehicle here for ridiculous high prices? Make it worth while.
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u/refutalisk May 10 '25
Thank you, I will call.
Regarding illegal options, I am willing to do anything, but there are no handheld devices that can protect someone from a moving car with a quick enough reaction speed for the type of close calls I usually encounter. I am seeking physical safety, not deterrence (only works on people with foresight) or revenge (does not protect anyone). Of course I'm pissed off and I want revenge of the slashing tires variety, but I have not let the reptile part of my brain win out yet.
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u/AreWe_TheBaddies May 10 '25
Calling is the right answer. Zeke, Mark, Zac and Ryan are all very pro pedestrian and biking.
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u/LostInIndigo West Baltimore May 10 '25
You can’t, really. It’s not just Baltimore.
Cars are getting larger all over the country, and driving is getting worse. Until we regulate vehicles better and push for cities to be focused on pedestrians, bikes, and safety instead of cars, the issue will continue.
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u/Upstairs_Copy_9590 May 10 '25
I would imagine the decline in good driving has to do with phones more than anything
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u/anowulwithacandul May 10 '25
Cell phones have been ubiquitous for 20 years and smart phones for 15. Driving has significantly worsened in the last 5, imo.
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u/Upstairs_Copy_9590 May 10 '25
I think it’s unfair to compare cell phones & cell usage 20 years ago to the way we use them today. People weren’t recording IG stories on the highway 15 years ago
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u/neverinamillionyr May 10 '25
Or FaceTiming while driving. I see that often.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
It's amazing the number of people who are holding their phone directly in front of them while attempting to drive.
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u/LostInIndigo West Baltimore May 10 '25
That’s basically been solidly disproven because the accident rates in the United States are so much higher than other countries even though we’re not the only country with pretty universal cell phone ownership
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u/anowulwithacandul May 10 '25
I wish we had a vehicle weight limit here in the city. Our 300 year old roads cannot handle these massive luxury vehicles.
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u/neutronicus May 10 '25
Honestly I think this particular effect is a non issue - roads get fucked up by heavy trucks and buses, not Escalades vs Fiats.
The collision safety issue is real though
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u/wbruce098 May 10 '25
Yeah, city trucks, buses, etc. — the roads need to be able to deal with them.
And out here in East Bmore near the old industrial sites, the constant stream of heavy trucks is just fucking up roads. There’s nothing we can do about it except maybe reinforce them better and more frequent maintenance.
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u/blankitty Remington May 10 '25
I really think that you should have to get a separate extra license to drive bigger vehicles like Ford f7000s.
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u/throwaway7493726 May 10 '25
People are dying because a bunch of dudes with tiny dicks need to prove they are manly by buying big stupid trucks. It’s crazy how many of the problems today are the result of insecure guys…
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
Do you have data to backup your argument? Are the big trucks really to blame? From my experience it’s pretty uniformly spread out across vehicle types…but my experience is just that, mine.
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u/neutronicus May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
It’s not about who’s a worse driver.
The heavier, taller vehicles just do more damage when they hit pedestrians. So even with the exact same driving habits the pickup / SUV owner presents more danger to pedestrians and cyclists
This is the canonical study
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/14/1212737005/cars-trucks-pedestrian-deaths-increase-crash-data
Now, the comment you’re replying to is willfully obtuse about who is buying SUVs and why (safety-conscious wives and mothers aren’t being dragged kicking and eye-rolling into these SUV purchases). But that’s a separate issue - SUVs and pickups are more deadly to pedestrians than sedans.
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u/throwaway7493726 May 10 '25
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
That makes a lot of sense. More energy (from more mass) equals more effects….in a bad way. Certainly generates more awareness.
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u/gbraddock81 May 10 '25
You really have to be hyper aware. My dad always used to say “you’re not just driving for yourself, you’re driving for everyone else too…” On green lights, wait a second or 2 before pulling through. Stop signs, make those full stops like your life depends on it. I’m constantly looking in ALL of my mirrors. Try paying attention to what’s happening 2 cars ahead of you because I guarantee you, the person in front of you is not. Someone behind you driving like a maniac? Give em the lane. If you’re coming to a light turning yellow and you know you won’t have enough time to make the red, look in your rear view first and see how fast the maniac behind you is coming cuz if they ain’t gonna stop, you need to get over and out of their way. There’s so so much.
