Knoxville Drivers/Habits (Kingston: living, moving to, car)

[songspirit]

Am possibly moving to the area and would like to know the habits of the place. For example, Michigan drivers are famous for tailgating and slowing down in front of you once they pass. Where I'm at now, people weave in their lanes (whereas in most urban areas, driving between the lines is a valued skill). Anything to look out for? Areas of town which elicit certain common responses?

-- cb

[piedmont]

Well, my impression after a year of living here is that most drivers are pretty predictable and reasonable here. However, there is a steady 5+% which are kind of lawless! I mean this in the sense of driving down the wrong side of the road, turning from inappropriate lanes, accessing highways by driving overland and generally trusting that the other 95% of us will watch out for them (which I certainly do!).

So it's a little different feel than my experiences driving in other parts of the southeast (NC, SC), DC and MD, NY/NJ or CA. But in general, driving is not stressful at all here. You can tell the newcomers by how slowly they drive on hilly, windy roads :-)

[BarbG]

I agree with Piedmont. The nice thing about many drivers here is they are courteous. It's easier to merge onto the interstate here, people wave you in front of them if you are pulling out of a parking lot and traffic is backed up, etc.

The main thing to watch for, IMHO, is people who run red lights. At many lights, people will drive through a light that has changed to red several seconds after that light has gone red. Be cautious of that. I've never seen so many red-light runners.

[BST]

Only a few drivers here use turn signals.

[jabogitlu]

There are very few overarching traits in Knoxville drivers. Many people will drive in the leftmost lanes going 5-10 under the speed limit (even on the interstate!) but I've seen that in many places.

And, right, hardly anyone uses their directionals.

[hiknapster]

I think the local drivers are wonderful. Sometimes the vehicles with plates from Union County can be a bit aggressive.

People with Kentucky plates drive really fast. Never saw one going with the flow of traffic and most people with Ohio plates are very aggressive. I've had more than a few on my bumper while I'm in the slow lane going five miles over the speed limit. Just doesn't seem to be any reason for that.

[Barking Spider]

Find merging a challenge.
Do not understand protocol for 4 way stops.
Some drive 45 mph in a parking lot and/or interstate.
Some drive 5 mph below speed limit, usually on a road where you can't get by them, and usually only during rush hour.
Do not know they must use headlights when it's raining.

[charz]

Overall, driving in Knoxville is so much better than where I moved from. I constantly complained about driving in KY. It's pretty sane here.

[LilCabinGirl]

Originally Posted by BarbG

I agree with Piedmont. The nice thing about many drivers here is they are courteous. It's easier to merge onto the interstate here, people wave you in front of them if you are pulling out of a parking lot and traffic is backed up, etc.

The main thing to watch for, IMHO, is people who run red lights. At many lights, people will drive through a light that has changed to red several seconds after that light has gone red. Be cautious of that. I've never seen so many red-light runners.

Yep, been here a year and already had my car totaled by a red light runner.

[LilCabinGirl]

Originally Posted by Barking Spider

Find merging a challenge.
Do not understand protocol for 4 way stops.
Some drive 45 mph in a parking lot and/or interstate.
Some drive 5 mph below speed limit, usually on a road where you can't get by them, and usually only during rush hour.
Do not know they must use headlights when it's raining.

If you can ever do the speed limit of 45 on Kingston Pike, it's a good day. I also find that drivers here do not realize they share the road with other drivers. I have seen people literally stop in the middle of Kingston Pike, holding everyone up, while they decide if that is where they need to turn.