My dad and I will be visiting Northern Virginia in a couple weeks for my sister's wedding. We will have a rental car while we are there, and were planning on doing most of our sightseeing via car. My mom and sister live there and have been telling us about how horrific traffic is and just getting around via car in general. While we are from Arizona and many think of us as the "rural west", both my dad and I are born and raised, and have done a large amount of driving, from the Phoenix Metro area which is the 5th/6th largest city in the country. Trust me, I-17 and the Superstition Freeway in rush hour aren't exactly dirt roads of tumbleweeds, there is heavy, heavy traffic. We know that going in, and are prepared and fine with traffic. But is it REALLY as bad as some make it out to be in terms of congestion and getting around? Or is it something that someone like us, familiar with metro areas and heavy congestion out here, will be ok with?
Having driven in Phoenix very extensively and in dc and other eastern cities a bit, the traffic is definitely significantly worse than Phoenix's. That said, you'll be fine, just be prepared for more gridlock than you're used to during rush hour.
I just came back from a trip that ended with three days in Phoenix (and a trip through Prescott en route to Jerome). Based on that trip, the biggest difference I've noted is the general rudeness and aggressive driving here compared to Arizona. Congestion is certainly worse and you can't rely on the distance correlating to the travel time, especially not during rush hour (example: it's about 13 miles to my wife's office from our house, but during rush hour if I'm driving on a day that's not a federal holiday I'd allow an hour), but I don't think the congestion is prohibitive except on certain roads at certain times of day. In fairness, though, I've lived here since 1974 and I know umpteen different ways to get everywhere if something happens to snarl the route I planned to take.
If you don't mind my asking, in what area, generally speaking, do you plan to stay and what do you want to try to see while you're here? If you don't mind providing that sort of information, it will make it easier to give more concrete advice as for tips on routes to take or avoid, times of day to drive, etc.
We are staying in Manassas, and we are trying to get to the Zoo and the National Cathedral on one of the days, possibly the Inner Harbor of Baltimore depending on the weather and what kind of time my sister has available. We will be going into DC to see some things on the Mall and a Capitol tour.
On the Sunday we are there, my dad and I want to take a day trip out to Ocean City, MD and plan on stopping in Annapolis to visit the Naval Academy Museum there. I have been told that traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge can be a big pain, but if we're crossing it at 8am on a Sunday morning, late in October, is it really very bad?
Heading eastbound (towards Ocean City) at 8am on Sunday shouldn't be a problem...but if you're making a daytrip out of it (BTW, it's about 3 hour drive one-way from DC, closer to 4 hours coming from Manassas) you may hit traffic on the return westbound trip.
Traffic is going to be heavier than you're used to, but overall it's not going to be all that bad. Relatively speaking, traffic anywhere from Richmond to Boston is heavier than elsewhere in the country, and millions of people outside of this region drive it without a problem (other than getting confused as to what "EZ Pass Only" means)!
I'd concur with 1995hoo that your biggest difference will be the rampant aggressiveness and, in particular, outright dickheadedness you'll experience from local drivers. While in places like NYC and even Boston you'll certainly get aggressive driving, it can usually be chalked up to a simple attempt at expeditiousness (often a misguided one, but so be it) in the face of widespread congestion. But in DC you'll likely notice a more spiteful, mean-spirited approach; when someone cuts you off there, it will often seem like a direct, personal attack instead of just the unfortunate consequence of you happening to be in someone else's way (and it's perhaps as likely to occur in free-flowing traffic as it is in congestion).
If you're new to the DC area, I'd be on the lookout for the following:
1. Potholes and generally rough road conditions on the secondary roads.
2. Backed up traffic on the interstates and drivers ahead of you NOT using their emergency flashers to let you know the traffic is stopped.
3. Lots of sudden lane drops and exit only lanes.
4. The concept of no true "passing" lanes. Seems that drivers here pass in any lane that is open. Unfortunately, this also means there are a lot of left lane hogs who poke along at 65mph when other drivers want to go faster.
5. If you'll be in Manassas, you'll probably be using VA-28 and I-66. Both of these roads can have really difficult traffic during rush hour.
Quote2. Backed up traffic on the interstates and drivers ahead of you NOT using their emergency flashers to let you know the traffic is stopped.
I'd like to know where in the country this is actually done. I certainly haven't seen it in my (fairly extensive) travels...
Quote3. Lots of sudden lane drops and exit only lanes.
Not really, excluding auxiliary lanes between interchanges.
:pan:
Quote from: froggie on October 12, 2015, 08:07:28 AM
Quote2. Backed up traffic on the interstates and drivers ahead of you NOT using their emergency flashers to let you know the traffic is stopped.
I'd like to know where in the country this is actually done. I certainly haven't seen it in my (fairly extensive) travels...
This is a sure sign someone isn't from the area. I'll see this on occasion too, in a commonly congested area. Clearly the visitor to the area wasn't expecting congestion, and figures no one else may be either, even though it's a normal rush hour.
One would wear out their hazard button if they hit the button everytime they encountered congestion near most cities in the eastern US.
Quote from: Sonic99 on October 11, 2015, 07:19:02 PM
We are staying in Manassas, and we are trying to get to the Zoo and the National Cathedral on one of the days, possibly the Inner Harbor of Baltimore depending on the weather and what kind of time my sister has available. We will be going into DC to see some things on the Mall and a Capitol tour.
....
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond further. I fell asleep on the couch really early last night, but on the plus side I feel like I got one of the best nights' sleep I've had in a long time.
I can't really comment on Ocean City since I've never been there, but I will note that's a REALLY long way to go for a day trip. I'd suggest skipping that in favor of a trip to Annapolis and maybe Baltimore instead. Or, if you want to go over the Bay Bridge as a road-related interest, St. Michaels makes for a nice day trip that's a lot closer than Ocean City. The Blackthorn Irish Pub has excellent fish and chips, too.
