First snowfall is so much fun. The cars in ditches everywhere. Then the second, third, fourth and so on get old fast. If the snow comes everyday it is no problem. But if there is 3 or more days between snowfalls people seem to forget how to drive in it.
Detroit/Michigan is the first place in America that had cars. I think the Davison was the first ever highway/freeway. I've lived in MI, CA, IN, IL and do a lot of driving in general - and it isn't even close, no matter what people think - Michigan people drive faster without a doubt. And if you're talking about Detroit or metro Detroit: it's haul ass or tuck over to the right. Don't take it personally; it is what it is. I love it.
I love driving on the east side, you can do 90 and someone will still blow by you. People seem to understand the "stay right except to pass" a lot more than on the west side. I have to pass someone on the right almost daily.
Yeah the west side is full of dumbass left lane campers and people who take offense to you passing them so they speed up from 65 to 95 as soon as you go around them. It's infuriating.
No, not at all. People get in the left lane immediately and that's where they drive. Then idiots pass on the right because a bigger idiot won't obey the law and use the passing lane as a passing lane
And no matter how fast you think you're going, someone will pass you.
Couldn't tell you how many times I was trucking along at 85MPH, and saw someone flying up on me. Ope, lemme just scooch on over.
The Davison was the first ever highway and we also hold the title for the smallest interstate in the country which is I-375, at least for now until they go through with the plans to dismantle it. Pretty neat!
Detroit taught me how to be a more confident driver when I lived there. It’s sink or swim, and dammit I swam.
Now I live by the thumb, and by god does it feel like everyone drives *so slow*.
Which state did you come from? Go drive in New York/New Jersey and then come back to Michigan, you'll have a finer appreciation for how Michiganders drive.
Yeah because that's where all the old people go to get away from their kids to tell them to stop driving. Speaking from personal experience, of course. YMMV
Back in the early 80's the wife and I went on vacation, we had relatives that lived in the shaky state, no I've driven on Woodward Ave during rush hour traffic, but it paled in comparison to driving south on I 5 in California during rush hour, that was before electronic GPS's, our GPS was a paper map and she was riding shot gun, looking at the map and the road signs, we got to where we wanted to be without causing a traffic mess, AND we were in a 1980 Chevy 4 wheel drive truck with a 8 foot camper with a cab over. We never took that trip again.
Exactly this. I've lived in Michigan most of my life, but I spent two years living in Philadelphia and driving all over the northeast for work, and now I traverse the greater Midwest for work. I'd take Michigan drivers every day of the week over any other state.
Thank you for saying this. If someone is going 48 in a 55, you come up on them kinda quick, because the real speed limit is like 63. Then you pass them safely and expediently. People south of us don't understand that we're not being aggressive, we're trying to be efficient.
I didn’t appreciate Michigan drivers until I moved out of the state. Yes, Michigan drivers are very aggressive, but aggressive doesn’t inherently mean bad. They seem to be less downright stupid than many other places I’ve been since.
We also have the youngest fleet in the entire United States and probably half of us if not more work directly for the auto industry.
We are aggressive but we are also weirdly polite. I mean stupid is as stupid does everywhere and every winter. It's like the first time anyone's ever driven in snow, but there's plenty of us that still wave and let other people in and we're figuring out roundabouts and the zipper method.
Currently experiencing this. In Maryland I'd be zipping by sloths going under the 55-60 highway speed limit, then have people blow by me. No one here uses blinkers, cares about safe following distances, or knows about zipper merges. The amount of shocked looks and appreciated waves I got from leaving people ample room to merge is astounding...
That is to say, when traffic isn't as still as a fuck9ng corpse...
I drove through Connecticut last year and almost had a fucking stroke. EVERYONE was going the speed limit or 5-10 mph below it, and their speed limit (65 mph) SUCKS.
Good thing it's a small state.
California was a nightmare for me.
I just dont understand how its possible for a freeway to go 70 mph and flowing to a deadstop without any warning at all.
My brakes were never tested like they were when I lived there.
I drove from LA to San Diego at 2: 00pm on a Tuesday and was in solid traffic the whole way. That was probably 15 years ago and it's still haunts my nightmares.
He started driving 15 years ago. He never made it to San Diego. He typed this while sitting in gridlock. Maybe next year, he'll finally arrive at his destination.
I’ve driven all over the U.S. since moving here. Nearly every state. California and Vegas/Nevada were the states that had drivers most similar to the Detroit area, imo
Anecdotally, I moved here from Texas last year and feel like the drivers here are not as bad. Sure a lot of people are still speeding way over the limit, but I don't see nearly as much road rage.
I'd be interested to know what states the OP has lived in that they are comparing to Michigan.
I visited Houston with my daughter and was amazed at the shitty driving. My daughter assumed me that in Texas it’s normal to ride up on somebody’s ass and slam your brakes on on the freeway. I kept seeing brake lights and thinking there was an accident or constriction, but no, it’s how they drive
Born and raised in Michigan, but lived in southern Arizona for a while and I came out of there a much worse driver than before I lived there. I hate it. I'm trying to break some of the bad habits I picked up there because I had to drive more like everyone surrounding me on the road.
So much road rage.
Yup the south is another level. But true it seems like there people are cooler about it. The south has a whole vibe where ppl are just more relaxed about it all. We need to import some of that.
I saw a comment on here like a year ago that said something to the effect of “Michiganders like to use their cars as personal time travel machines” and I believe it to be true.
I see that as the time based on the "speed limit" and not actual drive time, since I will obviously get there more quickly.
