Mean streets (Austin, Waco: gated, safest, moving)

[MagFlores]

I feel yah. I've suggested to my husband that we should get a dash cam and record all these incidents if for only our own amusement. We don't have a long commute and even still we see at least 4 or 5 cases of road rage or just plain driver-stupidity. Now we drive with the mindset- "Let's try not to get hit by other people".

[Moonlady]

My job location changed forcing me into a 60 mile round trip commute and let me tell you, it's just plain ugly. I remember when I first moved to Texas in 1977 how amazed I was at the friendliness of drivers - and I moved to Houston! It has to be a combination of way too many people for the road infrastructure combined with lots of driving habits from lots of different places. You don't even see the Drive Friendly signs any more. I think the motto is dead, in Austin anyway.

It's just a shame that people collectively refuse to acknowledge that if everyone did their part to drive safely, efficently and friendly, we would all be better off. Basic rules - slower traffic keep right, use your blinker, obey the speed limit (or go with the flow), anticipate your turns and get in the correct lane ahead of time, let people merge, merging people speed up to the flow of traffic, and just plain pay attention! Why is this so hard?

[WoodyTX]

There are a lot of factors at work, mostly immigrants from out of town, state, or nation (and the children of all three). Having gone to college in San Antonio, and made numerous trips across the border, I'd have to include the drivers from our southern border. Not a popular opinion, but still...

[love roses]

"slower traffic keep right "

Being Devil's advocate here, but I'm going to add, "How about faster traffic staying in the left lane instead of tailgating people in the right lane who are in the right lane because they know they are driving slower". Or, my newest pet peeve, when driving in a school zone and it is still before 9am end time for the 20mph speed limit, keep from tailgating and honking because you want to go faster than 20. Even if no cop is visible, kids are still walking to school and crossing the street...cool your jets for 30 more seconds until you are no longer in a school zone!!

Moonlady...I'm not venting at you! This is just something I've been coming across lately in my neck of the woods.

[love roses]

"mostly immigrants from out of town, state, or nation ("

I had a very harrowing cab ride in Dallas a number of years back. Asian cabby who barely spoke English (I seriously doubt he could even read the roadsigns)....He was going to enter the freeway and stopped on the on ramp! This was not one of those on ramps with a stop/yield light or a stop or yield sign either. I just knew we were about to die but luckily noone was right behind us.

[orngkat]

How about faster traffic staying in the left lane instead of tailgating people in the right lane who are in the right lane because they know they are driving slower"

It doesn't seem to matter how fast you drive; these days there is always someone behind you wanting to go faster no matter what lane you are in.

[passionatearts]

Could we PLEASE not turn this into a thread about illegal immigration?!

Besides, I think the reason for the lack of driver courtesy has more to do with Austin's streets becoming increasingly crowded as a result of the explosive population growth of the last 20 years.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by passionatearts

Could we PLEASE not turn this into a thread about illegal immigration?!

Besides, I think the reason for the lack of driver courtesy has more to do with Austin's streets becoming increasingly crowded as a result of the explosive population growth of the last 20 years.

No one said anything about ILLEGAL immigrants. Different ways of driving are acceptable in different countries. If you have seen that show where they took the Ice Road truckers and dropped them in India you've seen that they have a way crazier way of driving than we do in America. Now, if you take a large number of people used to driving that way and drop them in an area here there is going to be a big clash of driving styles.

[gcrissman]

I think what you are experiencing is universal to wherever one lives. Its a me first society today vs what it was like years ago.

And before you blame all the issue on out of staters, there have been a lot of Texans (still running TX plates since this was not their home state) in the DC/VA area the last 10 years (8 years for obvious reasons) and they don't exactly set a good example. if I were to make assumptions on what I see daily I would say Texas drivers are worse than VA drivers. But I know what I see here is a small sampling of Texans so I won't assume you all are like that.

Its not where someone is from, it is their common sense and approach to others.

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by love roses

"slower traffic keep right "

Being Devil's advocate here, but I'm going to add, "How about faster traffic staying in the left lane instead of tailgating people in the right lane who are in the right lane because they know they are driving slower". Or, my newest pet peeve, when driving in a school zone and it is still before 9am end time for the 20mph speed limit, keep from tailgating and honking because you want to go faster than 20. Even if no cop is visible, kids are still walking to school and crossing the street...cool your jets for 30 more seconds until you are no longer in a school zone!!

Moonlady...I'm not venting at you! This is just something I've been coming across lately in my neck of the woods.

Loves roses you have a valid point. As I said - go the speed limit. I drive 360 and there is nothing more irritating than someone tailgating me in the right lane. If you want to go faster move over and if traffic in the left is moving at the speed limit, just go with the flow. Besides, I almost always end up at the light at the same time. Fortunately I haven't had anyone honk at me for going too slow for their taste. That's just plain rude!