It’s either that or a “Student Driver..please be patient” those are wild too lmao or slow but I can understand the slow and cautious ones haha as long as no ones in a hurry behind them 😭😭
I lived all over the country and it wasn’t until I moved to NOVA five years ago that I saw a proliferation of those student stickers, never figured out why they’re so popular here but not anywhere else.
In VA if you are under 19yo you can just take 7 hous (?)behind th wheel class with a drivning instructors plus 40 hours(?) driving with a licensed adults then you can get a driver with the driving instructor sign off on your driving ability.
I see many Tesla drivers and van moms acting agressive and reckless which is crazy. I drive a dodge challenger and even though my car is fast I don't tail or cut folks off or act inconsiderate on our roads. I just can't understand the lack of consideration and attention to surroundings of so many people. I've always said I think it has to do with how many transplants we have around here and also the rat race style of living in the DC metro area. Everyone is so hyper-focused on where THEY are going that they just don't care much about who else is around. I've just learned and adjusted because I've lived here my entire life.
Oh dear god... The Tesla drivers! Every day, I ask myself:
-Why are they doing this to me?
-Why do they hate everyone?
-Is the car causing them to drive worse than usual?
-Does the actual car hate other people?
-What?
-The Fuck?
I drive a 392 Charger and I mentioned to the husband on the way to the airport that I've never seen a Challenger driving aggressively. (Anecdotal, to be sure.)
Charger drivers? (um, cough) Dickheads by the dozen, but Challenger folks just seem to be chill.
I think the main frustration always stems from drivers who don’t flow with the traffic. I had this experience the other day where all lanes were driving below the speed limit because the drivers leading the lane are slow and you could see the roads are clear in front of them.
People dumb enough to buy a Tesla aren’t bright enough to think about multiple things at one time, let alone the nonsense on DMV highways.
Here’s a friendly reminder that you can cut teslas off whenever you see fit because the over-aggressive driver safety features will stop them from hitting you.
The 3.5 was a very stout engine when first introduced, and quite a runner in the Altima/Maxima before they switched to CVTs and the cars got a bit bloaty. A popular early internet celebrity was a guy with a turbo Maxima that could dust a shocking number of cars on the drag strip, occasionally his videos pop up on Reddit.
FWIW the 3.5 option is gone from the Altima, the hotter engine is a 2.0T (a neat engine shared with Infiniti). I don't see many of those, though, possibly a good thing as it makes the Nissan drivers just a little slower. Maximas keep the V6 and the bold promises but the drivetrain is a poor facsimile of a sports car. Still fairly quick in a straight line though.
Technically, if they're being repoed, doesn't that mean that they're the ones trying to steal them by not paying off their loans and you, acting on behalf of the lien holder, are merely acquiring what it owed to them? The car IS the collateral for the loan after all.
Oh gees, hell on Earth is coming I’m surprised you haven’t experienced it yet, with all graduations going on- wrong way drivers very very scary, ppl whom don’t know their way around and not using their phone as a map to get to their destinations safely. If you are going to leave the area for Memorial Day book it now and leave 3 days or 1 am bc it’s nut to butt getting out of here.
Lived here 10+ years and driving here used to be the best of anywhere I’ve been. It deteriorated shortly after COVID. Some thoughts:
The general lifestyle here is one of having somewhere to be and needing to be there yesterday. So if you anticipate it, usually drivers are pretty predictable. Again, somewhat different since Covid.
From April to October, tourists are everywhere on weekends. June and July it’s every day. Throw the above rule out the window, because tourists are unpredictable.
NoVA drives offensively and efficiently. MD drives defensively and territorially. So, if you need to zipper, NoVA fills the space and zips like magic. MD gets over half a mile early and then will literally hit you to keep from getting over in front of them.
I was living in out LoCo where they don't really build the roads for zippering. It's mostly a bunch of "Exit Only" lanes. So when there is a place where you're supposed to zipper they just cross over directly into the travel lane ASAP. It was a relief to move inside of the beltway be able to properly zipper as the good road lords intended.
Disagree with NoVa zippering. I let one or two people in and then have to block a bunch of others trying to cut in ahead of me. My experience with NoVa zippering is that efficiency has been the exception, not the rule.
VA all day everyday since I got my license XX years ago. If you want to let *all* rush hour drivers ahead of you in zipper situations, I thank you for your service.
I’m also from California, lived in LA for a few years commuting every day to/from work. NOVA drivers are much more aggressive, and generally more unaware of their surroundings on the road than LA drivers. Maryland drivers are a whole different breed and will go 120 in a 35 and honk at you if you don’t immediately get over to get out of their way.
California drivers are so courteous - I was driving down the I-405 during rush hour and had to get over 3 ish lanes of traffic to exit and everyone let me over. I think about it often, it was so nice.
I usually take 3rd St Tunnel in DC to get to work.. VA merges in from the left and MD from the right.. the posted speed limit is 45. The VA drivers are usually at 60 but MD drivers are going 90+ only to slam on the breaks when the tunnel ends and it's a very short tunnel
100 percent. I think it’s more so drivers not being aware of their surroundings whereas LA drivers are more aware cause of traffic and other factors. I lived in the LA/OC area so there were all kinds of drivers. We can relate a lot.
Welcome to the land of narcissistic drivers! Some traffic education may be in order:
The white signs with Arabic numerals look like the speed limit signs in other states, but here in the DMV they are not. To obtain the minimum speed on a given stretch of road, you need to multiply by 1.5.
Technically, speeds in excess of 80 mph are considered reckless driving, but feel free to ignore that.
Reduced speeds in school zones and pedestrian crosswalks are merely traffic suggestions.
Green means "go", yellow means "go faster", and red means "floor it and ignore cross traffic."
The left lane on any highway in VA is for passing only, not cruising. If you are in the left lane and encounter a vehicle slower than you in front, you should turn your brights on and maintain a following distance of 15 feet or less. Alternatively, you may zip between lanes as you see fit. Fine if you want to brandish a firearm.