Manassas to the Zoo and the cathedral poses a bit of a conundrum in that if you're going to drive, you'll probably want to go relatively early in order to take advantage of HOV-2 on I-66, but when you reach DC your options are limited by rush-hour traffic patterns. Outside the Beltway, the HOV lane doesn't work all that well because it's just the left lane with no separation from the general-purpose lanes. It doesn't move that much faster than the other lanes and as you approach the Beltway it slows to a crawl. Inside the Beltway the entire road is HOV in the peak direction and it does make a difference in travel time, although it still slows down from Exit 67 to Exit 69 because two lanes enter from the right at Exit 67 and the majority of the traffic has to shove left because neither of those lanes becomes a thru lane. (This is not an issue in the afternoon, but note there is a bit of road construction wrapping up in that same area due to a widening project.)
What makes it tricky is that when you reach the District, the best route to both the Zoo and the cathedral is Rock Creek Parkway, but you can't use Rock Creek Parkway during the morning rush hour because it's one-way inbound from 6:45 to 9:30 AM (it's also one-way outbound from 3:45 to 6:30 PM). One alternative to the cathedral would be to take Exit 73 from I-66 onto US-29, then make the last left turn onto Lynn Street, go over Key Bridge into Georgetown, make a right onto M Street, then make a left onto Wisconsin Avenue (there's a bank building with a gold dome on the far left corner). Wisconsin goes right past the cathedral. Note that driving in Georgetown can be very slow and going over Key Bridge can be mildly frustrating due to a ramp merging on the right from the GW Parkway.
The easiest way from the cathedral to the Zoo, IMO, is to go a short distance north from either and go across Macomb Street.
Parking at the Zoo was around $20 or $22 last time I was there, but I'd recommend you pay that rather than taking your chances on the streets. DC is known for its parking enforcement and the restrictions can get tricky. On weekdays, odds are you can probably forget about on-street parking near the Zoo; it's most likely time-limited except for residential permits so as to give local residents a chance to park without being overrun by zoo traffic. I do not know what the current parking arrangements are at the cathedral. My wife said something about there being a new parking garage when she went there for a funeral last year, but she was vague on the details.
If you're headed to the Mall and the Capitol from Manassas, parking can be a mild conundrum. The easiest place to park for the Capitol, if you don't mind walking a half-mile or so, is probably the parking garage at Union Station, and I think the easiest way to get there from Manassas is I-66 to Exit 75 (VA-110), follow that to I-395, follow I-395 into the tunnel under DC, then take the exit IN the tunnel (ceiling-mounted little green sign says "US Capitol"), then exit to the right again at the sign that says "US Senate," then go left onto Louisiana Avenue up to Union Station. You have to make a right at the plaza in front of the station and then stay to the left because the parking garage is around the back. It's a bit of a long walk to most of the Mall, but the parking garages convenient to the Mall tend to fill up with commuters and are also usually expensive. In my mind, it makes less sense to move the car than it does just to suck it up and walk a longer distance or else pay for a cab or Uber when you get tired of walking. (If you've never used Uber but think you might use it while you're here, I can send you a first-time user code for a $20 discount if you send me a PM. I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago to go to the airport and it worked quite well for that purpose.)
Note that in the afternoon, driving west to Manassas is likely to be slowed by sun glare delays. Be careful if this happens because a lot of people will not turn on their headlights.
Edited to add: BTW, regarding rudeness, some of the things you see around here are generally inexplicable. There can be a ton of empty room behind you, yet the guy in the other lane who wants to get over will insist on trying to shove his way in front of you (crossing a gore area if needed), apparently because he'd be admitting "defeat" or something if he slowed down to take his turn. People routinely use turn lanes as thru lanes and try to shove across at the last minute. On I-395 in the mornings, people already on the road will shove right into the onramp acceleration lanes to try to cut ahead two or three carlengths, which causes other people not to want to let anyone else merge. Tailgating is common everywhere, though my unscientific observation is that it tends to be worse in Maryland.
I think the difference between "New York rude" and "DC rude" is that "New York rude" is mostly impatience and a low tolerance for stupidity. If you're been standing on line at McDonald's and you reach the counter and you still don't know what you want to order, New Yorkers will get annoyed at you because you should have made up your mind sooner. (It's similar to the sign at Pat's in Philadelphia that says "Have your money ready" and tells you to do your borrowing while you're waiting on line.) "DC rude" is rudeness just for the sake of what on this forum is sometimes called a "MFFY" outlook.
Regarding the hazard flashers, I'll turn mine on if there is a sudden slowdown in a place where one does not normally occur and the traffic is approaching at high speed, but normally the only time that happens is outside of rush hours.
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 12, 2015, 09:14:35 AM
Regarding the hazard flashers, I'll turn mine on if there is a sudden slowdown in a place where one does not normally occur and the traffic is approaching at high speed, but normally the only time that happens is outside of rush hours.
I'm on board with that, too. I don't usually do it where congestion is expected or is easily visible, but I will do it at unexpected incidents, or where traffic behind me might be likely to see my car before it can see the actual tailend of the congestion. (In fact, yesterday I saw a guy in front of me do it at a backup on I-84 due to an accident. Of course, I had already spotted the much-more-visible police lights and the sea of stopped taillights, but I appreciated his additional effort anyway.)
I've been to OCMD many times, Sonic, and have always enjoyed it, especially the Thrasher's fries (there are a couple of locations on the boards but only the more southerly may be open in late Oct.).
If you insist on doing Ocean City, Sonic, it's 185 miles/3h 26m from Manassas per https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Manassas,+VA/Ocean+City,+MD/@39.156943,-77.6037825,8z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b65b80d465d68b:0x83529b5eb6fbe752!2m2!1d-77.4752667!2d38.7509488!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b8d671ac93de8b:0xb4bc715a3af31672!2m2!1d-75.0849058!2d38.3365032 .
ixnay
Weighing in a little late...
If you're driving into DC during the morning or out of DC during the evening, on a weekday, do not take any of the major routes. Avoid I-95 and US 1 entirely. (1 is even worse SB in the PM than it is NB in the AM.)
If you're driving into DC from about 1 PM-8 PM Saturday, maybe 11 AM-3 PM Sunday; or if you're driving out of DC from about 4 PM-12 AM Saturday, and 2 PM-10 PM Sunday, you will want to seek alternate routes. Not as bad, usually, barring crashes or other incidents, as the weekdays. Usually.
Streets of DC itself, you'll be okay.
DC freeways, if you want to check them out, I would just avoid weekdays. Weekends should be fine.
Ocean City shouldn't be too bad this far off-season.
Quote from: Sonic99 on October 11, 2015, 07:19:02 PM
We are staying in Manassas, and we are trying to get to the Zoo and the National Cathedral on one of the days, possibly the Inner Harbor of Baltimore depending on the weather and what kind of time my sister has available. We will be going into DC to see some things on the Mall and a Capitol tour.
On the Sunday we are there, my dad and I want to take a day trip out to Ocean City, MD and plan on stopping in Annapolis to visit the Naval Academy Museum there. I have been told that traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge can be a big pain, but if we're crossing it at 8am on a Sunday morning, late in October, is it really very bad?
Quote from: empirestate on October 11, 2015, 10:28:27 PM
I'd concur with 1995hoo that your biggest difference will be the rampant aggressiveness and, in particular, outright dickheadedness you'll experience from local drivers. While in places like NYC and even Boston you'll certainly get aggressive driving, it can usually be chalked up to a simple attempt at expeditiousness (often a misguided one, but so be it) in the face of widespread congestion. But in DC you'll likely notice a more spiteful, mean-spirited approach; when someone cuts you off there, it will often seem like a direct, personal attack instead of just the unfortunate consequence of you happening to be in someone else's way (and it's perhaps as likely to occur in free-flowing traffic as it is in congestion).
There are a lot of District of Columbia drivers that are rude, aggressive and bad, all rolled into one.
Quote from: Sonic99 on October 11, 2015, 07:19:02 PM
We are staying in Manassas, and we are trying to get to the Zoo and the National Cathedral on one of the days, possibly the Inner Harbor of Baltimore depending on the weather and what kind of time my sister has available. We will be going into DC to see some things on the Mall and a Capitol tour.
Quote from: Sonic99 on October 11, 2015, 07:19:02 PM
On the Sunday we are there, my dad and I want to take a day trip out to Ocean City, MD and plan on stopping in Annapolis to visit the Naval Academy Museum there. I have been told that traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge can be a big pain, but if we're crossing it at 8am on a Sunday morning, late in October, is it really very bad?
Also late to the conversation, and I repeat some of what has been said above.
A few thoughts:
0. A GPS navigation program that can use congestion to give you routing advice is your friend. I use TomTom on an Android device, but there are others out there as well.
1. I-66.
I-66 between Manassas and Washington, D.C. can be
extremely congested on any day. There are HOV lanes (west of I-495 (outside the Beltway), HOV-2 in the left lane; east of I-495 (inside the Beltway), HOV-2, all lanes (mostly a two-lane road)).
HOV runs 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM eastbound outside the Beltway and 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM inside the Beltway.
HOV runs 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM westbound outside the Beltway and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM inside the Beltway.
HOV lanes do not operate weekends and holidays.
2. The National Zoo is big, but parking should be available this time of year. Plan on several hours there. Travel time from Manassas to the Zoo is at least an hour. Best to arrive when the place opens.
The National Cathedral has a lot of interesting things to see, but does not take as long. The Inner Harbor Area of Baltimore is also interesting - it is about an hour one way from the Zoo to Baltimore, one way.
3. There is little or no parking right around the U.S. Capitol. It is also tough to find parking on the National Mall, though there is some. Check to make sure they offer tours on the day you plan to visit.
4. Manassas to Annapolis is over an hour, even when there is little traffic. Check the Naval Academy Web site for hours of operation. Parking in Annapolis can be tough (it is an old, colonial city).
5. Manassas to Ocean City is a long drive. Over
3 hours one-way. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is
not usually a problem this time of year.
Do not drive this bridge if you have a fear of heights.
Don't forget that there are red-light and speed cameras pretty much everywhere. You'll want to be careful with those.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on October 12, 2015, 10:01:15 PM
Don't forget that there are red-light and speed cameras pretty much everywhere. You'll want to be careful with those.
Much more so in the District of Columbia. They are not currently allowed in Virginia, and Maryland has them in some places. TomTom is pretty good about warning of speed and red light cameras.
Quote from: froggie on October 12, 2015, 08:07:28 AM
Quote2. Backed up traffic on the interstates and drivers ahead of you NOT using their emergency flashers to let you know the traffic is stopped.
I'd like to know where in the country this is actually done. I certainly haven't seen it in my (fairly extensive) travels...
I'll do it occasionally on a rural freeway or in very bad weather when there's no obvious reason for the slowdown (i.e. no construction signage), since people aren't expecting I-75 in podunk rural Georgia to scream to a halt from 75+ with no notice. But I wouldn't do it on the ATL downtown connector at 5 pm on a weekday...
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 12, 2015, 10:08:04 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on October 12, 2015, 10:01:15 PM
Don't forget that there are red-light and speed cameras pretty much everywhere. You'll want to be careful with those.
Much more so in the District of Columbia. They are not currently allowed in Virginia, and Maryland has them in some places. TomTom is pretty good about warning of speed and red light cameras.
Virginia does have red-light cameras in places, though not all jurisdictions use them. No speed cameras in Virginia. Maryland's speed cameras are required by state law to allow a 12-mph cushion (eg, if the speed limit is 65, you can go 76 without the camera nailing you, though I wouldn't push it that close for fear of speedometer error). DC doesn't say what tolerance they allow, but I don't trust them to calibrate the cameras properly because I recall some incident a few years back where a DC camera was set for a speed limit 10 mph lower than the actual posted limit.
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 12, 2015, 10:55:18 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 12, 2015, 10:08:04 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on October 12, 2015, 10:01:15 PM
Don't forget that there are red-light and speed cameras pretty much everywhere. You'll want to be careful with those.
Much more so in the District of Columbia. They are not currently allowed in Virginia, and Maryland has them in some places. TomTom is pretty good about warning of speed and red light cameras.
Virginia does have red-light cameras in places, though not all jurisdictions use them. No speed cameras in Virginia. Maryland's speed cameras are required by state law to allow a 12-mph cushion (eg, if the speed limit is 65, you can go 76 without the camera nailing you, though I wouldn't push it that close for fear of speedometer error). DC doesn't say what tolerance they allow, but I don't trust them to calibrate the cameras properly because I recall some incident a few years back where a DC camera was set for a speed limit 10 mph lower than the actual posted limit.
I wonder if the independent cities are different here because I've definitely seen red light cameras in Falls Church. They even have signs saying "photo enforced."
