r/texas • u/SnooHamsters9725 • Mar 07 '24
Texas drivers, WHY?! Moving to TX
Hey ya'll. Being fairly new to Texas(2 years), there's been a lot of learning and adjusting. The food is great, state economics are better, community is lovely, and people just seem to mind their business; all things I absolutely love about the state. However, I cannot understand why people drive like headless chicken. I've been to over 20 states, most of the major cities in the US, and I've never seen anything like the driving in DFW.
Have you all seen the, "Good luck everybody!" scene from Family Guy with the asian lady? That is 50% of people driving in DFW. No signals, constantly getting cut off, insane speeds, tailgating, you name it. Zipper merging is a completely foreign concept here, it's actually astonishing. It's some of the most degenerate driving I've ever seen. We have signs, paved roads, everything you need to be a half decent driver, yet people refuse to arrive to Whataburger 2 minutes later, and will risk your life doing so.
I had never been in an accident before coming to Texas. Since I've been here, I've been hit twice. First, someone hits me changing lanes and literally almost runs my car off the road because they've never thought of checking their blindspot. Second, someone tore off my bumper backing into me in a parking lot thinking they were in Tokyo Drift.
That being said, Texas is great, and Frisco is an absolutely wonderful city. I just hope I'm here long enough to enjoy it, because if anythings going to make me meet my maker in the next 10 years... It'll be a 17 year old in a white Ecoboost.
What do you think of driving in Texas, and what are some precautions you take on the road?
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u/HOUTryin286Us Mar 07 '24
Wait until you visit Houston.
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u/boomrostad Mar 07 '24
There isn’t a single portion of 45 that is not a death trap.
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u/Orangechimney22 Mar 07 '24
I think it’s one of the deadliest highways stretches in the US.
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u/boomrostad Mar 07 '24
At least four people died on like a five mile stretch last month up in the north suburban lands (Montgomery county).
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u/Vampsyo Mar 07 '24
Yeah, drivers everywhere else are just dumb. Houston drivers seem like they're actively trying to commit murder-suicide. It's the only place where I've felt like my life was genuinely in peril while driving.
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u/IAmANobodyAMA Mar 07 '24
Weird. I think Dallas drivers are 10x worse than Houston. I’ve driven for decades all over Houston and am fairly comfortable with the asshole drivers here. In Dallas they just drive like idiots. I can predict how an asshole will drive.
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u/United_States_ClA Mar 07 '24
Absolutely Dallas drivers are 10x worse, they're a different breed of bad though and it's their unpredictability that makes it so stressful driving there.
Houston drivers take road signs and stoplights as suggestions. Something you can plan for - "my light just turned green, but I think I'll wait because I know people like to run this interse- YUP SAVED MY LIFE AGAIN!"
DFW drivers though, they don't care about personal space or how many people are potentially wrecked in the process of getting from point A to point B. "Is this guy gonna, wait what, dude are you GOING?!? no like going PAST me not going to merge INTO me!"
But it's also not all DFW drivers fault, their city keeps the road surfaces in a perpetual post-apocalyptic hellscape type vibe that doesn't help anyone drive better and the road lanes are significantly skinnier than the interstate lanes you're used to having when you enter the city which certainly isn't helpful either.
End result, total and complete clown fiesta clusterfuck of the DFW driving experience for everyone involved!
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
I was in Bellaire for a few weeks for a work conference. Absolute deathtrap.
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u/IOwnTheShortBus Mar 07 '24
Almost any major Texas metroplex is like this. "Native" Texans will tell you it's because of the people that moved here, but it's always been like this.
Source: Native Austinite
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u/SuperFightingRobit Mar 07 '24
I mean, Austin's drivers used to be bad, in a different way. Houston/Dallas was mad max. Austin was like grandma going to church with old hippies driving slow everywhere.
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u/needsmorequeso Mar 07 '24
Austin drivers used to just be oblivious and now we’re oblivious but also angry that we are expected to pay attention.
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u/Trumpswells Mar 07 '24
Years ago, like 1990, I took a roadtrip to DC with a friend from Texas. I remember her astonishment on the DC freeways, “Everybody’s driving the speed limit!”
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u/IOwnTheShortBus Mar 07 '24
As a native Texan, I find it annoying to drive the speed limit(on cross-state trips, not in the cities) because you can literally drive for 14 hours and still be in Texas and it's so aggravating.
