Driving in Houston (West, Howe: live, transportation, to relocate)

[shanv3]

Originally Posted by Sammy1781

Moving from LA to Houston for work purposes. How’s the driving there? It never rains in LA so how do people react when it starts pouring? Is it safer to take public transportation?

I have driven in both the cities. But I find LA drivers to be more idiotic with no regards to speed limits, passing from any side in highways and poking into others lanes to make last second turns . I seriously felt it was some third world city near LAX/Sepulveda street . I even saw one rental car shuttle banging onto to a Cop's car

Houston drivers use indicators and are generally much polite, except for honking.

[IndyRC]

Originally Posted by shanv3

Houston drivers use indicators and are generally much polite, except for honking.

You must be referring to a different Houston. The lack of indicator use here is frustrating. And then when you don't yield, because they didn't signal, it's still your fault.

[Cinco Ranch]

Originally Posted by IndyRC

You must be referring to a different Houston. The lack of indicator use here is frustrating. And then when you don't yield, because they didn't signal, it's still your fault.

Houstonians are the friendliest people in the country why this hate?

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Cinco Ranch

Houstonians are the friendliest people in the country why this hate?

They are not friendly when they are on the road and no, they do not use indicators when they change lanes.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

While the congestion can get quite bad by overall USA standards, it's not as bad as LA (of course, I'm not sure anywhere is except maybe Austin).

Houstonians may be the friendliest big-city folks in the country - EXCEPT behind the wheel. It's kind of a Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde phenomenon. Be prepared for very aggressive drivers.

It rains frequently here, so a little rain doesn't cause traffic mayhem typically - most folks are pretty used to it. However, we get phenomenal rainstorms occasionally - much heavier than what you get in most of the country. When these occur, visibility can get very impacted, so traffic slows down considerably. Plus standing water piles up quickly in locations that don't drain quickly - and there's a lot of such places here. Plus the flooding risk - every year there's flooding somewhere in Houston high enough to strand vehicles and sometimes unfortunately cause drownings.

Just so you know, curb-and-gutter streets in Houston are officially part of the storm drainage system, and intended to channel water - the better to keep water out of adjacent buildings (obviously this doesn't always work).

Well said.

And if you come from LA, you will be pleasantly surprised by the "lack" of traffic, especially outside of rush hour.

[hendersj31]

Hahha When I moved here form Chicago I immediately discovered a new driving habit. The Texas turn. It is where a driver abruptly switches multiple lanes with no signal, warning or even a brake light.

Originally Posted by nana053

They are not friendly when they are on the road and no, they do not use indicators when they change lanes.

[IndyRC]

Originally Posted by hendersj31

Hahha When I moved here form Chicago I immediately discovered a new driving habit. The Texas turn. It is where a driver abruptly switches multiple lanes with no signal, warning or even a brake light.

I love when they exit the freeway to the right, coming from the far left lane, and crossing all lanes at once without signaling. My wife labeled it a Texit.

[fbf2006]

Originally Posted by IndyRC

I love when they exit the freeway to the right, coming from the far left lane, and crossing all lanes at once without signaling. My wife labeled it a Texit.

Texit...that's a good one! It's so baffling to me.

[kwr]

The “Texit” is certainly not specific to Houston. I have seen this type of behavior repeatedly in Boston and Miami.

Also, drivers in LA most certainly are more aggressive than Houston drivers.

[arnz98]

Granted I have only been here one week, but some of what you guys say really baffles me. Compared to NY, traffic here is practically nothing. And I havent seen any signs of this aggressive driving. People here are quite nice on the road IMHO. in fact, I was shocked several times when I was fiddling with something (like the GPS) and not realizing the light had turned green and no one honking at me. The roads are wide, and the exit signs are from a quite a distance away giving plenty of time to maneuver.

If you think all of this is horrible, I wonder what you guys would say if you drove in NY?