Driving in the Tri-Cities (Knoxville, Johnson City: rental car, appointed, rental) - The Tri-Cities area - City-Data Forum

DBradley · 02-20-2009, 03:20 PM

Before I start, I want to make it known that this is a vent post.

I just got home from driving across Johnson City. I went from my house near Princeton Road to West Walnut and I was almost rear ended twice, side swiped once, rear ended too many times to count, had to slam on my brakes to avoid rear ending someone who failed to use their turn signal, and had to sit through the same red light three times. It seems to me that the ability of people to drive in this area is getting worse and worse every day, and the increase in traffic that comes with any growing city doesn't help matters. The major problems that I have observed seem to be delayed reactions to green lights, lack of turn signal use, tailgating, bottle necking (cars piling up in one lane even though there are two or more lanes), and cars driving under the speed limit in the left lane. Now, I'm not one to gripe and complain, especially when it comes to driving an automobile. I'm a very "safety first" kinda guy, I don't speed (except in heavy, fast paced traffic because I consider it common courtesy not to hold the pack back), I don't talk on the phone while I drive, and I focus 100% of my attention on the road. Johnson City has MAYBE 100,000 people here during "rush hour" and the roads feel like there's about 300,000. Why can't people just drive like they have some common sense and a working brain in their heads? Get off the phone, use all available lanes, USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL, stay far enough away from the car ahead of you (this prevents rear ending somebody, DUH!), GO when the light turns green instead of waiting 30-45 seconds, use the right lane if for some unknown reason you want to go below the speed limit, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE, and finally PAY ATTENTION!!! Not that all folks here are bad drivers, but I've traveled alot in my life and I've never encountered such horrendous driving. I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy, but it's pretty bad when a 19 YEAR OLD is giving you advice on how to drive. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought I'd see if I'm the only one who feels like the whole Tri-Cities region needs to go to driving school.

Bailey. · 02-20-2009, 03:32 PM

I understand completely.

I've never had an issue driving anywhere I've lived but here. I've gotten in two accidents over the last 6 months - and the last one has really scarred me. I was hit almost head on because somebody decided to U-turn on Knob Creek into oncoming traffic - and the lucky car to be in his path was me. My car was almost totaled out - and I had a rental car for over a month while it was fixed. I was in the hospital the next day after the accident, was physically alright, but I have a hard time driving anywhere by myself anymore. I've even changed my route home (I used to cross Roan where E Mountain View is) now I take a longer way so I can have all lights.

There are a ton of places I can't get up the nerve to go anymore - or I have to give myself a pep talk to do. Just hoping the fear goes away at some point.

As far as turn signals, PLEASE USE THEM!! I use mine even if nobody is around, just the keep the habit. I have much more respect for drivers who use theirs.

jabogitlu · 02-20-2009, 04:08 PM

I completely agree with you. The main thing I miss about living in Knoxville is that most people knew how to drive there. Here, people will all either be in the right or left lane (but not both, except like one annoying car!) going 30 in a 45, 45 in a 55 and 50 in a 65.

I have to turn left, daily, from South State of Franklin onto Tennessee Street (the street they're extending to Market around the park area) and getting everyone to actually TURN LEFT when we have a green arrow (which stays on for about 6 seconds) is very frustrating. And then no one will ever use the "turn left on green if clear" rule, either... grrr.

But for me the biggest pet peeve is merging. No one merges onto or off of the freeway correctly, and surface merges, like from Knob Creek onto State of Franklin in front of the Med-tech entrance are never, ever, ever used correctly.

leonard · 02-20-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBradley

Before I start, I want to make it known that this is a vent post.

I just got home from driving across Johnson City. I went from my house near Princeton Road to West Walnut and I was almost rear ended twice, side swiped once, rear ended too many times to count, had to slam on my brakes to avoid rear ending someone who failed to use their turn signal, and had to sit through the same red light three times. It seems to me that the ability of people to drive in this area is getting worse and worse every day, and the increase in traffic that comes with any growing city doesn't help matters. The major problems that I have observed seem to be delayed reactions to green lights, lack of turn signal use, tailgating, bottle necking (cars piling up in one lane even though there are two or more lanes), and cars driving under the speed limit in the left lane. Now, I'm not one to gripe and complain, especially when it comes to driving an automobile. I'm a very "safety first" kinda guy, I don't speed (except in heavy, fast paced traffic because I consider it common courtesy not to hold the pack back), I don't talk on the phone while I drive, and I focus 100% of my attention on the road. Johnson City has MAYBE 100,000 people here during "rush hour" and the roads feel like there's about 300,000. Why can't people just drive like they have some common sense and a working brain in their heads? Get off the phone, use all available lanes, USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL, stay far enough away from the car ahead of you (this prevents rear ending somebody, DUH!), GO when the light turns green instead of waiting 30-45 seconds, use the right lane if for some unknown reason you want to go below the speed limit, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE, and finally PAY ATTENTION!!! Not that all folks here are bad drivers, but I've traveled alot in my life and I've never encountered such horrendous driving. I'm not trying to be a Negative Nancy, but it's pretty bad when a 19 YEAR OLD is giving you advice on how to drive. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought I'd see if I'm the only one who feels like the whole Tri-Cities region needs to go to driving school.

