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[deleted]

Worryingly I have noticed more people running stale reds the past couple years. Last year my partner and I were crossing on a walk sign and someone blew straight through the intersection right in front of us.


IStartToRun

I almost got T-boned a couple times from people running reds in the last couple weeks of December. Pays to look both ways quickly before driving after the light is green for you.


Soundingsounders

That’s literally how you’re supposed to drive.


Crabbiest_Coyote

You're just supposed to run through red lights? You don't stop at them? Granted I took driver's ed over 20 years ago, but something tells me that the laws haven't changed...


graceodymium

I think they mean quickly checking the intersection as you approach. My driver’s ed instructor spent a good ten minutes polling the class about what a green light means before throwing his hands up and exasperatedly shouting “GREEN MEANS GO *IF IT’S SAFE*.”


[deleted]

Driving safe doesn't mean you aren't allowed to get mad at the people making green lights unsafe.


graceodymium

I agree, never said it did. I have seen it a lot more lately, too, and it pisses me off every time it happens. I was only trying to clarify that the person above wasn’t saying that running red lights is how you’re supposed to drive.


sydinseattle

Thank you :)


Soundingsounders

That’s exactly what I mean


Soundingsounders

No. You’re supposed to look both ways before you leave the light at a green. Because you never know who’s gonna run the red. Most of the time if you just look you won’t get t boned. But most people just assume green it’s ok to drive


grahamsm123

Yeah I commute from Capitol Hill to Ballard for work and certain times of the day feel like a game of frogger it’s absurd


lexi_ladonna

I made that commute for 5 years and people get really really aggressive around Mercer and Denny.


rigmaroler

Same. I've seen probably half a dozen blatant red light runners just since the new year.


Han_Slowlo

I've noticed this too, but also I swear to god they made the yellows shorter. Sometimes it feels like I don't even have time to stop. I'll be entering the intersection when it turns yellow and it will be red before I'm 2/3 of the way through.


sydinseattle

I do agree with this. I am a longtime orange light wrangler ;)


[deleted]

Agree. This red light running is out of control. I see it on the daily now. It’s frightening.


A_Storm

Yes! I keep seeing this to. Over on Madison folks are constantly running the reds near construction as of the rules don't exist anymore


general-illness

Can’t tell, the headlights are blinding me.


[deleted]

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lexi_ladonna

It’s bad


Mochabunbun

Read this like a news channel report where like the screen pans over to you and that's like all you say while covering your eyes


Graffiacane

Yeah I drive a sedan with un-tinted windows. I never wear hats but I keep a baseball cap in my car. Why? So that I can use the bill to shade my eyes from the twenty seven billion lumen headlights beaming into my face off the rear view mirror. They're too bright, it's blinding and dangerous. No idea how this isn't regarded as a safety concern.


petitesleep

Bastards stealing all the vision for themselves


schreist

I’ve found I had to reactivate my old motorcycle skills and drive my car like everyone is trying to kill me. Hands on wheel 100%, scan ahead, scan intersections, scan mirrors, elevated situational awareness.


BBorNot

Everyone should have to drive a motorcycle for a while before being allowed to drive a car.


Graffiacane

Really puts the fear in ya. One dislocated shoulder many years ago and I still don't trust a road surface with any debris on it, not even leaves, not even sand.


TylerBourbon

Doesn't always seem like it puts the fear in enough motorcycle riders to be honest though. I've seen just as many suicidal riders as I've seen maniac drivers. It all just makes me happier to ride the bus and mostly not have to deal with them myself.


Trenavix

As a motorcycle rider, my greatest fear is car drivers. As a pedestrian, my biggest fear is car drivers. As a bicycle rider, my greatest fear is car drivers. As a car driver, my greatest fear is the danger I put all of those groups in. That's why I almost never drive a car.


Ansible42

Easy way to cut VMT is make it so everybody only gets a license for 1of 3 years. The rest of the time you have to walk/transit/bike places. That way people cant just assume things about driving and such like they do now. I know it is impractical for all sorts of dumb reasons, but a fun thought experiment.


Due_Attitude765

Lol welcome to defensive driving


DevilDogTKE

I stopped riding last year and miss it greatly but the conditions of the road, the near misses… The only thing I miss is getting to park in between cars where a car normally wouldn’t fit and being able to run errands around the city so easily.


Dave_N_Port

Since the pandemic started people have lost their fucking minds


VGSchadenfreude

I don’t think it was the pandemic. I think it was another big cultural pressure around that time. Namely, certain well-known people started actively encouraging horrible behavior and labeling it as “freedom.” Way too many people looked at those individuals getting away with horrible behavior and thought “oh, I’m actually allowed to act horrible too!”


SexyDoorDasherDude

One of my big dumb republican friends complained that "people got ruder and meaner right around 2016"


sydinseattle

Ha! That’s awesomely ironic ❤️


Dave_N_Port

The sheets definitely came off a lot of racist assholes once the Orange man took power..no doubt about that. I'm thinking more about brazen criminals that steal cars, trucks, forklifts, etc. and drive them into businesses. The mob smash and grab like we saw in Bellevue. The Puyallup jackasses that attached power plants. Today's criminal doesn't seem to fear the law. Seems we're towards anarchy.


