One Section of Interstate 95 Through Bangor, ME is Becoming Scary

 I didn't actually get my driver's license until well into adulthood.

Mostly due to the fact that I was kind of terrified to drive, based on my fears about the way other people drive. I feel I'm a pretty good driver, because I follow the rules, for the most part. But everyday, all of us see things we can't actually believe with our own eyes, out on the roads.

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You see plenty of people talking on the phone, putting on makeup, etc. But more and more, there's this trend of people seemingly needing to be in 1st Place at all times, as though Maine's roads and highways are some sort of racetrack, and the only one that deserves any respect, is whoever is driving the worst. And if you drive through the Bangor area up I-95 much, there's one area that feels like an absolute danger zone.

This one stretch of highway is the worst.

There are plenty of areas in Maine where the highway just feels a little more bonkers than others. The area near LL Bean in Freeport comes to mind, on I-295. Or even the area of I-295 that goes through the Washington Ave. area. Or the on/off ramp deal where I-95 dumps onto I-295, southbound. All these spots are insane.

But there seems to be something special about the stretch of I-95 from Exit 184 to 187, aka Union St. to Hogan Rd. near the Bangor Mall. It's like Mad Max through there at all times. People disregard all logic for merging. They drive way too fast, and often weave in and out of traffic. There are constant accidents through there. North and South.

It's not the out-of-staters.

We love to blame everything on tourists from away. But the fact is, 95% of plates I see causing fear and loathing through there, are always from Maine. We're terrible drivers. I'm sure we blame the tourists, but it's usually us, *thinking* we're dealing with the fallout from them. But no, it's us causing all this trouble.

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But the thing is, that stretch through Bangor is just crazy. I know I'm yelling into the wind here, but people will get where they're going, even if there's a car in front of them. This idea that we need to be in front all the time has to stop. Too many accidents and near-misses through here to be ignored. But remember, if you're trying to be careful and respectful through there, you're the only one.

Do you miss the simpler times yet?