Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So just out of curiosity, or possibly boredom, on a recent road trip to Seattle, Vegas, and Arizona, I begun to notice how differently people drove in different states, especially in the cities, because once you're out on those long stretches of freeway people just zone out into their "long-driving" mode.
Before I get started I must mention that I'm from LA, so yes, I'm wacky and would need to be surgically removed from my car.
But anyway, in Seattle, everyone was so nice on the road! It was amazing, people making full stops at stop signs, slowing down at yellow lights, slow traffic merging right to let others pass, but no one was speeding and everyone seemed so content! It was like a fairy tale on the road. Maybe because I brought the sun with me; it had been raining for 2 weeks straight or something before then. I wonder if the cops are much stricter there with citations or the DMV has different licensing requirements.
Vegas: Not much difference here than in LA. I was on the strip and 50% of the cars have a CA license plate anyway. I love the wide roads and left turn lights. And that pedestrians cross a bridge at the major strip intersections.
Phoenix: Odd behavior. Driving along nicely on the 17 into town, flowing along at about 70 with my fellow drivers. Then, entering the city, there was a construction zone with a speed limit of 55. So, unsure whether the cops target out-of-staters as they do in Oregon, I dropped down to 60-ish. Well, everyone else on the road actually began to speed up to 75-80! Some sort of reverse speed limit law or just too much time baking in the heat? Maybe because as I entered the city, the temperature climbed to 115. That'd make me wanna get inside ASAP! Other than that, the driving was pretty orderly, with most people giving plenty of space and signaling for 10 seconds (it seemed) before actually changing lanes (which I found almost annoying).
So, on my way back home on the 10, there's a point near Palm Springs where the freeway opens up from 2 lanes to 4, and then I began to notice for the first time what I had been raised with: People began to hog the fast lane going 70, while people in the next lane passed at 75 and the trucks chugged along in the right 2 lanes at about 65. And then would come the weavers, blasting in and out of lanes at about 90, without signaling of course.
Ahh, I thought, I'm home. I didn't realize how crazy we all drove here in LA; I thought it was just too jammed with traffic. Here we often cut across 3 lanes of traffic to make our exit, blast out of intersections to get in front of the car in the next lane, and honk our horn whenever cut off or if only one car is turning left when the light turns red, or if you wait for 2 seconds after a light turns green, you'll definitely hear about it!
... Okay, so not everybody drives that way here, but it's definitely noticeable. I'm just wondering if I'm being delusional that it's another one of those "only in LA" things. Do people drive like this in other cities too, or are the rules of the road (and stop signs) actually regarded as more than just suggestions? Anecdotes, stories, and facts welcome!
In the Chicago area, I would say aggressive - especially at rush hour. They will cut you off to gain 1 car length. It's so nice driving out of state in rural areas where the driving doesn't have to be insane. I think it's living near a big city that does this - everybody is in competition with everybody else, even when there's no reason to be.
Depends on the time of year itis. Summer can be a bit trying because of all the out-of-state drivers on vacation. Either not knowing where they are going, but still have to get there at 100 MPH like they are still in downtown Chicago (sorry but cars with Illinois plates are the WORST drivers here); or thinking that because this is a vacation town, EVERYBODY is on vacation and doesn't mind 20 under the speed limit and stopping in the middle of the road to take a picture. Winters are pretty laid back when it comes to driving. Mostly locals who know where they are going and, a lot of times where you are going as well .
In Phoenix, they are very suicidal (there's at least 2-3 accidents a day there!!!! Or more, maybe!!).
Here in Prescott/Prescott Valley, they are pretty good. They stretch the law somewhat, but are okay. But you do have your suicidal types who just don't give a damn, but they are everywhere, if you ask me.
I just wish people here knew what a turn signal was!
I KNOW!!!!! I hate when they are about to turn (and you are behind them) and they don't have their turn signal on!! Talking about dangerous and a fender-bender accident!!! SHEESH!!!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.