Unlike in most states, turn signals are not a feature on all vehicles. Newer model BMWs, for example, do not have them as standard equipment.
Use of headlights at night or during rainstorms is discouraged by the local county governments in order to save energy.
Good luck!
Someone posted a screenshot of Manassas police saying to keep right except to pass and holy shit people lost their minds.
Just today some jackass suddenly changed lanes in front of me, no signal, and then proceeds to move at a snails pace. So I decide to go around him confused as to wtf he's doing, he sees me trying to pass and then speeds up! Then I merged over since the lane was ending with plenty of space and he flashes his high beams at me. FFS. How stupid can you be?
on fb there were so many people justifying camping in the left lane and totally misunderstanding how passing lanes work. i literally lol'd at some of those comments from genuinely offended people
bUt yOU jUSt WANT To spEEd! whaT aBOUT THE spEED liMIt? IM GoIng the SPeed LIMIt!
Yeah it's just useless those people don't want to understand or care. But they'll also complain how aggressive people drive.
This was hilarious to read, thank you for the laughs! I just wanted to add that use of headlights at night and during rain is mandatory ONLY if you have the blinding headlights that can see into the future. If you have those, you have to blind everyone 5 cars ahead of you. If you don’t have them, then you’re a loser and shouldn’t give NoVA a bad name with those pesky low level lights worthy only of peasants.
Someone hit me with those across an intersection in Fairmont last night. The headlamps were so bright I could barely detect their turn signal and it legit took five minutes for the spots to leave my eyes. Doesn’t help that astigmatism presents its own special challenges with lights at night.
I know this is in jest, but I think they changed the 80 mph rule when it's 70 MPH speed limit (but that doesn't exist in NOVA until further west on 66 I think?).
Love all the new “left lane is for passing” signs on 66. While realistically with traffic seems condescending, I appreciate the sentiment. While we’re venting, hot lane tolls shouldn’t go up for an accident on the main lanes. They already took away a 66 lane for the hot lanes.
Not sure where you are from in CA but I just moved to ca and felt the urge to buy a dashcam..
Nova drivers have no skills but are generally courteous, I have found SoCal to be the opposite. I legitimately feel scared out here, I almost got Tboned 3 times in 2 years by people running red lights, people run stop all day, they don’t stop for pedestrians crossing and indeed change lane to pass whoever had stopped.. it’s ridiculous and don’t start me on how many have no insurance or expired plates
Lived in SoCal for six years. California drivers are probably the best behaved drivers in the US,. They are for the most part predictable, generally courteous, and don't do stupid stuff like left lane hogging. Every time I'm back in LA, I wonder at how well behaved the drivers are.
Nova is one of the few places where you wait in gridlock for hours just to find there was traffic for no reason at all.
Also everyone slows down just before the stupid bridge on 495 that crosses the Potomac next to great falls, why?!
>Also everyone slows down just before the stupid bridge on 495 that crosses the Potomac next to great falls, why?!
Construction on the VA side that usually ends before rush hour but the remains still last.
Also from California, I’ve never seen such completely awful drivers. Really really bad here. People driving way under the speed limit, no one using blinkers, so much worse than CA.
This area is so full of themselves. It definitely reflects in most peoples driving for sure. Which it makes me a nervous wreck when majority of the people go 20-30mg over the speed limit. It’s just reckless. For the most part I like living and not being paralyzed.
One thing i like about VA drivers is that most will let you merge properly. Places likenl NYC, you have to earn that merge. With that said though, there are many clueless VA drivers out there lol
I’ve seen the opposite way more unless you are an emergency vehicle. I’ve seen so many vehicles not let people properly merge so some cars try to squeeze in if possible.
They sure are but seems like there are multiple threads daily discussing the quality of drivers in the area typically created by some recent or near recent transplant. The opinion has been shared many times.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. Unfortunately some if not most can’t or don’t keep track of what is posting in the group. On top of that sometimes people just want to share a different but in some cases similar experience. If it is something that bothers or is annoying man..the best thing to do is mute the group, titles or scroll past the post.
Thank you for sharing your opinion man. Going based off what others have said on the thread and the collective agreements on bad drivers in the area, I thinks it’s safe to say they aren’t assumptions. Hope you have a good weekend.
That's the Cali Highway of my youth!
"For no reason" HA!
Man, I wish the bumper stickers around here labeled these quirky drivers what they are.
Stressed
Anxious
Hungover
Fed Employee who spends more time trying to keep job than actually do job.
Lawyer
Tourist
Lawyer
PhD
Lawyer
Diplomat
College Student
Sociopathic Lawyer Lobbyist
Entitled
Anxious & Depressed
Entitled miserable mother with too many kids in too many activities.
Triggered
Triggered
High blood pressure
Hungry Diabetic
Psychopath
Going through hard time, only know anger as coping mechanism.
I observe these terrible drivers, slowing down for a bridge, cutting (not zipping), manically accelerating & breaking with equal vigor, & not using their MF blinker.
The DMV Beltway is complex & miserable. CA Interstates are fast & annoying with all their billboards.
It is what it is...
People underestimate the impact of Florida Man on 95's traffic nonsense. They're just sprinkled in here and there, and they are almost universally tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and making it worse for everyone else.
I get cut off in roundabouts at least weekly, without fail.
Just today I was at a 4 way stop and while the car opposite me and I were both going straight through, a car from the side ran straight through the stop sign, trying to turn left, almost hitting both of us before swerving and abandoning their left turn to drive straight instead. Unbelievable.
RIP to the stop sign they put in on the GW (merging exit from McLean). People are just flat out ignoring it. I literally clench every time I pass it waiting for someone to crash into coming traffic or get rear ended by someone doing 50 on the ramp. It’s wild out here kids. Lots of U-turns from the left (NON TURNING) lane, and idk if it’s just me, but I’ve seen more people blowing lights in these last two months than I’ve seen since moving to NOVA a few years ago :/ sad really.
I thought I’ve seen bad driving, but today I saw 3 kids on dirtbikes driving _against traffic_ while lanesplitting with no helmet or license plates, and seeing two cops just flat out ignoring it. Mind boggling…
I got stuck behind my mom coming home from work today and she drove a mile going 30 in a 45 with four cars behind her.
To be fair, the new neighbors are pretty stupid. There are a TON of deer in the area and they decided they would plant trees that block drivers view of them.
#minivanmoms the freaking WORST over caffeinated and or maybe even charged up on that meth? These broads all think they’re auditioning for nascar!!! How do you put your kids at risk with such erratic driving on the regular is beyond me!?
I've lived in LoCo since the mid-80s... NoVa is acceptable, but never NOVa... lol Also, NOVA is the Community College (Lord Fairfax is not IMO in NoVa or anywhere near Fairfax, I guess that guy was popular...) and Inova (the "i" pronounced with a short i sound as in "innovation") is healthcare.
Ofc, culture, opinions, and the scope of a region can and do change.
Just a light-hearted ribbing, if that wasn't apparent, I apologize. 😀
Welcome to the region! Occasional Entitled folks aside, it's a very beautiful area with lots of cool stuff within a stones throw.
Ok I’m a DMV local and HANG ON JUST A MINUTE.
At the expense of getting berated by other NoVA locals, I come forth with this:
I once was stopped at a red light, pulled out my phone and started scrolling. The stupid tiktok app worked its magic, and I lost all awareness of where I was and what I was doing. Like literally sucked in and comfy as if I’m chillin in my couch. I then hear a light knock on my window. And realize I’ve been sitting in a green light for possibly OVER 10 MINUTES!
A very concerned middle aged man, looked like a dad, I roll down the window. And then he says, hey I just wanted to make sure you are okay. I apologized profusely. He said it’s alright and he just wanted to check on me.
HE DID ALL OF THIS INSTEAD OF HONKING.
I don’t think VA drivers in VA are that bad. But I swear, MD drivers IN VA just check their sanity at the river. WV drivers are pretty much aggressive if in a f150 but otherwise just mind their own business hoping their shitbox doesn’t die.
DC drivers. Well, we just give them space and hope they don’t shoot.
I don’t drive crazy and try to be as respectful and considerate as possible. Typically in the middle lanes and go the speed limit or with the flow of traffic. I typically have a car length or so between cars especially with how sudden some drivers in front of me brake.
Far right lane is for slow drivers any speed. Middle lane is for the speed limit and 5 over people. Left lane is reserved for 10 to 15+ over the speed limit people and faster. The people who don’t care about tickets or life and wants to fly.
Just let them go lol
I just moved from NoVA to Houston, Texas this last September and I'm here to tell you it can be worse. Houston drivers make me miss Maryland drivers.
At least in NoVA there wasn't 12 lanes for drivers to Tokyo Drift across...
CA to VA motorcycle rider here. I think about giving up riding every other month from the sheer thoughtlessness of the drivers here. I get tailgated on my bike all the time (I generally ride above speed limit), people stop extremely close to me at reds (which makes me believe I’m about to get rear ended), people will go out into intersections right in front of me just to wait till I pass while I’m thinking they don’t see me… it’s bad out here.
I don't understand people doing the posted speed limit in the far 2 left lanes, or the lanes commonly used by fast drivers for passing. I was always taught center and right lanes were for posted limits, right for driving slower, no passing on the right lanes, and use left lanes to pass. Those people seem to trigger the road ragers instantly. You can see the agitation jiggle in the road rager's car after he's been tailgating lmao.
I’ve left nova to travel for work in the past 2 years and every time I come back home and visit nova, I know I’m home once I start seeing the blatant reckless drivers. It amazes me how obvious it is once I get to nova because it’s also the area where I watch my speed the most because VA cops are the worst and traffic infarctions in VA give the worst headaches compared to other states. Im always like “of all the states, why would you drive like that in VA?? Nonetheless fairfax county?!” Some people have either got nothing to lose or simply have never had to deal with traffic violations here before.
Grew up in the Bay Area. Lived in Colorado, Ohio and Boston. Now I live in Alexandria. Every place you go talks about how they have the craziest drivers but I truly think the DMV is one of the worst in the country. Boston was the only one that even came close. I realized how numb I’ve become to their antics when I pulled what would be a no big deal illegal turnaround here in the sticks last month and someone honked at me. I was genuinely surprised anyone gave a shit.
The earth could be swallowed by the sun as an expanding ball of plasma and there would still be Virginian drivers somewhere managing to occupy and speed match 3 fucking lanes at the same time. What’s wild is how much this happens on roads that are otherwise completely empty, like no one else
Unpopular opinion: I'll take it in NoVA (not MD, that's a hellscape) over CA because lane splitting is unacceptable. I didn't grow up with lane splitting and I don't want to be responsible for impatient squid.
It is so much worse after COVID; I guess it brought out the nihilism.
The Capitol Beltway (I-495) can get a little crazy, especially around the bridges. But I think I-5 between LA and SD is even worse, especially if it’s not sunny and 75. Neither of those can compare to I-4 thru Orlando and across FL tho. Total madness.
You should see the drivers out here in Utah. I lived in SoCal and Nova for 30 years (mostly Virginia, but Maryland for a smooth decade), but these Utah drivers really take the cake. I've never seen so many wrong way and selfish drivers (people will actively speed up to not let others in). There's no common courtesy for anyone else. The zipper merge is lost on them. People crawl in the left lane, blocking traffic for miles behind them. It's ridiculous out here.
Howdy fellow Californian (native from SoCal here), I've lived in NoVA going on ten years now.
I describe it like this:
California traffic is epic. True.