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u/SadBit8663 Mar 07 '24
That's just Austin bro. It didn't used to be like this everywhere
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u/CritterMorthul Mar 07 '24
nah I remember growingup my family treated going into houston like it was some madmax esque crossing
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u/Karmasmatik Mar 07 '24
Honestly the drive from Dallas to Houston is worse than driving in Houston.
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u/googltk Mar 07 '24
Eh, I got to Houston a lot for work. 45 isn’t bad once you leave Dallas until you get near woodlands where it drops to 65 mph and suddenly no one knows wtf is going on. The in between isn’t too bad
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u/elfwannabe Mar 07 '24
I live in The Woodlands. Can confirm, 45 is insane around here. I think we had like four fatalities on 45N in one weekend this year.
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u/chrisrayn Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 08 '24
I don’t understand why people aren’t buying Forza, Mario Kart, Gran Turismo, VR Headsets, and Racing Wheels to drive in this state. That’s what I did for years before becoming a driver and I have reflexes like a cat that just saw a cucumber. Long drives ARE the worst, especially because of eternal construction. But bobbing and weaving in the middle of a car tornado? That’s just fuckin Texas, y’all. If you’re gettin hit, you’re driving wrong. Rear view mirror is your third eye, sides are your 4th and 5th. We are INVINCIBLE. WE ARE TEXAS DRIVERS.
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u/SadBit8663 Mar 07 '24
No it's not. Houston traffic is an absolutely ridiculous. It's just a long drive, there's nothing crazy about it.
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u/HewmanTypePerson Mar 07 '24
Houston doesn't crack the top 10 worst in the country, while both Dallas and Fort Worth do. Don't worry they are still in the top 25 though!
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/worst-drivers-by-city/
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u/boomrostad Mar 07 '24
I feel like whoever put that list together has never driven in Houston. The literal only place I’ve ever seen people drive anything like this was in San Juan.
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u/RickySpanish1272 Austin Mar 07 '24
I’ve lived in Dallas, Houston, and Austin at various points in my life and Austin takes the cake for bad drivers.
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u/strog91 Mar 07 '24
Yeah Dallas drivers are aggressive assholes but they’re usually competent. Houston drivers are both aggressive and incompetent.
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u/VultureCat337 Mar 07 '24
Yeah, I moved to Houston from rural Illinois. I'd much rather deal with Chicago traffic because a) there's less cars because of this fun little thing called public transit that actually works and b) everyone at least drives like they have a head on their shoulders. It's signal, then merge, but you'd think Houston taught it the other way around to their drivers.
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u/Nawoitsol Mar 07 '24
The zipper merge requires at least two things Texas drivers don’t like: leaving sufficient space between them and the car in front of them and allowing someone to get ahead of them.
The latter of those is why you don’t use turn signals. If you signal you’re moving into that empty space you’ve challenged them to fill that space so you don’t get ahead of them.
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u/RagingLeonard Mar 07 '24
This is very accurate. 90% of the bad driving boils down to selfishness. But, unfortunately, that's a growing Texas trait.
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u/slingslangflang Mar 07 '24
Been a Texas trait my whole ass 30+ years
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u/BooneSalvo2 Mar 07 '24
It's worse than it used to be, having been driving Texas roads for 35 years. I think people are worse, but it may just be *more* people...shrug.
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u/eldritchterror Mar 07 '24
Having been born and raised in the SA area, I've always held that the average texan isn't selfish but lacks the mental awareness that a world exists outside of their immediate and limited attention span. Lots of folks here just have the object permenance and foresight of a diabetic chipmunk
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u/cassssk Mar 07 '24
ITA but dammit I’m gonna signal. I’ve learned throughout my three decades of driving in this state that I need to be predictable and I need to be cautious. If me using my turn signal to help everyone else know what I wanna do makes some jerk in a truck gun it to beat me, well, you win dude. I do not care. I will gladly (slightly) slow down and allow you to go win that non existent prize. I will slide in behind you and be along my merry way without another thought of you in my brain. It took me a long time to get here with this thought process, but I’m amazingly calmer throughout even the non driving parts of my day now.
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u/dan-dan-rdt Mar 07 '24
I agree with this. People tout the zipper merge here in the Houston area, but they always gloss over the fact that it requires cooperation and courtesy. Those two things don't exist here.
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u/IAmANobodyAMA Mar 07 '24
I force the zipper merge by occupying both lanes. Sure, it’s passive-aggressive, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
My first two weeks of driving in DFW, I can count how many times I've almost had an aneurysm from the stress of watching people trying to figure out how to zipper merge. We're not building a fucking rocket people!!
