Road rage

[runderwo]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/15/road.rage.ap/index.html

I guess they haven't been on U.S. 169 during rush hour?  Or heck, even at any other time of the day.

[sgrizzle]

Traffic on 169 is cake compared to most major metropolitan cities.

[cannon_fodder]

I thought about posting that... but I decided it was really just a list of the largest US cities.  Clearly the largest cities will have more reports of road range - more people (not to mention more traffic).

On a side note:  Tulsa is the only city I've been shot at in due to road rage.

[jdb]

"More than 2,500 drivers who regularly commute in 25 major metropolitan areas were asked to rate road rage and rude driving in telephone surveys between January and March."


Wonder how many respondents were driving at the time?



"...side note: Tulsa is the only city I've been shot at in due to road rage."

Well Hell, swing by anytime and I'll help you out with that. Heck put the post Nazi in your backseat and it'll be a two-fer!

[TheTed]

Tulsa is the only city where I feel like everyone else is trying to kill me when I drive. I've only lived here a year and I have driven in many other major cities.

Some yokels in an old pickup veered into my lane and severely damaged my driver's side mirror on 71st.

Someone lost control on the BA, doing a complete 180 and coming to a stop facing the wrong direction in the left lane.

I nearly plowed into someone when I was returning my uhaul the day I moved in because they blew a stop light.

I also don't get why Tulsa drivers are such bad drivers yet they drive so slow. Hardly anyone speeds on the BA. In Chicago everyone is driving 70-75 on a 55mph expressway.

And I don't even drive on weekdays. This is all during weekend driving around town.

[azbadpuppy]

Tulsa has the most polite drivers I have ever seen. I am always amazed at how couteous everyone is (for the most part) and how people generally don't drive like absolute idiots, going 80 down the freeways like they are the only ones on the road. Slower driving is NOT a bad thing. Unnecessary speeding is selfish and stupid.    

Try driving in Phoenix. I am shocked it wasn't #1 on that list (only #6). People get shot at on the freeways quite often in Phoenix.

[Johnboy976]

You may have driven in some major metropolitan areas, but evidently you didn't drive in Chicago, New York City or Atlanta during rush hour (or at any time, really). They are murder compared to Tulsa traffic.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

I also don't get why Tulsa drivers are such bad drivers yet they drive so slow. Hardly anyone speeds on the BA. In Chicago everyone is driving 70-75 on a 55mph expressway.

It's an Oklahoma thing.  The Pokey Okie phenomenon.  When I lived in western Arkansas I drove through southeastern Oklahoma all the time, and always got behind some moron going 40 in a 65.  I noticed it for the brief time I was in Enid as well.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

Tulsa has the most polite drivers I have ever seen. I am always amazed at how couteous everyone is (for the most part) and how people generally don't drive like absolute idiots, going 80 down the freeways like they are the only ones on the road. Slower driving is NOT a bad thing. Unnecessary speeding is selfish and stupid.    

Try driving in Phoenix. I am shocked it wasn't #1 on that list (only #6). People get shot at on the freeways quite often in Phoenix.

people in Phoenix and other cities know how to drive...it is just perceived as wreckless and speeding by those who don't have a clue.  I consider myself a good driver (by Tulsa standards), but the drivers in Houston are quite amazing.  Hopefully someday I will attain their skills, though they can't be put to much good use here.  What we need here is a plow that comes along every 30 minutes and scrapes off the left lane a**holes who drive 60.

[South_Tulsan]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

Tulsa has the most polite drivers I have ever seen. I am always amazed at how couteous everyone is (for the most part) and how people generally don't drive like absolute idiots, going 80 down the freeways like they are the only ones on the road. Slower driving is NOT a bad thing. Unnecessary speeding is selfish and stupid.    

Try driving in Phoenix. I am shocked it wasn't #1 on that list (only #6). People get shot at on the freeways quite often in Phoenix.

people in Phoenix and other cities know how to drive...it is just perceived as wreckless and speeding by those who don't have a clue.  I consider myself a good driver (by Tulsa standards), but the drivers in Houston are quite amazing.  Hopefully someday I will attain their skills, though they can't be put to much good use here.  What we need here is a plow that comes along every 30 minutes and scrapes off the left lane a**holes who drive 60.