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 13, 2015, 06:57:35 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 12, 2015, 10:55:18 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 12, 2015, 10:08:04 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on October 12, 2015, 10:01:15 PM
Don't forget that there are red-light and speed cameras pretty much everywhere. You'll want to be careful with those.
Much more so in the District of Columbia. They are not currently allowed in Virginia, and Maryland has them in some places. TomTom is pretty good about warning of speed and red light cameras.
Virginia does have red-light cameras in places, though not all jurisdictions use them. No speed cameras in Virginia. Maryland's speed cameras are required by state law to allow a 12-mph cushion (eg, if the speed limit is 65, you can go 76 without the camera nailing you, though I wouldn't push it that close for fear of speedometer error). DC doesn't say what tolerance they allow, but I don't trust them to calibrate the cameras properly because I recall some incident a few years back where a DC camera was set for a speed limit 10 mph lower than the actual posted limit.
I wonder if the independent cities are different here because I've definitely seen red light cameras in Falls Church. They even have signs saying "photo enforced."
I said red-light cameras are in use in places. I know Falls Church and Alexandria have them. (Alexandria has them at consecutive intersections on southbound Route 1 at Gibbon Street and Franklin Street.) I'm pretty sure Fairfax City has at least one. Fairfax County used to use them; while they're still in place at a few intersections in the county, they're not currently active. I believe Richmond and Chesapeake use them. Other cities and counties may (I would not be surprised at all to learn Arlington uses them).
When the General Assembly first passed a bill allowing them, the number of cameras a jurisdiction could use was tied to population–I think it was one camera per 10,000 residents except in Northern Virginia. I don't recall the details nor whether that limitation still applies.
Arlington has them. In fact, they just installing (or are nearing completion) of a red-light camera at Columbia Pike & Glebe Road. I welcome them.
Alexandria has one on Duke Street near the Landmark Mall.
Quote from: AlpsIf you're driving into DC during the morning or out of DC during the evening, on a weekday, do not take any of the major routes. Avoid I-95 and US 1 entirely.
Even during rush hour, I-95 is not horrible between DC and Baltimore unless there's an incident. It would be more prudent to avoid MD 295/B-W Pkwy during rush hour than I-95.
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 12, 2015, 10:55:18 PM
DC doesn't say what tolerance they allow, but I don't trust them to calibrate the cameras properly because I recall some incident a few years back where a DC camera was set for a speed limit 10 mph lower than the actual posted limit.
I have heard 6 MPH or 7 MPH. But it is pretty obvious to me that automated speed enforcement in D.C. is mostly about revenue, not safety.
As usual, the best way to not indulge any revenue-seeking aspects of speed cameras is simply to not speed.
Besides, it's not like SE-SW Freeway and 295 are interstates in the Midwest. They've got a lot of vestiges of the pre-Interstate era and have many awkward movements and geometries.
I took the capital beltway this weekend and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Traffic moved at a good rate and the only bad thing were very aggressive drivers. When we got to the beltway it was about 8:30 PM but coming back on Sunday when we caught it at about 3 PM it was fine as well.
Of course, we hit about 3 slowdowns in Northern Virginia alone on I-95 which added at least 45 minutes to our return trip. It seems like either there's too many people for that highway or those people are terrible at driving!
Quote from: empirestate on October 11, 2015, 10:28:27 PM
I'd concur with 1995hoo that your biggest difference will be the rampant aggressiveness and, in particular, outright dickheadedness you'll experience from local drivers. While in places like NYC and even Boston you'll certainly get aggressive driving, it can usually be chalked up to a simple attempt at expeditiousness (often a misguided one, but so be it) in the face of widespread congestion. But in DC you'll likely notice a more spiteful, mean-spirited approach; when someone cuts you off there, it will often seem like a direct, personal attack instead of just the unfortunate consequence of you happening to be in someone else's way (and it's perhaps as likely to occur in free-flowing traffic as it is in congestion).
This is interesting. I remember feeling this way about Boston drivers when I moved here. New York drivers, I felt, drove aggressively because it was simply accepted as the way to do things. In Boston, on the other hand, it was an opportunity to stick it to your neighbor.
People here told me I had it backwards. Now I'm reading that it's DC drivers that are assholes, and New York and Boston people are just going with the flow.
I guess this is a very effective demonstration of the power of perspective.
too many transplanted Midwesterners who leave large gaps between cars on the highways. I usually shoot those gaps because everyone else does, so I don't see any point in falling behind.
It's really not that horrible, unless you're on 50 going eastbound on a nice summer weekend.
Something else that might be worth noting for someone not from Virginia: VDOT is extremely picky about allowing right turns on red* only from the far right lane. Almost invariably there will be one of two signs–either a sign next to the rightmost lane (or its signal head) saying turns on red are allowed only from that lane, or else a sign next to the signal head for the second lane saying turns on red aren't allowed from that lane. The wording varies, and the signs are sometimes hard to see at night, but you'll quickly notice that most of the time in Virginia everyone gets into the far right lane whenever there are dual right-turn lanes. The reason is because all the local drivers know you can't go right on red from the other lane.
I haven't noticed the same paranoia about signing this restriction so religiously in other states, and I know whether there's a prohibition varies from state to state (Ohio allows turns from the second lane unless there's a sign: http://www.cleveland.com/roadrant/index.ssf/2010/07/right_on_red_riddle_is_solved.html ), so I thought I'd mention it just so you don't think you've found some great shortcut when there's nobody lined up in the second lane from the right. (Sometimes it is faster just to wait it out, but not always.)
*I can think of at least two intersections in Northern Virginia where there are multiple left-turn lanes from one-way streets into one-way streets, yet at neither of them is there a sign prohibiting left turns on red from the second lane. I don't know whether this is an oversight on VDOT's part or whether it's just a recognition that the vast majority of drivers don't know left on red is ever legal. I can think of one intersection with lefts on red where there's a "No Turn on Red When Pedestrians Are Present" sign.
Quote from: AlexandriaVA on October 13, 2015, 11:50:44 AM
too many transplanted Midwesterners who leave large gaps between cars on the highways. I usually shoot those gaps because everyone else does, so I don't see any point in falling behind.
Gaps more than the conservative car-length-per-10mph, right? If you "shoot gaps" smaller than that, the point is that you're playing with the lives of other people.
