I will forever have nightmares...(Philly Driving Habits) (York, Denver: transplants, home)

[4DM1N]

I visited Philly for the first time this past weekend and I must say that the drivers there are absolutely nuts. I'm guessing this is an east coast, big city thing. Here are just a few things I noticed and that left me traumatized:

1. Honk at every little nuisance. Honestly, the sounds of car horns resonating throughout town could have formed a symphony.
2. Turn signals aren't for asking for permission to move over, they're for telling you to get out of my effing way. Honestly, there was no waiting to be let in. It was signal, and then bolt over rapidly into the next lane regardless of where the traffic was on either side of you.
3. If there is a gap in traffic even half the size of an economy car, drivers will wedge right in immediately without a second thought or concern for the cars near them.
4. Flip people off and make nasty faces at them for every trivial traffic "misconduct". My friend was trying to get out a spot that she parallel parked in and we had a blind spot behind us where two roads merged together. Instead of stopping and letting us get out, drivers roared by waving frantically looking as if they could have killed us for attempting to pull out in front of them.

Having lived extensively in Metro Detroit and Metro Denver, I can confidently say that I've never experienced traffic so intense or traumatizing as I have there in Philly. Kudos to you regular Philly drivers who deal with this on a daily basis and who aren't alcoholics or drug addicts as a result.

[2e1m5a]

Haha-sounds about right.

[mcguirk]

Indeed that is about right. My philosophy: unless you're OK with the possibility of having your bumper scratched, or a friendly love letter from the PPA, and you can drive with the Phily atty-toode, leave the car at home and take septa.

[Pine to Vine]

I don't drive here very often, as I'm able to walk to pretty much every place I need to go. On those times I do drive I actually find drivers on the 95 and the Schuylkill more polite then I did drivers on Houston's freeways (as frightening as this may seem to Philly natives). For example, drivers are more inclined to let oncoming traffic enter the highways and also I notice a lot less "aggressive" lane shifting. Also, drivers here generally seem to recognize that slow drivers should move to the right. In the city itself, as for the honking, I find the taxi drivers do most of that. The one thing I do look for when I find people driving aggressively are the car's license plates. It seems more often than not those cars are from New Jersey.

[RightonWalnut]

Philly is not a city made for driving - therefore, if you visit Philly - don't drive!

Since Philly was built before the car, it makes driving conditions more difficult than usual, hence the aggravation and aggression of most Northeastern driers. This isn't just a Philly thing P.S.- they're ten times worse in New York, and just as bad in Boston and DC.

Detroit is named motor city- the city revolves around the car, and newer Southern/western cities are built to accommodate the car where Philly was built to accommodate pedestrians, public transit, and horse and buggy lol.

Next time you come, do yourself a favor and don't drive. Your experience will be much more pleasant.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

I don't drive here very often, as I'm able to walk to pretty much every place I need to go. On those times I do drive I actually find drivers on the 95 and the Schuylkill more polite then I did drivers on Houston's freeways (as frightening as this may seem to Philly natives). For example, drivers are more inclined to let oncoming traffic enter the highways and also I notice a lot less "aggressive" lane shifting. Also, drivers here generally seem to recognize that slow drivers should move to the right. In the city itself, as for the honking, I find the taxi drivers do most of that. The one thing I do look for when I find people driving aggressively are the car's license plates. It seems more often than not those cars are from New Jersey.

Having driven in Philly & South Jersey for decades, you pretty much sum up my experiences of driving in the city. For instance: people alternate when it's time to merge when you're going from the Vine St Expressway to the Sure-kill. It's polite & efficient. Conversely, when people don't want to play nicely, it is pretty common to flip the bird.

Over the years of driving on both sides of the river, I found that there's a strong correlation between aggressive driving styles used by drivers in the NY metro. Just because the plate says NJ doesn't mean that they're local.

Then there's the unlicensed drivers driving in Philly. . .they're best described as creative.

[Pine to Vine]

^^^ Funny. Actually, I thought I'd just try to rattle a few NJ chains. For the most part drivers here are pretty courteous, especially considering how tight the streets are here in Center City and the fewer number of lanes we have on our interstates compared with cities with newer highways. I've noticed good respect for green lights - which is good given the pedestrian traffic. I drove the Houston freeways for 26 years so am used to aggressive drivers. My guess is the traffic the OP is used to in Denver is a lot softer than that in bigger cities.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

^^^ Funny. Actually, I thought I'd just try to rattle a few NJ chains. For the most part drivers here are pretty courteous, especially considering how tight the streets are here in Center City and the fewer number of lanes we have on our interstates compared with cities with newer highways. I've noticed good respect for green lights - which is good given the pedestrian traffic. I drove the Houston freeways for 26 years so am used to aggressive drivers. My guess is the traffic the OP is used to in Denver is a lot softer than that in bigger cities.

I had to commute from Cherry Hill to City Line Ave during the Schuylkill reconstruction. Want to talk about fun. . .

I love Philly & have no problem driving there. While I now live near Charlotte, I live in an area where the majority of transplants are from Philly & South Jersey. It's pretty peaceful to drive here but when you get into Charlotte & have to tangle with the drivers from NY, North Jersey, & LI. . .well those people think that laying on the horn is part of the driving experience.

[msrp2014]

Originally Posted by mcguirk

leave the car at home and take septa.

That's advice I follow in every major East Coast city.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by 4DM1N

I visited Philly for the first time this past weekend and I must say that the drivers there are absolutely nuts. I'm guessing this is an east coast, big city thing. Here are just a few things I noticed and that left me traumatized:

1. Honk at every little nuisance. Honestly, the sounds of car horns resonating throughout town could have formed a symphony.
2. Turn signals aren't for asking for permission to move over, they're for telling you to get out of my effing way. Honestly, there was no waiting to be let in. It was signal, and then bolt over rapidly into the next lane regardless of where the traffic was on either side of you.
3. If there is a gap in traffic even half the size of an economy car, drivers will wedge right in immediately without a second thought or concern for the cars near them.
4. Flip people off and make nasty faces at them for every trivial traffic "misconduct". My friend was trying to get out a spot that she parallel parked in and we had a blind spot behind us where two roads merged together. Instead of stopping and letting us get out, drivers roared by waving frantically looking as if they could have killed us for attempting to pull out in front of them.

Having lived extensively in Metro Detroit and Metro Denver, I can confidently say that I've never experienced traffic so intense or traumatizing as I have there in Philly. Kudos to you regular Philly drivers who deal with this on a daily basis and who aren't alcoholics or drug addicts as a result.

1.) I've been in Philly when there is gridlock & never heard a symphony of car horns.

2.) Were you trying to force yourself in at a merge? Your turn signal doesn't give you the right to do that if it isn't your turn . Not letting someone in when it is their turn is also not going to endear you. It probably will get you a salute.

3.) In 40 years of driving in Philly I never saw that one time.

4.) When you get flipped off you've done something. I've gotten in & out of parking spots in Society Hill, Olde City, Center City, on the Parkway. . .never was flipped the bird. Not one time.

How about driving around the Baltimore Beltway & cruising around Atlanta, then get back to us about the driving.