Why are Seattle drivers such a--holes? (insurance, high school, college)

[la_fuerza]

I'm not sure people in Seattle drive all that slow anymore Motoman, at least not in the left lanes. I-5 from Federal Way to Downtown Seattle is like a SoCal freeway these days with the flow of traffic being 75 or more. If there is a slowpoke in the fast lane numerous cars will pass them on the right and cut right in front of them. That usually scares them into moving into one of the slower lanes.

On 405 between Bellevue and Bothell people drive pretty fast too.

[70Ford]

I'd say designating every single driving person in Seattle an A--hole is an interesting take on traffic conditions.

I wish they'd say that on KING 5. That would be hilarious.

[Deep_Vee]

I've lived here my whole life, learned how to drive here, and have spent a great deal of time on the roads here. I have also driven in most other metropolian cities in America...including L.A., Miami, and Manhattan.

With that said, the Seattle drivers are indeed the most frustrating group of drivers I have ever seen. 60 on the nose in the left lane is normal, not allowing anyone to merge is normal, we the residents of Seattle are indeed, a bunch of crappy drivers.

Now, as far as your comment about all of our excess Freeway capacity...we may not be LA, but one thing we don't have any of here is excess infrastructure....

[flyerone]

I am from LA and now live in Salt Lake City, these people are the worst drivers I have ever encountered. You should be happy they leave some space between cars, these idiots drive 90 mph, cut you off, and are happily talking away on their cell phone. When I stop at a light I look in my mirror to make sure nobody is rear ending me, they literaly dont start breaking until they almost hit you,,,,,it's insane!

[scirocco22]

It's amusing that you can go to just about any city's forum on this site and find a thread devoted to that city having the crappiest drivers in the nation. *shrugs shoulders*

After learning to drive in Seattle and spending decades putting up with the traffic there, I tend to agree with a lot of the comments here but I've seen worse drivers in cities such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and some east coast cities ...I'm almost tempted to say, give me drivers in Seattle any day but then I remember how frustrated I was driving in Seattle traffic.

[motoman]

Originally Posted by 70Ford

I'd say designating every single driving person in Seattle an A--hole is an interesting take on traffic conditions.

I wish they'd say that on KING 5. That would be hilarious.

Obviously not every driver in Seattle is an a--hole. But it's more fun to generalize. :-)

[seattlerain]

Scirocco has a point, nearly every forum on this site has a thread about bad drivers. Here is just a short list:


Anatomy of a traffic jam and why the LA driving style has a lot to blame

Austin - Land of the worst drivers in America

Austin drivers are awful: Any other transplants agree?

Can someone explain how NYC drivers get THIS bad?

Connecticut drivers - why so bad?

las vegas drivers

NC drivers....no turn signals?

las vegas drivers

Why do San Diegans drive so dangerously?

Drivers in upstate New York

Tuscon has horrible drivers!


So, it's not just Seattle where people complain about the drivers...

[motoman]

Originally Posted by la_fuerza

I'm not sure people in Seattle drive all that slow anymore Motoman, at least not in the left lanes. I-5 from Federal Way to Downtown Seattle is like a SoCal freeway these days with the flow of traffic being 75 or more. If there is a slowpoke in the fast lane numerous cars will pass them on the right and cut right in front of them. That usually scares them into moving into one of the slower lanes.

On 405 between Bellevue and Bothell people drive pretty fast too.

That's interesting, because I didn't see that at all. Then again, I wasn't driving during rush hours either. The fastest I think I saw anyone go was about 70. And most of the time that person was me. It was the strangest thing doing 70 and passing everyone. Most people never got over the 60 mph speed limit. I don't think I have ever seen such a large group of cars doing 60 mph on the nose. Perplexing. In LA you've got people doing anywhere from 50 to 80 with a 65 mph speed limit. All in the same lane. Haha! But that seems normal to me.

[mishigas73]

I've been here for 7 months, commuting on the 5 for a LOT of it, and I have to say that I would MUCH rather be driving out here than with the crazies back east.

[tevis]

Motoman,

You make me laugh! Of course you are right. Seattle drivers are insufferable--especially with their habit of "lane camping" (i.e., driving 55 mph in the passing lane). There is a simple explanation: Seattleites are the most passive-aggressive people on earth. So, believe me, the driving habits are fully intended to get under your skin. I'm a native New Englander who cut my teeth driving in Boston. I don't think I'll ever adjust. I just scare the bejeesus out of people by passing them at 80 mph on the right, etc--(I know, it's bad, but what can you do?) Anyway, as annoying as Seattle drivers can be it's still better than some of the crazy ____ that you see in other cities . . .