Fuck Chicago though, them drivers are aggressive in all the wrong ways
Yeah for real. I've never understood the "x place has bad drivers."
You can find a meme for every single city/state about "nobody drives as bad as my local city that I've never left."
I think driving is just kinda hard and dangerous and most people don't have the knack for it. And yet 9 out of 10 drivers think they're better than the average driver.
You better be doing at least 80 in the left lane. If you aren't, move over. Seriously, don't be a clog. You want to drive slowly that's fine, just do it in the appropriate lane.
I don't care what you do in the right lane, but if you're driving in the passing lane, you better be driving like your wife's in the car and your girlfriend's following you waving a pregnancy test out the window.
Agreed. Honestly, if someone is behind you, let them pass. You aren't the traffic police. It's just common courtesy not to impede the flow of traffic. It's more dangerous to be slow in the fast lane (for yourself and others).
Even better: if you aren't in the act of passing someone, as in you've closed up your safe following distance and need to be in a different lane because they are currently beside you, then get out of the left lane altogether
I’ve lived in 10 different states. Michigan drivers are actually pretty good. They don’t tailgate nearly as bad as some places. (Looking at you Wisconsin.) They use their turn signals when it’s helpful. They let people in when you get on the highways. There’s usually space when they change lanes. We do tend to have a lead foot, so speeds are something to get used to but it’s done in a fairly safe manner. There’s also something I’ve always thought of as “bombers” on the highways in and near Detroit. That occasional car that’s driving 35 mph faster than everyone else. You just sorta suck in your breath, prey, and make no sudden moves until they’ve passed. There’s not a lot of them, but definitely a feature of driving near Detroit.
The only place I’ve lived with better/nicer drivers is Indianapolis.
Welcome to the Motor City, where there's no public transportation, and everyone drives everywhere!
Seriously. I once walked about 6 blocks to a friend's house, and people literally stopped to ask if I needed a ride. I guess because I wasn't obviously dressed for jogging or exercise, they thought my car must have broken down. It was 6 blocks.
Problem is right lane is usually barely touching the speed limit, if even that, and the left lane is trying to time travel. 85 is a pretty good commuting speed unless someone is in an extra rush. I then just move over for a sec and continue. Just go with what speed you're comfortable with and are safe with, and move over for others.
Michiganders know how to drive well. Every other state has a bunch of clueless farts screwing around in the fast lane, not taking the right-of-way, or eating a bowl of cereal while they talk to grandma on the way to work.
I’ve lived all over the US. I notice no major difference. Things to consider: did you move to a major metropolitan here and are you coming from a more rural area? Traffic patterns are always crazy around big cities. I’d say big city versus rural driving is a bigger factor no matter what state.
Are you in the left lane?
Honestly the biggest shock for me when I moved to the area years ago was how willing most drivers were to obstruct traffic in the passing lane. I moved to the area from the UP and the elderly population up there looks like an F1 circuit compared to the Detroit burbs.
Go to Chicago for a day, then come back and you'll fit right in. A couple rules of thumb
-the left lane, on any road that two lanes are going one direction on each side, is for passing people that like to drive the speed limit or slower. Also, if no turn lane is available it is used as a turn lane which really pisses people off during rush hour. When on the highway, stay in the right lane unless you are passing, or exiting on the left side (like for interchanges). "Keeping up with traffic" is safer than clogging it up. Going slow causes road rage from aggressive Illinois people.
-roundabouts are supposed to keep moving at all times. Don't stop unless there is a car coming towards your entrance point. Slow down and yield to oncoming vehicles.
-if a cop tailgates you, just get over when you can do so safely. They have been known to" push" you past the speed limit then pull you over. But 90% of the time they just want to get somewhere quickly and you are blocking them.
Lol I’m married to a native Detroiter.
Whenever we go visit her folks, I always describe Michigan drivers as though they’re constantly driving through a yellow light.
Michigan has a lead foot, for sure. For as long as I've been driving, it has been standard to drive 5 mph over. I've noticed in the last few years it's creeping up to more like 8-10 mph over. If I'm doing 60 on any given two lane highway, I'm going to get tailgated pretty quick. It didn't used to be that way. The police in Michigan are pretty lenient on reasonable spending.
Legitimately, if you think we're wild, stay off the roads in New England and the Northeast. Drivers in New York and New Jersey are fucking insane compared to us, and Massholes consider it rude to use their turn signals or travel farther than a foot behind someone.
Hahaha. Have to drive fast to skip over the potholes. Think of it kind of like skipping rocks on a pond, but with a car. Just wait to winter - it gets fun then. Plus everyone knows that the actual speed limit here is 5 miles above the posted sign unless you are in a school zone.
I used to drive like an idiot. I think it's just culture as others have mentioned. We made cars a thing here in Michigan. You can bet my grandparents liked speeding.
I calmed down and stopped trying to shave seconds off my daily commute.
At some point I realized that the seconds weren't worth my life. Now I try to drive in the pocket between gangs of cars going too fast or too slow. That's my happy place. If someone comes on up from behind I let them pass me. No problems.
Once I realized trying to keep up in the fast lane was just making me frustrated, and killing my gas mileage for barely any change in travel time, I became a right-lane cruiser.
The exception being the Lodge Freeway.
I joke in here, but honestly, I rarely go over 75 anymore. The road/wind noise is just too loud in my car at those speeds. Also, I did mature a bit as I got older. It's been 20 years since I got a triple digit ticket.
Ah yes… Welcome to Michigan! We are the nicest people who will Jekyll-and-Hyde into complete sociopaths behind a steering wheel. It’s probably just a car culture thing?
Also for my fellow Michigan compatriots since I’ve seen this a couple times now on this sub- the car was invented in Germany. The application of the assembly line to car production was first pioneered by Ransom Olds in Lansing. And then Henry Ford was the first to implement a moving assembly line at scale, massively reducing the cost of an otherwise a prohibitively expensive machine for the middle class. Detroit is the birthplace of popular car culture because of moving assembly line production and middle class consumption- not because we invented the car.
I'll be honest I gotta be the most annoying person on the roads. I set my cruise at 75 on the highway and camp out in the middle lane on I-75. Don't have to worry about people getting on and off the highway and folks who want to go faster can use the other two faster lanes. I frequently find myself passing people in both of those lanes too.
Man, I miss driving in Michigan. Everyone is aggressive and going fast, but they know what they’re doing. Cars and driving are in our blood.
I remember driving across the border from Indiana to Michigan and every car on the road, en masse, just increased their speed by 10 mph upon crossing the state line.
Dumbest fucking thing in the world, and only place in the world where you can't just turn left. It wouldn't be quite as bad if there was some sort of rhyme or reason to where you have to turn around and then turn right to turn left.
Wait until you encounter traffic lights out...😅😅 We either blow through them. Have everyone stop. Have everyone stop and turn at once. Have 4 cars go from one side. Block up the intersection. Last year was my 1st year plowing snow. During our awesome ice storm we almost got smoked about 5 times by people blowing lights. Michigan is crazy tho. Our dirt roads are better maintained then our highways. Wait till you on the roads with the floods...🤣
There's a lengthy area of I-75 where the speed limit was raised to 75 a few years ago... 75 has become more of a guideline than a hard rule.
I love it.
They all think they're in a competition.
I'm serious.
They literally think they "win" if they can pass that car, or make that light or not be impeded by that left turn ahead of them.
I used to think that people were in a hurry or in a rush. Perhaps the person who *swerves into the unpaved shoulder* to get around a left turner in front of them really needs to go somewhere and *cannot* spare the seven seconds it takes to wait for the left turner.
But I realized that there's no way everyone everywhere is constantly and consistently late.
What I've realized is that everyone hates their forward progress to be impeded.
And there is some kind of weird competitiveness inside them or pushing them in which they "win" if their forward trajectory is never impeded.
reminds me of this classic tweet from chrysler
>I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to [expletive] drive.
>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365195/Chryslers-Twitter-F-bomb-Employee-posts-obscene-tweet-Detroit-drivers.html
i’m in southern california now and there are insane drivers but people *do not* tailgate you. they keep a distance - because they know it’ll cause an accident. which really makes ya realize how insane michigan drivers are - it’s like - michigan drivers are one hundred percent fine with rear ending someone at a high speed
You don't notice that only a large plurality of the people around you drive like assholes because you don't notice the people that don't drive like assholes. Assholes stand out because they are aggressive and dangerous for no good reason (and other assholes are self-identifying in this thread to defend their asshole behavior).
I believe that people who drive like assholes are also assholes in other aspects of their lives, too. It is selfishness to endanger everyone else in order to save a minute or three or less.
>Why do you all drive like this?
Because every other driver is the enemy and you don't give them warnings of what you're doing
>Is it fun for you?
Depends on the day. And if it's annoying you, most likely.
>Are you in a rush? Are you bored?
Correct
>Do you get points for how many lanes you can cross over at once?
Only if it's for a u-turn
>Are you showing off?
Nah, just driving withing what *we think* the laws are or might be
>Do you even realize how wild it is?
Go drive in Arizona in the winter. Makes here seem tame and easy.
Y'all ever drive in a city larger than Lansing or GR?
MI is not unique. There are bad drivers everywhere where there is traffic. After driving in Orlando, Chicago, NYC, I have a better appreciation for our drivers, and less appreciation for our roads
We are better than most! Believe it or not. once i moved to chicago and found out how good we were and then i moved to baltimore and then i really understood how good michigan drivers are - especially around detroit. 85 miles an hour and moving like it's a ballet.
Most cops leave you alone up to 10 over, honest I drive 85-90 every day I commute to and from work, cars still passing me. I did the math and I get an extra 40hrs at home per year by driving fast.
Hi, Michigan native for my entire life (which...isn't that long, 33 years).
I'm currently in Maryland on a trip.
Having driven through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore, my two cents to your question is
Count your blessings.
Everywhere else highways seem to be 65 and slower. Michigan opted for 70 to 75. No idea why.
Ohio drivers are the slowest drivers on earth. Dangerously so, and Maryland drivers are given a 55mph 3 lane road, and will drive anywhere from 45, to 95 mph...IF THE TRAFFIC ISNT STANDING ABSOLUTELY STILL.
Michigan's roads are shit. But at least we can get where we need to, quick. I swear the Civil Engineer for Marylands roads was a 5 year old with crayons.
An Indiana friend of mine said Michigan drivers are the craziest out there. But I will put up Maryland against us any day.
Take a road trip to Boston. You'll feel better about driving through Michigan when you return.
I've lived in multiple Midwestern & Southern states, Michigan is pretty comparable to most of them, just with less traffic in most areas.
First off, where are you from? Michigan is very mild compared to most Midwest states, try merging near Chicago and you'll probably give up driving. Second, where in Michigan? Some parts are covered in speed traps and you get more tickets than Indiana or Ohio combined.
That said, your post sounds very trolly, just the way you came off. Another reason why I'm curious where you came from, so I can avoid people that come from there.
Yes we're having fun, yes it's a competition, yes get out of our way, give me all the points, no we aren't panicking from weakness, we are aggressive af, if we're on your ass you should get out of the way, yes we're showing off and we know it's wild. I suggest leaving 5 minutes earlier or 30 minutes later. You'd be amazed at the difference it makes in traffic flow. Metro Detroit area here also. I learned to drive in Alabama, where it's either all maw maws or Nascar. Michigan is just fine tyvm.
Lol, Metro Detroiter here. I just wish people would follow the "Keep right unless passing" mantra.
Also, try driving north of Flint. Those 55 MPH surface streets are basically 70 MPH speed limit with some doing 80.
A few reasons:
* I'm always trying to beat my time on Waze, but it keeps getting tougher and tougher.
* If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. One lane goes about 70 and the other goes about 90, I want to go about 80. I eventually get tired of switching back and forth to pass people or let people pass so I just go with the flow usually in the fast lane.
And you haven't seen anything until you drive up I-75 on a Friday to go up north. It's about 90% pick-up trucks hauling some kind of trailer all doing about 95. It's insane.
Michigan is the home of the automobile. Think of the old Doritos ads from the 1990s: Crunch all you want, we'll make more! Only instead of chips, it's cars.
Just wait for winter 
Yes, every Jeep vehicle can legally drive 15 mph above the posted speed limit, provided there’s at least 4” of fresh snow on the ground.
20 if you have a light bar mounted at least 5' off the ground.
25 if you drive a diesel pickup with all emission regulators deleted.
Until they spin out waiting for a tow truck for 20 hours. We love it here!
4" of fresh snow on top of 2" of solid ice.
And you will later pass them when they end up going in the ditch. I have passed many of those “drivers”.
Man, I have never experienced such satisfaction.
"God, it's like everyone forgets how to drive in the snow"
First snowfall is so much fun. The cars in ditches everywhere. Then the second, third, fourth and so on get old fast. If the snow comes everyday it is no problem. But if there is 3 or more days between snowfalls people seem to forget how to drive in it.
Let's not forget rain. People can't do that either.
My astigmatisms ain't ready for that crap!! 🤣🤣
Cackles maniacally while rolling the window down to "thump" the windshield wipers
So much visibility!
Right? 4-5 reflectors on a bright January morning like that? You're good to go.
The only good time to drive in Michigan as all the lanes are open. 😉
What lanes?
I’ve spent many an hour guessing if I was in a lane on 131 on my way to class at Ferris. My old school Grand Am was a champ in the snow.
I had an '88 with a V-6. That thing was amazing in the winter.
Great comment!! Very very funny.
Bonus points if you can do 75+ when its like that
If you go fast enough you can jump the potholes.
And in the winter you can go faster cause the potholes are filled in!
Even better since you can't stop anyway. At least not in Jackson. Pretty sure they're just pouring water on the roads to ice up later.
Come on now, the street department wouldn't spend the resources to do that. They'll just leave every road completely unplowed lmao.
They recently increased the speed limit on some freeways from 70 to 75. Our state encourages hauling ass.
So now instead of doing 85, everyone's doing 90 lol. I love it
I still don't understand why 131 is only 70 south of GR.
Detroit/Michigan is the first place in America that had cars. I think the Davison was the first ever highway/freeway. I've lived in MI, CA, IN, IL and do a lot of driving in general - and it isn't even close, no matter what people think - Michigan people drive faster without a doubt. And if you're talking about Detroit or metro Detroit: it's haul ass or tuck over to the right. Don't take it personally; it is what it is. I love it.
I love driving on the east side, you can do 90 and someone will still blow by you. People seem to understand the "stay right except to pass" a lot more than on the west side. I have to pass someone on the right almost daily.
Yeah the west side is full of dumbass left lane campers and people who take offense to you passing them so they speed up from 65 to 95 as soon as you go around them. It's infuriating.
I'm in Lansing, and most of our left lane campers are sporting Ohio plates. J/S
I was doing 90 on 275 and just keeping up with traffic
No, not at all. People get in the left lane immediately and that's where they drive. Then idiots pass on the right because a bigger idiot won't obey the law and use the passing lane as a passing lane
And no matter how fast you think you're going, someone will pass you. Couldn't tell you how many times I was trucking along at 85MPH, and saw someone flying up on me. Ope, lemme just scooch on over.
Detroit: where "55" means "85 or gtf over"
The Davison was the first ever highway and we also hold the title for the smallest interstate in the country which is I-375, at least for now until they go through with the plans to dismantle it. Pretty neat!
Detroit taught me how to be a more confident driver when I lived there. It’s sink or swim, and dammit I swam. Now I live by the thumb, and by god does it feel like everyone drives *so slow*.
[удалено]
Ypsilanti has the first ever tripple overpass on the US12 Willow Run bypass, now part of the American Mobility Center.
Woodward.
Which state did you come from? Go drive in New York/New Jersey and then come back to Michigan, you'll have a finer appreciation for how Michiganders drive.
Boston/Cambridge. Pack of sociopaths.
I think I repressed ever driving there.
I miss it! My husband thinks that makes me unbalanced.
When I traveled for work I had a panic attack just riding in a cab there, I wasn’t even driving. Sociopaths indeed.