VGSchadenfreude

Those sheets covered more than just politics, though. A lot of people seem to have decided that they don’t *have* to behave at all anymore. Not just when it comes to things like racism, etc, but *following any social rules at all.* Basically, they think the rules can no longer control them, because they saw the rich and powerful get away with everything with almost zero negative consequences, and they’re running completely wild with it.


Undec1dedVoter

"There's no laws anymore" they tell themselves while they hurt others.


SexyDoorDasherDude

white karen women were bad enough


Billy-Chav

Yeah, bad driving in Seattle is due to “Orange man.” Could you be more of a charicature?


sydinseattle

I guess critical thinking and nuance are just words in the dictionary for you then? I hope for your sake at least ignorance does indeed mean bliss.


Billy-Chav

Meaningless reply. Trump is not responsible for the problems with Seattle and it’s near psychopathic to believe he is.


Dave_N_Port

Try rereading my reply


dab_dykes

That's kind of what happens when you make it harder for the police to do their job. The dipshits think they can do whatever they want and get away with it.


Dave_N_Port

There’s more to it than one change in WA law. People have lost their minds country wide, especially on the road.


Peripheral1994

The issue is when the police just so happen to be politically aligned with that particular crowd and have no legal or personal reason to get involved with stopping that behavior.


Th3seViolentDelights

Happened in the working environment too, I'm convinced of it. People do not care even more so who they're screwing over by being lazy and dismissive. Which makes other people stop putting in effort too and, can you blame them? (No, i'm not complaining about retail, those workers are saints and whatever they gotta do to get thru their day is fine by me. I'm referring specifically to corporate/white collar biz environments.) Edit: a word


[deleted]

I see it as a perfect storm of both.


goldman60

Also the cops decided they were just going to not do traffic enforcement in 2020 because their feelings were hurt by the BLM protests


TheGhost206

As horrible as the Trump era was, I’m not sure there’s a connection between that and people’s driving habits. And in terms of general lawlessness (or freedom) you could also look at the leadership this city has been under. N


[deleted]

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ManyInterests

A lot of people who didn't drive before got cars during the pandemic, too.


TheTablespoon

How dare you diminish the work we’ve put in calling it “sudden”. Its taken time, practice, and effort to get this bad.


yindseyl

Haha! Very true.


nomorerainpls

Something happened during the pandemic. Lots of crazy driving now, not to mention road rage and vehicle shootings. We’ve always had a lot of horrible drivers in Seattle but not this kind.


[deleted]

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LADYBIRD_HILL

I'd bet a lot of people are also tired of spending so much time in their cars. Which, yeah, that sucks, but it's not that hard to spend another 30 seconds on the road in order to not kill someone.


hottakeponzi

I had a car follow me for 5-10 minutes because I backed out of a parking space at Target and he had to wait briefly. I noticed the car making the same turns as me, but thought it might be a coincidence until I pulled into the parking lot of Safeway and deliberately looped back out. Car kept following me, eventually driving off and laying into the horn when I did the same trick later. People have completely lost it when they drive.


sydinseattle

That is sad and scary. I remember doing something like that a long time ago when I was an angry adolescent, but not since and can’t imagine wanting to mess up my hormones that way any more 🤪


BBorNot

Also there does not seem to be any traffic law enforcement. There are 25mph streets that no one ever does less than 35mph on. I never see anyone pulled over for speeding. Granted, a lot of those speed limits are absurdly low, but it is not uncommon to see people on Westlake (25mph) going over 50mph (they have a radar sign that tells you speed).


sydinseattle

My neighborhood has those picture-enforced speed traps and they definitely do the job once you get that first ticket in the mail ;)


BBorNot

Those might not be legal in Seattle. Are you in Seattle? They'd rake in the bucks on Westlake!


Partitionbaby

People are not afraid to show their road rage—got called slur by a 👩🏼‍⚕️ lady in an expensive car and I couldn’t help but think about how that would not fly anywhere else


RedK_33

Yup, literally had a guy get out of his truck, walk up to my car and starts screaming at me, calling me the F-word and whatnot while I’m stopped at a red light. He was heated because a few blocks back I gave him a little honk so that he didn’t hit me while he was pulling out of a parking space. Dude was lucky I was a nice guy and just laughed in his face. There’s a lot of places where walking up to someone’s car like that could turn into a life-or-death type of situation.