Amen, brother!

I have a theory, but it would take traffic statistics to back it up.

Perhaps the streets of Tulsa have been over-regulated by TPD to the point where the docility level of the typical driver is so high, that they behave in an unsafe manner because they are unable to make quick decisions, or understand fast-moving traffic paterns.

Right-turn on red just after a light change is one example. The light turns red, the left turn lanes activate for the opposing lanes, and the green arrow (if there is one on the pole) comes on for right-turn on red.

Countless times I've been 2nd in line to turn right when this happens, and have to honk at the docile creature in front of me with their right blinker on just sitting there with the green arrow, or watching the cars turn left but not having the mental ability to correlate this into the fact that it is now safe to turn right on red.

And don't get me started on expressway ramp docility that borders on insanely unsafe. The other day an elderly driver braked and then came to a complete stop at the end of a merge ramp leading onto 169! Almost caused a 4-car pile up.

[jdb]

"Almost caused a 4-car pile up." -ST

Keyword being "almost".
There are close calls all day long on every stretch of road across the country.

Aside from the upshot of Chaos Theory, I think it comes down to that one person, out of a handfull on the road, that's paying attention to what's going on.

Even if the only reason that person's paying attention is to have examples to gripe about: it's that one lone driver that spares us all the roadside attraction of strewn bodies along our daily travels.

Austin, TX: one quickly learns the proper hiway ramp entrance speed is three times the posted limit.

Tucson, AZ: One can easily forget the left turn lane rotation is reveresed from everywhere else on the planet.

Halifax, NS: The official global gravitational point for all advanced Hyper-Milers and wayward pedestrians with the ability to magically manifest themselves right in front of you.

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

Tulsa has the most polite drivers I have ever seen. I am always amazed at how couteous everyone is (for the most part) and how people generally don't drive like absolute idiots, going 80 down the freeways like they are the only ones on the road. Slower driving is NOT a bad thing. Unnecessary speeding is selfish and stupid.    

Try driving in Phoenix. I am shocked it wasn't #1 on that list (only #6). People get shot at on the freeways quite often in Phoenix.

people in Phoenix and other cities know how to drive...it is just perceived as wreckless and speeding by those who don't have a clue.  I consider myself a good driver (by Tulsa standards), but the drivers in Houston are quite amazing.  Hopefully someday I will attain their skills, though they can't be put to much good use here.  What we need here is a plow that comes along every 30 minutes and scrapes off the left lane a**holes who drive 60.

Traffic laws are there for a reaon. Just because you *think* you are a good driver doesn't mean you are exempt from them.

Phoenix driving sucks and the people are clueless. Try getting around in a city of nearly 4 million people which consist of a large percentage of illegals with no license or insurance, old people who shouldn't have a license, and dumb clueless soccer moms/dads yapping on their phones. Add to that the fact that practically the entire city is under construction and you got some really good times on the road.

Tulsa (north of 41st street) is actually a pleasant place to drive as it should be.

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by jdb

"Almost caused a 4-car pile up." -ST

Keyword being "almost".
There are close calls all day long on every stretch of road across the country.

Aside from the upshot of Chaos Theory, I think it comes down to that one person, out of a handfull on the road, that's paying attention to what's going on.

Even if the only reason that person's paying attention is to have examples to gripe about: it's that one lone driver that spares us all the roadside attraction of strewn bodies along our daily travels.

Austin, TX: one quickly learns the proper hiway ramp entrance speed is three times the posted limit.

Tucson, AZ: One can easily forget the left turn lane rotation is reveresed from everywhere else on the planet.

Halifax, NS: The official global gravitational point for all advanced Hyper-Milers and wayward pedestrians with the ability to magically manifest themselves right in front of you.

Those 'lagging left' turn arrows actually work really well when you get used to them. Scottsdale, AZ uses them now too.

[jdb]

"Scottsdale, AZ uses them now too."

I saw the advantage the instant I hit Tucson but it took me two or three interscets to get the knack of it.

Downside was every town I went through after leaving. Took a week to get used to the norm again.

Triple didgits in the HOV lanes of Phoenix sounded really impressive until I admitted even the old, blind people (heads even with the dashboard) out there were running 90+.

Perfect timing as the speed cams were turned on the day I rolled out. jdb