I get the reasoning that if you don't do it someone else will, but when you put people down for leaving a safe gap it comes across like you're putting yourself above basic physics.
I have tons of gripes.
People who go 6+ under the limit. We are all in a hurry, if I had to, I'd probably crash into you.
Right lane hoggers/people with no common sense. There's a lane right next to you and this lane is backed up? Then use it.
The Sliders. Take the next exit, I don't care if you merged 1 foot from the exit you want. No way you are weaving there.
Unnecessary lane closures. I have a flat tire, but would I even close 3 lanes of traffic?
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 13, 2015, 11:38:23 AM
Quote from: empirestate on October 11, 2015, 10:28:27 PM
I'd concur with 1995hoo that your biggest difference will be the rampant aggressiveness and, in particular, outright dickheadedness you'll experience from local drivers. While in places like NYC and even Boston you'll certainly get aggressive driving, it can usually be chalked up to a simple attempt at expeditiousness (often a misguided one, but so be it) in the face of widespread congestion. But in DC you'll likely notice a more spiteful, mean-spirited approach; when someone cuts you off there, it will often seem like a direct, personal attack instead of just the unfortunate consequence of you happening to be in someone else's way (and it's perhaps as likely to occur in free-flowing traffic as it is in congestion).
This is interesting. I remember feeling this way about Boston drivers when I moved here. New York drivers, I felt, drove aggressively because it was simply accepted as the way to do things. In Boston, on the other hand, it was an opportunity to stick it to your neighbor.
People here told me I had it backwards. Now I'm reading that it's DC drivers that are assholes, and New York and Boston people are just going with the flow.
I guess this is a very effective demonstration of the power of perspective.
No, I quite agree. I had the same perception–and still do–of Boston drivers when I lived there for 3 1/2 years, after having also lived in New York City. In particular, I observed that conflicts between drivers and pedestrians tended to be carried out on a more personal level than they were in New York.
But after visiting the DC area later in life, I found it takes the cake over both of them.
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
...
Anyway, one of mine is with people who don't know/can't decide where they're going and don't read signage. These are the people cutting across gores or come up to an intersection in a straight lane and then stop at a green light because they suddenly decide they need to turn left and have to inconvenience those that used the left-turn lane and those people now stuck behind them.
Frankly, both in Boston and NYC, I see this peeve causing more of the perception that drivers are mean in those cities, when in reality, it's the doofus driving around cluelessly that's the real problem. My experience in both Boston and NYC is that as long as you know where you're going and communicate such to your fellow drivers, drivers are actually quite accommodating. When you start straddling lanes due to indecision or didn't take the time to figure out where you're going beforehand and inconvenience the rest of us, yeah, we'll let you know that as well. So, the doofus heads back home and tells his friends that us Northeasterners are jerks and whatnot. Oh well.
I'm going to have to exempt Connecticut drivers from my defense, here, though. Those over-insured turkeys are the ones that also contribute to the idea that NYC drivers are horrible. Nope, it's those hyper-aggressive blue plates bolting into the City and cutting us all off that tick us
all off. If more outsiders realized that the Connecticut drivers are the problem in the Northeast, we could ally our forces against a common enemy. But, unfortunately, people think New Yorkers and whoever else are the culprits, thus letting the truly criminal and despicable drivers escape unscathed.
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
....
Anyway, one of mine is with people who don't know/can't decide where they're going and don't read signage. These are the people cutting across gores or come up to an intersection in a straight lane and then stop at a green light because they suddenly decide they need to turn left and have to inconvenience those that used the left-turn lane and those people now stuck behind them.
....
I've sometimes wondered if there's some sort of societal phenomenon that's caused people to become more obnoxious about this sort of thing. Once upon a time if you realized you were in the turn lane and couldn't get over, or if you were too far over to make your exit on the highway, you simply made the turn (in the turn lane example) and either cut a U-turn when possible or went around the block, or you went on to the next exit and worked your way back either via an alternate route or by getting back on the highway going the other way. Nowadays that doesn't seem to happen anymore. People will stop in whatever lane they're in, not caring how much traffic they block, because they're determined to get over. If you honk at them because they're blocking your turn, they give you the finger.
Sometimes it's clear enough it's a genuine mistake. There's a lane near my house that starts as a thru lane and becomes left-turn-only without sufficient warning (the only sign advising it will become a turn lane is placed to the far RIGHT, across three lanes of traffic). Mistakes will happen there, though I still believe it's unacceptable to sit there blocking the turn lane because you wanted to go straight. Make the left turn and then turn around or go through the nearby high school.
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Frankly, both in Boston and NYC, I see this peeve causing more of the perception that drivers are mean in those cities, when in reality, it's the doofus driving around cluelessly that's the real problem. My experience in both Boston and NYC is that as long as you know where you're going and communicate such to your fellow drivers, drivers are actually quite accommodating. When you start straddling lanes due to indecision or didn't take the time to figure out where you're going beforehand and inconvenience the rest of us, yeah, we'll let you know that as well. So, the doofus heads back home and tells his friends that us Northeasterners are jerks and whatnot. Oh well.
I'm going to have to exempt Connecticut drivers from my defense, here, though. Those over-insured turkeys are the ones that also contribute to the idea that NYC drivers are horrible. Nope, it's those hyper-aggressive blue plates bolting into the City and cutting us all off that tick us all off. If more outsiders realized that the Connecticut drivers are the problem in the Northeast, we could ally our forces against a common enemy. But, unfortunately, people think New Yorkers and whoever else are the culprits, thus letting the truly criminal and despicable drivers escape unscathed.
