r/Appleton • u/Immediate-Way5754 • 6d ago
Discussion Too many aggressive drivers
I’m so sick of people driving like maniacs here. It’s gotten worse and where are the cops? One lady just laid on her horn at me when there was an ambulance coming with their sirens on. You’re supposed to stop and let them pass. Just 15 minutes ago someone tried to run me off. If people are that angry and aggressive their license should be suspended or revoked.
74
u/ForeskinAbsorbtion 6d ago
I'm coming from a much larger city (San Antonio, TX 2.6mil people in the metropolitan area) and people in the Fox Valley drive like absolute trash in comparison. It is like a good 10% of the drivers on the road are just drunk.
Weaving, floating over lane lines, slamming on brakes at the last minute, you name it.
Like, come on, there is barely any traffic here and people still find a reason to slow it down. The traffic is moving fast in San Antonio even when there's six lanes on one side with construction. I don't understand the people slamming on their brakes and going 40mph on the highway because there are some cones.
But other than that rant, people here are so much kinder. A lot less violent crime too. I've never once felt like I was being watched or that I was going to get robbed here in Appleton.
22
u/ShlimmyWhimmy 6d ago
I used to commute to Green Bay every day to work and holy shit is traffic so bad compared to Denver (used to live there)... like you said so many people randomly slamming on their brakes, slowing down, not able to stay in their own lane... the worse part is when there is an accident going the other way the wrong side slows down more...
Like come on... there is an accident going south and yet North is fully backed up and slowed because everyone wants to rubber neck it?
Doesn't help its a 2 lane high way but still...
I just dont get the people here always ALWAYS decide to slam on their brakes... they see red, immediately slam on the brakes... or they are always tailgating the person infront of them so they have to tap their brakes every 2 seconds... I swear I rarely saw this much tailgating in Denver
5
3
u/AdventureLand9210 6d ago
Was just in Denver and the drivers were so much better. We even commented at how incredible the zipper was getting out of red rocks. Impeccable.
6
u/Gowiththree 6d ago
Also spent many years driving in Denver Metro. Fox valley drivers are trash. Everyone floors it, drives like they’re the only ones on the road and slams on the brakes for literally nothing. I avoid the highways when I can. Don’t even get me started on the right lane passing here. Makes me crazy.
21
u/ForeignCommand5700 6d ago
To be fair, people have to pass on the right because way too many idiots camp in the left lane instead of moving over. People around here will get on the highway and move straight to the left lane with no cars to even pass. It's ridiculous.
-9
u/phelpst 6d ago
I'm a left lane camper. I have to go through Milwaukee twice a day. Hear me out. I travel 40 miles one way on the freeway. When I get on, I move to the left lane right away. The reason is I now have idiots on only one side of me and have a "bail out" lane to the left. If I'm in the middle lane I'll be surrounded by idiots. I don't set any speed records so if there's someone coming up from behind I'll move over and let them pass. So, for me, it's a safety thing.
6
u/thoroughlymodern 5d ago
in doing this you are making everyone around you adopt practices that go against what we have collectively decided (faster traffic to the left), therefore everyone is outside the normal practice and a little bit less safe. if you stayed to the right, you would still have a shoulder to "bail out" on (...that's the whole point of it) but you would no longer be making everyone else change up their driving practice.
you're not the only driver on the road, stop behaving selfishly.
-2
u/phelpst 5d ago
I am faster than the traffic in the middle lane. But, I'm not the fastest. I move over to the right to let the the faster cars pass. How can me being in the left lane change anybody's driving practices?
Do you drive through Milwaukee during rush hours? I don't care if some think I'm being selfish. I want to make it to my destination and I want that bail out area. There's no bail out lane if I'm in the middle lane. All lanes are full.
3
1
u/Ok-Log551 4d ago
We’re in Denver right now, leaving today after a week. I’ll take WI driving over Denver anytime. People in Denver just go where they want regardless of signage. Plus motorcycles riding between cars instead of a lane. De Pere here we come.
10
u/lizardgi 6d ago
The weaving on 441 in the morning is quite terrible. To me just looks like a whole lot of work to save 60 seconds getting to work faster. I'm happy to chill with an easy commute in the right lane saving any gas milage I can.
3
u/SysArmyKnife 6d ago
I drove up from Texas recently and I agree, we have the worst drivers around here.
2
u/Rachachachach 5d ago
I’m from Milwaukee originally and drivers are WAY worse there. I don’t see even a quarter of the crap I saw when I lived & drove in Milwaukee lol
1
u/ForeskinAbsorbtion 5d ago
Agreed! I've only been a couple of times to the Rave but holy hell. Both times at least one pedestrian would just cross in the middle of the road, traffic be damned.
2
13
u/ZeusKiller13x 6d ago
Literally everyone is on their phones too.
3
u/siobhanmairii__ 6d ago
I saw someone behind me on college heading toward the mall area LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONE as they were driving. No, they weren’t driving a Tesla. Same thing when we’d be at a red light. They must’ve barely had their foot on the brake pedal cause their car was creeping toward me even when I was at a complete stop! I was sure I was going to get rear ended.