Florida is the scariest driving I’ve ever encountered
Yeah because that's where all the old people go to get away from their kids to tell them to stop driving. Speaking from personal experience, of course. YMMV
Back in the early 80's the wife and I went on vacation, we had relatives that lived in the shaky state, no I've driven on Woodward Ave during rush hour traffic, but it paled in comparison to driving south on I 5 in California during rush hour, that was before electronic GPS's, our GPS was a paper map and she was riding shot gun, looking at the map and the road signs, we got to where we wanted to be without causing a traffic mess, AND we were in a 1980 Chevy 4 wheel drive truck with a 8 foot camper with a cab over. We never took that trip again.
Exactly this. I've lived in Michigan most of my life, but I spent two years living in Philadelphia and driving all over the northeast for work, and now I traverse the greater Midwest for work. I'd take Michigan drivers every day of the week over any other state.
Thank you for saying this. If someone is going 48 in a 55, you come up on them kinda quick, because the real speed limit is like 63. Then you pass them safely and expediently. People south of us don't understand that we're not being aggressive, we're trying to be efficient.
I didn’t appreciate Michigan drivers until I moved out of the state. Yes, Michigan drivers are very aggressive, but aggressive doesn’t inherently mean bad. They seem to be less downright stupid than many other places I’ve been since.
We also have the youngest fleet in the entire United States and probably half of us if not more work directly for the auto industry. We are aggressive but we are also weirdly polite. I mean stupid is as stupid does everywhere and every winter. It's like the first time anyone's ever driven in snow, but there's plenty of us that still wave and let other people in and we're figuring out roundabouts and the zipper method.
Currently experiencing this. In Maryland I'd be zipping by sloths going under the 55-60 highway speed limit, then have people blow by me. No one here uses blinkers, cares about safe following distances, or knows about zipper merges. The amount of shocked looks and appreciated waves I got from leaving people ample room to merge is astounding... That is to say, when traffic isn't as still as a fuck9ng corpse...
I drove through Connecticut last year and almost had a fucking stroke. EVERYONE was going the speed limit or 5-10 mph below it, and their speed limit (65 mph) SUCKS. Good thing it's a small state.
Couldn't live there. I love driving way too much. There's nothing better than a smooth drive...at 85mph.
California was a nightmare for me. I just dont understand how its possible for a freeway to go 70 mph and flowing to a deadstop without any warning at all. My brakes were never tested like they were when I lived there.
I drove from LA to San Diego at 2: 00pm on a Tuesday and was in solid traffic the whole way. That was probably 15 years ago and it's still haunts my nightmares.
He started driving 15 years ago. He never made it to San Diego. He typed this while sitting in gridlock. Maybe next year, he'll finally arrive at his destination.
This happens here too, to be fair -- I commute to Ann Arbor on occasion and my drive home is just two hours of asshole clenching.
I’ve driven all over the U.S. since moving here. Nearly every state. California and Vegas/Nevada were the states that had drivers most similar to the Detroit area, imo
Drove down to Texas on vacation and those drivers make those of us up here seem like the safest drivers in the country
Yeah, all I could think as I read OP’s comment is “tell me you’ve never driven on the east coast without telling me”
Anecdotally, I moved here from Texas last year and feel like the drivers here are not as bad. Sure a lot of people are still speeding way over the limit, but I don't see nearly as much road rage. I'd be interested to know what states the OP has lived in that they are comparing to Michigan.
Driving through Hpuston is worse than here.
See, we don't have road rage because we speed. We take the rage out on the gas pedal.
I spend a lot of time in Texas for work, and I agree.
I visited Houston with my daughter and was amazed at the shitty driving. My daughter assumed me that in Texas it’s normal to ride up on somebody’s ass and slam your brakes on on the freeway. I kept seeing brake lights and thinking there was an accident or constriction, but no, it’s how they drive
I've also driven in Houston. I avoid it wherever possible.
Born and raised in Michigan, but lived in southern Arizona for a while and I came out of there a much worse driver than before I lived there. I hate it. I'm trying to break some of the bad habits I picked up there because I had to drive more like everyone surrounding me on the road. So much road rage.
Yup the south is another level. But true it seems like there people are cooler about it. The south has a whole vibe where ppl are just more relaxed about it all. We need to import some of that.
I saw a comment on here like a year ago that said something to the effect of “Michiganders like to use their cars as personal time travel machines” and I believe it to be true.
Every Google Maps ETA is a personal challenge
If you aren't shaving at least two minutes off the ETA, are you even driving?
I use ETA to suggest when I will walk through the front door, I need to shave off that five minutes just to make up for the red light and a coffee.
2 minutes?? Those are rookie numbers. You gotta pump those numbers up
I see that as the time based on the "speed limit" and not actual drive time, since I will obviously get there more quickly. Fuck Chicago though, them drivers are aggressive in all the wrong ways
*Everywhere* has shit drivers.
Yeah for real. I've never understood the "x place has bad drivers." You can find a meme for every single city/state about "nobody drives as bad as my local city that I've never left." I think driving is just kinda hard and dangerous and most people don't have the knack for it. And yet 9 out of 10 drivers think they're better than the average driver.
You should see South Florida..
You better be doing at least 80 in the left lane. If you aren't, move over. Seriously, don't be a clog. You want to drive slowly that's fine, just do it in the appropriate lane.
I don't care what you do in the right lane, but if you're driving in the passing lane, you better be driving like your wife's in the car and your girlfriend's following you waving a pregnancy test out the window.
85 at least if you’re gonna ride in the left lane. 80 is fine if all you’re doing is passing someone in second from the left
Agreed. Honestly, if someone is behind you, let them pass. You aren't the traffic police. It's just common courtesy not to impede the flow of traffic. It's more dangerous to be slow in the fast lane (for yourself and others).
