It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Check out this video of great cars, but really bad driving. You think todays drivers are bad? :eek:

Sandy Blvd at 28th, Portland Oreg. 1939

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

video?

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Google-Sandy Blvd at 28th, Portland Oreg 1939 for the video.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Thanks Dan

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Whew,,,,,,,,,,,,,Blinking yellow light, Left turns from right lane, all with mechanical brakes, and a lone motorcycle. Kinda reminded me of my city here in calif. Mark.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8jntU0MOJM

38 seconds into it notice the on coming driver moves over to avoid the possibilities .

poor intersection design, flashing yellow lights kill.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Very cool.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

more portland drivers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAidr...eature=related

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Driving around New York: :rolleyes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkqz3lpUBp0

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Heck, give them all cell phones and you would really see some action.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

really interesting
lots of delivery trucks,very few model As in 1939
count how many whitewalls you see!

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

FOOLS on ICE...........I loved it!!!!!!!! :)

There are some days when you really should stay off the roads.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Everyone was drinking from their flask while driving, so when you hit something, you were not tense at all, and just stumbled away drunk. :P

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

This thread lead to alot of other great videos. Thanks for sharing!!!

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

This film footage was found in a trashbin when the City of Portland was clearing out some old records. It was shot by the Traffic Commission from a mounted camera at a number of Portland's more dangerous intersections, as part of an effort to improve safety. At the time (1939) Portland had an embarrassingly high traffic fatality rate. The variation and randomness of driving behavior back then is surprising to us nowadays.

When driving around Portland, my Dad used to point out the many intersections that once had only a blinking yellow light. He described how difficult it was to figure out what the other drivers were going to do next, kind of like playing chicken at every turn. It was especially crazy in the era before turn signals, when rainy weather prompted a lot of drivers to lapse in their use of hand signals.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Sent the link to my wife and said "watch at 15sec on". She watched it then asked me "what am I looking for??" :D

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Fantastic, thanks for sharing.
Apart from the risky driving what surprised me most was the vast majority of cars were only max 5-6 years old - very few cars from pre 1930 - yet this was depression time ??

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Wow ! Great footage ! Some scary driving for sure....

I think I spotted a '33-35 Willys 77 sedan in there...

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

Check out the 32nd Ave and Burnside 1939 film, which is part of 2008 film for the same address on the sidebar - some unusual vehicles - and pedestrians, for whom crossing the street was an act of faith.

Re: It's a wonder there wern't more death's back then.
 

My 28 does not have turning lights, so it was good to see the use of arm-hand signaling before turning in the video; but the driver behind me does not understand them when I do it !!! :rolleyes: