Phoenix area traffic since the start of the pandemic (Tempe: transplants, school)

[Jnvlv247]

It's picked up a bit since late spring but is nowhere near pre March levels.

I work from home but go out after work and definitely see some traffic but there has been a lot of random construction around here so that seems to be affecting traffic the most. Traffic during weekends seems to be picking up a alot. Over the summer and fall we went on the 17 N and 10 toward Tucson. Both were pretty traveled so people have been traveling to destinations like Mt Lemmon, Sedona, Flagstaff and even the 87 toward Payson

Lines are still crazy at places like Cane's, Chick-Fil-A and In-N-Out. Grocery store still busy after work as well as other eating and shopping areas. People are still out there doing things but I think just the amount of people working from home is the main contribution to the decrease in rush hour commute.

I haven't noticed slow driving being worse than before. I agree with the observations of who tends to be slow or a pain to deal with lol I must add that minivans and CRV types are slow or a pain in the parking lot to deal with. Also trucks but they tend to be more aggressive. I've noticed more speeding and carelessness if anything.

[ringler24]

I take the 17 for about 8 miles at around 7:45 and it has been a breeze. I was at home until October though, but it's noticeably different to me than it was since March.

[cjs123]

As someone who commutes daily from San Tan Valley to Central Phoenix, I can say I have greatly enjoyed lighter traffic since Covid hit (not saying I am glad there is a pandemic!).

At first I couldn't believe how empty both surface streets and highways were. Now traffic has picked up from earlier this year, but it is still nothing like normal.

While it remains a long drive, it is much smoother now. I also find it isn't mentally exhausting, as it can be when there are strings of accidents and stretches of gridlock.

[bawac34618]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

* I've noticed a lot more slow drivers. Not sure if this is because people feel less hurried, if they're high on something, or just oblivious to their surroundings, but I can't believe the number of lead butts I encounter more often now than ever before, and I find there is really no valid reason for this slowness.

I've noticed this as well. The overall flow of traffic did slow down noticeably at the beginning of the pandemic, especially back around early summer, despite traffic being significantly lighter than it was prior to March.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

When I'm at stoplights, I pretty much know which vehicles are being driven by slowpokes without even having to observe the person behind the wheel, or how they drive. In most cases, they are:
* Cars with old faded AZ license plates (usually the ones containing 6 characters instead of 7)
* Cars with handicapped plates, or handicapped placards
* Vehicles with out of state plates
* Older vehicles, usually the smaller ones with V4 engines
* RVs
* Large commercial vehicles (big rigs, trailers, buses, etc.)



Perhaps it's to hide their identity, especially with all the traffic & dash cams in full operation!

What V4 engines???

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by bawac34618

I've noticed this as well. The overall flow of traffic did slow down noticeably at the beginning of the pandemic, especially back around early summer, despite traffic being significantly lighter than it was prior to March.

Yes, and I don't understand this at all. You'd think if the traffic is lighter, the driving would be faster. We certainly don't have much in the way of narrow streets or inclement weather conditions to warrant slower driving.

Originally Posted by motormaker

What V4 engines???

Mainly the older Hondas, Toyotas, Kias, Nissans, etc. A good example is the time I rented a Versa for a summer road trip. Outside of a '90s era Suzuki I drove once, it was one of the most sluggish pieces of junk I ever drove, and it actually jerked when it got up to a certain highway speed. Absolutely no horsepower whatsoever.

[FlurryCat]

Originally Posted by motormaker

What V4 engines???

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Mainly the older Hondas, Toyotas, Kias, Nissans, etc. A good example is the time I rented a Versa for a summer road trip. Outside of a '90s era Suzuki I drove once, it was one of the most sluggish pieces of junk I ever drove, and it actually jerked when it got up to a certain highway speed. Absolutely no horsepower whatsoever.

It's not the "4" that's in question, it's the "V."

[Elna Rae]

Originally Posted by grmi66

I live in an area full of old ladies driving gold Camrys, so used to slow pokes who can't go with the flow of traffic. Have a new class of clueless drivers now. If I see someone driving slowly, erratically or poorly it's a 50/50 shot that they are driving alone in their car with a mask on.

Hilarious.
Mask-wearing, solo drivers are sooooo symbolic of this fearful, paranoid culture that we find ourselves in currently. Pretty obvious who THEY voted for. lol

Originally Posted by FlurryCat

It's not the "4" that's in question, it's the "V."

You know... all of those Saab and Evinrude engines they're putting in cars these days.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by FlurryCat

It's not the "4" that's in question, it's the "V."

I know what you mean, but it was a general statement about smaller framed cars which have a hell of a time getting up to speed (especially the older models). Can't believe how many of these pokemobiles with faded 6 character AZ plates I still see puttering around. At least I can spot them ahead of time so I can try to avoid getting behind them.

Originally Posted by Elna Rae

Hilarious.
Mask-wearing, solo drivers are sooooo symbolic of this fearful, paranoid culture that we find ourselves in currently. Pretty obvious who THEY voted for. lol

Must everything be about politics???
()

[BisexualVegan]

From what I've seen the last few days in Chandler, traffic is maybe half of what is was a year ago. It's been nice for the commute, but my company is now going remote for at least 2021.