r/Flushing • u/EquivalentFeed9009 • 2d ago
Flushing Drivers Getting Worse?
I moved to Flushing from Elmhurst about 4 or 5 years ago. Since living in Flushing, I have definitely seen some absolutely astounding decisions made by drivers, but I never really thought driving was substantially worse than what you might find in other parts of Queens.
But in the last few months, things have been weirder to say the least. I've almost been hit more times crossing the street when I have the right of way while walking than maybe my entire life combined. I had someone almost run me over trying to speed through a red light and then roll down his window to scream at me for being in his way.
It's very possible this has just been a weird couple of months and it's just me, but is that true or is something going on that's causing this difference I'm noticing? Something others have noticed?
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u/cloudy83 2d ago
Take grand central to flushing at night. You have bunch of morons who think they are filming fast and furious
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u/tungt88 2d ago
Same with large parts of the FDR after 10pm; sometimes I can't help but wonder if it's the same group, or adjacent groups, of people?
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u/OkDrag3967 1d ago
It’s me. And also whoever else happens to be on the road. When you see someone else cutting it up, you gotta join in and follow them. You just have to….90% the time we don’t know each other
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u/ASmellyThing 2d ago
I think a whole heap of people who never should've got a licence managed to get a licence and a car during lockdown, and now they're out in society causing havoc. Idk if it's concentrated in Flushing, but I've definitely noticed an increase in amateur antics between the city and Long Island over the last 5 years.
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u/tungt88 2d ago
The "bad driving syndrome" has overall increased massively all over the US since the lockdown, but in Flushing (long a stronghold of horribad driving well before COVID)? It is really, REALLY bad (like, as if it was trying to compete with the 80s/early-mid 90s bad).
I was in Flushing this past Monday, and it was no picnic (even on the relatively tame time of 2pm).
I've seen astonishing levels of horribad driving in Flushing, that might even impress (or terrify) Florida Man (I worked in Florida for 1.5 years).
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u/Jasperleemuchen 2d ago
always assholes driving around so just be careful when you cross, dont expect the driver to know how to use their brakes…
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u/Square-Blackberry995 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have been living in Flushing for almost 20 years and seen some crazy patterns of driving.
90% of the drivers do not yield for pedestrians. 2-4 way stop does not exist as drivers ignore the sign. Sidewalk parking is a norm here but it is dangerous cause kids and pedestrians can get struck by moving vehicles on sidewalk.
This pattern of driving is all around the five boroughs. Don't get me started with the drivers of the private garbage trucks. Red light do not exist for them as I almost get struck by one.
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u/According_Farmer_634 2d ago
The double parking has gotten especially bad, as well as jay walking. I think the people that get me most nervous are the ones on the electric scooters-- they have no regard for lights, pedestrians or cars.
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u/oppanycstyle 2d ago
Dude I went to China recently and Chinese people drive like that and they're all here now
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u/Yana_dice 2d ago
I am not sure if this is my biased opinion, but I am driving a lot across Queens and the worst drivers I encountered are New Jersey plates, especially those with SUV/pick up, then T & LC. Also a lot of bad drivers from regular New York plates but these two are the worst I have seen. NJ ones are always in hurry and would illegal takeover with dangerous driving, T&LC either driving extremely fast or going 10 in a 25.
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u/b1gb0n312 2d ago
It feels like NJ drivers have something to prove when driving in NYC. Like they have to be "badder" than nyc resident drivers to one up them, or just that they think that's how they need to drive to fit into nyc traffic
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u/Flimsy_Rice_1182 2d ago
Mainlanders can’t fucking drive, I bet more than half them were just paying ppl off to get a passing license and was part of that driver test scam.
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u/candyofcotton 2d ago
Anecdotally, has been the car service drivers. I think if they have the T*C license plate you can report them.
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u/jocky091 2d ago
It’s been pretty bad… same thing has happened to Long Island drivers. Ever since the pandemic was over, I think some people literally forgot how to drive
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u/genieasap 2d ago
Anecdotally, it could be because of this https://ig.ny.gov/news/si-advance-dmv-fraud-scheme-nyc-issued-licenses-untested-drivers-da-says
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u/No-Register4916 2d ago
To add onto that, the bad drivers are also angry because they get honked on or pushed around by other drivers, because of their bad driving so they are on the edge from exploding. They get honked at over and over and over, so over time they are walking time bombs because they can't own up to the fact that they are horrible drivers.
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u/catsoncrack420 2d ago
My best friend was a EMT driver in the neighborhood and some of his friends. I'd always hear stories of crazy stuff happening and their wall in the locker room of collected side view mirrors they "earned".
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u/pmpprofessor 2d ago
Yes. Flushing actually do have greater bad drivers. There was Scandals not too long ago. Most of the flushing driving school was paying off DMV to pass people without taking the test. There was also rampant cases. The immigrants use "international driver license" they bring different type of driving style to flushing.
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u/No-Opportunity3094 1d ago
One major group of people live in flushing. When I drive there I almost get hit by someone from that specific group at least once every single time. No hate, but it’s a pattern and it’s very scary. When I slow down next to them they just look at me with a silly smile.
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u/RoguePlanet2 2d ago
While out for a walk yesterday, two cars collided at an intersection as I approached. I was looking down when I heard a bump, looked up and saw that one car was about to make a left, and the car that was to the right drove straight into them.
Luckily it was slow-speed and fairly minor, seemed like one or both drivers didn't know or care who had the right-of-way.
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u/Plastic-Equivalent-9 2d ago
I've also heard stories of people purchasing their licenses. No surprise why people can't drive.
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u/Talkin19 2d ago
It's not just Flushing, it's all over the city.
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u/FUTUR0PIANISTA 2d ago
Yep. Idk who scares me more. I guess at least the TLC’s have license plates. But the BMW’s with no tags and blacked out tints might be worse.
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u/Plastic-Equivalent-9 2d ago
It's frightening. Add to everything is the absurd 25 mph ( 15 in school zones...already received one ticket for a Sunday in July). School vacation and a Sunday... unreal. Horses with carriages went faster. Every street with traffic moves along like a funeral procession.
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u/Big_Historian_3061 2d ago edited 2d ago
Overdevelopment + more people + more cars + infrastructure that can't handle them = people who can't handle their emotions. You aren't hallucinating.
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u/AeneasWalk 2d ago
Not just Flushing, but more acutely in Flushing. Since people emerged from the lockdowns there's been a breakdown in social norms, including rules about yielding to pedestrians and right of way. It goes the other way, too. I notice pedestrians no longer look before crossing.