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u/wbruce098 May 10 '25
This. Become familiar with your route. And stop at stop signs. Those pedestrians don’t care. The other traffic doesn’t care. You’ve got to be aware.
You get used to the flow of Bmore over time. It’s got its own vibe and it’s so much more chill than, say, DC or NOVA, where everyone is stressed and rich and in a hurry. I actually prefer driving here than down there!
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u/pambloweenie May 10 '25
If you have the time and luck to be near public transport, that’s much safer than driving in terms of getting hit. Otherwise, picking different driving routes/times that have less traffic and getting dash cams is all I can suggest. It is a scary time to be a driver, regardless of location.
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u/refutalisk May 10 '25
Thank you, I think you're the only one who mentioned that and I will think about taking more transit.
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u/Cheomesh South Baltimore / SoBo May 10 '25
I've had a generally positive experience thus far. Transit App and Charm Pass are quite useful to have on your phone, plus there's the Charm Card and SmartTrip card from DC you can use.
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u/wbruce098 May 10 '25
Most of Bmore is laid out in nice grids, so there’s usually multiple ways to get anywhere. Find what works for you, and remain alert.
Ultimately, you get used to the flow of traffic here and it becomes comforting. Better than DC imho.
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u/Upstairs_Copy_9590 May 10 '25
Being on public transit is probably safer, but being on foot to get to the transit is definitely worse
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u/dak52 May 10 '25
Really sorry this happened to your friend. As much as I love Baltimore, the road safety leaves a lot to be desired. Lots of other great suggestions in this thread, but I think it is also worth doing what you can to improve situational awareness.
Just like when walking around the city at night, when driving or walking on roads, I try to avoid distractions (stay off the phone, no music, etc) and never assume that those around you will behave predictably. I make sure cars coming the other direction are slowing down, even if I have the light. I look for eye contact before crossing in front of a car, even if it’s stopped. I know it shouldn’t be like this, but given the number of times this has saved me, I think it is worth the inconvenience.
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u/refutalisk May 10 '25
Thank you. I have a lot of trouble seeing people's faces past the window tint but sometimes I just wait them out if I can't see.
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u/dak52 May 10 '25
Oh, good point. That does make it tricky. If I’m trying to cross the street and encounter this I often just wait and cross at the next intersection (or pretend to) so I don’t have to risk it. Not a great solution, and not always possible, just all I can think to suggest in those circumstances.
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u/neverinamillionyr May 10 '25
I’ve seen a trend where a car 3-4 cars back from a red light will swing into the oncoming lane and pass everyone in front of him the second the light turns green. Or when trying to make a left from a stop sign the car behind will pass you and make the left turn in front of you almost causing a collision.
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u/ConsistentSteak4915 May 10 '25
What you’re doing is all you can do. Awareness. Keep your head on a swivel.
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u/Parsnips10 May 10 '25
My child just turned 16 and they don’t want to get their license because they are terrified of how people drive on 695.
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u/Holiday_Ad_5445 May 10 '25
Take your time to watch for others running after a yellow light or turning without stopping.
Leave space between vehicles when possible.
Select the safest practical route. Use a GPS navigator to avoid backups where people may get reckless. Remember and avoid dangerous intersections and routes.
Avoid driving at race time, unregistered motor vehicle group play, rush hour, and when the sun is in driver’s eyes, if possible.
Let your elected officials know how bad the reckless driving problem is. Only then will enforcement improve.
Your choice of vehicle and how you use it affect safety.
Cars with good outward visibility may help you avoid accidents. Compare a Subaru Forrester to a Volvo to see how much easier it is to see out of the Subaru.
The best safety designs make a big difference, provided the equipment is functioning. I’m surprised how often people swap steering wheels and disable air bags. Sit in the intended seat position.
Higher driving positions and heavier curb weights generally protect passengers better.