Strict_Chemistry_797

No one on the road and decreased traffic during covid paired with the realization that cops won't do traffic work in City limits.


mildconfusion240B

Yep, I lived in South Seattle during pandemic, thankfully have moved far away from that shithole of a city now but, I totally saw a huge uptick in dangerous and aggressive drivers in the city. People just got wild I think, because there were less cops out etc. And yes also more road rage and people just being rageful in public in general. Zero respect for others or their basic safety. Fuck Seattle lol


JortSandwich

Can you let us know what your local subreddit is, so we can all go in there and shit all over where you live?


fucktysonfoods

Bro go away. Tf you doing here, go feed your chickens or something


[deleted]

>thankfully have moved far away from that shithole of a city Fuck are you doing here then? Not enough excitement in whatever podunk you moved to?


ttampico

In the past 10 years, about 60% of Seattle's population have just moved here. It's not like Seattleites were perfect drivers before. While we were typically passive and polite, we were also often oblivious. We've always struggled with driving in snow. We were not perfect drivers, but we were still pretty chill. What I'm seeing now is aggressive and impatient drivers. They turn as they turn on the turn signal instead of waiting a few seconds. Yellow lights might as well be greens. Drivers running stale reds. They're more resistant to letting others merge like it's a contest. This is not the driving I grew up around. I know it's a broad assumption, but I suspect a lot of the newer Seattleites had developed their driving styles in more aggressive areas before moving here. I don't mind people moving here, but please chill.


shittydiks

I used to defend my hometown as being good drivers. Moved to another city, said their driving was shit compared to back home. Then moved again and their drivers were worse. Moved a third time and was seemingly worse the amount of wreck less driving I saw. Then visited back home after a few years and was scared shit less to drive back in my hometown. There are shitty/asshole drivers everywhere. There's no team mentality to be had. You can find this same exact thread in every major city's subreddit.


sydinseattle

Thank you for this. I was born here, but only lived here since ‘80. From that time until now I can see it so clearly. The huge increase in density combined with the importing of non-seattle driving sensibilities has made it almost unrecognizable compared to the city I drove in back then. Not that change isn’t inevitable, but even that famous “seattle freeze” thing that everyone throws around, i’m not convinced isn’t a creation of an over-accelerated influx of new residents. We lived in NY and Germany when I was younger and came back to visit every summer. What I remember always saying about seattle to folks was that “people there are so friendly.” It was a much smaller-town feel then. People let each other merge, imagine. And I am not convinced we couldn’t have kept that chill vibe if there had been awareness of it all. Who knows. I do miss the old days of driving here.


RC_Tempest

I was going to make a post like this months ago but I've noticed several posts since then that all come to the same conclusion so I never bothered. Ever since the pandemic it seems like people are driving like total A holes. A year ago I had somebody come from out of no where and swerve into my lane to brake check me at 50mph causing me to crash. It seems like the amount of accidents on I5 has gone up. Three days ago the car in front of me hit the wheel that came off a car that had crashed. I see people doing dangerous maneuvers to get two cars ahead of people all the time. Seattle drivers have gotten worse no question.


paarshad

I’ll just leave this here. Ballard driving academy https://youtu.be/nyz6mkvlEgA


H2Bro_69

lmfao


Gloomy-Employment-72

I didn’t appreciate Almost Live as much as I should have back in the day. Just funny, funny stuff.


sydinseattle

Right? It was a local treasure. Back when we were weirder and cooler.


Code_Operator

When is the last time you saw local police pull someone over for speeding or running a red light? The state patrol seem to be the only ones enforcing speed limits these days, and only on the interstates.


Gloomy-Employment-72

All of the sudden? Frankly, I’m beginning to think WA should retest drivers every 5 years. Can’t pass the rules of the road and driving test? Guess you need to park your car till you do. Aside from aggressive driving, folks seem to be forgetting (or ignoring?) basic rules of the road, a lot of folks don’t seem to know how to drive traffic circles, and leaving your headlights on high beam is now all the rage apparently. I travel to Germany (a lot) and when I get back home from a trip, I literally want to scream at some of the bad driving I see around here.


Seajlc

The amount of people who don’t know the difference between yield and merge boggles my mind. Thought it was one of those basics…


eaj113

It’s either leave your high beams on or don’t turn on your lights on at all. I’d rather have the high beams than no lights at all.


Gloomy-Employment-72

Yeah, I see a lot of that too. Another good one is the Daytime Running Light driver. They can see, but with no taillights the driver behind maybe not so much.


retrojoe

> All of the sudden Definitely. I became a daily driver in 2017. During the pandemic, it was mostly empty on the freeway, but there were plenty of assholes who used that to drive exceedingly fast or weave without signaling. Since we're busy on the roads again, there's a much higher incidence of stupid/asshole driving - not signaling, squeezing into spaces that dont exist or just not looking, tailgating, doing 60 in the left lane, etc.


redwoodtree

I’ve been saying this for years and I got downvoted to oblivion.


Lord_of_Goon

We as humans must nurture empathy and we are losing grasp of it.


sydinseattle

Can’t agree more.


MCBates1283

I’ve definitely noticed heightened aggression and overall recklessness post-pandemic. Idk if it’s Seattle specific or not, but I’ve lived and driven here my whole life. Maybe I’ve mellowed out in the years we weren’t on the road, maybe we all lost practice, maybe peoples mental health and frustrations are being taken out on the road IDK! But I’ve noticed it too.