Oh man, nothing more terrifying than a German car with Connecticut plates in your mirror! ;-)
One thing I will add about New York drivers is that there is an unwritten set of rules that is acceptable to disregard, at least in certain instances and at certain times, while others are steadfastly adhered to. I have a tough time processing exactly what that set of rules is, and of course it tends to conflict directly with established rules of the road–and quite often common sense. Lane use is an obvious example: it's no surprise that New Yorkers will drive and pass in any lane they feel is most expedient (often wrongly, as an empty lane just lets you reach traffic quicker and thus sit in it longer), which is fine with me most of the time. But it gets annoying when you're the guy actually trying to follow the rules; you get a lot of people trying to zoom around you just as you're trying to get out of their way, so they get stuck behind you some more and now they're all pissed off when they could have just done it the right way and been long gone done the road by now. And sitting in the next line of traffic. :-P
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 14, 2015, 10:12:31 AM
I've sometimes wondered if there's some sort of societal phenomenon that's caused people to become more obnoxious about this sort of thing. Once upon a time if you realized you were in the turn lane and couldn't get over, or if you were too far over to make your exit on the highway, you simply made the turn (in the turn lane example) and either cut a U-turn when possible or went around the block, or you went on to the next exit and worked your way back either via an alternate route or by getting back on the highway going the other way. Nowadays that doesn't seem to happen anymore. People will stop in whatever lane they're in, not caring how much traffic they block, because they're determined to get over. If you honk at them because they're blocking your turn, they give you the finger.
Sometimes it's clear enough it's a genuine mistake. There's a lane near my house that starts as a thru lane and becomes left-turn-only without sufficient warning (the only sign advising it will become a turn lane is placed to the far RIGHT, across three lanes of traffic). Mistakes will happen there, though I still believe it's unacceptable to sit there blocking the turn lane because you wanted to go straight. Make the left turn and then turn around or go through the nearby high school.
I think it's a combination of not knowing how to interact with fellow humans (let's blame the video games that many adult drivers today grew up on), combined with genuinely not knowing how else to solve the problem (blame technology for giving us so much access to information that we actually use less of it than ever before).
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 14, 2015, 10:12:31 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
....
Anyway, one of mine is with people who don't know/can't decide where they're going and don't read signage. These are the people cutting across gores or come up to an intersection in a straight lane and then stop at a green light because they suddenly decide they need to turn left and have to inconvenience those that used the left-turn lane and those people now stuck behind them.
....
I've sometimes wondered if there's some sort of societal phenomenon that's caused people to become more obnoxious about this sort of thing. Once upon a time if you realized you were in the turn lane and couldn't get over, or if you were too far over to make your exit on the highway, you simply made the turn (in the turn lane example) and either cut a U-turn when possible or went around the block, or you went on to the next exit and worked your way back either via an alternate route or by getting back on the highway going the other way. Nowadays that doesn't seem to happen anymore. People will stop in whatever lane they're in, not caring how much traffic they block, because they're determined to get over. If you honk at them because they're blocking your turn, they give you the finger.
Because no one wants to tell them they did wrong.
If you tell other people what you did, and then add in "and those people behind me were honking their horns so I just made them wait", you can bet nearly all of their friends will say "Yeah, that's right. It's only a minute. What's the rush".
The same people will also bitch "some asshole was blocking me today because they wanted to turn left from the straight lane. Why can't they just go straight and make a U-turn", and the same friends will say "Yeah, why is it always about them?"
Maybe if someone would say "You know, you could've just gone to the next intersection and made a U-turn", then they would realize (maybe) that their actions were wrong. But since no one wants to be the 'No' person, everyone just figures they have the encouragement of their peers to do whatever they want to do.
BTW, I'm not one of those people. I'll listen to my carpool mates complain about other traffic, but every once in a while I have to chime in. Last week, for example, someone was complaining how another car "sped up" and wouldn't let him merge left. After a few moments, I finally said, "Well, you did have the yield sign, then wanted to get over 2 lanes at once. He had the right-of-way, not you".
Quote from: jeffandnicole on October 12, 2015, 09:08:25 AM
:pan:Quote from: froggie on October 12, 2015, 08:07:28 AM
Quote2. Backed up traffic on the interstates and drivers ahead of you NOT using their emergency flashers to let you know the traffic is stopped.
I'd like to know where in the country this is actually done. I certainly haven't seen it in my (fairly extensive) travels...
This is a sure sign someone isn't from the area. I'll see this on occasion too, in a commonly congested area. Clearly the visitor to the area wasn't expecting congestion, and figures no one else may be either, even though it's a normal rush hour.
One would wear out their hazard button if they hit the button everytime they encountered congestion near most cities in the eastern US.
Oh, yeah. I was never taught that and I have never done it.
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
...
Anyway, one of mine is with people who don't know/can't decide where they're going and don't read signage. These are the people cutting across gores or come up to an intersection in a straight lane and then stop at a green light because they suddenly decide they need to turn left and have to inconvenience those that used the left-turn lane and those people now stuck behind them.
Frankly, both in Boston and NYC, I see this peeve causing more of the perception that drivers are mean in those cities, when in reality, it's the doofus driving around cluelessly that's the real problem. My experience in both Boston and NYC is that as long as you know where you're going and communicate such to your fellow drivers, drivers are actually quite accommodating. When you start straddling lanes due to indecision or didn't take the time to figure out where you're going beforehand and inconvenience the rest of us, yeah, we'll let you know that as well. So, the doofus heads back home and tells his friends that us Northeasterners are jerks and whatnot. Oh well.
I'm going to have to exempt Connecticut drivers from my defense, here, though. Those over-insured turkeys are the ones that also contribute to the idea that NYC drivers are horrible. Nope, it's those hyper-aggressive blue plates bolting into the City and cutting us all off that tick us all off. If more outsiders realized that the Connecticut drivers are the problem in the Northeast, we could ally our forces against a common enemy. But, unfortunately, people think New Yorkers and whoever else are the culprits, thus letting the truly criminal and despicable drivers escape unscathed.
He's right.
Back on topic, if you're going to the National Mall, Zoo, and National Cathedral, your best bet might be to take public transportation. If you're staying in Manassas, park at the end of the Orange Line (Vienna), pay $4.85 for parking and get 2 day passes at $14.50 each. You won't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic or finding your way around and it would probably take the same amount of time, if not less. If you don't like traffic, this might be your best bet. Parking near the Mall is quite scarce and expensive. If you drove everywhere, you'd probably be talking over $40 for parking.
When moving from DC to Newport News in late 1991, I was very frustrated with the Friday night commute down to the new house: Once south of Fredericksburg, the speed was quite connsisstant on a lane by lane basis, the problem was in a 65 zone it was right lane 45, center lane 55, left lane 75. None of which was an enjoyable experience. I started bailing for US1
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 15, 2015, 05:54:28 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Interesting. I'm a bit conflicted about this. I can TOTALLY understand the annoyance, but then again, if a driver is going to be slow, then the right lane is the right place to do it. Maybe they are following those "slower traffic keep right" signs carefully? Since I almost always drive in the left lane (I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road), I typically don't have this problem.
