Drive 5 - 10 mph below the speed limit? (Houston, Dallas: school, quality of life)

[Newk]

I have seen this a few times. People get on a entrance ramp with their turn signal on like they are going to enter the interstate, but they see that traffic is backed up, so they stay on the ramp and exit to stay on the frontage road.

Why don't they just stay on the frontage road if they are not going to enter the interstate?

[apal]

I believe it is the inconsistently in speed that causes accidents. When the flow of traffic is going one speed, and multiple people have to change lanes, this causes situations which increase the likely hood of accidents. ...don’t forget texting and cell phone usage..and the always lovable wait till the last minute to change lanes across the whole freeway to exit.

[IonRedline08]

Originally Posted by apal

I believe it is the inconsistently in speed that causes accidents. When the flow of traffic is going one speed, and multiple people have to change lanes, this causes situations which increase the likely hood of accidents. ...don’t forget texting and cell phone usage..and the always lovable wait till the last minute to change lanes across the whole freeway to exit.

Agreed. Since I have moved here from Hampton Roads, VA 2 years ago, the # 1 problem I see with Traffic here is the different speeds people are going. On 410, you have half the people doing 60, 25% doing 50, 10% doing 65, 5% doing 40 (usually in the left lane) and 10% doing 80.... Its a bad mix

[dtom]

I have seen some bad driving habits throughout San Antonio, much of it boiling down to inattentiveness while driving, such as changing lanes without looking, picking up speed to match the driver passing (this happened to me today and then the person blew their horn when I indicated, yes I used my turn signal, that I needed to change lane. However, some of these habits have to be taught. I have several people at work that insists that they can drive in the left lane on an expressway and it is legal, even when the law is explained to them, they do not believe it.

But, I raised the question about driving below that speed limit on Bandera Road and in the NW corner of San Antonio, because I have never seen this type of behavior before. I know someone mentioned that driving through Leon Valley even a mile over the speed limit will get you a ticket, but I had the chance to speek to a Leon Valley Police Officer and this is false. Driving 5 mph over the speed limit will get you pulled over but anything below that is not worth their time because it will be dismissed in court.

Now, I was told by an older lady in the grocery store one that she had "more time, than money" could that be the attitude of most San Antonians, so they have no problem spending alot of extra time in the car?

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by dtom

Now, I was told by an older lady in the grocery store one that she had "more time, than money" could that be the attitude of most San Antonians, so they have no problem spending alot of extra time in the car?

Where else would they put on their makeup, do their nails, eat lunch and make their business calls?

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by dtom

I have seen some bad driving habits throughout San Antonio, much of it boiling down to inattentiveness while driving, such as changing lanes without looking, picking up speed to match the driver passing

That's nothing,
I was in the middle lane of 410 or I-35, I was going to get on the right lane because my exit was about a mile. I didn't have to use my blinkers, but I did to be polite.
The moment I put my blinkers on, this sob speeded up and blocked me from getting on the right lane.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

One time I saw a group of people excessively speeding in a pick'm'up truck with a grill in the bed of the truck and some guy stood up to flip whatever it was he was cooking. They were hauling butt on 410 towards the airport. Weirdest thing I've seen within city limits and I won't tell you what I have seen outside of the limits because it's sacred stompin' grounds.

[skeet09]

Originally Posted by HillCountryHotRodMan

One time I saw a group of people excessively speeding in a pick'm'up truck with a grill in the bed of the truck and some guy stood up to flip whatever it was he was cooking.

Whoa!
They were heading somewhere to pickup the missus and she was cranky, hungry and needed a bite to eat ASAP! Wow!

[cakmke]

"It's a San Antonio thing, people are notorious for driving incredibly slow."

sure would like to know what part that is because I drive 5-10 miles over the limit on 35 & 410 daily on the north side and i'm still honked at "waved" at tailgated....

[Soviet]

Originally Posted by HillCountryHotRodMan

One time I saw a group of people excessively speeding in a pick'm'up truck with a grill in the bed of the truck and some guy stood up to flip whatever it was he was cooking. They were hauling butt on 410 towards the airport. Weirdest thing I've seen within city limits and I won't tell you what I have seen outside of the limits because it's sacred stompin' grounds.

That......SOUNDS SO AWESOME!!!!!!

Wow, I would have LOVED to see that, haha!

P.S. http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/06/news...n_bin&hpt=Sbin City budgets are getting less money from property taxes, so hopefully they will cut down on the police force dedicated to traffic enforcement and they will run fewer speed traps! YAY! Or....to make up the budget shortfall, they will make MORE speed traps.

Disgusting! Urgh.