Wth, Nova Drivers (Leesburg: gated, living in, safest)

[hl6451]

Don't you people have places to get to?




I've never seen slower drivers in any other part of the country. The speed limit on Evergreen Mills Road is 55 in most places and I don't think I've ever gone above 40 when traveling it, thanks to the people in front of me. Same goes for all the major highways/routes. Everyone just cruises along at 30-40 mph in these 55 zones.

Before moving here, I heard "horror stories" about the crazy, reckless, speeding drivers of the DC area, but I've yet to see any.

Is there some sort of secret speed limit not known to newbies like me? I even saw a police car tailgating someone on Evergreen once because we were literally going 35 mph with the posted limit being 55.

[craneshavelonglegs]

That must be the one exception to the rule here. I'm regularly tailgated on virtually every road - even when going 5 mph over the speed limit.

[CAVA1990]

Sounds like you'd be happier living in Maryland.

[neubaukl]

This seems strange to me, unless you're being sarcastic, CAVA. I'm also regularly tailgated when doing 5 or 10 over. NoVa drivers seem to always be in a hurry to get to the stripmall...

[stpickrell]

To be fair along many of those roads I honestly don't know wtf the speed limit is due to wide spacing of signs and seeming random changs. For example, Sycolin south of Leesburg -- is it 45 or 55? I know it's not 35 because the sign says "end 35 speed limit" but no idea what it is. So the folks you're behind may well honestly think the limit is 35 or 45.

[ShadowBat]

On my many, many trips to and through NoVa, I have seen very few slow pokes. The limit is usually 55 on the interstates, and people are usually sailing along at 70 or more. I think traffic is so bad on the surface streets that possibly it never has a chance to get up to the posted limit before a stop sign or light. But in my experiences, even the side roads are filled with crazy drivers. But I have no doubt that there are also a good share of grandma drivers too, just like anywhere else.

Ditto on MD drivers. CRAZY!!! No offense meant to my MD neighbors.

[reebo]

Yes, that's what we hear a lot. NoVa drivers just aren't assertive enough.

[dkf747]

Drive I-66 westbound when traffic is not heavy - say Sunday evening at 8:30 pm - and you will see how slow drivers around here can be. I'm usually among the faster drivers when I go 55. I guess that's how MD drivers get tagged as being crazy because they want to go 55 in a 55 zone.

[kevinm]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Drive I-66 westbound when traffic is not heavy - say Sunday evening at 8:30 pm - and you will see how slow drivers around here can be. I'm usually among the faster drivers when I go 55. I guess that's how MD drivers get tagged as being crazy because they want to go 55 in a 55 zone.

Don't you hate it when traffic is slow on sections of I-66 and you EXPECT to see a broken down vehicle of accident ahead, but when you get through there is NOTHING???

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by kevinm

Don't you hate it when traffic is slow on sections of I-66 and you EXPECT to see a broken down vehicle of accident ahead, but when you get through there is NOTHING???

One of the reasons why I hate I-66. Yeah I have found that the drivers in this area GENERALLY break down like this:

VA drivers: slow, passive, nosy when there is an accident or police pull-over

MD drivers: fast, overly aggressive, at times reckless, always in a rush to get somewhere

DC drivers: completely reckless, little regard for any traffic laws, will run you off the road if you aren't driving as reckless as them

Of course there are exceptions but this is what I have noticed about driving in this area. And as annoying as NOVA drivers are, they are generally the safest, so if you think it's bad drive in MD or DC and you will see a big difference in safety.