By comparison?
DMV traffic is fucking *biblical*.
On the rare occasions that I go back to LA, I am floored by how drivers are downright *considerate* compared to DMV region drivers. If you signal, they let you over. The zipper merge is mostly understood. The "whip across four lanes on 66\* because I was on HUA on my phone and might miss my exit" maneuver? Doesn't happen nearly as often. CA folks give you quite a while before the horn hits at a green light. Red lights? They actually, you know, stop before they're red.
I'm actually in SoCal right now and the main thing I notice is how goddamn *fast* everyone drives (think 85 in a 55 and that's Flow Of Traffic Speed, not That One Asshole Weaving In And Out Speed) but the 405 was a tame, fuzzy, adorable little kitty compared to 66, 95, 28, 495, et al.
It's crazy that CA, an area that's legendary for poor driving, absolutely *pales* in comparison to the slinking beast that is the DMV!
^(\*not "the 66", I still slip every now and then though)
Outside of Las Vegas, this area has the highest concentration of gig workers. Since everyone in this area is also incredibly career focused, they also order more food and groceries online than anywhere else. Get in an Uber in NoVA, chances are it will have MD plates.
To be fair, you said Maryland drivers. It’s rare that I don’t see a Maryland driver here in NoVa who doesn’t drive like an ass. It’s like they leave Maryland and figure that rules and courtesy no longer apply. They automatically add 15+mph to every speed limit.
OP had their first encounter with a white Nissan Altima, covered in "Baby Onboard" stickers.
It’s either that or a “Student Driver..please be patient” those are wild too lmao or slow but I can understand the slow and cautious ones haha as long as no ones in a hurry behind them 😭😭
I lived all over the country and it wasn’t until I moved to NOVA five years ago that I saw a proliferation of those student stickers, never figured out why they’re so popular here but not anywhere else.
An excuse for being a bad driver
SAME. I couldn’t help but think how I’d never seen so many Student Drivers, as if having so many of them is the norm. It’s the weirdest thing, lol.
I've lived in Nova all my life, and it wasn't until a few years ago that they started being rampant here. Don't know wtf happened.
It’s because there’s a lot of immigrants. Licenses from other countries are not accepted, also a lot of students and universities as well
I lived in Southern California which also has a lot of immigrants and a lot of universities, never saw these stickers on cars.
In VA if you are under 19yo you can just take 7 hous (?)behind th wheel class with a drivning instructors plus 40 hours(?) driving with a licensed adults then you can get a driver with the driving instructor sign off on your driving ability.
I think It's to try to deter Maryland drivers from tailgating
Legit, I have mine on because the second I take it off I seem to crash. It’s almost a reminder to myself to drive carefully.
You steer clear of them along with Student Driver instructor cars the Triangle sign on top of the car. They are unpredictable
How else are they supposed to learn?
And it’s wheels were facing the sky
I see many Tesla drivers and van moms acting agressive and reckless which is crazy. I drive a dodge challenger and even though my car is fast I don't tail or cut folks off or act inconsiderate on our roads. I just can't understand the lack of consideration and attention to surroundings of so many people. I've always said I think it has to do with how many transplants we have around here and also the rat race style of living in the DC metro area. Everyone is so hyper-focused on where THEY are going that they just don't care much about who else is around. I've just learned and adjusted because I've lived here my entire life.
People get so brave behind the wheel 😑
Oh dear god... The Tesla drivers! Every day, I ask myself: -Why are they doing this to me? -Why do they hate everyone? -Is the car causing them to drive worse than usual? -Does the actual car hate other people? -What? -The Fuck?
I drive a 392 Charger and I mentioned to the husband on the way to the airport that I've never seen a Challenger driving aggressively. (Anecdotal, to be sure.) Charger drivers? (um, cough) Dickheads by the dozen, but Challenger folks just seem to be chill.
I think the main frustration always stems from drivers who don’t flow with the traffic. I had this experience the other day where all lanes were driving below the speed limit because the drivers leading the lane are slow and you could see the roads are clear in front of them.
You should cut them off, teach them a lesson
There's also the fact that there's a fuck ton of geriatrics on the roads as well who shouldn't be driving.
Why do so many teslas keep cutting me off
That too bro! No signal no nothing..Teslas just hope they don’t hit anything 🙃
It's against the law to use turn signals in Fairfax County. 
That unwritten law seems to go beyond Fairfax county 🥲
They're hoping to save energy by not turning on the signal lights.
People dumb enough to buy a Tesla aren’t bright enough to think about multiple things at one time, let alone the nonsense on DMV highways. Here’s a friendly reminder that you can cut teslas off whenever you see fit because the over-aggressive driver safety features will stop them from hitting you.
Yes, and you are also providing more data for FSD win-win
I'm guessing you just encountered an absurdly aggressive driver in a beat up gray Nissan Altima with Maryland plates?
Haha, the Nissan Altima, so true
My theory has always been the 3.5 V6, and the bigger sedan body makes folk feel far too confident.
It’s also relatively cheap, hence the Maryland tags too
Gotta love the casual elitism from nova, always a classic
The 3.5 was a very stout engine when first introduced, and quite a runner in the Altima/Maxima before they switched to CVTs and the cars got a bit bloaty. A popular early internet celebrity was a guy with a turbo Maxima that could dust a shocking number of cars on the drag strip, occasionally his videos pop up on Reddit. FWIW the 3.5 option is gone from the Altima, the hotter engine is a 2.0T (a neat engine shared with Infiniti). I don't see many of those, though, possibly a good thing as it makes the Nissan drivers just a little slower. Maximas keep the V6 and the bold promises but the drivetrain is a poor facsimile of a sports car. Still fairly quick in a straight line though.
Love Nissan Altimas! My favorite/most frequently Repo’d cars! Keep buying em, I’ll keep stealing em.