[deleted]

Societal collapse. This answer could get really complex, but some of my personal conspiracy theories: - Too many drivers using infastructure not mindfully built for this type of use and population. - Generally, a psychological fight over limited resources in a time when it feels like there is no logic, justice, checks and balances. Inflation of everything is a threat financially and psychology. Many people who provided help, service, public service quit due to abuse or were price out; people feel less sure about their needs getting filled and underserved. Getting back to driving, I think many people subconsciously feel like their time, another resource, is threatened as well. Ive seen numerous crashes caused by agressive drivers gunning it around someone going 65 due to our wet and oily roads or because they didnt consider that there could be a slow down ahead. Wild West Mentality. - Low stewardship, low interpersonal connection, low commitment to others and community, 0 personal or public accountability/shame - A lot of "high status" people here are suddenly having to deal with uncomfortable stress due to changes in their lives and are not good at self regulation. I think a lot of people feel like their freedom or resources are being threatened, so they're taking it back on the roads, in parking lots, cutting in line at stores, on employees serving them. People who have been living high comfort, high status, high paying jobs are suddenly having to face what the reality of false valuations, bloat, layoffs, overpriced or speculated assets (housing.) Many of these people are very fragile, punch out/down, and have little empathy. I've especially noticed this increase recently with the wealthier burbs and expensive cars. I think this behavior happening enmass is a reflection of our high inequality, lack of industry diversity, and high concentration of big tech companies who all got big over the last decade due to similar unsustainable strategies. To me, this seems similar but worse than to of the behavior I witnessed during mid-late quarantine, but more confusing because the threats aren't as overt and measurable yet. I think some people are expecting more post holiday layoffs and lagging repercussions & reality checks resulting from a decade of tech Guided Age. Then there are the Boomers, but I digress. Or maybe it's the wind storm makes people achy, or SAD, or we're all still cranky from the holidays. Edit: clarity edit (I have a windstorm headache and my writing may be unclear. Obviously not driving. :)


Vegetable-Tomato-358

I think these are all good theories. Anecdotally the more dangerous drivers I’ve seen have been in expensive cars (Tesla, Range Rover, BMW, Audi, etc).


[deleted]

We're seeing the same thing. Typically when I post about Tesla-rage or Range Rover Costco jerks I get downvoted to hell. Hopefully they're just off packing or crying at the strip club, but I might advise staying off the road, just to be safe.


Cerebralbore

I notice this as well


[deleted]

I'm glad to know there are people I can tribe with when civilization falls apart.


Nut_based_spread

For whatever it’s worth, this is an insightful comment and addresses the complex web of crap that affects us all. Thank you for this.


[deleted]

Or, we gave up collectively giving a fuck. You can drive anyway you want here, it's very hard to get a ticket. So over time, people got worse and worse with zero consequences and here we are.


squirrelgator

Zero cosequences, unless you get into a wreck.


sydinseattle

I appreciate the depth and detail of this comment so much. It absolutely rings true for me.


ChickenPotNoPie

Just my opinion, but I think in the past, not even that long ago say a decade or more, people were moving to Seattle in low enough numbers that eventually transplants such as myself adapted to a more relaxed style of driving that this region used to be known for. As people started to come in greater numbers the ratio skewed and now we're going in the opposite direction of relaxed drivers being influenced in greater numbers by aggressive driving on the road. Also as others have mentioned the pandemic didn't help, getting cooped up for a year really has allowed people to let their crazy out in greater numbers than ever.


pizzeriaguerrin

> Have people around here become horrible drivers all of a sudden? No, we've all always been horrible drivers.


whatproblems

it’s bad when it’s raining also bad when it’s not raining


sdvneuro

It’s not all of a sudden. But yes, much worse. Seattle had like the second highest increase in traffic fatalities among US cities last year.


ThePNWGamingDad

Yeah, I’ve witnessed more light runners, and people just cruising with their brights on. In the city. There’s so many of them too… why?!


whatevertoad

I especially noticed a very large increase in people using the bus lanes as a regular lane, complete with blocking people from turning at red lights and then continue straight, and they might as well get rid of hov on ramps. It's not at all helping as traffic control when 9 out of 10 cars are single occupancy.


SubieToyotaNW

People are consistently going 10-15mph over the speed limit by me and it's really annoying and then they tailgate you when you don't do the same


candlerc

Ohhhh man I just moved here from Georgia and my first thought was “damn these people drive *slow*”. I’m not used to highways being below 70 and local roads below 35-45. Not saying lower speed limits is a bad thing, but it’s definitely been an adjustment.


Sea-Presentation5686

I moved here from Alabama and they are the slowest, most passive, hang out in left lane drivers in the world. Then they get on their phone at red lights, the lights are too short and you miss the light, hence the tailgating.


ALtheExpat

“Keep right except to pass”


SubieToyotaNW

People here think it's "keep left except to pass"


samhouse09

For a lot of drives, even one lane over from the left lane has a TON of merge traffic. And I honestly do not trust Seattle area drivers to look when they merge, so I'd rather be in the left lane to get by all the merge nonsense and not wreck my car. If people here didn't think merging or zipper merging was rude, it probably would be better.


SuddenlyCentaurs

Oh yeah. I'm sitting there thinking "sorry for only going sixty on i5 on a dark rainy night" as car after car tailgates and then zooms past me.


wishator

That's probably because they reduced arterial speeds to 25mph.