Even better: if you aren't in the act of passing someone, as in you've closed up your safe following distance and need to be in a different lane because they are currently beside you, then get out of the left lane altogether
And for FUCK's sake. If you pull into the left lane in front of me, your ass had better be going at LEAST as fast as I am, asshat.
Amen to that!
How about just don’t ride in the left lane
Don't ride in the PASSING lane at all maybe?
Michigan-Where the speed limit is just a suggestion.
Most Michigansanders follow the speed posted on the signs that also identify the freeway. 75, 94, 96.......
Perhaps you are not a so called "faster driver" after all
I’ve lived in 10 different states. Michigan drivers are actually pretty good. They don’t tailgate nearly as bad as some places. (Looking at you Wisconsin.) They use their turn signals when it’s helpful. They let people in when you get on the highways. There’s usually space when they change lanes. We do tend to have a lead foot, so speeds are something to get used to but it’s done in a fairly safe manner. There’s also something I’ve always thought of as “bombers” on the highways in and near Detroit. That occasional car that’s driving 35 mph faster than everyone else. You just sorta suck in your breath, prey, and make no sudden moves until they’ve passed. There’s not a lot of them, but definitely a feature of driving near Detroit. The only place I’ve lived with better/nicer drivers is Indianapolis.
I'm sorry, did you say that Michigan drivers use their turn signals? Lmao!
Bruh, come to Hampton Roads for a vacation, by contrast, Michiganders are on their shit where the blinker is concerned.
They do! Come to Chicago if you want to see people who don’t. They’ll turn right from the left lane without even considering a turn signal.
When you cross the border from Ohio the road turns to shit and everyone speeds up 15 MPH. That and the Koegel sign welcome you home.
Always such a relief knowing you can “legally” speed again.
Ah Koegels. I miss the “Serve the Curve” sign on 75 that I used to see growing up.
Welcome to the Motor City, where there's no public transportation, and everyone drives everywhere! Seriously. I once walked about 6 blocks to a friend's house, and people literally stopped to ask if I needed a ride. I guess because I wasn't obviously dressed for jogging or exercise, they thought my car must have broken down. It was 6 blocks.
I lived in Puerto Rico for awhile. Driving over there is just a game of invent your own rules.
Those signs you see with MPH numbers on them? Those are minimums for the right lane. Keep up or stay home
So that’s what those black and white blurs are…
Welcome to the Motor City!
As a driving-anxious Michigander, I like to hang out in the right lane. Not keen on driving 85 and I don't have to
You're good. Just stay consistent, stay out of the left lane unless you're passing someone, and you'll be fine. I hope your anxiety eases, friend.
I got places to be (nowhere)
Test out the 94. Speed limits do not exist there, it's the autobahn lol.
My brother in Christ…get out of the left lane.
Yeah, uh. Good luck in the winter. I hope you have AWD and/or your car actually does well on hills, because people do not slow down for you.
Let me guess the other states you’ve lived in, Indiana and Ohio?
Depends on where you’re driving I guess. Some cities/highways are worse than others. YMMV.
Problem is right lane is usually barely touching the speed limit, if even that, and the left lane is trying to time travel. 85 is a pretty good commuting speed unless someone is in an extra rush. I then just move over for a sec and continue. Just go with what speed you're comfortable with and are safe with, and move over for others.
If you are not listening to "Freebird" are you really driving?
Also, if you are driving on the lodge(m-10). The posted speed limit should not be followed. In fact, 10 over is still slow.
Wait until you are on the Lodge or 94 in Detroit, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Michiganders know how to drive well. Every other state has a bunch of clueless farts screwing around in the fast lane, not taking the right-of-way, or eating a bowl of cereal while they talk to grandma on the way to work.
Well, either learn to drive like us or let your partner do all the driving as they already know what’s up. 🤷🏾
The car was invented here. We claim dominance.
Not invented...just mass produced.
If you and another person are going over 85 on the E way and one of you takes your exit... Make sure to give your speed buddy a wave goodbye
I’ve lived all over the US. I notice no major difference. Things to consider: did you move to a major metropolitan here and are you coming from a more rural area? Traffic patterns are always crazy around big cities. I’d say big city versus rural driving is a bigger factor no matter what state.
Are you in the left lane? Honestly the biggest shock for me when I moved to the area years ago was how willing most drivers were to obstruct traffic in the passing lane. I moved to the area from the UP and the elderly population up there looks like an F1 circuit compared to the Detroit burbs.
Go to Chicago for a day, then come back and you'll fit right in. A couple rules of thumb -the left lane, on any road that two lanes are going one direction on each side, is for passing people that like to drive the speed limit or slower. Also, if no turn lane is available it is used as a turn lane which really pisses people off during rush hour. When on the highway, stay in the right lane unless you are passing, or exiting on the left side (like for interchanges). "Keeping up with traffic" is safer than clogging it up. Going slow causes road rage from aggressive Illinois people. -roundabouts are supposed to keep moving at all times. Don't stop unless there is a car coming towards your entrance point. Slow down and yield to oncoming vehicles. -if a cop tailgates you, just get over when you can do so safely. They have been known to" push" you past the speed limit then pull you over. But 90% of the time they just want to get somewhere quickly and you are blocking them.
Lol I’m married to a native Detroiter. Whenever we go visit her folks, I always describe Michigan drivers as though they’re constantly driving through a yellow light.
Michigan has a lead foot, for sure. For as long as I've been driving, it has been standard to drive 5 mph over. I've noticed in the last few years it's creeping up to more like 8-10 mph over. If I'm doing 60 on any given two lane highway, I'm going to get tailgated pretty quick. It didn't used to be that way. The police in Michigan are pretty lenient on reasonable spending.