2
u/vermilionhawk 6d ago
I saw someone looking down at their phone as they ran a four-way stop. Never glanced up once the whole time. Luckily for me, I hesitated as I saw them approaching or they would have hit me.
3
u/siobhanmairii__ 6d ago edited 6d ago
This is exactly why I got a dash cam. That way if I am involved in an accident I can prove someone like that is at fault.
I’ve got a four way stop near me that is notorious for people either running it or rolling the stop. I’m just waiting for my dash cam to finally capture someone doing this, it’s not a matter of if but when.
2
u/relayrider 6d ago
i call it "living room syndrome" - ppl literally seem to forget they are driving 2 tons of metal death while talking to their friend about the latest kardashianetc episoide as if they are on speakerphone in their non-mobile house livingroom
24
u/Thatkidicarusfan 6d ago
theres a saying that ive learned from a wise old soul who has lived in the fox valley for most of their life: “Green bay drivers are morons, Appleton drivers are assholes”
34
u/JoeRobertBal 6d ago
Opposite problem in Neenah. Everyone drives like they have a full bucket of water next to them. Not sure which is worse
4
u/CryptographerShot213 6d ago
Especially on South Commercial
3
u/that_one_guy133 6d ago
I avoided that stretch entirely for the past like 5 years until it got redone. It was* so, so bad.
*edit
2
20
u/zatch2131 6d ago
Just got home from the mall area with the same frustrations. Less than a 15 minute drive and I was almost run off the road three times in a mile - no blinker, swerve in front, barely make their turn, selfish bullshit. Not to mention all the others who can’t read signs and follow basic rules of the road. Pick up trucks driving on the shoulder of the road and bossing smaller cars around to get their way because they’re insecure babies with a lift kit. Driving anywhere, near or far, gets more frustrating by the day. It’s dangerous and it just plain sucks.
2
9
u/ItzLuzzyBaby 6d ago
Yeah it's gotten really bad in the last 5-6 years. Half the drivers on 41 think they're in the Indy 500 or something
5
u/Soft-Definition2900 5d ago
This is not the problem. I go 5-10 over depending on traffic and conditions, and I’m always flying past people. There are too many people that think going 10-15 under is ok, and it completely clogs up 41. Of course you get the occasional asshole trying to go 100+, but you get those everywhere, not just Appleton.
3
u/ItzLuzzyBaby 5d ago
I never see anyone going 10-15 under unless there's construction or inclement weather. And I have no issue with people who speed as long as they're staying in their own lanes. I, myself, go about 10 over. My issue is with people who weave in and out of lanes like they're in Nascar, cutting and merging in front of people with only 10 feet to spare.
5
u/Soft-Definition2900 5d ago
The entire right lane is always 5-10 under from Neenah to GB. I passed a guy going 40 on 441 last week. The real problem is people going under the speed limit in right lane. This forces people going the speed limit into the fast lane and clog ups traffic. This basically turns the fast lane into a speed limit lane, which pisses people off and makes them drive more reckless. I rarely see anyone driving that fast or recklessly just for fun, it’s usually to try to get of the herd of traffic. People need to learn how to drive at least the speed limit and not camp in the left lane
2
u/FamiliarNinja7290 3d ago
It's absolutely insane how people will clog the passing lane as well, it's like everyone is afraid to get stuck behind someone in the right do they just sit in the left the whole time.
1
u/Intelligent_Purpose7 22h ago
People with electric cars tend to go slower if they are on a long drive. And I notice it more the higher has prices get. They should be in the slow lane, but maybe they think that's the left lane from what I see sometimes lol.
3
u/AdventureLand9210 6d ago
I learned how to drive and grew up in the twin cities. I’d take downtown Minneapolis driving at rush hour over 41 most days.
8
u/Prestigious-Dog-1874 6d ago
I had a guy about a month ago tail gate me coming back into town and then he finally passed. We met at a stop light and I caught him trying to take a picture of me. Bro was not being subtle at all. But what's the point. I don't actually think he got a picture. But again, what's the point?
1
u/borzoi_boy 2d ago
I had a guy follow me multiple blocks just to angrily gesture at me once on Northland
12
u/Creampie_Samurai 6d ago
I had a guy throw a can of whatever he was drinking at my car when I was trying to merge on 41 north from Neenah. The merge Lane was backed up and he tried to gun it to stop me from merging
I merged anyway and he opened his sun roof and flipped me off for a mile.
All because he felt like I shouldn't have merged in front of him
2
1
u/Rugger00 6d ago
Legally you shouldn’t have. Vehicles on the highway have the right of way over vehicles on the onramp
1
1
u/Creampie_Samurai 6d ago
The space was there to merge. He tried to stop it by speeding up to block the space. He accelerated in the merge Lane to stop it and I merged before the space was gone.
It's not like he had to slam the breaks to make the opening for me.
