What's with the HORRIBLE driving in AZ?

I can't argue with any of your points. Not using turn signals and bad driving because of cell phone use seem to be the sad hallmarks of Arizona Drivers.

I was driving east on Camelback in front of Colonade Mall (24th St?) when someone IN MY LANE was driving west coming right at me. After changing lanes to avoid a collision I I pulled over and called 911 where they kept asking me to describe the driver, describe the car... I kept saying it is the car driving the wrong way! Who do you think you will get it confused with? They must be used to this kind of call too!

Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.

I think it is the BAD infrastructure and highway system they have. It is so bogged down and people's tensions are so high because of the overcrowding everyone drives like a maniac (and not to stereotype) but you get a LOT of snowbirds down here who drive WAY too slow because they have no where to go during rush hour, so I've seen a lot of people who drive crazy to get around the slow-pokes!

Phoenix is bad, but try Sicily . . . THAT takes the cake for BAD driving!

Welcome to AZ!! (trying to be funny even though it's not a laughing matter)

I cannot argue with any of your points either. I was cut off earlier today by a school bus exiting the freeway. I don't know if the bus driver just didn't feel like stopping his big yellow bus or if he just figured his vehicle is bigger and i will either get out of his way or hit the brakes. Luckily i was able to change lanes and avoid a collision. (yes, we were that close to each other)

I think talking on the phone while you are driving should be illegal and i refuse answer my phone while i am driving. Not with my precious cargo!!

just~me

Wow, you have had a string of bad luck.

I have to think that the problem is that the roads are too good out here - for the most part major roads are 3 lanes in each direction with a center turning lane, they're arrow straight, for the most part, and, legally, you can drive pretty fast, 45mph in most cases, and there are no or very few potholes. But the road conditions are such that you could easily be doing 55 without noticing much difference.

I once lived in Pittsburgh, and they have some seriously crazy roads. There is an on ramp to the highway near where I lived that had a stop sign at the bottom, no merging lane to speak of and went right into a tunnel (ah Pittsburgh, the land of tunnels and bridges). There is another merging lane that is 280deg of a circle, and that circle has a diameter of about 25ft. The speed limit on it was 10mph, seriously. And Finally, in the Squirrel Hill section, there is a road that actually crosses itself. It meanders that much. Most roads are one lane in each direction. Forbes Ave is one way into the city and then further out it becomes 2 way, then further out still, it is one way in the other direction, then 2 way again, then it eventually dead ends in a not so great neighborhood.

Pittsburgh is typical for east coast cities, where a lot of us are from. So when people get out here, they drive fast because they can (and I am not pointing any fingers that I am not pointing at myself too, I frequently speed). I support traffic calming measures, but I don't think the population is inherantly crazy. I have seen more drunk drivers out here (and my share of people driving the wrong direction), but I think the newer tougher DUI laws will slowly help take care of that.

True...SO TRUE!!! I am from back east too (NY/NJ) and I really think that because AZ roads are wide and straight, people truly lack driving skills (room for error???) Back east it is so congested and the roads are narrow...you're weaving and dodging, but everyone's doing it in sync - like a well oiled machine! I don't know why people here cross 3 lanes of traffic without looking OR approach a red light at 70 mph!!!

One thing I have to give credit to AZ for is the courtesy to pedestrians in shopping centers. NEVER, would that happen in NY or NJ! You'ld get run down in a second! Everytime I have someone visit me for the first time it's almost inevitable that they almost run someone down at the mall! ha!

We really do have awful drivers. And the insurance rates reflect it. I personally think it's because there is such a mixture of people from different parts of the country. They all bring their own driving styles which doesn't blend well with all the others. I learned how to drive in Southern California and although they drive fast and aggressive, at least they all followed the same rules.

What a great thread for my very first post. I agree with everyone! I would like to add that a pet peeve of mine is that drivers here so often aggresively cut you off when you try to get onto the freeway (esp. I-17, which I frequent). It's like it's a personal insult to them if you try to merge in front of them to get on. Rarely will anyone slow down to give you the courtesy of merging in, or scoot over a lane to let you merge. They often speed up as soon as they see you, especially what I call the BOT's (big obnoxious trucks). I do try to let people merge by just taking my foot off the gas for a few seconds to let them in, or move over a lane. Jeez, we're all traveling these poorly planned highways together, and getting ahead of someone for a few seconds isn't going to make a bit of difference. Boy, that felt good.

Ms. M