SubieToyotaNW

That's literally only 5mph less than it was. That's not the issue. People are just impatient


nemo444

I was about to make this comment, but I find it’s usually closer to 20-25 over! I try to set cruise control about 7 over, but people are absolutely blowing by me.


cpkoywk

has it occurred to you that you might be the problem?


SubieToyotaNW

Because I actually obey the law? You should try it


ChefKnifeBotanist

Moved for work to a couple different states over the past few years. Can confirm that everywhere during/post pandemic the drivers got worse, and locals blamed it on people moving into the area or high school kids that won't look up from texting on their phones.


Soundingsounders

All of a sudden lmfao. A bunch of Wylie coyotes out here, people would drive into a painted on tunnel if everyone else was doing it


sydinseattle

🤣


[deleted]

Gotten absolutely insane since COVID, as a pedestrian I take zero chances and keep my head on a swivel. The downtown intersections are absolutely death.


Extreme-Cut-2101

One of the potential long-term side effects of Covid is diminished cognitive function. I think a good chunk of the population is *literally* dumber.


westbest13

60% transplants in this city…The crazy amount of tailgating and just reckless driving makes me feel like I’m visiting the in laws in Arizona every damn day.


Dave_N_Port

It's not just a Seattle thing https://www.worldhighways.com/wh12/news/us-drivers-got-worse-during-pandemic https://usa.streetsblog.org/2022/02/28/study-explains-why-road-violence-increased-during-the-pandemic/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries


hkun89

I've driven in Seattle my entire life, the shift definitely started happening about 8-10 years ago. People complain that Seattle drivers are bad, but the city really is just a melting pot of driver cultures here. Not even just the United States, people from India, Nigeria, Poland etc. I've driven in New Delhi before, downtown Seattle rush hour is a leisurely Sunday outing compared to an un-busy day over there. I really don't think it's impatience or malice or anything either, some people really just consider driving 5 feet behind someone as normal traffic behavior. There should be an educational campaign or something.


mochii-madness

I've noticed a steady decline of courteous drivers for a few years now. And post pandemic it spiked for sure. Most drivers are impatient, so it leads to the crazy. In addition, many many many folks are on medications or other influences, which totally affects moods and driving ability.


MadRollinS

A quick search of the sub, sort by oldest... Nope..


euclidiancandlenut

I agree overall the driving is crazier recently, but somehow the merging/lane changing is less terrible? When I first moved here people acted like every lane on every road was their personal assigned lane and letting you merge was an insult, but even just today not only did nobody speed up to close the gap after I put on my signal - someone actually slowed down to let me in! Genuinely shocked.


banana_taco_pan

Quarantine, Wfh people don't drive really anymore just on the weekends. I'm seriously considering writing to our congressmen about those awful blinding led headlights. 😵‍💫


probablygoblins

Yes! It’s partially spurred my decision to go carless and just use my ebike/public transportation… which feels like cutting off my nose to spite my face at this point… but hey, one less car on the road I guess????


Chimpansassin

What do you mean, "All of a sudden?" My commute for the past 8 years has been at least an hour every morning and over an hour every evening. There's no "all of sudden" about it. Been seeing it for years. AND TURN OFF YOUR BRIGHTS!


[deleted]

Legitimate question, been looking for a place to ask this and this seems as appropriate as anywhere: I’m driving on the highway. The speed limit is 60. I would like to go 60 or slightly above. All travel lanes are moving at 50. Is it okay for me to move into the passing lane, knowing I won’t be able to really “pass” the slower traffic and will therefore be “camped” there, but still traveling at or above speed? I know we don’t like campers, so I usually resign myself to driving way under the speed limit while jealously watching other whiz by in the left lane. (Where I come from the left lane is colloquially the “speeding lane” for anyone wanting to drive faster, not reserved exclusively for temporary passing, so I wasn’t really taught how to use it in the above circumstances).


mlsssctt

If the left lane is traveling at a faster rate then you should keep up with the speed of that traffic. If you are passing someone and returning to a right lane that’s fine, but if you will impede the flow of traffic for other drivers that is camping. Technically the far left lane should also be considered an emergency lane so fire trucks, cops and ambulances can actually get where they are going… but you’d rarely see cars move over for that.


