Not out of state drivers, mind.
It’s always interesting traveling and seeing how things are different.
For reference, I am a Massachusetts native, and after driving a tow truck for 5 months, very much a Massachusetts driver. I’m aggressive, I move quick, and stop signs are only a suggestion. On the other hand, I also have been a very safe driver with no moving violations or any accidents of any sort.
So the first thing I noticed upon entering South Carolina is that none of the cars down here have front license plates. Shortly thereafter, I realized that no trailers here have any sort of registration at all.
Also, apparently SC doesn’t have motorcycle helmet laws. I feel like galavanting around a highway on a motorcycle without a helmet is merely inviting disaster, but on the other hand, Darwin would be proud, because if you’re that much of an idiot, then dying because of it wouldn’t detriment the gene pool much, would it?
South Carolina drivers are interesting. No one speeds in this state. In the grand city of Charleston, you can get hung up pretty quick behind people who just aren’t moving. I blame the tourists, unfamiliar with the layout, because if Boston is a commerce city, Charleston is a tourism city. Holy crap, people window shop from their cars down here. And I literally saw a Chinese fire drill between two cars in the middle of a city street. People will sometimes just stop for no reason, too.
I instantly observed also that SC drivers have this weird relationship with the stopline at an intersection, which is to hurtle at it at cruising speed and then jack on the brakes and come to a screeching halt about two feet over the line. It’s worse when they’re coming in from a parking lot.
And another thing, I have heard more bad exhaust systems in this state. And while I expect it from the shitboxes, there are some legitimately nice cars with growling exhaust. I couldn’t figure it out. Until I then noticed that none of these cars have inspection stickers and it hit me. SC doesn’t do state inspections, so there’s no way for them to tag anyone driving with a busted exhaust. Because in MA, you’d get failed for less than these.
I have a feeling I’m going to be glad to be back in MA.
