Quick-----What do you think of when you think of New Jersey?
Tony Soprano? Diners? or How about Jersey Drivers?
The Sopranos probably come out on top. New Jersey has been known for decades as "The Diner Capitol of the World" (more diners than any other state).
But as a native of New Jersey I'm intrigued by the political use of 'bad driving' as a weapon in the current Gubanatorial race between incumbent John Corzine and challenger Chris Christie.
Current ads being run by the Corzine campaign are citing Christie's terrible driving record: As a U.S. Attorney, Christie was stopped a number of times for violations such as speeding, driving without a registration and (my favorite), driving the wrong way on a one-way street and side swiping a motorcyclist. If nothing else, Govenor Corzine has "chutzpah" since soon after taking over the governor's mansion he was seriously injured when he failed to use a seat beat after ordering his driver to speed up in order to make an appointment on time.
Nice to see that Jersey politicians, in addition to continuing a long history of taking bribes and engaging in all forms of graft, are also upholding a long tradition of "Jersey Drivers" as being among the most irresponsible in the country. I found a web site, http://www.youmightbe.com/pages/new_jersey_driver.html, which includes the following list of Jersey Driver attitudes:
Turn signals will give away your next move. A real New Jersey driver never uses them.
Under no circumstances should you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you,or the space will be filled in by somebody else putting you in an even more dangerous situation.
Crossing two or more lanes in a single lane-change is considered going with the flow.
The faster you drive through a red light, the smaller the chance you have of getting hit.
Never, ever come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will inevitably result in you being rear ended. If you want your insurance company to pay for a new rear bumper, come to a complete stop at all stop signs.
A right lane construction closure is just a game to see how many people can cut in line by passing you on the right as you sit in the left lane waiting for the same jerks to squeeze their way back in before hitting the orange construction barrels.
Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork. New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state and the other guy doesn't have anything to lose.
Keep an eye on the NJ gubanatorial race which appears to be on a "collision course" with history.