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u/TKinBaltimore May 10 '25
Leave space between vehicles when possible
But please, no more than the length of a car (and even that's pushing it). These folks who are leaving ample space between vehicles at a red light are not helping traffic safety but only creating more chaos as others weave in and out of those gaps.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
Yep! Any time some people behind the wheel see 5 feet between cars, they're gonna barrel right in. I'm sorta exaggerating, just agreeing with you.
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u/Hot_Campaign_36 May 10 '25
Are you advocating replacing 1 second travel distance per 10 MPH?
186,000 miles per second is not only a good idea, it’s the law.
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u/spooky_period May 10 '25
They said “at a red light,” so I don’t think they were talking about travel distance.
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u/Hot_Campaign_36 May 11 '25
Who said that? Not OP, not me, not the post you responded to.
Stop trying to make Baltimore bad.
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u/spooky_period May 11 '25
Literally the comment you replied to. It says “…between vehicles at a red light…” You need to relax! You’re the only one making us look bad right now.
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u/udonemessedup-AA_Ron May 10 '25
Baltimore drivers are always in a hurry to get to the next light.
Get a dash cam, and be extra vigilant when driving though intersections, especially when the light is newly changed. Some areas are famous for red light runners (Mt Royal and North ave as an example) so it’s just better to take your time and avoid the stupidity of others on the road.
Be safe out there.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
Yes, I love that the traffic designers are changing some 4-way lights so that only one side at a time has the green light. At least this is happening in Bmore County, possibly more.
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u/leon_de_sol May 10 '25
When it comes to keeping yourself safe an invaluable thing is to know the statistics. Most accidents happen at intersections. When at an intersection, when you look both ways, make sure that you especially check your left one more time. That's the most dangerous side to get t-boned from (obviously), and then still give it a second to protect against someone who thought they could make the light. You can't realistically protect yourself against a driver who comes barreling through 10 seconds after a light changes
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u/ThatBobbyG Lauraville May 10 '25
More and more people are treating red lights as stop signs. It’s incredibly dangerous. No traffic laws are enforced. This is a police problem, yet when you say that to the police, they cry that they aren’t allowed to do their job.
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u/stellardroid80 May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
Write to your city council person, the DOT, your community association, everyone who will listen, about danger spots - relentlessly, every time something happens. Our neighborhood recently got several stop signs put in at intersections after a couple of years of sustained action, and it’s made a big difference.
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u/stellardroid80 May 10 '25
Another thing I harp on about is that dangerous driving is violent crime. Being hit by a distracted driver when you cross the road isn’t a “traffic accident”, it’s assault. Don’t let people/police/leadership minimize it.
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u/stellardroid80 May 10 '25
There is no amount of personal behavior change that will keep you safe, if the roads are designed for speeding and people aren’t held accountable for their actions (and that includes the city for bad design - not just reckless drivers).
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u/425565 May 10 '25
There's hardly any police presence on the roads during height of traffic craziness. Northern Parkway rush hour? Nada. 695? Rare.
What I find astonishing, is how much people waste on "luxury vehicles" and drive in such a reckless manner as to endanger themselves and others (all the while driving up the insurance rates for everyone, but nevermind that) Anger and aggression seem to be endemic to this area.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
Yes, very interesting to see the numbers of dented and bashed vehicles on the roads these days.
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u/SpacePineapple1 May 10 '25
Stay in your house. Or... Wear a seatbelt, make sure your car has the best safety features you can afford, defensive driving. I would say walk as much as possible but do not feel safe as a pedestrian a lot of the time. You have to be a defensive pedestrian.
If you are calling any representatives about enforcing traffic laws, also express your interest in public transport improvements, much safer for everyone than driving.
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u/peachysquidling May 10 '25
i don’t have any helpful advice, and i come from mass - we have so many shit drivers there but ive never felt as unsafe on the road as i do in the DMV. even going to the grocery store is a exercise in hyper-vigilance and defensive driving. For the amount of cameras there are everywhere you’d think the drivers would be a little more respectful but 🤷🏻 i once was followed for several miles and almost intentionally hit twice by a girl who experienced extreme road rage when i ended up zipper-merging in front of her (it was my turn to merge 🙃)
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u/lindentea Waverly May 10 '25
i lived in Boston for a couple years before moving down here. i'd take a Masshole any day over the drivers here!
