I'm a local, and learning to drive here was the absolute worst. I remember I was either 16 or 17, pretty newly licensed, and lost somewhere in McLean. I made a right onto a main road from a side road where visibility was bad, and essentially cut this guy off. 100% my fault as a new driver, but he was able to stop. He gets out and starts banging on my driver side window at the next stoplight. He tried to pull the door open but, thank god, I had it locked. He was screaming and cursing and I was terrified, bawling and shaking and trying to tell him I was sorry.

His wife is in the car just witnessing this. He sped off and luckily some very very woman who witnessed this followed me to where I pulled over to compose myself and we called the police and my parents together. I'm not sure what ever happened or if the police went after that guy, but I'm always super cautious of causing a road rage incident 15 years later because it was SO scary. I always wonder what would have happened if he had gotten my door open.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

I think there are a lot of factors contributing to it. The primary is that people are unaware of the cumulative effect of stress. High stakes jobs/careers, high cost of living, a culture that values workaholism and looks down on time off for any reason.

My dad pointed out some pretty terrible civil engineering when he dropped me off at college 30 years ago. There's often not enough space for the lane and speed changes that have to happen, traffic signs are small, misplaced, nonexistent and none of these roads were designed or built for the capacity they're carrying.

Plus, everyone is mad as hell these days.

I must be more cynical than you - I think it's stress and road structure for some and also that some of the jobs available here tends to attract the sociopaths/super aggressive/selfish people (and they tend to do well for themselves). Of course when people around you drive like jerks you start driving like one too - it's a downward spiral.

Cynicism is a survival mechanism. I think mere awareness of those types of jobs and the people who fill them is stress in and of itself.

If there were way to measure heart rate and blood pressure, etc., I'm pretty sure it would have indicated that my commute was the most stressful part of my day. I made a conscious effort to pick a route with less aggressive traffic even though it takes maybe 10 minutes longer. I also learned to meditate and it's done wonders.

Still there are a lot of crazed people out there. One driver tailgated then cut me off yesterday and when I pulled up next to the car at a stop light, it was a little old lady just glaring at me with crazy eyes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whenever someone aggressively tailgates me because I won't go 45 in a 30 mph zone I turn all my mirrors so I can't see them and continue along ignoring their very existence.

Sometimes I will just stop my car in the middle of the road and not move; 98% of the time, the other driver gets the hint and goes around me

I don't do it though on busy roads or the freeway.

Sorry, but that is just as bad if not worse...passive aggressive. Although I would be glad that a slow poke decided to let me pass.

Anonymous wrote:Whenever someone aggressively tailgates me because I won't go 45 in a 30 mph zone I turn all my mirrors so I can't see them and continue along ignoring their very existence.

Sometimes I will just stop my car in the middle of the road and not move; 98% of the time, the other driver gets the hint and goes around me

I don't do it though on busy roads or the freeway.

Anonymous wrote:He was out of line but you sound like you're partiality to blame. You say you "managed" to get in front of him to take an exit. Did you wait until the last minute and cut in front of a long line of cars patiently waiting? Did you cut him off? You did something that set him off. Also, why not switch lanes and slow down to let him get in front of you so you could disengage?

Not OP, but sometimes you don't have another choice. If you are not familiar with the area, GPS may says to take a turn after you pass the end of the line. I also using one turn every morning where I turn into the street in the middle of the line and I just don't have an option to go to the end of the line and have to squeeze every single day to take a ramp. I am not cutting anyone, I just need to get to the exit and there is no other way to do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

I think there are a lot of factors contributing to it. The primary is that people are unaware of the cumulative effect of stress. High stakes jobs/careers, high cost of living, a culture that values workaholism and looks down on time off for any reason.

My dad pointed out some pretty terrible civil engineering when he dropped me off at college 30 years ago. There's often not enough space for the lane and speed changes that have to happen, traffic signs are small, misplaced, nonexistent and none of these roads were designed or built for the capacity they're carrying.

Plus, everyone is mad as hell these days.

+1

Did civil engineers exist in this area? I could have done a better job myself!

Whenever someone aggressively tailgates me because I won't go 45 in a 30 mph zone I turn all my mirrors so I can't see them and continue along ignoring their very existence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

I think there are a lot of factors contributing to it. The primary is that people are unaware of the cumulative effect of stress. High stakes jobs/careers, high cost of living, a culture that values workaholism and looks down on time off for any reason.

