Can't Stand the Drivers in Northern Virginia (move, Spanish)

[Old Town FFX]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

How dare you....... What is ordnung?

If my Dutch serves me right, it's order.

It's like after moving here from O'ahu, no one drives with aloha.

Basically, NoVA roads are a free for all. Nobody gives a **** about courtesy or even common sense.

I battle 66 and the beltway everyday. My work requires me to be all over D.C. I have found it much easier and less blood pressure rising to say eff it. I'l let a person in, I'll follow road laws, it's lunch and dinner, not life and death.

I can't believe how worked up some folks get over **** they have NO CONTROL over. Life's too short. You know where you moved. You know where you live. If you can't handle the things inherent to the area, perhaps you should move away.

[NOVA_guy]

Originally Posted by bluef250

I'm a Southern California transplant. I have to say that the drivers here in northern Virginia are the worst that I've seen in the United States. Been to plenty different states and even countries, but Virginia takes the cake. And it doesn't matter what state plate is on the car either!

Even though my commute is only 3 miles, there are several traffic signals--and let me tell you that I see people blow through stone cold red lights at full speed just because they don't want to sit at the light (e.g., Pacific Blvd & Waxpool Rd). If they do happen to stop, they might've well have just gone through the light because they're half a car length and sometimes a full car length past the limit line. I almost NEVER see folks stop behind the line.

Another example of bad: I see is people insisting on doing 65-70+ MPH on Route 28. I've also seen people ride inches off of the bumper of the car in front of them, while already speeding, flashing their headlights and honking their horns. And changing lanes, passing on the right....

My commute in California was 30 miles one way--and I never saw so much blatant disregard for the rules of the road, if not for the general safety of other people on the road.

Y'all coming to the defense of this reckless behavior--just stop and think about whether it's really that important to get to the destination a minute faster than others around you. I personally believe that it's just the nature of the folks around here as a whole. Nothing like getting everything done fast paced.

28 is a madhouse of people improperly merging, getting on and getting off as it varies with some doing this in an extremely slow fashion (coming to a stop in the middle of the lane with blinker on) while others do it an extremely fast fashion (merging at the last possible minute) and going from doing 70+ MPH and then coming to a complete stop because someone riding to the side of them has decided to squeeze into the tight almost nonexistent space causing everyone in the lane behind both of them, which most times is a lot of people especially if it's the morning/evening, going 55-70 MPH to come to a complete stop.

And I thought 66 and 495 was bad.

[BrassTacksGal]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

If someone is going slow in the left lane and won't move aside, then those who want to go faster have no choice but to pass on the right.

Is it illegal to pass on the right in Virginia? In many states it isn't illegal and I think Virginia is the same.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by BrassTacksGal

Is it illegal to pass on the right in Virginia? In many states it isn't illegal and I think Virginia is the same.

No it's not.

[vademo]

Virginia needs more of these...

I usually stick with right lane. I do not need to go fast or do not need satisfy my ego with blocking the left lane. However I really hate when the idiot on the left lane drives slower than me or goes with the same speed with me. People try to pass on the right and it makes me uncomfortable on my right lane. If they leave the left lane empty and stick with the right lane with me since we drive with same speed, there would not be any problems. Let people pass, it is not end of the world...

[dkf747]

65-70 on 28 is not reckless. 45-50 in the left lane, for miles and miles, is reckless. (<-- my opinion only). The only time you should stay left, is when nearing a left exit like for Waxpool Rd.

[rome99]

I used to live in bay area for some time. Whatever the topic we have been discussing here happens there too. Some drivers become clueless & aggressive because of getting stuck in traffic, trying to reach destination on time, work pressure, family obligations, tiredness etc,. What else could it be?

[gomason]

Coming back home after driving in Germany was one of the hardest adjustments. No one in Germany EVER clogs the left lane and will move if you flash your lights at them. If you did that in America, some redneck would follow you home and shoot you.

Consequently, because of Germans great driving, no one has to make the dangerous passes on the right. Unfortunately that is way too common in America because of the idiots driving.

I have also noticed that people sitting in the left lane is very common in the deep south. As soon as I get into SC, GA, etc it's very common to see idiots just cruising in the left lane.

[CapnTrips]

Anybody who thinks driving in NOVA is tough has never driven in NYC, Boston, or worst of all -- Miami.

[Carlingtonian]

Texas has these, which we desperately need here (especially in Spanish).