DFW duers...I don't know how you live with all the traffic...

[RedEarth]

Last week we visited some friends in DFW and had the joy of driving on I-35 through downtown(about 2:00pm in the afternoon). The drivers are the most aggressive and rude drivers I have ever encountered. They won't let you change lanes, honk, tailgate, cut you off, etc.....I can certainly understand how road-rage happens. I was ready to open up a can on somebody...lol.

All the friends we spoke to while we were in DFW absolutely hated the traffic. They also mentioned there had been a new interchange built that has been named "high five", for the five bridges stacked on top of each other(I think Central and LBJ). Several people said that the bridges were so high it almost took your breath away driving on them. Thankfully, I didn't have to get on it.

You certainly have my sympathy if you have to brave the highways each day.

[jay-3d]

1. thats me

and I'm working on a project to build a tunnel from 75 to 35 under 635. it will be 6 lanes to add to the 10-12 lanes above. Welcome to the concrete jungle!

[RedEarth]

4. Concrete jungle ...that's for sure

Tunnel...interesting..if you can't go up any higher, just go down.

When we were on I-35, six or eight lanes on each side, it was like driving in a crowded parking lot at 60 miles a hour....everyone cutting back and forth, weaving in and out of lanes...it was like they were coming from everyhere...freaking crazy. Felt like I needed a tank.

[lapfog_1]

2. Try doing the top overpass

during an ice storm. Scared the bushit out of me.

[RedEarth]

5. I can't imagine driving the overpass in an ice storm.......

It sounds bad enough in sunshine, much less being on the damn thing in an ice storm.

[lapfog_1]

9. Yeah

a truck just in front of me slowed down (there were a lot of
people stopped off to the side) and, of course, the overpass
has a nice bank to it... so when he slowed down, he simply
moved sideways to the guardrail where he was then stuck.

I didn't slow down at all, prayed that my radials would stick.
They did, made it through, but there were a lot of people stuck
on side, waaaay up in the sky, unable to move, unable to get out
of their vehicles.

[KC]

3. I hated the

traffic there and finally moved.
It is an absolute nightmare that never seems to stop.

KC

[RedEarth]

6. I think you were smart......

That much traffic throws off some bad energy.

[Wright Patman]

7. Dallas sucks so horribly

that even though I live only a 2-hour drive away, I haven't been there in three years and then only because I had to catch a flight out of D-FW Airport.

Dallas is a city without a reason for existence other than making money through various fraudulent schemes. I shed no tears for the huge hit it has taken under Bushonomics ( * is a former resident and still thought of as their godman, I'm sure).

Whenever I go to Fort Worth to visit relatives, I take I-20 which runs through the southern part of the county about 15 miles from downtown. Seeing the skyline in the distance is about as close as I ever want to be to that hellhole.

At the wrong hour, the traffic can even suck on that southern route. It may suck all the time. It's been years since I drove on that one either.

[TEXASYANKEE]

10. Now, tell us how you really feel!

I moved to Dallas from Michigan 20+ years ago and I love this city. Sure it has it's problems, and the increase in traffic is one of them, but I don't consider it a hellhole by any means.

Traffic hasn't gotten worse, but the aggressive/stubborn attitudes of the drivers sure have. Is this a sign of the times? Are the drivers in other congested cities just as aggressive and stubborn?

[redqueen]

15. I visited Chicago in the early 90's

and it seemed to me that stop signs were optional. More of an opportunity to test your fellow drivers' courage.

[redqueen]

8. I think we recently ranked as having the rudest drivers in the US

Quite an accomplishment, since rudeness isn't limited just to our city.

Nice bunch of dallas bashers in here. Progressives live here too ya know. :puke:

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. Yes it's bad....

but redqueen has a point. There are progressives here too.

When you move here, you just learn how to adjust your driving. I first moved here from Austin in early 1994, and was shocked at the aggressiveness. I just learned that if you are not aggressive as well, it could get you killed.

Part of the tailgating is a defensive measure. People here refuse to acknowledge that sometimes, cars do not fit between each other. When I'm driving in natural street traffic, I keep much more distance between the car in front of me.

But when I'm on the highway, I HAVE to move up closer. If you don't, some dipshit will STILL move into the space between you and the car in front of you. By closing the gap yourself, you have fewer idiots to worry about. It's a happy medium.

I think the part of 35 from Dallas to Denton is the worst. It's like an 80 mph tailgate fest. The minute anyone hits the brake, everyone panics. It's pretty scary, especially in the mornings, when all the students are headed to UNT and TWU. And especially when it goes to 2 lane after the Lake Lewisville bridge.

Ya'll be safe out there!
FSC

[Gman]

12. Sometimes I think San Antonio traffic is getting bad

then I travel to Dallas or Houston and get reminded what "bad" really is.

[TexasSissy]

13. Lots better than Houston (having lived in both).

[drfemoe]

14. I won't be doing the high five AT ALL EVER

I'll cut through the side streets if I have to go from LBJ to 75, etc...

My driving philosophy here is just get the hell outta the way as fast and safely as I can.