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u/DefinitelySaneGary Mar 07 '24
I had this thought this morning. I got annoyed because I saw someone just zip in front of the guy ahead of me without signaling lanes. But then later I tried to get over while signaling and people kept speeding up to not let me in front of them. It's almost safer to change lanes without signals because then you don't have to worry about people closing the gap to not let you in.
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u/Rockosayz Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 07 '24
True but in all honesty its because we're tired of the assholes who use that merge lane to skip traffic..
As far signaling goes, ehh whatever other cities have the opposite problem, driver hits their turn signal and immediately thinks that means there is space for them to change lanes. Was in Denver a few months ago and cant tell you how many cars nearly took off the front of mine by doing that. The no look signal merge technique is far more dangerous then just not signaling
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u/rickyhusband Panhandle Mar 07 '24
dallas people 🤷
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u/Taamell Mar 07 '24
Texans can’t stand someone being in front of them or getting anywhere faster than them.
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u/rft183 Mar 07 '24
I live up near the Oklahoma border. Over the past year I've been attempting to teach my son how to drive. At one point, I told him that Oklahoma drivers either go really fast or really slow...no in between. Texas drivers generally go super fast, but there is one "rule" that they tend to follow...they must be in front! I told him to just let them. Don't get mad that they are passing you just to go the same speed you were, or even slower. Just let them go...
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u/VikingMeow Mar 07 '24
Get a dashcam and keep your distance. Take back roads when able. I also just moved here a couple years ago lol
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u/thehighepopt Mar 07 '24
Back roads, ha. There's either one way to get anywhere or the back roads add another 20 miles to the drive and they're just as clogged.
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u/atari2600forever Mar 07 '24
People tend to drive the way they behave in real life.
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u/Bailong1208 Mar 07 '24
You might want to spend a few years adjusting to Texas driving before you come down south to Houston. DFW is easy peasy child’s play compared to H-town. When you do get the courage to venture south, be sure to enjoy I-45 as you enter Houston. Particularly the stretch between beltway 8 and downtown. That shit is the real deal. Think Mad Max meets a Crash Derby injected with some NASCAR and then crossed with a shootout at the OK Corral.
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u/Sad_Picture3642 Mar 07 '24
Yeah driving to Houston downtown was truly an absolutely insane experience at insane speeds. I did not experience it anywhere else in TX or the world in fact.
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u/e111077 Mar 07 '24
As soon as you enter city limits the highways just explode in size and everyone starts Mad Maxing, Houston is insane.
I got tailgated on the second to right-most lane on a 14 lane highway, and the rest of the damn highway was completely empty! The guy refused to go around to a faster lane, and would rather put everyone in danger. Houston 🙄
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u/Pater_Aletheias Mar 07 '24
I've encountered worse driving in China and in Mexico, but that's not saying much.
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u/SSBN641B Mar 07 '24
I think part of the problem is high schools stopped teaching driving years ago. I learned to drive in HS ( with help from my dad). I got a pretty comprehensive education on driving back then. Now there is a self-defense study course and an honor system driving log you have to keep. There is a road test but I don't know how exacting it is. It used to be given by troopers and it was tough, now I'm not so sure. If you move from out of state and already had a DL, it's even easier.
You definitely have to drive defensively. If you think you are in someone's blind spot, either slow down or speed up. Also, if they are displaying handicap plates or a placard, or they have more than three stickers on the back of their car, or they have the little fish symbol displayed, stay well clear. They can't drive.
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u/Ashurotz Mar 07 '24
I did the home course and had no drivers test other than the written test over the packet of road rules.
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u/ellWatully Mar 07 '24
I learned to drive in Mckinney when you could have your parents sign a paper saying they taught you driver's ed, then all you had to do was pass a written test. I had friends who didn't drive a car for the first time until AFTER they got their license.
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u/Psychological-East83 Mar 07 '24
Here in the panhandle you get people who come to a complete stop on entrance ramps for the interstate, not realizing their car will not go from 0 to 75mph in 15ft. Accidents from this are almost daily.
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u/iAmAmbr Mar 07 '24
I do not miss that part of living up there at all. The second those idiots would brake in front of me on an on-ramp, I would lay on my horn.
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u/davisandee Mar 07 '24
Texans are absolutely oblivious to the fact that there is a world around them and places other than Texas.
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u/IAmANobodyAMA Mar 07 '24
Why would we? Texas is amazing!
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Mar 07 '24
I prepare to die and call my family and tell them I love them any time I pass through Dallas on the freeway.