The answer is simple. Above you mention 'common sense'. It is NOT common. Most people should not be driving, but they will never admit it.

Men especially as it is rare to hear one admit he is not a "great" driver. Especially after watching a Nascar race. Women are more timid, in most cases, and when unsure, do nothing. Kinda like waiting for a car to pass so they can turn right, and it is still a long block away. BUT it might hit them if it was traveling at oh about 150 MPH.

OK, now I have finished my rant.

Ridgerunner · 02-21-2009, 06:02 AM

Here's another reason to be especially careful when driving in Johnson City. Many drivers are shoppers and medical patients from neighboring states who don't come here often and are not overly familiar with the city. In a nutshell, never cross or turn onto a one-way street before looking in both directions.

mbmouse · 02-21-2009, 08:15 AM

I have to agree here also. And the odd thing is that it seems like the driving abilities in the past say 2 years has really changed. I don't think it is as much more people on the roads, but more people that do not know the rules of the roads. Then again, these are not taught in the driving hand book either. Have you seen one lately? My oldest just got his license this past November (he waited until he was almost 18 because he was afraid of other drivers!) 75% of the book is about drunk driving, not how to drive. There is nothing that really explains that an on ramps purpose is to get up to speed of the road you are merging onto. There is nothing about who has the right of way when turning right onto a road if there is someone waiting to turn left onto the same road. There is nothing about being able to turn left at a stop light with a left arrow light if there is no one coming and the straight light is green. The majority of that book (and the curriculum of drivers ed in school) is math, the math on how to calculate your blood alcohol level. Sad, very sad indeed.

Jim37680 · 02-21-2009, 08:16 AM

It seems like this behavior comes in spells. It may have to do with the phases of the moon. I would just as soon avoid the area within 1/2 mile of North Roan and I-26 any day of the month, any time of the day.

fsmith2240 · 02-21-2009, 08:25 AM

I was thinking the same thing here in Florida the other day. I don't know why there is no review of road rules once you have your license. It seems that no one (including myself sometimes) remembers alot of those rules and courtesies any more. I am really dissappointed to hear this about Johnson City though, since the Tri-Cities is where I wnat to move whenever I can get out of here! I though for sure south florida had to be the worst place ever for traffic and rude drivers that don't know how to drive! I just hope that it is better than here somehow.

mbmouse · 02-21-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsmith2240

I was thinking the same thing here in Florida the other day. I don't know why there is no review of road rules once you have your license. It seems that no one (including myself sometimes) remembers alot of those rules and courtesies any more. I am really dissappointed to hear this about Johnson City though, since the Tri-Cities is where I wnat to move whenever I can get out of here! I though for sure south florida had to be the worst place ever for traffic and rude drivers that don't know how to drive! I just hope that it is better than here somehow.

I can attest to the fact that our local traffic here in the Tri-Cities is not NEAR as bad as it is in S.E. FL. I moved here from there 12 years ago and I do go back to visit family often. We are saying that the driving abilities are changing here, but we would need to have a 300k increase in population here to be anywhere close to as bad driving conditions as there. The other big aspect to that comparison is that we do have much better quality of road condition here and A LOT less road construction going on at any given time.

runrgirl · 02-21-2009, 09:15 AM

IMO one of the biggest problems is people talking on their phone. We were out the other day at an intersection and this lady talking on her cellphone just cut this guy off in a truck and never even realized it she just kept right on driving with her big trap gabbing on the phone ( I'm sure she would have took notice if he would have rammed into her and it would have been her fault). PEOPLE GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND DRIVE. Phones do have voice mail so just get the call later. If you must talk then pull the heck off the road and park. I think it should be illegal to talk on the phone while you are driving. Also people drive too slow and are slow to react when they are driving talking on the phone. Also it is not okay to just stop in the middle of the road and look to see if you are where you were trying to get if you are unfamiliar with the area. Pull into somewhere and scope it out or ask for directions. It is not fair to stop up traffic to figure out where you are at.