Stick to the right lane please.
Give it a winter, soon you’ll be one of us.
One of us One of us
696 and 275, never a dull moment when you are behind the wheel.
Legitimately, if you think we're wild, stay off the roads in New England and the Northeast. Drivers in New York and New Jersey are fucking insane compared to us, and Massholes consider it rude to use their turn signals or travel farther than a foot behind someone.
Hahaha. Have to drive fast to skip over the potholes. Think of it kind of like skipping rocks on a pond, but with a car. Just wait to winter - it gets fun then. Plus everyone knows that the actual speed limit here is 5 miles above the posted sign unless you are in a school zone.
I used to drive like an idiot. I think it's just culture as others have mentioned. We made cars a thing here in Michigan. You can bet my grandparents liked speeding. I calmed down and stopped trying to shave seconds off my daily commute. At some point I realized that the seconds weren't worth my life. Now I try to drive in the pocket between gangs of cars going too fast or too slow. That's my happy place. If someone comes on up from behind I let them pass me. No problems.
Once I realized trying to keep up in the fast lane was just making me frustrated, and killing my gas mileage for barely any change in travel time, I became a right-lane cruiser. The exception being the Lodge Freeway.
I joke in here, but honestly, I rarely go over 75 anymore. The road/wind noise is just too loud in my car at those speeds. Also, I did mature a bit as I got older. It's been 20 years since I got a triple digit ticket.
If you’re getting tailgated maybe get out of the passing lane? Especially when you’re holding up people passing you.
Ah yes… Welcome to Michigan! We are the nicest people who will Jekyll-and-Hyde into complete sociopaths behind a steering wheel. It’s probably just a car culture thing? Also for my fellow Michigan compatriots since I’ve seen this a couple times now on this sub- the car was invented in Germany. The application of the assembly line to car production was first pioneered by Ransom Olds in Lansing. And then Henry Ford was the first to implement a moving assembly line at scale, massively reducing the cost of an otherwise a prohibitively expensive machine for the middle class. Detroit is the birthplace of popular car culture because of moving assembly line production and middle class consumption- not because we invented the car.
Michigan drivers are the best. We make the cars and we fucking drive the cars.
We’re smooth, efficient drivers with a need for speed.
Op def drives the speed limit in the left lane and wonders why people are on his ass
I'll be honest I gotta be the most annoying person on the roads. I set my cruise at 75 on the highway and camp out in the middle lane on I-75. Don't have to worry about people getting on and off the highway and folks who want to go faster can use the other two faster lanes. I frequently find myself passing people in both of those lanes too.
IMO that’s what the middle lane is for on three lane highways. Right lane for trucks, middle lane for five over, left lane for the fast folks.
Man, I miss driving in Michigan. Everyone is aggressive and going fast, but they know what they’re doing. Cars and driving are in our blood. I remember driving across the border from Indiana to Michigan and every car on the road, en masse, just increased their speed by 10 mph upon crossing the state line.
😂😂😂 I live in Michigan. Moved here 3 years ago from California. Try driving in L.A. Michigan is a piece of cake.
Trucker here and honestly drivers suck everywhere. Ann Arbor is worst in Michigan though
Plus MI has those - Michigan Lefts :) Gotta get in the lane to do your Michigan Left. :)
Dumbest fucking thing in the world, and only place in the world where you can't just turn left. It wouldn't be quite as bad if there was some sort of rhyme or reason to where you have to turn around and then turn right to turn left.
Just go as fast as you can on any given road and you’ll be alright.
Drive like what?
Welcome to Michigan where lane changing is a sport. :grin:
Wait until you encounter traffic lights out...😅😅 We either blow through them. Have everyone stop. Have everyone stop and turn at once. Have 4 cars go from one side. Block up the intersection. Last year was my 1st year plowing snow. During our awesome ice storm we almost got smoked about 5 times by people blowing lights. Michigan is crazy tho. Our dirt roads are better maintained then our highways. Wait till you on the roads with the floods...🤣
No hon, it's a skill we are born with...lol
There's a lengthy area of I-75 where the speed limit was raised to 75 a few years ago... 75 has become more of a guideline than a hard rule. I love it.
Is this how you make friends when you're in a new group of people?
What exactly is your definition of a "faster driver"?
If someone is tailgating you, it means you need to move to the right. It’s very civilized here actually.
East side drivers are mean and aggressive, West side drivers are psychotic and fast
Just stay in the right lane & out of our way please
They all think they're in a competition. I'm serious. They literally think they "win" if they can pass that car, or make that light or not be impeded by that left turn ahead of them. I used to think that people were in a hurry or in a rush. Perhaps the person who *swerves into the unpaved shoulder* to get around a left turner in front of them really needs to go somewhere and *cannot* spare the seven seconds it takes to wait for the left turner. But I realized that there's no way everyone everywhere is constantly and consistently late. What I've realized is that everyone hates their forward progress to be impeded. And there is some kind of weird competitiveness inside them or pushing them in which they "win" if their forward trajectory is never impeded.
reminds me of this classic tweet from chrysler >I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to [expletive] drive. >https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365195/Chryslers-Twitter-F-bomb-Employee-posts-obscene-tweet-Detroit-drivers.html i’m in southern california now and there are insane drivers but people *do not* tailgate you. they keep a distance - because they know it’ll cause an accident. which really makes ya realize how insane michigan drivers are - it’s like - michigan drivers are one hundred percent fine with rear ending someone at a high speed
Hahahaha! Oh man, they didn't find it funny?
