Worst Drivers in America
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6/13/2010
I thought I'd seen it all. From Indiana cornfields, to the PCH, Boston's rush hour, the North side of Chicago during a Cubs game, to Manhattan just before the last train out of Penn Station I've seen some bad drivers. Indianapolis 500? Great driving on the Speedway, not so much on I 65. But nothing. NOTHING is worse than the drivers in this little town in Jersey. UNreal. They intentionally drive slow in the passing lane, block it so you can't pass when you're driving 10 miles an hour. Then, just when you thought you couldn't get any more annoyed, they cut you off and flip you off. You're the jerk. The limo services are the worst offenders. They actually stop in the intersections to chat with their buddies... wait for it... in the intersections. They're innovators. They actually figured out a way to grind TWO lanes of traffic to a halt while they catch up on the latest news with his buddy, who's loitering on Blackwell Street. Two lanes, I'm not kidding. The light changes, everyone else is stuck, this 'limo' driver waves and rolls on to do it again at the next light.
Historic, one time thriving town. Now, not so much. I was born here. Moved away and then moved back. I see so much potential for it to be a great place, but the people don't want it. There's a beer bottle in the grass on every block. At least one. That's wrong. Has nothing to do with how much money you make. This place could be cleaner, and judging by the traffic, a little more considerate. But there's good news. Grrrrrreat Hispanic Grocery store. SUCH friendly people, the food is all new and interesting to this dopey white guy, I haven't had one bad thing from there. The hot food counter is also a find. Great fried bananas. Really not what you'd call heart food, but not bad. This place is what Dover COULD be if it got serious about being a cohesive city. I go there whenever I can.
Traffic aside, this is the real problem Dover faces. It's divided. Example. There's a soccer field where the signs were posted in English and in Spanish. The English signs were torn down. Why? People could blame the Hispanic population, or vice versa, but it makes people mad. Too many white people had too little to do with Hispanics in Dover while I was growing up. I think that deprived the communities the chance to get to know each other, because now it's a fragmented, disconnected town with parts. This latin group doesn't like that one and that one doesn't want to come over here because this is where those guys hang out.... it's crazy like that. It's one town. Maybe having lived in a big city skewed my perspective, but I think that's what's holding Dover back. That and the driver's ed program.
Ultimately, I think Dover will get out of it's own way and thrive. You know why? The kids here are polite. Sure there's some wise guys, but the kids are a pleasant surprise. You'll find that the kids are more polite than in most big cities. It's so nice in that regard.
Dover is also, at it's core, a beautiful town. It's pretty. It could be prettier, but it's historic and old, with rollin hills and a potentially brilliant main street in Blackwell Street. Better store signage and some attention to detail and you've got it made. Hire a driving instructor and maybe send a few people to charm school and Dover's moving forward.
One man's opinion.
Scott | Dover, NJ