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 15, 2015, 05:54:28 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Who do you not "hit the gas" to pass, if I may ask?
Aren't slow cars easy to pass?
Maybe I just haven't had this problem yet.
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 09:09:53 PM
I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road
That seems to be true of everybody where I live. ;-)
iPhone
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PM
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
So you're saying he's like one of those old guys who poses as a kid in order to lure in children for illegal purposes?
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PM
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
:|
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Frankly, both in Boston and NYC, I see this peeve causing more of the perception that drivers are mean in those cities, when in reality, it's the doofus driving around cluelessly that's the real problem. My experience in both Boston and NYC is that as long as you know where you're going and communicate such to your fellow drivers, drivers are actually quite accommodating. When you start straddling lanes due to indecision or didn't take the time to figure out where you're going beforehand and inconvenience the rest of us, yeah, we'll let you know that as well. So, the doofus heads back home and tells his friends that us Northeasterners are jerks and whatnot. Oh well.
I'm going to have to exempt Connecticut drivers from my defense, here, though. Those over-insured turkeys are the ones that also contribute to the idea that NYC drivers are horrible. Nope, it's those hyper-aggressive blue plates bolting into the City and cutting us all off that tick us all off. If more outsiders realized that the Connecticut drivers are the problem in the Northeast, we could ally our forces against a common enemy. But, unfortunately, people think New Yorkers and whoever else are the culprits, thus letting the truly criminal and despicable drivers escape unscathed.
I'd say that Connecticut does indeed have a fairly high proportion of drivers whose road habits reflect a certain sense of self-entitlement. This attitude is, perhaps, a bit more common in certain locales behind the Nutmeg Curtain. (Parts of Fairfield County, perhaps?)
I've found metro New York local drivers to be aggressive, but not crazy once you comprehend that they are all mostly following the same set of (unwritten, but understood) rules.
Massachusetts and New Jersey drivers, however....while many/most of them are fine, I wonder if the rate of driving-idiocy in those states might be a touch higher than in other nearby states. I remember one trip where I was not only stuck in a rubber-necking induced traffic jam on the Garden State, but I saw people actually stop and get out of their cars to gawk at the wreck on the other side of the parkway....
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PMI doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
Kids and trolls sometimes resemble one another. :)
Quote from: empirestate on October 15, 2015, 10:41:10 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 09:09:53 PM
I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road
That seems to be true of everybody where I live. ;-)
iPhone
Well, it used to be closer to 90%, but one-too-many tickets has cured my leadfoot somewhat.
Actually, I do wish the Fairfax County Police and Virginia Highway Patrol would be more aggressive about people going WAAAAYY over the speed limit on 495 though. I don't think it's safe to do 90 on that road at ANY time of the day!
"Virginia State Police," FWIW. There is no "highway patrol" here. I do find it odd that with the insistence on using the term "Commonwealth" whenever possible (you'll even get marked down if you refer to the "State" instead of the "Commonwealth" on the bar exam), they nevertheless say "State Police."
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 16, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
Quote from: empirestate on October 15, 2015, 10:41:10 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 09:09:53 PM
I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road
iPhone
Well, it used to be closer to 90%, but one-too-many tickets has cured my leadfoot somewhat.
Actually, I do wish the Fairfax County Police and Virginia Highway Patrol would be more aggressive about people going WAAAAYY over the speed limit on 495 though. I don't think it's safe to do 90 on that road at ANY time of the day!
Well they caught Jayson Werth going 110 one night, and he still got jail-time despite him playing for the Nationals.
That seems to be true of everybody where I live. ;-)
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 15, 2015, 10:29:45 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 15, 2015, 05:54:28 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Who do you not "hit the gas" to pass, if I may ask?
Aren't slow cars easy to pass?
Maybe I just haven't had this problem yet.
Well these guys come in groups (around 4 or so cars - give or take). The problem is that slower trucks also try to pass them but end up being slower than those guys, meaning both lanes are blocked. That's why they're hard to pass, due to trucks being slower than these guys, and hogging the left lane. Hence why I call them "right lane hoggers".
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PM
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
To answer your question, I am in 6th grade so far. Yes, I am 11. The only reason why I know quite a bit about driving is because I've watched my dad drive several times, ask questions on how to sometimes, and also I usually take shotgun.
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 16, 2015, 01:35:28 PM
and also I usually take shotgun.
That still legal in the era of airbags?
Quote from: vdeane on October 16, 2015, 01:49:37 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 16, 2015, 01:35:28 PM
and also I usually take shotgun.
That still legal in the era of airbags?
PA law seems to say that I can be in the front seat as long as I'm older than 8. Well over that age now.
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 16, 2015, 01:35:28 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 15, 2015, 10:29:45 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 15, 2015, 05:54:28 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Who do you not "hit the gas" to pass, if I may ask?
Aren't slow cars easy to pass?
Maybe I just haven't had this problem yet.
Well these guys come in groups (around 4 or so cars - give or take). The problem is that slower trucks also try to pass them but end up being slower than those guys, meaning both lanes are blocked. That's why they're hard to pass, due to trucks being slower than these guys, and hogging the left lane. Hence why I call them "right lane hoggers".
Surely it's the truckers' fault for trying to pass when his truck is actually just as slow as the vehicle in the right lane where it belongs?
Quote
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PM
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
To answer your question, I am in 6th grade so far. Yes, I am 11. The only reason why I know quite a bit about driving is because I've watched my dad drive several times, ask questions on how to sometimes, and also I usually take shotgun.
Wow, you type really well for a 6th grader.
Quote from: kkt on October 16, 2015, 02:32:46 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 16, 2015, 01:35:28 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 15, 2015, 10:29:45 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 15, 2015, 05:54:28 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 07:05:24 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 14, 2015, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on October 13, 2015, 09:20:40 PM
Right lane hoggers
Well, that's a new one.
Yeah, I saw this too. What is this?
My guess is the person who stays in the right lane and doesn't move over to the next lane on the left to allow merging traffic to enter the mainline safely.