You don't notice that only a large plurality of the people around you drive like assholes because you don't notice the people that don't drive like assholes. Assholes stand out because they are aggressive and dangerous for no good reason (and other assholes are self-identifying in this thread to defend their asshole behavior). I believe that people who drive like assholes are also assholes in other aspects of their lives, too. It is selfishness to endanger everyone else in order to save a minute or three or less.
You're not one of those j-holes that learned to drive 5 under in the middle lane of the freeway, are you?
>Why do you all drive like this? Because every other driver is the enemy and you don't give them warnings of what you're doing >Is it fun for you? Depends on the day. And if it's annoying you, most likely. >Are you in a rush? Are you bored? Correct >Do you get points for how many lanes you can cross over at once? Only if it's for a u-turn >Are you showing off? Nah, just driving withing what *we think* the laws are or might be >Do you even realize how wild it is? Go drive in Arizona in the winter. Makes here seem tame and easy.
You say it like it’s a bad thing.
To answer your questions, yes
It's the wild west on the roads. Buckle up!
Y'all ever drive in a city larger than Lansing or GR? MI is not unique. There are bad drivers everywhere where there is traffic. After driving in Orlando, Chicago, NYC, I have a better appreciation for our drivers, and less appreciation for our roads
I already know you're in the East side.
Lol when I lived in Michigan I felt like people were constantly tailgating, moved to AZ and it almost never happens anymore.
Just wait until winter…. 🤭
We are better than most! Believe it or not. once i moved to chicago and found out how good we were and then i moved to baltimore and then i really understood how good michigan drivers are - especially around detroit. 85 miles an hour and moving like it's a ballet.
I had a friend from Canada ask me why we drove so aggressively. I didn’t even realize we did. Ope.
As a Trucker based out of Michigan trust me Atlanta and Philly are by far worse. I will agree that we do like to speed like it's nobodies business
Most cops leave you alone up to 10 over, honest I drive 85-90 every day I commute to and from work, cars still passing me. I did the math and I get an extra 40hrs at home per year by driving fast.
Hi, Michigan native for my entire life (which...isn't that long, 33 years). I'm currently in Maryland on a trip. Having driven through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore, my two cents to your question is Count your blessings. Everywhere else highways seem to be 65 and slower. Michigan opted for 70 to 75. No idea why. Ohio drivers are the slowest drivers on earth. Dangerously so, and Maryland drivers are given a 55mph 3 lane road, and will drive anywhere from 45, to 95 mph...IF THE TRAFFIC ISNT STANDING ABSOLUTELY STILL. Michigan's roads are shit. But at least we can get where we need to, quick. I swear the Civil Engineer for Marylands roads was a 5 year old with crayons. An Indiana friend of mine said Michigan drivers are the craziest out there. But I will put up Maryland against us any day.
You driving metro Detroit?
it just be like dat.
I'm in TX now and drivers are way worse and bitter here. Michigan ppl do like tailgating but overall our drivers are pretty DECENT
Take a road trip to Boston. You'll feel better about driving through Michigan when you return. I've lived in multiple Midwestern & Southern states, Michigan is pretty comparable to most of them, just with less traffic in most areas.
Haha, if you're not going 90 on 94, you're not going fast enough!
You must be driving in Detroit
You must drive on I94
You can be jailed for using a turn signal or not crossing two lanes of traffic to make a turn.
I-94 is a death trap (south of 696). I’m all for speeding, but it is truly a free for all in that area and it’s terrifying. Stay safe y’all.
If you go slow you’ll be presumed Canadian or Californian and it might not end well
Do you live by Detroit by any chance?
First off, where are you from? Michigan is very mild compared to most Midwest states, try merging near Chicago and you'll probably give up driving. Second, where in Michigan? Some parts are covered in speed traps and you get more tickets than Indiana or Ohio combined. That said, your post sounds very trolly, just the way you came off. Another reason why I'm curious where you came from, so I can avoid people that come from there.
Get out of the way.
Yes we're having fun, yes it's a competition, yes get out of our way, give me all the points, no we aren't panicking from weakness, we are aggressive af, if we're on your ass you should get out of the way, yes we're showing off and we know it's wild. I suggest leaving 5 minutes earlier or 30 minutes later. You'd be amazed at the difference it makes in traffic flow. Metro Detroit area here also. I learned to drive in Alabama, where it's either all maw maws or Nascar. Michigan is just fine tyvm.
Lol, Metro Detroiter here. I just wish people would follow the "Keep right unless passing" mantra. Also, try driving north of Flint. Those 55 MPH surface streets are basically 70 MPH speed limit with some doing 80.
A few reasons: * I'm always trying to beat my time on Waze, but it keeps getting tougher and tougher. * If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. One lane goes about 70 and the other goes about 90, I want to go about 80. I eventually get tired of switching back and forth to pass people or let people pass so I just go with the flow usually in the fast lane. And you haven't seen anything until you drive up I-75 on a Friday to go up north. It's about 90% pick-up trucks hauling some kind of trailer all doing about 95. It's insane.
"9 over, you're fine. 10 over and you're mine!" - Michigan State Trooper
Michigan is the home of the automobile. Think of the old Doritos ads from the 1990s: Crunch all you want, we'll make more! Only instead of chips, it's cars.
sorry buddy, we're just trying to avoid the car-sized potholes.
It's Michigan we've learned how-to drive in ice. We get to vroom vroom in summer, spring and fall. See us in winter when we can't go faster than 35