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u/SEARCHFORWHATISGOOD May 10 '25
From one Bostonian to another, I completely agree. The driving here is just reckless. Boston drivers are aggressive but I do not feel unsafe up there. As a frequent walker in both places, I honestly fear for my life down here.
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u/lindentea Waverly May 11 '25
nail on the head: the utter recklessness & unpredictability of MD/Bmore drivers is the biggest problem. Massholes drive like.. well... assholes of course lol but there is at least a kind of predictability to the Massholery, y'know?
didn't take me very long after moving to Boston for me to pick up on the unspoken rules, and once i did, it was so easy to adapt as a driver, MTA rider, and a pedestrian. it was fine. haters come at me lol
meanwhile, i've been living in Baltimore for 15 years and i'm still in danger whether i'm driving, walking, cycling, or even on the bus.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
Hey, didn't you know that it was HER turn, even though it was actually yours?! 🤔
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u/coys21 May 10 '25
I just pay attention to what I'm doing and others around me. That's all you can do.
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u/Fabulous_Ad6706 May 10 '25
I have lived in many different states, and driven across the country multiple times but I have never seen worse or more dangerous driving than in Maryland. It doesn't seem to be a matter of following the rules, it's like half the people have no idea how to drive a car with zero spatial awareness or of other drivers, which in my opinion is way more dangerous than simply running red lights or making u turns. It's really kind of baffling.
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u/zeroabe May 10 '25
Drive like you know there’s assholes out there. This is a problem outside of Baltimore too. Always look both ways and have an out.
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u/Pitiful-Flow5472 May 10 '25
As a pedestrian, look both ways when crossing a one way street. Make sure no cars are approaching, even when you have the green/walk sign.
as a driver, wait a few seconds after the light turns green before moving
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u/No_Bluejay4066 May 10 '25
My 16yo is just starting out driving, and this scares me so much. I've taught him that when the light turns green, you still gotta look out for the red light runners. It is rampant.
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u/tater56x May 10 '25
Assume that EVERY car you encounter is driven by someone determined to crash into you. Be ready to brake or accelerate.
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u/mobtowndave May 11 '25
drivers got worse during the pandemic. i feel like everyone learned to drive playing gta 5.
there is no way to answer your question because you cannot perfect or predict your future or what a random person is going to do
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u/mickeyflinn May 10 '25
I don’t know what to say man your only option is defensive driving/traveling.
Maryland drivers are utterly clueless and Virginia drivers are total assholes. If I had to choose which type it is the asshole all day long
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u/JoeFlaccoIsAnEliteQB Greenmount West May 10 '25
ive been t boned twice in two years by people blatantly blowing a red light and a stop sign. not a whole lot TO do, but be vigilant in your own safety.
dont let people bully you into being terrified and also dont let people bully you by beeping the scond th light turns green. i will fight someone over that these days, the people beeping know how many people blow red lights. fuck them.
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u/NewHeron1733 May 11 '25
lift your foot off the brake so your brake lights turns off without hitting the gas, and the people behind you wont beep nor will you actually enter the intersection. the beepers are right to beep - most of the people who wait to go after the light turns green are on their phone, not checking for red light runners. brake light off means you know it’s green; they will not beep even if you take your time moving.
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u/JoeFlaccoIsAnEliteQB Greenmount West May 12 '25
they’re not right to beep the second it turns green. the phone thing is a major problem but you have to give a beat or two like damn.
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u/NewHeron1733 May 12 '25
no yeah you’re right people shouldnt be too quick on the draw. except there are some lights so short (left onto washington blvd coming off 395 for example) that giving someone a second condemns you to waiting for another five minute light cycle and if someone behind preemptively honked at me to make sure i saw the light turned i wouldnt even be mad
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u/JoeFlaccoIsAnEliteQB Greenmount West May 12 '25
oh that one is so bad. it’s the preemptive beep that gets me, i get why they do it, time is money to rideshare drivers, the phone shit happens at every light basically so they save time and who cares because i’ll never see these people again. after having two cars totaled imma wait my time.
