Atlanta drivers... I have the secrets to safe driving (Marietta: relocating, work)

[WestCobb]

Since you ask - on a recent trip thru Virginia, I noticed ALL the locals were
driving exactly the posted speed limit. I guess they knew that some vigorous enforcement was going on. So I watched my speed as well. Even that far away from Ga, 8 out of 10 cars that sped past had Ga. tags, and nearly all of those were from - sorry - Cobb County.

Well, I would move to Virginia so I can finally experience some fine driving for a change, but I lived in the Hampton Roads area for awhile. It was less congested than Atlanta, of course, so better because of that. But around rush hour traffic times, it was miserable and people were about as pissy and rude as they are here. Were you in a different part of Virginia? (I hope you're not holding up northern Virginia as the gold standard.) As far as Cobb drivers being the biggest speeders you saw in Virginia, that's funny. I guess those people were just so thrilled to see a road that wasn't a) congested like a parking lot (east Cobb) or b) twisted like a pretzel with a curve every 100 feet (west Cobb). They probably just couldn't help themselves from speeding on those fine Virginia roads.

[Noc]

Originally Posted by Workerbee12

GA needs to pass a law banning cell phone use while driving. NJ and NY have one.

WOW tell me this isn't so. This isn't a law YET!

[Workerbee12]

Originally Posted by Noc

WOW tell me this isn't so. This isn't a law YET!

This is link going back to 2005. Starting March 1, 2008 the cell phone ban will move from a secondary offense (this could not be the primary reason for a police stop and ticket) to a primary offense meaning the officer can pull a driver over and issue a ticket for being on a hand held phone. The fines are in the hundreds for a first offense.

Cell Phone Laws

[runningncircles1]

I too agree 100% ATL drivers are the worse and they contribute to the traffic problem. I'm from the NJ/NYC area and I do a lot of driving in ATL. I was surprised and annoyed by the tailgating. In NJ/NYC drivers know better than to ride a bumper because that same bumper will be sitting in your lap if the driver in front of you gets annoyed. In my younger days I would have slammed on the breaks and taught that bumper-rider a lesson. Luckily I've matured and understand the affects of an accident on my insurance premiums and life.


From my experience, ATL drivers will drive fast and jam on their brakes when the road curves. This is not 100% their fault, I blame the engineers for the roads having so many curves but I hold the drives accountable because I am sure that many of them drive these roads regularly and for the most part you can see the curves coming. Another problem is that the driver will speed up and slam on their brakes because the car in from was not going 80mph. What’s the problem?!!!? Did you not see that the car in front of you was not traveling as fast as you were approaching? Why did you not use that blinker and change lanes? That is how we do it in NJ and NY. If the car is traveling slowly, we go around the car and keep it moving; hence our traffic is not world renowned.

Why do ATL drivers jam on their brakes so much? Do you know if they understand that when they jam on their breaks, they cause a ripple effect causing all the cars behind them for miles to tap their breaks as well and then cause a slow down in traffic? There should clearly be a lane for drivers who want to drive at 80mph one of 65mph drivers and one for the break jammers.

NY and NJ are ONE OF THE REASONS for horrible driving in Atlanta, so please don't try to brush off NJ as some place renowned for great drivers. I believe it is NJ who is always stereotyped as having horrible drivers? The only difference is NY/NJ drivers are slower.

Anyway, the reason ATL has horrible drivers:

Take people from NY, NJ, Connecticut, Boston, Cali, Florida, foreign countries, and rural areas of the South, put them in a sprawling metropolis where people are willing to drive 60 miles to work, add in some 16 lane freeways for that NASCAR track effect, add in some SUV-wielding soccermoms on GA400 (aka, Alpharetta autobahn), and you have Atlanta traffic!

Let's not forget about bumper-to-bumper moving at 70 MPH somehow. I've lived here my entire life, and that still amazes me.

[cityhopper]

Originally Posted by WestCobb

Since you ask - on a recent trip thru Virginia, I noticed ALL the locals were
driving exactly the posted speed limit. I guess they knew that some vigorous enforcement was going on. So I watched my speed as well. Even that far away from Ga, 8 out of 10 cars that sped past had Ga. tags, and nearly all of those were from - sorry - Cobb County.

As far as Cobb drivers being the biggest speeders you saw in Virginia, that's funny. I guess those people were just so thrilled to see a road that wasn't a) congested like a parking lot (east Cobb) or b) twisted like a pretzel with a curve every 100 feet (west Cobb). They probably just couldn't help themselves from speeding on those fine Virginia roads.

I believe any driver from the state of MD will give any GA driver a run for their money when it comes to speed.

I would say the only reason why ATL driving is so terrible is that most often everyone is forced to go the same general direction to get to one place to the next. I'd say for the most, NOVA, Hampton Roads and Richmond metro have better alternative routes (albeit out of the way sometimes) than travelling along metro Atlanta.