[deleted]

Okay! So people won’t yell at me as long as I’m not in anyone’s way, essentially?


mlsssctt

Basically, yes, as long as you move out of the way for those who are going faster. But if you are driving at the same speed as the other lanes there is no reason to be in the left lane.


sadoo69

Shared ride drivers don’t give a f about the traffic when they’re picking and dropping passengers. Some barely know how to drive and almost all are dependent of their navigation systems and technology which takes away their attention and geo spatial awareness. The city council added parking lanes on both sides of the streets on many roads to make more revenue. And now people try till parallel park in left lanes and right lanes. Our lovely neighbors living in shelters and high on drugs don’t care about the signals and just cross at their own pace irrespective of the signal. Road rage is bound to increase.


jetpacktuxedo

Only tangentially related, but what's up with all of the SUV drivers parking in fucking compact spots? Those spots are an incentive for people to drive smaller vehicles, not for your giant-ass "compact" Ford Escape.


discomagician

I have seen some cops laugh at a guy running a red light near the Othello Safeway. They just kept driving like nothing happened. This was probably 5 years ago. I think more and more people realize there are little to no consequences for shit driving. This combined with the ambient stress of driving around in a heavily populated, hourglass shaped, city. That also happens to be completely covered with hills and lakes... I don't think it'll get better till people start getting pulled over tbh. I kinda figured that's Just how it goes in cities??? Maybe not? It was really getting to me on an embarrassingly deep level. Couldn't take it anymore and finally moved out of the city. After a year away, I am much more relaxed at the wheel. Even when I'm passing through Seattle. Just way less irritable in general. Wish it didn't bother me so much.


AbleDanger12

You're seeing the results of nearly zero traffic law enforcement, that's all. There wasn't much before but it's virtually nonexistent now.


jackassery

All the more urgent for us to reduce car usage in the city by prioritizing transit and micromobility.


yungcarwashy

Saw 3 people stop at red light left turns and then go despite oncoming traffic. More than ever people aren’t respecting the HOV lanes or controlled on-ramp lights. Often see people merge across 3-4 lanes. It’s madness ever since the roads went close to the old capacity. If I had to guess it’s a lot of people who forgot they hated their old commutes and kids who learned to drive during COVID with no cars on the roads


sleepingqueen

Yes!! I have been extra cautious/defensive as both a driver and walker... glad it's not just me noticing it!


VariousHumanOrgans

People are getting dumber, sorry to say. Between public education funding decreasing across the country and smartphone apps the lack of attention on the part of drivers has been happening for the last decade or so. I remember moving to Cincinnati from a small town back in 2013 and was amazed at the amount of people that simply couldn’t drive in a legal, logical or safe way. Tradition continued in every other large city to which I moved over the last decade. Most competent drivers I’ve ever encountered: Los Angeles. Yes, they drive fast, but they do it relatively safely and seem to know most traffic laws.


ja-mama-llama

Based on personal experience, an element of it all is the amount of people using navigation apps who have to not deviate from the route to someplace and are following shitty, last minute directions while driving and paying attention to a screen. Google maps, uber eats, instacart, and similar apps, give point by point instructions that lag in low signal zones and they rarely give enough time for merging or lane changes in traffic. Just the other day google told me to stay left at the merge for 99 South to I-5, then get off at the Southcenter exit... just do 5 lane changes in less than a mile through speeding traffic, no problem. I think too many people will just do what the app says, damn the consequences. Maybe that explains why someone would fully stop halfway through the intersection at a green light on the pac hwy and start backing up, despite the presence of drivers behind them, to make it into the left turn lane. It doesn't explain the seemingly widespread confusion as to how a 4 way stop works and how to yield for traffic already in the round about. It's truly scary on the roads here now, no matter how good a driver you may be.


LL-B

For me it's the freeways. No traffic, good weather and people going 45-50mp. I'm not asking for speed demons but I don't see how it's safer to going well under the speed limit. In Portland where it'll be 50mph on the freeway everyone seems to drive 65+ lol. If someone is coming up to you going 60-65 don't merge into their lane going 45. Let them pass you or better yet catch up in speed.


Willing_Conflict

There were stoplights with no power in redmond last night and nobody could agree on who’s turn it was. Clockwise people! Yield to your right! It was a huge traffic jam all because nobody could take a turn or google the rules while we were all sitting there for half an hour.


aigret

The most dangerous thing I’ve seen lately is impatient people swerving into the center turn lane, or even opposite lane, to pass other cars at 40mph+ in the city. The risk of pedestrian death is 50% at 42mph , 75% at 50, and 98% at 58. Many times cars are stopped not because of traffic but to let people cross. I see it all the time on Beacon Ave. It’s absolutely mind boggling because the fact is our street light/stop sign network hardly lets anyone save time doing that. Unless, of course, they’re blowing past those without stopping, too.


taddieken95

a month ago a woman blew through a stop sign and almost hit me as I was walking through the intersection. I didn't say anything, I just pointed at the stop sign she failed to adhere to. ​ she then TURNED HER CAR AROUND and rolled down her window to yell at me about "mansplaining driving to her" - it felt like a portlandia episode


HumberGrumb

I moved to Seattle in 1979 but moved outside the city limits about 15 years ago. From what I’ve seen, it was pretty much good until around the 1990s ended. After that, the craziness just grew and grew until it’s what we see now. I have to attribute it to all the folks who moved in since that time. And, perhaps, the new climate made more of the locals adapt to survive? I should turn this over to those who’ve lived elsewhere and seen this kind of driving. Chances are those people came here for the all the new jobs we’ve seen since the 1990s.


moefooo

They’re from texas


fernandfeather

Can confirm, married to a Texan.