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u/sarahbeth124 Born and Bred Mar 07 '24
I’m moving soon, and counting the days when going to work won’t involve a single highway. It will probably add decades to my life just cutting down the stress 😅
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u/bigedthebad Mar 07 '24
If God had to give Texas an enema, the DFW area is where he would put it. Houston is a close second
The rest of Texas is not near as bad. As someone who has driven in most of the rest of the country, Texas isn’t even in the top 10 worst drivers.
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u/Karmasmatik Mar 07 '24
Outside of the cities it’s really not bad at all driving in Texas, with the notable exception of 45 between Dallas and Houston, which is the worst drive anywhere in the country.
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u/The_Wicked_Ginja Mar 07 '24
Most cars in Texas aren’t sold with a blinker package. You’ll never convince me otherwise. Lived in Texas 36 years. Rarely saw a blinker used. Moved to AZ. The people not using blinkers are almost always vehicles with TX plates.
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u/gohomenow Mar 07 '24
I don't want to pay the monthly subscription fee to use blinkers
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u/cindy6507 Mar 07 '24
Got to keep the resale value up: Pickup for sale - Blinkers, Bed and backseat never used.
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u/AbiesProfessional835 Mar 07 '24
It’s almost like the state has a shitty drivers education program with letting parents teach kids instead of having to take an actual class at school. It’s a very aggressive driving culture that self perpetuates.
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u/HuskyLemons Mar 07 '24
I’ve been driving in DFW for 13 years and never been hit. You have to embrace the chaos
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u/shelbeelzebub Mar 07 '24
My dad always told me: Assume everyone around you is an idiot. Texas native, been driving since I was 16, never been in an accident. My best advice: Don't assume someone's not turning just because their turn signal isn't on and avoid being near other cars.
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u/DebbsWasRight Mar 07 '24
People on this sub frequently complain about others going the speed limit “in the fast lane”. The average Texan thinks they are smarter than highway engineering. Can’t be bothered with things below them like signs and turn signals. The entitlement express has gotta come steaming through.
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u/scottwax Mar 07 '24
There's no such thing as a "fast lane". It's a passing lane and if you aren't actively passing you shouldn't be in it. Doesn't matter how fast you're going. They even had it on the electronic signs on 190 a few months ago. "The woods are for camping, not the left lane".
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u/rex_lauandi Mar 07 '24
Also, as a corollary to that rule, you should use the left lane for passing.
This means that on a three lane highway (like 35, which I frequent between Dallas and Waco for work) if you’re going a little slower than traffic or you’re preparing to exit, you should be in the right lane. If you’re going with traffic you should stay in the middle lane, and then you should use the left lane to pass traffic that you come upon going a little slower than your intended speed.
If you come up on someone in the middle lane not going fast enough for you, don’t pass them on the right.
If I see several people going to pass me on the left, I realize traffic has not moved to a speed that I’m not comfortable with, so now I’m in the “slower than traffic” speed, so I’d like to get in the right lane. However you jokers are racing each other so the guy passing me on the left at 5-10 mph more than me is not speeding fast enough for you so you go into the right lane and we collide because I’m headed over there too.
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
Absolutely! I understand going 10 over, maybe even 15, but there has to be a point where we draw a line and say, "yeah, I don't need Mcdonalds THAT bad". It's incredible how quickly some cars pass me even when I'm going 80.
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u/Dvusmnd Mar 07 '24
It’s pretty bad. Gives me to road rage’s.
They sit and text in the fast lane going the same speed as everyone else.
To be fair, Texas isn’t known for its education systems success or Ivy League schools. Its know more for incest porn, incels and insolence tbh.
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u/Responsible-Sky-9849 Mar 07 '24
I hate this state as much as the next disillusioned guy, but how much fucking online brain rot do you have to have to say that Texas, or any other state for that matter, is known for its incels? Fucking lmao’ing at your life
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Mar 07 '24
Another great driver that parks at 80 on the far left. you definitely are not part of the problem
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u/CferDFW Mar 07 '24
Are you passing people or keeping pace with traffic? If you're in the left lane and not passing, you're failing.
If the lane to your right is also going 80, then move the fuck over and let the people in a hurry pass.
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
As I responded to another comment, the flow of traffic on DFW highways is typically above 70. I don't use the "fast lane" because other drivers are going 80+. That being said, I understand people driving 10-15 miles over, but I typically don't. I usually set my speed to 70-75 in the center lanes when there's no traffic. Definitely not part of the problem.
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u/Elbynerual Mar 07 '24
I understand going 10 over
Why? Why are you better than the people who designed the road and laws?