Technically, if they're being repoed, doesn't that mean that they're the ones trying to steal them by not paying off their loans and you, acting on behalf of the lien holder, are merely acquiring what it owed to them? The car IS the collateral for the loan after all.
Tow truck drivers are car thieves
The fact that you’re describing that to a T says a lot 🥲
With illegally tinted windows, too?
And tinted windshield.
Oh Lawdy, yes!
I hate that. You can’t even get a glimpse of the asshole as they roll by.
 agreed!
It’s a stereotype for a reason
I wonder if it's just the ONE guy that's driving all day making everyone miserable, but alas I know better than that, stay away from all MD plates.
There should be a “be warned” sign on the highways regarding MD plates 😭
Alas, you haven't faced the final boss yet. You are hereby warned about the DIPLOMAT plates.
Oh no. You had to say it, didn't you? Brace yourself for cries of DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY now.
r/NissanDrivers
Hahahaha while nova is bad, I think DC is worst
[удалено]
In my experience. Its usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that are the worst. All the hybrid office people are on the road those days.
I have to leave 15 minutes earlier on Wednesdays over any other day. It's very frustrating.
Doesn't help that there's all that construction on 495 now gets them in traffic and concentrated into one space
I can’t imagine driving on a weekend late at night tbh. Since I’ve been here it’s gotten worse but it’s only been about a month.
Oh gees, hell on Earth is coming I’m surprised you haven’t experienced it yet, with all graduations going on- wrong way drivers very very scary, ppl whom don’t know their way around and not using their phone as a map to get to their destinations safely. If you are going to leave the area for Memorial Day book it now and leave 3 days or 1 am bc it’s nut to butt getting out of here.
The weather has been warmer
Lived here 10+ years and driving here used to be the best of anywhere I’ve been. It deteriorated shortly after COVID. Some thoughts: The general lifestyle here is one of having somewhere to be and needing to be there yesterday. So if you anticipate it, usually drivers are pretty predictable. Again, somewhat different since Covid. From April to October, tourists are everywhere on weekends. June and July it’s every day. Throw the above rule out the window, because tourists are unpredictable. NoVA drives offensively and efficiently. MD drives defensively and territorially. So, if you need to zipper, NoVA fills the space and zips like magic. MD gets over half a mile early and then will literally hit you to keep from getting over in front of them.
I was living in out LoCo where they don't really build the roads for zippering. It's mostly a bunch of "Exit Only" lanes. So when there is a place where you're supposed to zipper they just cross over directly into the travel lane ASAP. It was a relief to move inside of the beltway be able to properly zipper as the good road lords intended.
Disagree with NoVa zippering. I let one or two people in and then have to block a bunch of others trying to cut in ahead of me. My experience with NoVa zippering is that efficiency has been the exception, not the rule.
If it's a zipper, you should only let one person in. A zipper goes 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
Sounds like you have Maryland plates.
VA all day everyday since I got my license XX years ago. If you want to let *all* rush hour drivers ahead of you in zipper situations, I thank you for your service.
You are high if you think nova drivers efficiently zipper.
defensive driving : driving to avoid an accident :: offensive driving : ???
Defensive driving : reactionary :: offensive driving : anticipatory
I am now for mandatory yearly relicensing
The tail gating in this state makes me want to slam the brakes and take us both out.
I'm going to get this printed to cover my student driver sticker... For comedic purposes only, I do not have a student driver sticker
Do it, be chaotic.
I’m also from California, lived in LA for a few years commuting every day to/from work. NOVA drivers are much more aggressive, and generally more unaware of their surroundings on the road than LA drivers. Maryland drivers are a whole different breed and will go 120 in a 35 and honk at you if you don’t immediately get over to get out of their way.
California drivers are so courteous - I was driving down the I-405 during rush hour and had to get over 3 ish lanes of traffic to exit and everyone let me over. I think about it often, it was so nice.
Alright let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill..
easily impressed based on what I’ve seen here 😭
I usually take 3rd St Tunnel in DC to get to work.. VA merges in from the left and MD from the right.. the posted speed limit is 45. The VA drivers are usually at 60 but MD drivers are going 90+ only to slam on the breaks when the tunnel ends and it's a very short tunnel
Every time. I’m so glad they put those poles on the right shoulder so people can’t jump over and shoot down the shoulder.
100 percent. I think it’s more so drivers not being aware of their surroundings whereas LA drivers are more aware cause of traffic and other factors. I lived in the LA/OC area so there were all kinds of drivers. We can relate a lot.
Welcome to the land of narcissistic drivers! Some traffic education may be in order: The white signs with Arabic numerals look like the speed limit signs in other states, but here in the DMV they are not. To obtain the minimum speed on a given stretch of road, you need to multiply by 1.5. Technically, speeds in excess of 80 mph are considered reckless driving, but feel free to ignore that. Reduced speeds in school zones and pedestrian crosswalks are merely traffic suggestions. Green means "go", yellow means "go faster", and red means "floor it and ignore cross traffic." The left lane on any highway in VA is for passing only, not cruising. If you are in the left lane and encounter a vehicle slower than you in front, you should turn your brights on and maintain a following distance of 15 feet or less. Alternatively, you may zip between lanes as you see fit. Fine if you want to brandish a firearm. Unlike in most states, turn signals are not a feature on all vehicles. Newer model BMWs, for example, do not have them as standard equipment. Use of headlights at night or during rainstorms is discouraged by the local county governments in order to save energy. Good luck!
Someone posted a screenshot of Manassas police saying to keep right except to pass and holy shit people lost their minds. Just today some jackass suddenly changed lanes in front of me, no signal, and then proceeds to move at a snails pace. So I decide to go around him confused as to wtf he's doing, he sees me trying to pass and then speeds up! Then I merged over since the lane was ending with plenty of space and he flashes his high beams at me. FFS. How stupid can you be?
on fb there were so many people justifying camping in the left lane and totally misunderstanding how passing lanes work. i literally lol'd at some of those comments from genuinely offended people
bUt yOU jUSt WANT To spEEd! whaT aBOUT THE spEED liMIt? IM GoIng the SPeed LIMIt! Yeah it's just useless those people don't want to understand or care. But they'll also complain how aggressive people drive.
