I thought Houston drivers were crazy... (San Antonio, Beaumont: construction, school, live in)

[GlorifiedMalcontent]

mmm, i've seen quite the gambit of odd and troubling driving habits. i've seen the far left going ten under the limit more than my fair share, as well as what could easily be called recklessly fast in heavy traffic. my favorites are the cars and trucks that drive through the ditch because they missed their exit.

what scares me the most is how often we get stuck behind someone who's obviously drunk (and if they're not, then maybe they're, what, sleepy? incompitent?) lots of swerving, lots of speeding up slowing down for no reason, lots of DRIFTING. we stay a goood distance away from those drivers, and i just know it's a matter of time before they drift into on coming traffic or list into a car at an intersection.

i also agree about the structure of some of those interchanges. i know EXACTLY the one dopo is talking about and it stresses me out every time. traffic just kind of thrusts itself together with no warning. nuts.

[follie]

I agree that the street design is mostly to blame! You never know when your street is going to quickly turn right and now you're on another street by staying in the same lane! And whoever the genius was that designed the I-10/1604 interchange near La Cantera needs to be given a pink slip. That is the worst designed interchange I have ever seen!

Having lived in DC and taking the Beltway daily, I still am content with the traffic here. But the street design is appalling!

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by tsuehpsyde

My favorite part about SA drivers is their inability to "zipper" two lanes into one. Clearly, everyone is more important than everyone else, and MUST merge FIRST.

This one kills me! Seems very simple to alternate (you go, I go, you go, I go, just like a zipper!). The same thing happens with traffic trying to exit a mall (Ingram at the access road specifically). I let you pull into traffic, then I go, the car behind me lets the next car go, then they go. Pretty simple, but a totally lost art.

[CarlB328]

but that requires some thinking and planning which is completely beyond the natives here.

[RodLu]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

...but no! San Antonio did more to scare the bejeezus out of me in two days than a lifetime in Houston ever did.

All in that rain, too. Perhaps everyone was just so happy they were jumping for joy as they were driving? LOL!

Was it a fluke thing, do you think? A concentration of nutty non-natives?

Originally Posted by LiveUrban

@Mom2Feebs.. San Antonio drivers are normally atrocious, but they are unbelievable when it's raining. You were probably driving at the worst time possible as this recent rain event was our biggest in a year.

Oh, yeah.....without disclosing my positively-ancient age herein {}, I have definitely seen it worsen out on the San Antonio streets and highways over the years, yes.....and no, it's not just a concentration of nutty non-natives but throw-in some nutty natives into the mix as well.....


Yeah, I once even saw a hot dark green late-model CAMARO suddenly {too close for comfort} at my driver's side spinning and spinning and spinning over and over just outside of Loop 410 on HighWay 90 when a hard rainstorm suddenly started pouring. That fast car must have hit some ponded water at a certain low point in the highway that I have also noticed in the past, thus possibly-causing it to hydroplane into a tailspin. The girl on the passenger side was screaming so hard over and over and over as I saw her come into view everytime the car spun around {though naturally I couldn't hear her mortally-terrified fear that was obvious on her face considering the hard dense rain, my rolled-up window, and her rolled-up window}. It finally spun into the grassy wet median and without missing a beat it quickly-spun a donut and promptly got back on the highway again.....and really stepped on the gas almost making me feel as if I was actually PARKED there on the highway. Cheeeee.....


I even once recently-read a SAN ANTONIO CURRENT article on this town's quote: "Beastmaster" driving too. Let's just say many {overly-fragile and easily-offended?} people would certainly somehow get easily-bruised at the brutal truth written within.....




"Truth Hurts." - a quote I heard once that I definitely agree with

[Paul56]

I'm originally from Canada... been here for a little over a month now and have seen some bad moves on the roads but nothing I have not witnessed before in both Canada and the States. I am thankful I only live 2 miles from work and can take the back roads to get there.

Where I come from getting a heavy rain event is not unusual... and having the roads covered with snow & ice for 5 months of the year is considered normal. Most drivers adjust their driving to suit the conditions and then there is always the batch of drivers that do not... and cause grief for themselves and others. No one wants a fender bender so I believe the majority of those who do not adjust don't understand the reasons why they should.

I'm not about to try to educate them either. My goal is to get from point A to point B legally and safely despite the boneheaded actions of other drivers on the roads.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by RodLu

I even once recently-read a SAN ANTONIO CURRENT article on this town's quote: "Beastmaster" driving too. Let's just say many {overly-fragile and easily-offended?} people would certainly somehow get easily-bruised at the brutal truth written within.....

Is the SA Current online? I would like to read that article. We have it at work but I have not had a chance recently to pick one up and read.

[RodLu]

Originally Posted by HillCountryHotRodMan

Is the SA Current online? I would like to read that article. We have it at work but I have not had a chance recently to pick one up and read.

Actually yes, it is:

San Antonio Current




.....but I read the driving article in question {I found it quite bitingly-humourous, ha} in a separate free stapled insert within a CURRENT periodical itself that was called: "SAN ANTONIO OWNER'S MANUAL" {2010}


It reviewed bars, clubs, food, drink, parks, music, etc.....




Maybe they might have a back copy of it at the CURRENT's base of ops.....it was free.......

[shoe01]

I think some people set their cruise controls at 10-20 under in the left lane just to see reactions of others.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by shoe01

I think some people set their cruise controls at 10-20 under in the left lane just to see reactions of others.

I see it everyday,
is like a Michael Jackson funeral procession, about 1000 cars following an SOB.