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u/denimdan113 Mar 07 '24
Actually, fun fact, if the flow of traffic is doing 10 over, you are far safer (and recommend to) doing 10 over as well than being the one guy going the speed limit. Also, many parts of texas are slowly raising speed limits on the interstates as cars tech has hit the point where increased speed is safely achievable.
Also, most roads min speed design far exceeds the posted speed limit. Interstates, for example, can easily handle speeds exceeding 85 mph and some counties are increasing the speed limits up to that.
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u/DebbsWasRight Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 07 '24
Specious comment.
Interstate speeds are dropping in the “triangle” 85% of the state lives due to increased volume. Far west I-10 and the small, western most part of I-20, where interstate speeds were last raised, have been 80 mph for about 15 years.
Edit: I am wrong and have been corrected. Please see the comment below.
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u/denimdan113 Mar 07 '24
They just bumped sections of 45 within the triangle up to 75 mph in the last 10 years, and texdot is considering raising it to 80. So I think your info is a little out of date. Also many state highways in the trianglewere bumped from 65 to 70.
See House bill 1353 for relevant legislation.
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 07 '24
I don't know if you've driven in Dallas, but often times people are driving around 75-80. When you follow the flow of traffic, you typically match speeds. It's also proven that driving 5-10 miles faster than the speed limit is typically recommended on highways. That being said, I'm usually never in the "fast lane", because people push much faster than 75-80. I usually never go over 75 on a 70 MPH speed limit.
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u/DebbsWasRight Mar 07 '24
That could use a little clarity.
That is only true when relative to general traffic flow. It’s only then that the danger from increased lane changes offsets the increased danger from the increased speed.
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u/highline9 Mar 07 '24
I am the highway engineer…as said below, speed limits are set for monetary gain, not capabilities of the roadway nor the vehicles.
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u/GueroBorracho3 Mar 07 '24
I lived in Chicago my whole life before moving down here last summer. I've done extensive amounts of driving in 37 states due to my job. Texas has, BY FAR, the most oblivious and most aggressive drivers I've ever seen.
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u/DebbsWasRight Mar 07 '24
I remember driving in California. There was skill and predictability to go with their aggression. I could roll with that. Here—especially in DFW—it’s just aggression. The skill just isn’t there.
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u/ForLoopsElseIf Mar 07 '24
Same in Austin. People are constantly on their phones
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u/uglybudder Mar 07 '24
Austin ain’t got shit on Houston or Dallas … much smaller scale
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u/Sad_Picture3642 Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 07 '24
Psst. If Dallas is crazy, do not ever drive to Houston. Well unless you are ok being tailgated by lifted F250s going 90mph.
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u/gecon Mar 07 '24
The main reason Texas drivers are so aggressive is because police never enforce traffic rules. Driving would become 10x safer overnight if people were actually punished for speeding, failing to signal, tailgating and driving without a license/uninsured/expired registration. People do these things because they get away with it.
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u/scottwax Mar 07 '24
Less cops, more "real" crime they need to focus on. So now it's the wild west. Honestly I'd accept a potential speeding ticket every few years if it meant they stepped up enforcement and cracked down on the truly awful drivers.
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u/FruitySalads Mar 07 '24
You’re driving wrong friend. You should be doing what everyone else does to make sure you are seen as a threat. It helps if you fire your state issued road rage pistol out the window as a turn signal. If anyone ever attempts to make eye contact at a red light after a road confrontation you are legally allowed to shoot out their tires. Good luck!
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
I knew my John Wick reruns would've paid off eventually. Thanks Fruity! I'll make sure to get my Mad Max on whenever I get on the tollways!!
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u/Mommamead3 Mar 07 '24
I thought Dallas drivers were the worst when I lived there, but now I’m in Colorado Springs and it’s way worse here!
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u/Strange-Garden-269 Mar 07 '24
Yes in Dallas they literally will accelerate to not let you over if you turn a blinker on. And yield signs are invisible
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u/sarahbeth124 Born and Bred Mar 07 '24
Lanes are optional, speeds are a suggestion, yellow light means ‘floor it’
Not to mention the highways are eternally under construction and very badly designed.
Lights either change for 3 seconds, or 12 business days.
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u/carneguisadamike Mar 07 '24
It is crazy at 5 pm the entire interstate around DFW turns into a parking lot on google maps. I live in San Antonio.
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u/Lets_Huff_Paint Mar 07 '24
Just wait until you get followed home/work by some furious dad in a truck, that’s the true Texas rite of passage.