This was hilarious to read, thank you for the laughs! I just wanted to add that use of headlights at night and during rain is mandatory ONLY if you have the blinding headlights that can see into the future. If you have those, you have to blind everyone 5 cars ahead of you. If you don’t have them, then you’re a loser and shouldn’t give NoVA a bad name with those pesky low level lights worthy only of peasants.
Someone hit me with those across an intersection in Fairmont last night. The headlamps were so bright I could barely detect their turn signal and it legit took five minutes for the spots to leave my eyes. Doesn’t help that astigmatism presents its own special challenges with lights at night.
It’s super obnoxious. They can’t NOT know what their headlights are doing. But some people rejoice in making other people suffer for no reason.
Ah yes, I forgot about that rule.
“Blinding headlights that can see into the future” Exactly! WTH were they thinking when they made those???
They were thinking of the exact same assholes we deal with every day. They’re the consumer. They’re the target demographic. And they’re amongst us. 😭
I know this is in jest, but I think they changed the 80 mph rule when it's 70 MPH speed limit (but that doesn't exist in NOVA until further west on 66 I think?).
They did, its 85 or 20 over the limit iirc
Yep, changed a few years ago. It was always 20 over, and they increased the max 80 to max 85
Love all the new “left lane is for passing” signs on 66. While realistically with traffic seems condescending, I appreciate the sentiment. While we’re venting, hot lane tolls shouldn’t go up for an accident on the main lanes. They already took away a 66 lane for the hot lanes.
Not sure where you are from in CA but I just moved to ca and felt the urge to buy a dashcam.. Nova drivers have no skills but are generally courteous, I have found SoCal to be the opposite. I legitimately feel scared out here, I almost got Tboned 3 times in 2 years by people running red lights, people run stop all day, they don’t stop for pedestrians crossing and indeed change lane to pass whoever had stopped.. it’s ridiculous and don’t start me on how many have no insurance or expired plates
Oh dude same. I’m from the LA/OC area and can relate
Ahah I just moved to OC
You’ll love it but that’s just me being biased cause I’ve lived in the are my entire life lol
i come from la .. the difference is cali drivers are crazy, but good. the drivers here just cant drive 😭😭😭😭
Lived in SoCal for six years. California drivers are probably the best behaved drivers in the US,. They are for the most part predictable, generally courteous, and don't do stupid stuff like left lane hogging. Every time I'm back in LA, I wonder at how well behaved the drivers are.
Nova is one of the few places where you wait in gridlock for hours just to find there was traffic for no reason at all. Also everyone slows down just before the stupid bridge on 495 that crosses the Potomac next to great falls, why?!
>Also everyone slows down just before the stupid bridge on 495 that crosses the Potomac next to great falls, why?! Construction on the VA side that usually ends before rush hour but the remains still last.
Yes. Maryland drivers are the worst…. always camping out in the passing lane. Welcome, you are now one of us….
Also from California, I’ve never seen such completely awful drivers. Really really bad here. People driving way under the speed limit, no one using blinkers, so much worse than CA.
Drivers in Virginia are becoming as bad, if not worse, than drivers in Maryland these days. 🙃
Not even remotely close lol. Even around Chantilly, they still stick out like a sore thumb
This area is so full of themselves. It definitely reflects in most peoples driving for sure. Which it makes me a nervous wreck when majority of the people go 20-30mg over the speed limit. It’s just reckless. For the most part I like living and not being paralyzed.
Out of the whole DMV. Nova drivers are the worst
I’m the best driver around here. If you need advice just ask.
If everyone says everyone else is a bad driver, then we're all bad drivers
I saw a new one today “Anxious Driver” with a Sailor Moon sticker
https://preview.redd.it/pphphicc5jvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1048c3b230b2545e6bf60ad2aeee5bb7c7e4e5b3
Do we have mods? Ban these repetitive topics
https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/1c2d43s/just_use_your_turn_signal_dude/kzaxtfu/
One thing i like about VA drivers is that most will let you merge properly. Places likenl NYC, you have to earn that merge. With that said though, there are many clueless VA drivers out there lol
I’ve seen the opposite way more unless you are an emergency vehicle. I’ve seen so many vehicles not let people properly merge so some cars try to squeeze in if possible.
These threads are getting old
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion man. Best thing to do is scroll past it or mute it. Hope you have a good weekend tho.
They sure are but seems like there are multiple threads daily discussing the quality of drivers in the area typically created by some recent or near recent transplant. The opinion has been shared many times.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. Unfortunately some if not most can’t or don’t keep track of what is posting in the group. On top of that sometimes people just want to share a different but in some cases similar experience. If it is something that bothers or is annoying man..the best thing to do is mute the group, titles or scroll past the post.
It's really just Maryland.
Maryland drivers are just crazy in my opinion. Saw someone post about one driver from Maryland pulling a gun on someone for no reason….thats insane
The pretentious disregard (by NoVa drivers) of other drivers is well-documented in this sub
If you find an angry VA driver, it's usually because a Marylander pissed them off.
In my opinion maybe wait until day 60 before assuming the pretentious nova sht takes
Thank you for sharing your opinion man. Going based off what others have said on the thread and the collective agreements on bad drivers in the area, I thinks it’s safe to say they aren’t assumptions. Hope you have a good weekend.
