Driving 30 years, two accidents, one my fault (on a Friday the 13th, BTW) = 1 avg every 15 years.  None since 1986 -- a 21 year stretch.

Bako drivers too slow -- well, half of them are.  To get a satisfactory number of green lights, one must drive either 20 or 80 -- and there are plenty of drivers in each category.

What strikes me is how remarkably little people seem to care about their time around here.  I've seen 30 fricken cars wait through six minutes and four cycles at a left turn arrow -- when a simple drive-past-and-a-U-turn or a detour around a block would have them on their way in a minute.

Trouble is, people who place such low value on their own time tend to place little value on anyone else's time, either.

My last accident was in 1984.  Not my fault.  I'm not counting when I crunched my own bumper on the carport pole. : )

I had a driving instructer once who said, "Accidents aren't caused by those under 20 going over 80, it's those over 80 going under 20."

Safe? I drove over 100,000 miles annually on statewide operations without an accident for the last 9 years and before that I had one accident in 31 years. When I retired and returned to Bakersfield, I was rear ended at a green light in my truck and T-boned by a red light runner at Stine and Ming in my wife's van within three years. And yes, State farm was and is my insurance.

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Ever see that driver training film where goofy comes out ot the house mild mannered caring kind of guy smiling and waving at his neighbors . Then he gets behind the wheel of his car and becomes a terror taking out all his aggressions on the road and other drivers.......that is the epitome of dear Mr. Steve E Swenson (well except for the goofy part).    He is so sweet, kind, laid back until he gets into our car and then he scares the you know what out of me.

He said to me the other day, "my 1st wife complained about my driving too!"

Hon, I got a news flash for  you.....there's reason both of us complain

You know the trip we are taking this weekend....Im driving.

Safe Drivers ? Maybe, maybe not - but  lets talk about idiot drivers !

3/4 of Bako Drivers can not negotiate a 4-way stop !  "dum dum dum, who goes next?"

and (i am NOT kidding) every single day on my way to & from work, i see at least 7 people racing and running thru pure RED lights! ( not yellow/red... .R E D ! ) 

in March a teen driver missed making his right turn and plowed smack into our parked pickup truck, causing over $6300 in damage and we were without a truck for almost 9 weeks!

oh, and dont get me started on the Bakersfield Planning Department, who's the No - Brain  that sketched-out the Snow Road Widening Job? One of the worst areas on Snow Road is the   T   at Fruitvale and Snow, they spent zillions of bucks 'fixing' Snow Road in that area, and failed to put in the left turn lane heading South onto Fruitvale, so that exchange is STILL as crowded and dangerous as ever!  but of course the same 'dude' put in a 1/2 mile left turn lane into the housing development less than a mile west ....

But - as far as wrecks, i havent had a mishap in over 23 years !  whoo-hoo !

Hahaa... Honestly, every time I got something in the mail from my insurance (State Farm) it has been an increase or some other irritating issue. I haven't had any accidents or anything, but I did get a new car. While at the dealership I was quoted for insurance and when the bill came, it was over $100 more than the quote for 6 months. They also got my VIN number wrong, and I know the dealer gave them the correct one. Every time I've gotten mail from them it's been another increase. Every month, and I pay for 6 months at a time. Then, I finally got a check in the mail for about $30. That suprised me, I was expecting another increase. Now I got another bill and it's about $200 more than my original quote for my new car. I don't get it, and nothing has changed... no tickets, no late fees, no problems with my car or anything. And everywhere else I look it's more $ to switch. I also faced a huge increase (about $200) a few years back when I moved from MD to Bakersfield in my 98 Plymouth Breeze.

Ah but the drivers here in Bako. There are some slow and/or crazy ones, in more huge monster trucks and big SUV's than I've seen anywhere. The "fast lane" certainly is not the left lane in Bakersfield. It's actually the right lane, sometimes. I see oil tankers and huge trailer trucks in the left lane all the time. Where I'm from, that's not legal and it's for good reasons. Hardliner, I totally agree with you, a lot of people do not seem to value time here. I've seen people content to wait at lights they could easily bypass safely. It's all about efficiency. Sitting at a light for several cycles is an inefficient use of my time and gas.

http://www.newtobakersfield...

just found this.  for every study there's an equal and opposite study?????