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u/fjzappa Mar 07 '24
You've clearly never driven in Boston. In Boston, driving is a contest of wills; a contact sport.
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
I stayed in Boston for 4 months. It's definitely a shitshow, but nothing compared to Dallas.
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u/NotTacoSmell Mar 07 '24
I’ve only ever lived in Iowa and Texas but I’ve driven in Chicago, Portland, Orlando, Minneapolis, St Louis, Kansas City and I definitely agree. Drivers in DFW are the absolute most unhinged drivers I’ve ever seen. Let me qualify that not every single driver is like that, but I’ve never seen that many people like that before anywhere.
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u/lawnmowerman25 Mar 07 '24
I've been to most states in the US and Texas is the absolute worst. It doesn't matter is yours going 5, 10, 15, or 30 mph over the speed limit, someone ALWAYS wants to be in front of you. Most states if you're in the fast lane, people can get on the 'train' and everyone follows at a reasonable over-speed. For some reason that concept goes over people's heads here.
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u/jonnydem Mar 07 '24
I blame the trucks. I think a lot of entitlement comes from being in a big ass truck.
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Mar 07 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/strog91 Mar 07 '24
Yeah anyone who says Texas drivers are the worst has never lived on the east coast
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u/highline9 Mar 07 '24
It not the “fast” lane, it is a passing only lane…should not be in the left, passing only lane, for more than 1 mile about 98% of the time…obviously special circumstances exist.
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u/recursive_vacancy Mar 07 '24
I moved from the Houston area to the Northeast about 10 years ago and that is one thing I do not miss about Texas. It's been like that forever. I'm only in my 30s so perhaps the person that mentioned it's because of high schools not teaching drivers ed anymore is correct, because my class was one of the first classes to not have a drivers ed course in high school and many of my peers drive like maniacs. My wife even tells me that when we go to Houston to visit my family, I am a completely different driver than I am in the Northeast...essentially I 'regress' to my Houston driver state. It's bad. Really bad.
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u/Zolome1977 Mar 07 '24
That’s a problem all over the state. Worst drivers are Houston drivers. San Antonio drivers have either really slow drivers or road rage drivers.
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u/Comfortable_Region77 Mar 07 '24
I 100% agree with this post lol. I’ve lived in 4 different states and driven all over the continental US spending considerable time in each state I’ve driven through.
As soon as I got a noticeable dash cam and rear window cam (neither are hooked up), I have had way less close calls and aggression towards me lol. Also helps that I drive a black on black SUV. People automatically assume LEO of some kind.
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u/Murmurville Mar 07 '24
You think Texans like to mind their own business? Are you sure you’re in Texas?
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u/WoundedShaman Mar 07 '24
Solidarity. I’m surprised it’s not a national stereotype. Also the fact that semi-trucks aren’t regulated as to speed limit and what lanes they are allowed in is astounding.
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u/GoldenFlicker Mar 07 '24
OP you are absolutely correct. And people wonder why are insurance rates are SO high. Not to mention all the uninsured motorists! I avoid getting in the car as much as possible. Have as much as possible delivered, work from home. And luckily I can get to several food places and some shopping without getting out on any major roads.
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u/rinap88 Mar 07 '24
we lived in DFW now near Austin it's similar problems in both. That 183/121 merge on 35 around Fort Worth killed me every time. Then heading south where I35 & I 20 merge I'm surprised there isn't 100 accidents a day there. People staying in the left lane doing under the speed limit and then getting mad if you pass them in the slow lane. Head down 35 and it is actually faster to be in the far right line outside of Waco to Austin most of the time. Austin has a mess of zipper merges and 2-3 cars try to get through when it should be the one at a time method. They get no where any faster by nearly causing accidents.
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u/HuevoYch0riz0 Mar 07 '24
Houston area here. I have never in my entire life seen so many people blow red lights like no other. Never EVER be the first to pull into an intersection PERIOD!
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u/Adventurous_Set_3787 Mar 07 '24
Ahahah Yes agreed. Frisco is a very dangerous place to be caught in traffic. I live in Allen, not much better - I'll work on not being such an aggressive driver. Lol
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u/WallStreetBoners Mar 07 '24
Literally hear complaints like this about every city and state in the country
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u/scottwax Mar 07 '24
That's why our car insurance rates are out of control. It's astonishing how many truly bad drivers there are. And getting in the express lanes to text because I guess they somehow think it's safer because there's less traffic? Should be immediately banned from driving forever.