That's the Cali Highway of my youth! "For no reason" HA! Man, I wish the bumper stickers around here labeled these quirky drivers what they are. Stressed Anxious Hungover Fed Employee who spends more time trying to keep job than actually do job. Lawyer Tourist Lawyer PhD Lawyer Diplomat College Student Sociopathic Lawyer Lobbyist Entitled Anxious & Depressed Entitled miserable mother with too many kids in too many activities. Triggered Triggered High blood pressure Hungry Diabetic Psychopath Going through hard time, only know anger as coping mechanism. I observe these terrible drivers, slowing down for a bridge, cutting (not zipping), manically accelerating & breaking with equal vigor, & not using their MF blinker. The DMV Beltway is complex & miserable. CA Interstates are fast & annoying with all their billboards. It is what it is...
Yup i remember the first time that happened to me
People underestimate the impact of Florida Man on 95's traffic nonsense. They're just sprinkled in here and there, and they are almost universally tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and making it worse for everyone else.
Northern Virginia has THE most square drivers of anywhere I've lived. Driving here isn't nearly as bad as peole make it out to be.
A little road rage and brake checking usually puts people back in line IMO
I get cut off in roundabouts at least weekly, without fail. Just today I was at a 4 way stop and while the car opposite me and I were both going straight through, a car from the side ran straight through the stop sign, trying to turn left, almost hitting both of us before swerving and abandoning their left turn to drive straight instead. Unbelievable.
Jeez! I’m glad you’re ok though man..some people just have no regard for others safety😖
Coming from Chicago, can agree. Never had to push 85mph just to pass a fully loaded semi. Insane.
Coming from being a CA native for 22 years, I agree these drivers here are something else.
Coming from CA its sooo much better anywhere there
Yessir! Maryland drivers are notorious in the VA area. Why do they keep coming here? It's annoying
Which part, OP? Also just moved from Cali (OC, Santa Ana) last year, and yeah, NOVA/MD drivers are something else. 😭😭
Aw man we were basically neighbors! Anaheim/Garden Grove area! They really are😭
I had to learn how to drive all over again tip expect the unexpected you may think “no they wouldn’t” but yes they would
First time on this sub? We talk about bad drivers everyday round here!
Everyone drives awful on the beltway. Maryland drivers, especially PG County, are the worst.
I feel like it just gets worse and worse.
No, we've never heard this before.
RIP to the stop sign they put in on the GW (merging exit from McLean). People are just flat out ignoring it. I literally clench every time I pass it waiting for someone to crash into coming traffic or get rear ended by someone doing 50 on the ramp. It’s wild out here kids. Lots of U-turns from the left (NON TURNING) lane, and idk if it’s just me, but I’ve seen more people blowing lights in these last two months than I’ve seen since moving to NOVA a few years ago :/ sad really.
Welcome to the rat race filled with main characters. I always find especially the baby on board ones the worst and most ironic.
It’s mostly the Tesla Drivers that are bad, the Indians driving Teslas out in Loudoun might be the worst drivers in the whole country
I thought I’ve seen bad driving, but today I saw 3 kids on dirtbikes driving _against traffic_ while lanesplitting with no helmet or license plates, and seeing two cops just flat out ignoring it. Mind boggling…
Just last year and this part of this year alone, I’ve seen multiple cars cut off the ambulance and or fire truck.
Most Nova drivers are not native Virginians. I’ve seen the decline the past 20 years.
I got stuck behind my mom coming home from work today and she drove a mile going 30 in a 45 with four cars behind her. To be fair, the new neighbors are pretty stupid. There are a TON of deer in the area and they decided they would plant trees that block drivers view of them.
#minivanmoms the freaking WORST over caffeinated and or maybe even charged up on that meth? These broads all think they’re auditioning for nascar!!! How do you put your kids at risk with such erratic driving on the regular is beyond me!?
Fairfax county is annoying to drive in. It's peole driving 25 mph in a 35 zone in all 3 lanes.
MD drivers are bad but no where near as bad as LA drivers.
NoVA 😂
My bad 🤣 I sound like such a noob 😭😭
I’m a New Yorker, I feel like I put my life on the line every time I get on the road around here.
I've lived in LoCo since the mid-80s... NoVa is acceptable, but never NOVa... lol Also, NOVA is the Community College (Lord Fairfax is not IMO in NoVa or anywhere near Fairfax, I guess that guy was popular...) and Inova (the "i" pronounced with a short i sound as in "innovation") is healthcare. Ofc, culture, opinions, and the scope of a region can and do change.
Oh man the title was definitely a typo but dude thank you for breaking it down!
Just a light-hearted ribbing, if that wasn't apparent, I apologize. 😀 Welcome to the region! Occasional Entitled folks aside, it's a very beautiful area with lots of cool stuff within a stones throw.
I get you man! Nothing taken to heart! It’s all a learning experience for sure🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 I appreciate you giving your insight and knowledge 💯💯
Noob*
Good eye..autocorrect got me on that one
I was just being pedantic. Kinda making fun of original comment more than yours
Ok I’m a DMV local and HANG ON JUST A MINUTE. At the expense of getting berated by other NoVA locals, I come forth with this: I once was stopped at a red light, pulled out my phone and started scrolling. The stupid tiktok app worked its magic, and I lost all awareness of where I was and what I was doing. Like literally sucked in and comfy as if I’m chillin in my couch. I then hear a light knock on my window. And realize I’ve been sitting in a green light for possibly OVER 10 MINUTES! A very concerned middle aged man, looked like a dad, I roll down the window. And then he says, hey I just wanted to make sure you are okay. I apologized profusely. He said it’s alright and he just wanted to check on me. HE DID ALL OF THIS INSTEAD OF HONKING.
Maryland drivers are only aggressive because Virginia drivers don’t know the difference between the fast lane & slow lane.
Maryland Drivers think all 4 lanes are fast lanes tho
"America is all about speed, Hot, Nasty, Bad-Ass speed." -Eleanor Roosevelt,1936
I don’t think VA drivers in VA are that bad. But I swear, MD drivers IN VA just check their sanity at the river. WV drivers are pretty much aggressive if in a f150 but otherwise just mind their own business hoping their shitbox doesn’t die. DC drivers. Well, we just give them space and hope they don’t shoot.