My dad pointed out some pretty terrible civil engineering when he dropped me off at college 30 years ago. There's often not enough space for the lane and speed changes that have to happen, traffic signs are small, misplaced, nonexistent and none of these roads were designed or built for the capacity they're carrying.

Plus, everyone is mad as hell these days.

I must be more cynical than you - I think it's stress and road structure for some and also that some of the jobs available here tends to attract the sociopaths/super aggressive/selfish people (and they tend to do well for themselves). Of course when people around you drive like jerks you start driving like one too - it's a downward spiral.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

24YO here and people in general are just ruder and meaner in this area. I feel like I've become a nastier person just from living here. People suck.

When I was in my 20s here I felt the *exact* same way - I feel like a nastier person just starting to living here - specifically with regard to driving. When I'm not driving and people aren't in their cars, they seem just fine.

24YO here again, does it get better? I'm exhausted from having to be a dick all day to keep up with everyone else's nasty attitudes and rudeness. I'm considering moving just bc it tires me out and I don't want to live like this.

Yes and no. No, the drivers don't get better. But your attitude might. I try to let other people in just for good karma and try to focus on the times when other drivers are nice and courteous to me - which does happen and when you pay attention, you realize it is more often than not. Try to pay it forward.

Don't get me wrong - I'm still pretty pissed off sometimes. Rush hour makes everyone worse.

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

I think there are a lot of factors contributing to it. The primary is that people are unaware of the cumulative effect of stress. High stakes jobs/careers, high cost of living, a culture that values workaholism and looks down on time off for any reason.

My dad pointed out some pretty terrible civil engineering when he dropped me off at college 30 years ago. There's often not enough space for the lane and speed changes that have to happen, traffic signs are small, misplaced, nonexistent and none of these roads were designed or built for the capacity they're carrying.

Plus, everyone is mad as hell these days.

Anonymous wrote:Since moving to D.C. I have seen several dangerous and obnoxious drivers. They speed up to stop you merging, and speed around "slow" drivers.

I am always alert to just let these assholes go ahead.

And what's with the heavily tinted windows allowed on cars in D.C. ? So obnoxious and you can't see who is in there (which I guess is the point).

+1

Stay away. Not just the drivers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

24YO here and people in general are just ruder and meaner in this area. I feel like I've become a nastier person just from living here. People suck.

When I was in my 20s here I felt the *exact* same way - I feel like a nastier person just starting to living here - specifically with regard to driving. When I'm not driving and people aren't in their cars, they seem just fine.

24YO here again, does it get better? I'm exhausted from having to be a dick all day to keep up with everyone else's nasty attitudes and rudeness. I'm considering moving just bc it tires me out and I don't want to live like this.

You get used to it, and you learn to ignore it or laugh at it or move onward and upward without the antagonist, whichever suits you. The locals will try to claim that it is you, or "bloom where you are planted" or that "you can't hack it" (the abuse they were given as a child, essentially) or some other such nonsense. In other words, the locals know it is them. Like I said, ignore it or laugh at it or move onward and upward, leaving the antagonist in the dust. They are easily bothered, probably abused themselves (at work or home) and don't know how to be happy. Not your problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

24YO here and people in general are just ruder and meaner in this area. I feel like I've become a nastier person just from living here. People suck.

+1

DC pizzing contest. A bunch of grown adults acting like children.

Since moving to D.C. I have seen several dangerous and obnoxious drivers. They speed up to stop you merging, and speed around "slow" drivers.

I am always alert to just let these assholes go ahead.

And what's with the heavily tinted windows allowed on cars in D.C. ? So obnoxious and you can't see who is in there (which I guess is the point).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or are DC drivers worse than other areas of the country, even urban ones? People are rude, deliberately ungracious, etc. I get that this happens everywhere, but in general it just feels more stressful and unpleasant around DC. It might be just a higher number of lawyer/government assholes ruining it for everyone.

24YO here and people in general are just ruder and meaner in this area. I feel like I've become a nastier person just from living here. People suck.

OP here. Exactly. There is no courtesy or it is just very rare. The situation I was in would have been avoided if the guy were courteous enough to just let me in. But people really are tightly wound around here. It makes my neck hurt just thinking about it.

Agreed. I'm the PP and if someone is clearly lost I will let them in. However I will never let in assholes who cruise down the exit only lane (usually in obnoxious flashy cars) and then try to cut people off at the last minute. I take such pleasure in seeing them sit there having no one let them in.

And if they do manage to cut in, they never give the courtesy wave.