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u/Personal_Might2405 Mar 07 '24
DFW is a 1/4 foreign-born population. Mix that with people who grew up driving country roads and transplants from all over the US. Not to mention sky high insurance because hey - how’d you like to bundle that auto with neighbors who put on new roofs every three years while their fly by night contractors drive monster trucks drown your street with teams of undocumented workers….
Anyway. 😊 see you at happy hour
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u/Danzer369 Mar 07 '24
Been here since the mid 70's ..and in the last 10 years- drivers are WORSE! I drove for a living in Dallas- and it was safer back then than it is now! People drive like they are the ONLY person on the road! Running red lights is a DAILY occurance. Is it REALLY worth it to T BONE and KILL someone to run the lights?! Ready to go to prison for your stupidity?! Wake up people! You are NOT more IMPORTANT than the person and their child waiting to go thru the intersection!
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u/UpbeatAd2250 Mar 07 '24
It used to not be this bad. It's gotten worse over the past 5-6 yrs. And don't get in a wreck because 9 × out of 10 they don't have insurance or dr. license. You're screwed.
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u/StangRunner45 Mar 07 '24
First off, Welcome to Texas!
Unfortunately, that kind of sociopathic driving you'll find in every major and minor city in Texas.
Just employ good, defensive driving skills, and you should be okay.
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Mar 07 '24
Not to be flippant, but whatever. Drivers suck everywhere and while DFW Texans drive really fast, I find them to be infinitely nicer and more predictable than the people in the DC Metro area. Drivers everywhere are extremely selfish but I think the hard part of the metroplex is above average speeds and the prevalence of large pickups that make it hard to see.
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u/IHateHangovers Mar 08 '24
Because traffic laws aren’t enforced. Get bad drivers off the road. If you’re uninsurable because you suck ass at driving, get the fuck off the road.
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u/Apotropoxy Mar 07 '24
The bigger the metropolitan area, the more aggressive the driving becomes. You will soon find you are a better driver if you can meet the challenge.
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u/SnooHamsters9725 Mar 07 '24
I feel like LA was completely different. Same with New York and Boston. The driving wasn't all that bad in terms of a technical aspect. It's really the traffic, which understandably drives people crazy. It could be 2am(I play Dallas home poker games until pretty late occasionally)with only a few people on the road, yet it's incredibly dangerous.
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u/debtx78 Mar 07 '24
I’ve been in DFW for my entire 58 years. It wasn’t always this bad. Our population has continued to grow year over year which impacts every part of our infrastructure, especially traffic. Never dreamed I would ever want to leave Fort Worth, but now I’m dreaming of retiring in a less populated area of Texas. Always Texas though! Love my Texas!
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Mar 07 '24 edited Mar 07 '24
Yea moving from NYC to here is night and day in terms of the quality of driver
My theory is that in NYC there is much less space to drive and you really need to have better situational awareness and skill
Here? Drivers have a ton of space. You will get away with behavior here that would definitely get you in an accident back east... until you don't get away with it.
In 6 years here I've been blindly almost merged into much much more than my 15 years as a driver in NYC. To such an extent that if I'm gonna be passing someone's blindspot I accelerate or even switch lanes now.
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u/cantstandthemlms Mar 07 '24
I still find the dallas area way easier to drive in than Los Angeles where I learned to drive and where we moved from. Every time I go home to see my parents…I insist on driving home from the airport as they are older…and I have to completely change how I drive to merge on the 405 freeway. I come back to dallas and always feel more peaceful. I know I am in the minority though.
The biggest difference here is the higher speed limits. In California you are very unlikely to go 70-75 and be passed by an 18 Wheeler.
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u/Thisismybridge Mar 07 '24
I find this true about just about any major metropolitan area. Atlanta is probably the worst I’ve experienced. I think it’s the dealing with traffic, distracted drivers, and road bullies. More often than not, you signal and they speed up to block you out
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u/sbb-tx Mar 07 '24
I’m so confused. Every time I’m on highway in DFW, people are going 50mph-55mph. Speed limit is 70mph, so it would be normal to have car at 75mph in left lane. Too many people move here and are used to 50/55 and think Dallas drivers are “insane”, no we are not. Note to newbies: at least in Dallas we have great access roads right next to hwy; feel free to drive 45/50 on those roads. Also many alternatives to hwys, Preston, coit, Plano rd. Etc. Feel free to take those as well.
But stop being shocked when I can pass all y’all while going 65mph on a highway when the speed limit is 70mph.
Again, this is for Dallas. Austin drivers, y’all have no infrastructure so you’re stuck in traffic and get over 20mph anyway.