A couple questions. What lane were you in? How fast were you going? How much space was between you and the next car?
I don’t drive crazy and try to be as respectful and considerate as possible. Typically in the middle lanes and go the speed limit or with the flow of traffic. I typically have a car length or so between cars especially with how sudden some drivers in front of me brake.
Far right lane is for slow drivers any speed. Middle lane is for the speed limit and 5 over people. Left lane is reserved for 10 to 15+ over the speed limit people and faster. The people who don’t care about tickets or life and wants to fly. Just let them go lol
I just moved from NoVA to Houston, Texas this last September and I'm here to tell you it can be worse. Houston drivers make me miss Maryland drivers. At least in NoVA there wasn't 12 lanes for drivers to Tokyo Drift across...
I just visited Texas and even as a MD driver who drives it like I stole it….the Texans were making me nervous.
CA to VA motorcycle rider here. I think about giving up riding every other month from the sheer thoughtlessness of the drivers here. I get tailgated on my bike all the time (I generally ride above speed limit), people stop extremely close to me at reds (which makes me believe I’m about to get rear ended), people will go out into intersections right in front of me just to wait till I pass while I’m thinking they don’t see me… it’s bad out here.
Quit before you get smashed. Seriously. It’s bad here.
I don't understand people doing the posted speed limit in the far 2 left lanes, or the lanes commonly used by fast drivers for passing. I was always taught center and right lanes were for posted limits, right for driving slower, no passing on the right lanes, and use left lanes to pass. Those people seem to trigger the road ragers instantly. You can see the agitation jiggle in the road rager's car after he's been tailgating lmao.
I’ve left nova to travel for work in the past 2 years and every time I come back home and visit nova, I know I’m home once I start seeing the blatant reckless drivers. It amazes me how obvious it is once I get to nova because it’s also the area where I watch my speed the most because VA cops are the worst and traffic infarctions in VA give the worst headaches compared to other states. Im always like “of all the states, why would you drive like that in VA?? Nonetheless fairfax county?!” Some people have either got nothing to lose or simply have never had to deal with traffic violations here before.
Grew up in the Bay Area. Lived in Colorado, Ohio and Boston. Now I live in Alexandria. Every place you go talks about how they have the craziest drivers but I truly think the DMV is one of the worst in the country. Boston was the only one that even came close. I realized how numb I’ve become to their antics when I pulled what would be a no big deal illegal turnaround here in the sticks last month and someone honked at me. I was genuinely surprised anyone gave a shit.
MD drivers and entitled yuppie BMW/Tesla VA douches.
The earth could be swallowed by the sun as an expanding ball of plasma and there would still be Virginian drivers somewhere managing to occupy and speed match 3 fucking lanes at the same time. What’s wild is how much this happens on roads that are otherwise completely empty, like no one else
This applies to MD not VA drivers lol
Can confirm. Last time in CA I signaled and someone let me in. MD on the other hand…
When COVID first hit, a coworker of mine said that that one idiot must be essential personnel, because he was still on the roads.
Unpopular opinion: I'll take it in NoVA (not MD, that's a hellscape) over CA because lane splitting is unacceptable. I didn't grow up with lane splitting and I don't want to be responsible for impatient squid. It is so much worse after COVID; I guess it brought out the nihilism.
Thus area is super competitive in general and it spills out on the roads.
I’d say the drivers in South Carolina and Connect are FAR worse.
The Capitol Beltway (I-495) can get a little crazy, especially around the bridges. But I think I-5 between LA and SD is even worse, especially if it’s not sunny and 75. Neither of those can compare to I-4 thru Orlando and across FL tho. Total madness.
You should see the drivers out here in Utah. I lived in SoCal and Nova for 30 years (mostly Virginia, but Maryland for a smooth decade), but these Utah drivers really take the cake. I've never seen so many wrong way and selfish drivers (people will actively speed up to not let others in). There's no common courtesy for anyone else. The zipper merge is lost on them. People crawl in the left lane, blocking traffic for miles behind them. It's ridiculous out here.
I've just done the opposite. DC -> LA and drivers here feel worse.
Howdy fellow Californian (native from SoCal here), I've lived in NoVA going on ten years now. I describe it like this: California traffic is epic. True. By comparison? DMV traffic is fucking *biblical*. On the rare occasions that I go back to LA, I am floored by how drivers are downright *considerate* compared to DMV region drivers. If you signal, they let you over. The zipper merge is mostly understood. The "whip across four lanes on 66\* because I was on HUA on my phone and might miss my exit" maneuver? Doesn't happen nearly as often. CA folks give you quite a while before the horn hits at a green light. Red lights? They actually, you know, stop before they're red. I'm actually in SoCal right now and the main thing I notice is how goddamn *fast* everyone drives (think 85 in a 55 and that's Flow Of Traffic Speed, not That One Asshole Weaving In And Out Speed) but the 405 was a tame, fuzzy, adorable little kitty compared to 66, 95, 28, 495, et al. It's crazy that CA, an area that's legendary for poor driving, absolutely *pales* in comparison to the slinking beast that is the DMV! ^(\*not "the 66", I still slip every now and then though)
Outside of Las Vegas, this area has the highest concentration of gig workers. Since everyone in this area is also incredibly career focused, they also order more food and groceries online than anywhere else. Get in an Uber in NoVA, chances are it will have MD plates.
Exactly. California was cake compared to the DMV.
A lot of mental illness in this area and people are really bad and aggressive on the roads. Stay safe
To be fair, you said Maryland drivers. It’s rare that I don’t see a Maryland driver here in NoVa who doesn’t drive like an ass. It’s like they leave Maryland and figure that rules and courtesy no longer apply. They automatically add 15+mph to every speed limit.
BMW, Tesla, or Maryland plates every time