Atlanta drivers... I have the secrets to safe driving (home, rent)

[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.

[WestCobb]

I've lived all around the country, and everywhere I've ever lived people have complained about the drivers and the driving. Where is this mythical place where all the good drivers reside? I have noticed *slight* differences in driving style in different parts of the country, but nothing too extreme. Atlanta is like just about anywhere else that is congested IMO.

[South Ga Girl]

I would love to have a job where I had to speed to work. I think everyone here loves their job.

[plessthanpointohfive]

All that speeding and bumper riding is the product of rage and frustration at having to be stuck in traffic....

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

All that speeding and bumper riding is the product of rage and frustration at having to be stuck in traffic....

How can you be speeding at 80 mph and "stuck in traffic" at the same time? lol

I've lived in NJ, NV, and GA, and have spent a decent amount of time driving in/around many major cities, and the a-hole driver problem is not at all unique to Atlanta- it occurs in literally every big city. Like one of the previous posters, I too would like to know where this "courteous driver utopia" is that everyone keeps wishing we could be like....

[plessthanpointohfive]

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

[irvm]

Originally Posted by WestCobb

I've lived all around the country, and everywhere I've ever lived people have complained about the drivers and the driving. Where is this mythical place where all the good drivers reside? I have noticed *slight* differences in driving style in different parts of the country, but nothing too extreme. Atlanta is like just about anywhere else that is congested IMO.

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.

[South Ga Girl]

When I go to visit family in South Carolina, I do the speed limit because the troopers will bust you in SC. I noticed the people speeding by have GA tags and I've seen them on the side of the road with blue lights flashing.

[futrMrsJ]

I don't think a city exists where the driving experience is a utopian one but driving in GA leaves a lot to be desired. I wonder what life will be like if traffic issues really are addressed b/c it seems that the only time people drive with some sense is when you're in a stuck in a traffic 'parking lot'. AND - no matter the pace of traffic sometimes I swear it seems as though no one had to take a formal lesson to initially get on the road.

[Mamato3BB's]

The thing I have really noticed here is that very few people use their turning signals. Seriously why do you think the car has them!?!?