A right lane hogger is groups of tailgaters who never wants to get out of the right lane and is so slow that you can't pass them because of them forever going under the speed limit and having no space to overtake even one car. Also, they block you from merging in the highway, even though the left lane is clear, but they never go into the left lane. You pretty much have to hit the gas to pass these guys. They always stay in the right lane and are impossible to pass because they're so slow, and they block merging traffic (to sum it up).
Who do you not "hit the gas" to pass, if I may ask?
Aren't slow cars easy to pass?
Maybe I just haven't had this problem yet.
Well these guys come in groups (around 4 or so cars - give or take). The problem is that slower trucks also try to pass them but end up being slower than those guys, meaning both lanes are blocked. That's why they're hard to pass, due to trucks being slower than these guys, and hogging the left lane. Hence why I call them "right lane hoggers".
Surely it's the truckers' fault for trying to pass when his truck is actually just as slow as the vehicle in the right lane where it belongs?
Quote
Quote from: Rothman on October 15, 2015, 10:37:59 PM
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
Quote from: froggie on October 15, 2015, 10:06:04 PM
I find it fascinating that a kid who isn't even within 5 years of driving has such a knowledge of driving (even if he contradicts himself in the same sentence, as he did in his description)...
I doubt that he's a kid, truth be told.
To answer your question, I am in 6th grade so far. Yes, I am 11. The only reason why I know quite a bit about driving is because I've watched my dad drive several times, ask questions on how to sometimes, and also I usually take shotgun.
Wow, you type really well for a 6th grader.
You say that like you're surprised. I have younger siblings in 10th, 9th, and 6th grades. Every one of them runs circles around people when getting into arguments online.
Quote from: cl94 on October 16, 2015, 02:44:02 PM
You say that like you're surprised. I have younger siblings in 10th, 9th, and 6th grades. Every one of them runs circles around people when getting into arguments online.
Yeah, but most of them make more typos or just don't give a damn about correcting them. It's hard to type well with just your thumbs.
Quote from: kkt on October 16, 2015, 03:29:32 PM
Quote from: cl94 on October 16, 2015, 02:44:02 PM
You say that like you're surprised. I have younger siblings in 10th, 9th, and 6th grades. Every one of them runs circles around people when getting into arguments online.
Yeah, but most of them make more typos or just don't give a damn about correcting them. It's hard to type well with just your thumbs.
I found that when I was 16, my 13 year old cousin was the most grammatically correct typist on the Internet. An intelligent young kid doesn't yet feel comfortable enough to take liberties with punctuation and capitalization. The various u's and lol's and such generally creep in at a later age.
I'm convinced it's worse than the New York Metro Area.
Quote from: Alps on October 16, 2015, 08:08:09 PM
Quote from: kkt on October 16, 2015, 03:29:32 PM
Quote from: cl94 on October 16, 2015, 02:44:02 PM
You say that like you're surprised. I have younger siblings in 10th, 9th, and 6th grades. Every one of them runs circles around people when getting into arguments online.
Yeah, but most of them make more typos or just don't give a damn about correcting them. It's hard to type well with just your thumbs.
I found that when I was 16, my 13 year old cousin was the most grammatically correct typist on the Internet. An intelligent young kid doesn't yet feel comfortable enough to take liberties with punctuation and capitalization. The various u's and lol's and such generally creep in at a later age.
Oh, good, I'm glad to know my kid is advanced for her age. :clap:
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 16, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
Quote from: empirestate on October 15, 2015, 10:41:10 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 09:09:53 PM
I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road
That seems to be true of everybody where I live. ;-)
iPhone
Well, it used to be closer to 90%, but one-too-many tickets has cured my leadfoot somewhat.
Actually, I do wish the Fairfax County Police and Virginia Highway Patrol would be more aggressive about people going WAAAAYY over the speed limit on 495 though. I don't think it's safe to do 90 on that road at ANY time of the day!
The faster I go, the more paranoid I get. I would go 65 in a 55 at times and sweat bullets depending on where I am, but at times I've gone 80 in a 65 and never felt nervous. But I wouldn't go any faster.
On the subject of DC, when I was there last year traffic was about LOS B-C. I didn't have issues getting from NE Va to the Capital.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 16, 2015, 12:16:08 AM
Quote from: empirestate on October 15, 2015, 10:41:10 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on October 15, 2015, 09:09:53 PM
I drive faster than about 75% of the other cars on the road
That seems to be true of everybody where I live. ;-)
iPhone
Well, it used to be closer to 90%, but one-too-many tickets has cured my leadfoot somewhat.
Yeah, I'd definitely say about 90% of the drivers here go faster than 75% of everybody else. :-P
Certain Interstates in the area are more-or-less up to modern Interstate standards, such as 495, while other Interstates are not, such as 395. I don't have any issues going fast on the Beltway, but there's definitely an upper bound I can comfortable operate at on 395 due to things like exit frequency, lane width, hills, etc. SE-SW Freeway and 295 are the same (even if speed cameras were not in place).
Quote from: Sonic99 on October 11, 2015, 03:10:10 PM
My dad and I will be visiting Northern Virginia in a couple weeks for my sister's wedding. We will have a rental car while we are there, and were planning on doing most of our sightseeing via car. My mom and sister live there and have been telling us about how horrific traffic is and just getting around via car in general. While we are from Arizona and many think of us as the "rural west", both my dad and I are born and raised, and have done a large amount of driving, from the Phoenix Metro area which is the 5th/6th largest city in the country. Trust me, I-17 and the Superstition Freeway in rush hour aren't exactly dirt roads of tumbleweeds, there is heavy, heavy traffic. We know that going in, and are prepared and fine with traffic. But is it REALLY as bad as some make it out to be in terms of congestion and getting around? Or is it something that someone like us, familiar with metro areas and heavy congestion out here, will be ok with?
Following up on this original post, you don't say when you will be in the DC area. If you plan to be here this coming weekend, note that this Sunday is a particularly bad day to try to drive into the city due to the Marine Corps Marathon. There are obviously loads of street closures throughout downtown DC and in the areas near the Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, and Rosslyn. If you're visiting this weekend, I'd suggest doing the in-DC sights on Saturday and the sights elsewhere (Annapolis, Baltimore, etc.) on Sunday, assuming your schedule permits this.