Houston Drivers Study (Katy, Howe: stats, safety, eat)

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by elleari

I've driven all over the country and haven't seen a place where people make a conscious effort to block you from changing lanes if you have your blinker on - until I came to Houston. We don't just have rude drivers, we have hostile drivers. I learned. Now I don't use signals and pass on the shoulder like the rest of 'em now.

Yep, nailed it 100%. Houston drivers use your turn-signal against you by making sure you can't merge or change lanes. It's just about the biggest d-bag move a driver can make as far as I am concerned.

I've already decided that when I win the lottery and don't have to worry about time or money, I'm just going to plow into all the people that don't signal and/or cut people off.

[Bike4Life]

Well, I grew up in Houston and got my first taste of rude drivers when I was 16. At first, I thought it was "cool" not to use my lane-changing signals. But as I ventured out to other cities including several times in Manhattan and became more matured, I found it a common courtesy and appreciated to use signals during heavy traffic. Because there is not a lot of room, we don't like surprises.

And, get in line at the freeway exits! Even with or without lane-changing signals on, I'm not going to make it easy for you cut in line.

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by War Beagle

Yep, nailed it 100%. Houston drivers use your turn-signal against you by making sure you can't merge or change lanes. It's just about the biggest d-bag move a driver can make as far as I am concerned.

I've already decided that when I win the lottery and don't have to worry about time or money, I'm just going to plow into all the people that don't signal and/or cut people off.

If people would merge and DRIVE I'd let them over. Drive as in keeping up with the flow. Every single person who signals to change lanes brakes first then goes at least 10 below the flow of traffic. Or they merge and text.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by slingshot

My cousin was a Houston Police Officer for 17 years. He told me it was too dangerous to pull someone over on the freeway and that he got tired of having to call for an language interpreter so he could issue a ticket.

Nice,
I'll use that next time my boss tells me to do something:
"Sorry but the guys in the shop speak Spanish and Vietnamese and it's also very dangerous to walk in the shop with all the forklifts drivin around,
so I'll just stay in my office and let somebody else fix that problem"

[abbybaby]

Another thing I have noticed is people do not stop to let pedestrians cross in parking lots. I always stop to let someone coming out of stores cross. I have been honked at so many times for doing this. Is it really killing anyone to have to wait 30 seconds?!!!

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by abbybaby

Another thing I have noticed is people do not stop to let pedestrians cross in parking lots. I always stop to let someone coming out of stores cross. I have been honked at so many times for doing this. Is it really killing anyone to have to wait 30 seconds?!!!

Pedestrians have the right a way but would it kill people to STOP texting while walking. Jesus people! You see a car stopped to let you pass and yet you keep your a$$ texting and walking super slow. You're suppose to walk swiftly to pass in front of the cars.

Not walk, pause, walk, pause pause. It's not an old school wedding march

These people are sashaying like crazy. Get to your car. I've seen older people wave thanks and walk as fast as they can yet people 50 and under act like they're stupid

[majicdonjuan]

Originally Posted by Bike4Life

Well, I grew up in Houston and got my first taste of rude drivers when I was 16. At first, I thought it was "cool" not to use my lane-changing signals. But as I ventured out to other cities including several times in Manhattan and became more matured, I found it a common courtesy and appreciated to use signals during heavy traffic. Because there is not a lot of room, we don't like surprises.

And, get in line at the freeway exits! Even with or without lane-changing signals on, I'm not going to make it easy for you cut in line.

This. The folks coming from 59 south to 610 north who try to cut in at the front of the line on the ramp make my head explode. The ramp from 610 east to 45 south on the way to Galveston comes to mind as well...

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

This. The folks coming from 59 south to 610 north who try to cut in at the front of the line on the ramp make my head explode. The ramp from 610 east to 45 south on the way to Galveston comes to mind as well...

That is one situation where extreme tailgating is not only justified, but is a civic duty.

[tampac66]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

This. The folks coming from 59 south to 610 north who try to cut in at the front of the line on the ramp make my head explode. The ramp from 610 east to 45 south on the way to Galveston comes to mind as well...

People who refuse to merge drive me insane as well. I make a point to try and block people who drive all the way to the front of the line and try to cut in. Your time is not more valuable than everyone else's... despite what you might think.

[Gentleman Jason]

I've visited Houston a few times and am moving there in July and I noticed the aggressive driving there, but mostly on Interstates. It got to the point where I just stayed on the frontage road all the way down I-45 to get to where I was going.

The satellite cities like Conroe and Tomball were easier to drive through.