[blueeyes30]

Originally Posted by neil0311

As I was driving home from Charlotte, NC this afternoon, I hit 285 at about 5pm. On a clear, dry, sunny day, there were a couple of fender bender type accidents that were blocking lanes and causing delays near the Perimeter Mall exit.

I wanted to share these simple secrets to reducing or elminating these types of crashes that seem to litter the highways in the Atlanta area. I don't realize how terrible the driving is in Atlanta, until I travel back north or to the west coast on business and remember that in other areas people don't act the way drivers do on Atlanta roads. I don't know why, but the tailgating and excessive speeding is just rampant here in Atlanta, to the point of being rediculous. It's no wonder that accidents happen when the car behind you is on your ass trying to do 80 and can't react to conditions ahead. Let's not even discuss the lack of using turn signals.

• Don't drive 80 mph
• Don't sit on my bumper trying to force me to do 80mph (or any speed)
• Use a turn signal and stop weaving in and out of lanes and hitting your brakes while sitting on my bumper trying to do 80mph
• Get that damn cell phone out of your ear and pay attention
• Fix your car. Make sure your tires have tread, your brakes work, and you can see out of that cracked windshield.

I don't know...the last time I was in the Northeast, I noticed alot of tailgating, especially in southeastern PA and Mass. For some reason, I noticed alot of tailgating when I visit relatives in Wisconsin. But in the Northeast, they are more likely to "brake-check" you though.

[blueeyes30]

Originally Posted by runningncircles1

NY and NJ are ONE OF THE REASONS for horrible driving in Atlanta, so please don't try to brush off NJ as some place renowned for great drivers. I believe it is NJ who is always stereotyped as having horrible drivers? The only difference is NY/NJ drivers are slower.

Anyway, the reason ATL has horrible drivers:

Take people from NY, NJ, Connecticut, Boston, Cali, Florida, foreign countries, and rural areas of the South, put them in a sprawling metropolis where people are willing to drive 60 miles to work, add in some 16 lane freeways for that NASCAR track effect, add in some SUV-wielding soccermoms on GA400 (aka, Alpharetta autobahn), and you have Atlanta traffic!

Let's not forget about bumper-to-bumper moving at 70 MPH somehow. I've lived here my entire life, and that still amazes me.

Good point! While I don't live in Atlana, I had relatives who lived there at one time and I frequent the region.

In the Atlanta area, there are so many transplants with different driving styles. In other cities, most people are either from the state or region so the different styles and expectations are more predictable. All of these different driving styles create chaos on the roads. Look at most cities in Florida and Washington, DC.

In my home region of northeast TN/southwest VA, I would say that close to 90% are from that region. I know what to expect and the unique quirks drivers have in that area.

On a side note, I always find the NASCAR comments fascinating. I find NASCAR wannabes all over in my travels. Also I find drivers with Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, and Illinois plates tend to drive the fastest.

[globalnomad]

Since moving to Atlanta from overseas, we set our GPS to avoid all highways.

Atlanta's backroads and byways are much less stressful than the insanity of 75, 285, and 400.

Yes, it takes us a little longer to get where we are going, but we leave early, enjoy the journey, and arrive alive.

[runnergrl]

I believe one poster mentioned how they are amazed that on Atlanta hwys the traffic can travel 70-80 mph and the cars be bumper to bumper...especially 400 in my experience....what makes this even more insane is when it raining...people actually seem to speed UP.

I think the one difference with the northeastern and midwestern drivers compared to the local Atlanta drivers...the northeasterners and midwesterners at least have a respect for driving in the elements(snow and rain and the like) I found the when I lived in each of these areas...folks seem to respect the nature and drive defensively.

As one gets the Atlanta mentality when driving...I have experienced this...and it basically thinking you have to speed everywhere....henceforth driving aggressively. It is kinda a wakeup call when I am the one weaving around in OH or CT traffic....and I am the only doing it.

Since I do stay at home with my kids now and I dont have rush to work mentality anymore....it is kinda nice not to let outside factors influence my actions. My kids are with me most of the time and I drive defensively. In LA traffic where I now live....I avoid it at all costs...but in the event that I hit snags in the 101...as soon I see brake lights or notice the traffic slows...I am on high alert in making sure I am going a safe speed so that I do not rear end anyone....and hopefully no one will rear end me. It is only experience that has brought me to be a more mellow driver. I value the lives of my family as well as other people's lives too...and so alittle caution never hurt any one. I am glad to say that the traffic mentality doesnt control me any more.

[kendrasamone]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

That phenomenon, known as "speeding parking lot", ONLY happens in Atlanta. For real...

I agree, it is only in ATL