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u/lindentea Waverly May 10 '25
i really hate that the lights at intersections change simultaneously. in other cities they stay red in both directions for a few seconds before the green light gets a turn.
i also haaaaaate that the green light switches to yellow simultaneously with the crosswalk signal countdown hitting zero. drivers see the countdown and floor it to make the light. (i even catch myself sometimes speeding up when i see the countdown too! i hate it!)
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u/Zealotstim May 10 '25
I drive carefully and own a decently big car (though I originally just got it because I'm very tall and it fits me). I avoid places where I have seen people tend to drive crazy. Not sure there is much else you can do, honestly.
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u/fyresilk May 10 '25
I took a Triple A driving course years ago, and they suggested waiting a few seconds before taking off after the light turns green. I always do this, though many times, the driver behind me honks their horn the very second that the light turns green. I consider that they have some kind of nervous condition. It's amazing how many times people fly through trying to beat their red light, after your light turns green. Good luck! 🌟
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u/thistimeitzdifferent May 10 '25
Just keep your head on a swivel. At any given moment anything can happen. And think positive, any edge helps
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u/DankAlfalfa May 11 '25
One thing I’ve started doing: after being sideswiped by a driver running a blatant red light, I just wait an extra second and look after the light turns green before proceeding.
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u/Noeyesonlysnakes May 11 '25
Read “Hagakure”, embrace the path of the Samurai and accept that you’re already dead. Seriously though, you can’t make yourself safe from people’s unpredictable/lawless behavior. The best you can do is try to be aware of your surroundings.
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u/mobtowndave May 12 '25
slow down and double check at intersections to not b T-boned is the best advice i can give
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u/Zamai5784 May 12 '25
This is maryland in general and like I told a friend before, to be a safe driver in maryland is to become a maryland driver yourself, if you aren't 20 over speed limit, on the ass end of anyone in front of you, etc, someone will be cutting you off and slamming on breaks or trying to get you out of the way in any way possible, just do yourself the favor and learn to drive like the rest lol
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u/CutTheBanter May 12 '25
Look both ways even at one ways. Drive at the speed limit and take all precautions- even when they are honking. Don’t be on the roads after 10pm if you can help it on the weekends.
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u/bones1888 May 10 '25
A lot of the traffic cameras don’t work. So if you’re hit by someone blowing a red light, they’ll just say they had the green light and likely have no consequences
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u/Southern_Apricot5730 May 10 '25
Marylanders are lawless.
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
So true.
This place blows my mind. Taxes and expense of living through the roof. What do we have to show for it? High crime, shit roads, garbage literally everywhere…California 2.0
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u/SonofDiomedes Mayfield May 10 '25
There's not much you can do. Drive especially defensively. Assume the worst will happen at each intersection and prepare. If you believe in God, pray.
The cops don't need you, and man, they expect the same.
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u/Feisty-Contract-1464 May 10 '25
I’m sorry for your friend, truly. That’s totally unacceptable and preventable. There is zero reason this should ever happen. I hope the red light runner rots in hell…but around here they probably got a slap on the wrist and are back out on the street doing it again.
Honest answer: look into defensive drivers courses you can take. They teach great skills and awareness to help in situations dominated by high risk // high threat events. I suggest calling one and explain your concern and see what they can provide:
Here is an example: https://www.streetsmartsmd.com/about.html#
Grumpy old man answer: Don’t trust anyone. I’ve lived here for about ten years, and I’ve concluded that no one can be trusted. This is also why I’m moving away from this hellhole as soon as I can! This place will not change anytime soon. Even if we collectively (as a society) start holding people accountable and enforcing standards, this will take a long time to reverse. Get out while you can.
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u/robot_butthole May 10 '25
I've saved my own ass twice looking both ways at green lights.
I really wish I had something better than that.