Phoenix drivers rate #1 in big cities... (Tucson, Scottsdale: transplants, trip , work)

[HX_Guy]

I know...probably hard to believe for some, but I agree...compared to places like LA, it's a breeze out here. I think most people who think people drive crazy out here came from a small city then Phoenix, not a bigger one.

Drivers in Phoenix rate well among big city motorists - Phoenix Business Journal:

" Drivers in Phoenix are the best in the nation compared to other municipalities with a population of 1 million people or more, but the city is way down the list when compared with all U.S. cities.

Phoenix ranks 84th overall, according to a report released Tuesday by the Allstate Corp. Plus, drivers in Phoenix are 1.5 percent more likely to have a collision than their counterparts across the nation. Still that's the best record for large cities and far better than Los Angeles and Philadelphia, which came in at 182 and 187, respectively in the fourth annual Allstate America's Best Drivers Report.

So what are the top 10 cities in America for the safest drivers? Number 1 is Sioux Falls, S.D., where drivers are nearly 32 percent less likely to be involved in a collision than the national average. Rounding out the top 10 are Fort Collins, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Warren, Mich.; Knoxville, Tenn.: Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lexington, Ky.; and Detroit.

Within Arizona, the best drivers are in Tucson and Scottsdale. They rated 39th and 53rd in the complete study.

Another interesting comparison involves the average number of years between collisions. That number is nearly 15 in Sioux Falls. In Phoenix, it's nearly 10 years. In Philadelphia the span between accidents is an average of 6.6 years. "

[azriverfan.]

The small town drivers are the cause of all the problems. Most of the big city people here have no clue what I'm talking about because they haven't lived in a small town. Live in a small town and check out the driving. It's a completely different style of driving. They take their sweet time on everything. They sit at lights. They take forever to change lanes. Slow drivers drive in the left lane and people pass on the right. People make complete stops to make a right turn even when the light is green.

There is no pressure for them to drive properly because there is no traffic in their town so they do whatever they want. They move to Phoenix because it's the least intimidating big city they know. So you have these guys driving on our roads causing problems for everyone when they clog the left lanes in morning traffic as an example. Then they complain about all of the horrible drivers in Phoenix because they can't drive the way they could in their small town.

[dc1225]

traffic in phx area is nothing compared to chicago....i'll tell you that much....i know first hand. I love how people keep complaining about traffic in phx...its nothing, really

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by A2M69

traffic in phx area is nothing compared to chicago....i'll tell you that much....i know first hand. I love how people keep complaining about traffic in phx...its nothing, really

The traffic here is nothing. I agree. The fact the traffic starts to disappear at 6:30 PM on the drive home is testament to that. In most other cities you still have traffic until 8 PM and it's a true bumper to bumper traffic

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by A2M69

traffic in phx area is nothing compared to chicago....i'll tell you that much....i know first hand. I love how people keep complaining about traffic in phx...its nothing, really

This is pretty much true, Phoenix traffic with the exception of the 101, 60, broadway curve, tunnel, the stack and the loop (i-10 and 1-17 convergence zones), the congestion here moves not swiftly but slowly. Only briefly is the traffic at a stand-still unlike other cities. One reason, Phoenix has wide freeways and wide roads. They can carry more vehicles per mile than most cities whose freeways and roads are very narrow.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

The traffic here is nothing. I agree. The fact the traffic starts to disappear at 6:30 PM on the drive home is testament to that. In most other cities you still have traffic until 8 PM and it's a true bumper to bumper traffic

Very true...at 7 pm traffic here begins moving 30-35 mph whereas other cities will still be crawling. I was told by long time residents that the traffic here is stretch-out, however. And I've noticed many flex hours in Phoenix offices...especially in the summer. The tunnel and stack start to jam at 2pm and lasts until 6:30 or 7pm. So there seems to be a slow and steady release of people from work late into the afternoon until the early evening. I know the city of Phoenix allows their 30,000 downtown employees who work at City Hall and downtown office buildings to have flex hours so that at 5pm 30,000 + city employees aren't trying to leave at once. I've noticed the same trend at private firms, except most leave later and after 5pm OR they leave early and work from home. I know so many people who telecommute and this wasn't so evident in other cities I've worked in.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

The small town drivers are the cause of all the problems. Most of the big city people here have no clue what I'm talking about because they haven't lived in a small town. Live in a small town and check out the driving. It's a completely different style of driving. They take their sweet time on everything. They sit at lights. They take forever to change lanes. Slow drivers drive in the left lane and people pass on the right. People make complete stops to make a right turn even when the light is green.

There is no pressure for them to drive properly because there is no traffic in their town so they do whatever they want. They move to Phoenix because it's the least intimidating big city they know. So you have these guys driving on our roads causing problems for everyone when they clog the left lanes in morning traffic as an example. Then they complain about all of the horrible drivers in Phoenix because they can't drive the way they could in their small town.

Absolutely true! I'm not sure if all of them are from small towns, or if all of them are even transplants ... but I sure get behind these menaces on the freeways. They are the slowpokes in the left lane who refuse to move over. They often drive with their windows down & arms hanging out (STUPID!!!). I think they do this with the ASSumption that they're saving gas. While driving slower may increase fuel efficiency slightly, they are spending more time on the roads, so there is very little (if any) savings. All they're really doing is impeding the flow of traffic, which is a traffic violation according to Arizona law. Also, driving with the window open & A/C turned off actually creates more of a wind resistance ... so that silly maneuver actually decreases gas mileage!

You're right about many transplants who move here & complain about the traffic. I have found that many of them are the loser types who moved here for the sunshine. They love our sun & don't mind the heat ... but they gripe about practically everything else.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by A2M69

traffic in phx area is nothing compared to chicago....i'll tell you that much....i know first hand. I love how people keep complaining about traffic in phx...its nothing, really

Amen to that! And IMO, Chicago's traffic, while bad, still isnt as bad as Boston or NYC. A native Phoenician may complain about how bad the traffic has gotten, etc, but if they took a trip to D.C., theyd never complain again.

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Amen to that! And IMO, Chicago's traffic, while bad, still isnt as bad as Boston or NYC. A native Phoenician may complain about how bad the traffic has gotten, etc, but if they took a trip to D.C., theyd never complain again.

double amen steven! lets pray together! how long is your commute?

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by A2M69

double amen steven! lets pray together! how long is your commute?

Not too bad, actually. I live in Warrenville and work in St. Charles, so my commute is about 20-25 minutes, depending. I often have to pick my son up in Elburn, IL (west of St. Charles), and at times its taken me over 30 minutes to drive 4-5 miles, in far west suburban traffic!

My worst episode ever was last winter, I was heading to the Blackhawks game and left Warrenville (I-88 exit) at 5:30pm, didnt get to the UC until 8pm. Youre talking maybe 30 miles at best. Ridiculous!!!!!!