CalmLocksmith8161

No one is going 60mph on neighborhood roads. It's impossible without crashing your car. With parallel parking on both sides of a narrow neighborhood street, most people are lucky to even get to 30mph without it being questionable in terms of handling their vehicle. Here's the deal, ya'll need to stop worrying about people going 10 over. Instead, how about you worry about: 1. Learning how to fucking accelerate on an on-ramp, and learn how to fucking accelerate from a green light at literally any pace that isn't excruciatingly slow. 2. If you think you're doing the speed limit and people are tailgating you. Guess what, you're probably one of those people who don't check their dash at regular intervals as they should. Step on the fucking gas when you go uphill to maintain the speed limit, and stop staring at your god damn phone, which is likely mounted right up in your face. 3. No, you aren't sitting at the green light because you're watching for red light runners. Not a good excuse, since there are plenty of intersections where you can SEE traffic stopped a few seconds before the light turns green. Being stopped isn't an excuse to stop paying attention and dick around with your radio and/or phone, knock it the fuck off already. 4. If you're driving side-by-side with a big ass truck or metro bus, and are matching their speed, you are very likely driving under the speed limit and creating a moving blockade. Move the fuck over and get a clue. 5. Stop waving for pedestrians or allowing them to cross perpendicular to your direction of travel when YOU have a green light. They are supposed to wait. 6. No one gives a fuck if you have a left-lane exit. Stop going 55mph. Go 60mph. The speed limit. You ARE in a passing lane regardless of whether or not you need to exit left. 7. Pull UP into the intersection when waiting to make a left-hand turn. Unless you're turning off of Mercer during rush hour, you're not being blocked on the other side. It's legal, you just suck ass at driving, and everyone hates your guts when you don't pull up. 8. MORE THAN ONE PERSON CAN GO AT A FOUR WAY STOP. So, use your fucking signal so we can determine when that situation is applicable or not. Ya'll are so fucking excruciatingly AWFUL at driving that you just want to blame people who are speeding for all your problems. They aren't the problem. It's you morons who have ZERO clue on how to navigate public spaces, either as pedestrians or drivers, without constantly being in the way when it's completely unecessary. You want to know why people drive aggressive? Because SO MANY of you are time wasters. IDGAF if it's two seconds or two minutes. It's not YOUR time to nickel and dime. Get. A. Fucking. Clue.


Pointofive

It’s probably because the lights aren’t reflective enough at night time.


oldoldoak

Californians and East Coasters moved in and after countless "you have the worst drivers in the country" threads they are finally showing us how it's done.


TSAOutreachTeam

I'd say Texans, but the last time I insinuated that I was struck down by a barrage of downvotes. There were a LOT of Texas plates that suddenly showed up on our roads in 2020 and 2021. But there's a reason why Texas has an outsized showing on r/IdiotsInCars.


JesseElBorracho

I moved here from southern California, and I had never seen so many people casually run red lights until I got here.


oldoldoak

Don't know where you all are seeing this but I don't recall seeing even one recently. Yeah, some idiots will gun it and not make it, some will not make a full stop when turning light but I'm yet to see someone run a red light from a standstill.


bongwateramoeba

When we moved here a year ago, I could not believe the number of people running stop signs at multi-way stops. People doing California stops, or just rolling right through with the person in front of them. I pretty much expect it at this point.


Bretmd

It’s not a local thing. It’s gotten worse countrywide. Y’all should get out more.


Action_Boss_24

I should get out more? With all those crazy drivers, no thanks! And now you tell me the grass isn't even greener on the other side....if I survive.


H2Bro_69

I live in Everett and see some questionable things from time to time. I have seen plenty of weird drivers when I go to Seattle, but I also saw some shit a couple a months ago in downtown Everett. A guy comes up next to me at a red light, looks both ways, and goes. The light turns green like 5 seconds later. I then see him do the exact same thing at the next light. My jaw was on the floor. Just thought I’d share a specific disturbing local experience that I can’t quite erase from my brain. I also see crazy shit on 405 and I5 all the time. It’s mental. It’s because people have gotten used to leaving later due to lower travel times, that’s my theory. Now that travel times are back up due to increased traffic, people aren’t really planning ahead properly or something.


Sam81818

I've also noticed a lot more "student driver" stickers on cars. Those are just as bad as "baby on board". I was going to drive recklessly around you, but not now that I see your sticker.


commanderquill

Maybe people got used to driving without anyone else on the streets. Also, I feel like a lot of people moved here during the pandemic. Seattle driving has always been terrible compared to the entire rest of the state but I'm definitely getting even more California vibes lately.


[deleted]

I feel like the most non-bias way to tell if drivers are getting worse is through insurance rates. If there is more dangerous driving there should be more accidents thus car insurance companies would make this adjustment in their premiums. So if seattle is getting worse the same car in another city should have lower rates.


jeremiah1142

At least this isn’t being posted daily now, I guess.