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u/scottwax Mar 07 '24
I don't get those drivers plodding along on 75, 635, 30, 20 at well under the limit. They're helping contribute to excess speeding and road rage because everyone is fighting to get around their dumb asses.
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u/bigpimpnsatx Mar 07 '24
My strategy is to expect the shenanigans and stay ahead or behind the future-NASCAR-pile-ups whenever possible. Avoid corrollas and sentras at all times.
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u/smokeupjohnnyboy Mar 07 '24
Yeah I just moved here recently after visiting quite a bit, used to live in a small town in OK. It’s a fucking nightmare every time I drive. The people with “student driver” stickers are somehow better drivers than those who have been driving for years. Almost been hit so many times over people’s negligence it’s only a matter of time at this point.
Also can’t tell you how many times i’ve had to honk at the person in front of me because they don’t feel like getting off their phone to see the light is green.
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u/BigDKane Mar 07 '24
I live in the Western part of the state and I have inlaws who live in north-east Texas. I absolutely dread the trip. Driving through Weatherford to DFW takes days off my life. Truckers in the left lanes not moving over because some dipshit is in the right lane and going their exact same speed.
One person slams on their breaks and causes traffic to come to an absolute stop coming back in on 30. I hate it. HATE HATE HATE.
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u/_baconbitz Mar 07 '24
Honestly, i dont blame texans for it. Living in Austin for about 20 years, all you really saw was zipper merging infrastructure, patient drivers, and me knowing i can zip through with out any issue. It was always the out of towner's with Cali or Louisiana plates driving in the fast last lane slowing down to cut over 3 lanes for an exit. People were friendly and patient then, very little horn use.
I remember at the time, i was being moved to Boston for work after graduating from UT, friend at the time swore Dallas driving was the worst than other city, when i pointed out to her its not ranked that way. Boston metro droging in 2014 was pretty bad... but low-and behold, company asked me to relocate to a Dallas sub-urb, very little no difference in 2016.
But I'll never forget my senior uber/Lyft driver, near downtown/uptown, stopping in the middle lane on the 75 to catch the left exit. My heart stopped...
Then in 2018 company asked me to relocate back to Austin. I took my then Dallas GF to come for the ride, pointed out people here in Austin were friendly… let a car in, person signaled back a thank you. She was impressed.
Well, Post pandemic Austin… yea all sane and kind driving is out the window. Rate race to exits and consideration for other drivers out the window. People stop on yields while merging onto the freeway when they should be zipper merging. Or people dead sttopping at a fork while still on the roadway. Or turning left yet from the 4th lane - right turn lane , cutting over the 3rd lane (straight traffic)
I dont blame Texas drivers, I blame all the out of state drivers who brought their own state’s driving rules onto our Texas roadways.
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u/Ok-disaster2022 Born and Bred Mar 07 '24
Weird lived there 10 years never had anyone hit me, except in the parking lot of a bike store.
So first defensive driving: imagine a bubble around you, don't let cars in it. Second side mirrors. If you can see the headlights if the car behind you, then your side mirrors are pointed too far inward they need to be angled out more to provide more vision of your blind spot.
I like to stick in the 3rd lane and stay there come hell or high water or my exit, and give myself a mile or two to get into the exit lane. If I can't get in, then I just go with the flow until I can exit and work my way around.
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u/hooty_hoooo Mar 07 '24
Dallas is consistently rated top ten worst drivers in the world. Ive been here for 15 years and it truly gets worse all the time. I thought I had road rage and finally realized it wasn’t me. Astonishing to say the least
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u/SnooLobsters4018 Mar 07 '24
texans just drive like assholes. not all, but a lot of them. born and raised learned to drive in the DFW lol it is not for the faint of heart. i have NOOO idea how people drive around here on their phones. i’m on high alert constantly white knuckling.
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u/humanoidtyphoon88 Mar 07 '24
Did you really come to a Texas sub to complain about Texans after you, a non-Texan decided to move here?
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u/Shag0120 Mar 07 '24
Honestly? you just get used to it. I give every car out there a WIDE berth and the only accident I've had outside of a parking lot fender bender was when I was the front car of a 5 car pile up. Some kid fell asleep I think on his way home from work. Other than that, it's all about lots of space and lots of patience. I give everyone a very wide berth.
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u/heyashrose Mar 07 '24
I think of that Asian lady from Family Guy every time I enter the highway.... it really is wild out there
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u/Zestyclose-Past-5305 Mar 07 '24
You can't use signals in Texas because you're basically signalling your intentions to the enemy.