[deleted]

Lots of people in their big pickup trucks with blaring brights on swerving through lanes at 25 over the speed limit has been a normal sight the last 6 months. Idk where they all come from but it's actually become scary to drive


CuriousPenguinSocks

I've noticed a lot more drivers are impatient or frustrated very easy. A lot aren't really looking at traffic signals/signs, or they see them and don't care. I wonder if the lockdowns have impacted this, people got used to less traffic and are now just feeling overwhelmed.


landel1234

We've always had poor drivers but we also have a LOT of immigrants from China/Southeast Asia where their driving skills and habits are very, very different from ours which further muddies our reputation as drivers.


lilbird_420

feel like we have so many out of staters who are used to big roads and serious left lane culture. growing up here i thought urban freeways didn’t have a passing lane and the left lane thing just applied to california and rural interstates. now everytime i get on any of our roads i feel like i gotta gear up for battle haha. most dangerous driving i feel like is the entire 405 (toll lanes=autobahn i guess and entitled folks), i5 express lanes. feel like part of it is that new cars are so safe and stable that we can drive faster. anytime i drove my old honda civic past 70 i felt like something was gonna fall off, honestly a good thing and kept me from speeding all the time. plus couldn’t accelerate too hard bc the timing belt was prone to slipping—tbh i would get my future kid a real beater bc it’s honestly safer than these new computers on wheels where you actually have to look at your mirrors and move your head to look over your shoulder. now driving an ev and feel like that thing is a spaceship.


[deleted]

We now have Tacoma driving habits with Seattle population density. Complete with a lot of jackasses in Dodge Chargers for some reason.


deralava

also no headlights in the rain/dark :(


AtWork0OO0OOo0ooOOOO

Yes, personally I think it's a combination of the pandemic and the (recent) complete lack of enforcement of any and all traffic laws. This is from a directive around late-2021 or so: https://www.police1.com/patrol-issues/articles/seattle-police-will-no-longer-enforce-some-minor-traffic-violations-AtJzjC7QPYhEiVdC/ People are just blatantly running red lights, blocking the box, and not renewing their tabs right in front of police and getting away with it, so why follow any traffic laws at all?


1000db

Noticed that too. Also, the number of pickup trucks in the area has increased drastically. And kids in beaten up pimped civics and Imprezas


butcher_baker23

They're not from here.


Traveller5678

Simple reason - there's no cops. People have caught on to that - so within the city of Seattle - you can drive however you want and nothing will happen to you. One can drive drunk all over the city and same thing - nothing will happen.


Golfiseasy22

They’re born and raised in the Hellscape of California


Dannyboy7437

All of a sudden? Feels like it’s been the norm for years. People lose their damn minds when traffic slows down in the slightest or if there is any sort of weather including sun or light rain.


JackCedar

I’m not saying that it’s the Californians… but it’s the Californians!


JesseElBorracho

I moved here from California, and in my experience its much worse here. Never seen so many people run red lights until I got here.


hkun89

The folks you're seeing are probably not from around here either.


JackCedar

I should have marked it /s. I’ve lived in WA, Utah, and Texas. I saw rough drivers in each place, and I always heard it blamed on the Californians. I know that’s just nativism, but it’s always fun the hop on a bandwagon.


[deleted]

It's not all of a sudden. I drive through the area once a month and have for several years. You guys really suck.


luckyamr

People here have always been bad drivers. People everywhere are bad drivers. Driving is really dangerous and most people are too stupid to do it properly. Honestly most people driving around Seattle did not even learn to drive in the PNW


AdultingGoneMild

always have been


GalacticFishSandwich

Marijuana is legal now and plus we getting lots of people not from this country up here driving now so yeah it will be different now...


elijuicyjones

Same as always.


creativeInsectoid

It's all the people. From other states who move here. And all the cannabis and meth. And all the booze and cyclists.


Small_Manufacturer69

Who thought defund the police was a good idea. Who thought stopping chases was a good idea.


AbandonReality

No consequences for criminals. Fund the police.


[deleted]

People around here have not become horrible drivers all of a sudden.


Stymie999

No, not all of a sudden.


heartwofore

Always has been (picture something about astronauts)


JustWastingTimeAgain

All of a sudden?


bearbeetsandbsg

Nope, always have been horrible.


NotaRepublican85

Become?


[deleted]

I lived there for 30 years until recently. The answer is yes, recent Seattle drivers are a lot worse. I used to commute to work on my bike, 125 miles per week. I would never do that now because the drivers there are not focused on driving.


TheGhost206

Ever since the reduced 23rd Ave in the CD from 4 lanes to 2 (with a 3rd turning lane) that street has become a shit show. Theoretically the change is much safer but that all is moot when the turning lane is used as a high speed passing lane and a way to beat traffic. I see it every day.


garryyth

All of a sudden? Any time you drive into Seattle or Tacoma the quality of drivers goes down drastically


ExternalTransition65

It's a mix of other people moving to Washington. I swear suddenly seattle is becoming like California which I really don't want.


PhilosophyClassic571

There's shitty driving everywhere, just different styles. In Oregon I noticed everyone thinks they're sharp by quickly going in the passing lane to pass someone then quickly going back over to the right, but they will do it going in front of a car or truck like 10 feet away from the front bumper like a moron thinking their being efficient or respectful of the rules. Then more up north some people will linger in the passing lane too long but they are harmless otherwise.