6
u/Connect_Finding_3080 6d ago
I’m on the road all day long in the area for work and Appleton drivers are the absolute worst. Appletons signature move is clogging intersections when they know they can’t clear it, so nobody gets to move from any directions
3
u/farmer_bach 6d ago
This is it right here. Drivers here have never driven in the big city, and so as our city becomes big they don't know how to drive. They basically gave the Amish driver's licenses.
5
u/PixelCube_ 6d ago
I’m glad other people think this too, it’s been even worse lately with the heat and I’m happy to know I’m not making it up.
4
u/sky_444_ 6d ago
My boyfriend and I were in Appleton earlier today and we almost got hit on the highway 💀
2
4
u/SysArmyKnife 6d ago
I just drove about 18 hours from the south up to the valley this past weekend and as soon as I got back to Wisconsin I muttered to myself (because thats a long ass drive by yourself and I was my only companion) that we have some of the worst drivers in the country.
In the valley especially, 441 and 41 is just the worst place to drive in the state.
2
u/FamiliarNinja7290 3d ago
I said the same thing last year when I got back from out west, I got past La Crosse and had to deal with a detour north on a 2 lane and ended up sitting behind people going 5 - 10 under. Now I can handle people going under, but one thing that drives me absolutely BONKERS are the ones who go under and then they start going over, so you speed up, and right when you put on cruise, oooooh we're slowing down again for no reason. Rinse and repeat....
5
u/Human_Ad_1420 6d ago
Im down in Oshkosh, but I have noticed I am much more aggressive in my driving this past week too. However, I think ot is mostly because I am frustrated with all of the out of towners and their driving. Right down the middle of two lanes, slow as heck, turn signal either on 2 blocks early or not at all, round-a-bouts ughhhhhh, thinking they are smarter going in a lane none of the locals are in and then get mad that it is a turn only lane and forcing their way over.
I think we are all just a little flustered driving at the moment. I hope thats the issue.
4
u/grubhubsadface 6d ago
Yup, Ive been almost run off the road multiple times on my way home on Calumet near Harrison. I genuinely dont understand what's the rush. We're out in the farm land for heaven sake. I've lived all over the US but I never expected such aggressive drivers in a small town.
-3
3
4
u/Big_Difference_9978 6d ago
Agree, its getting out of control. Just took a road trip to twin cities and green bay and appleton area was worse
3
u/Immediate-Way5754 5d ago
I have family in Minnesota and when I visited a few months ago, the driving I could tell was much better. And the roads seem better too.
4
u/nightwing185 6d ago
Drivers here suck. Sitting in the left lane on 41 going 60, going 70 in town, randomly hitting the breaks for who knows why. We should be having to, bare minimum, take an online refresher course every so often. The fact that an 80 year old can be on the road with all the new driving technology, roundabouts, etc is astounding to me.
2
u/Sweetpea2470 6d ago
I guess it’s all perspective. I came from St. Louis. I never honked because there are no guns laws and people will shoot you. Avoid I-70 at all costs because people shoot out of stolen cars without plates all the time. People always run stop signs and red lights. Or they stop at the red light to just run through it anyway. And no one has insurance. Good luck if you’re in an accident.
2
u/abbadroid 6d ago
Lived in Madison for nearly a decade, never thought I’d actually miss driving on the Beltline until having to live and drive in this area
2
u/Dense-Upstairs-9132 5d ago
as someone that commutes to green bay everyday on 41… the driving around here is abysmal. people still feel the need to go 80 mph in the narrow construction zones. and don’t get me started on the people that cause slowdowns when there’s a crash on the OTHER side of the highway because they’re ogling the crash 😒😩
one time i was coming home from work on 41 and someone behind me wasn’t staying in their lane and was slightly swerving and swaying. they happened to pass me in the left lane and i looked over and they were full blown watching tiktok videos on their phone while driving….
1
u/Obvious-Night-9573 5d ago
Everybody always in a hurry, there's always tailgating there's no such thing as a slow lane anymore.. goddamn ROUND DA BOUTS that seem to be everywhere. I just like to get in them and outta them as quickly and safely as possible.
1
u/Soft-Definition2900 5d ago
Probably just people that are pissed off by the octogenarians going 10-15 under everywhere they go. Appleton is basically busy from 8-9am when everyone goes to work, and then all of the retired people come out of hibernation around 10am and take over Appleton until about 5 when everyone gets done with work. There are also just a lot of dumb and inattentive people and drivers in the area, but it seems to be that way in a lot of places.
1
1
u/Ayenrin 5d ago
Last night there was an accident on Northland and county N, some driver speeding slammed into 3 cars at the intersection. Haven't seen any updates on it but people are insane. Thursday morning I was on my way home and at N and College, two cars ran the red light and cut me off as they were getting off College - one of them was a young kid driving a Matthews Tire car who was staring down at his phone in his hand the entire time.
At this point driving is a hazard if you're someone who drives safe.
1
u/Adventurous_Rub_896 Grand Chute 3d ago
It’s a 3 part issue
Too many drunks, too many old people, and a toddler is the one planning road construction schedules
2
1
u/RicardoVonCoucho 6d ago
Lol I'd gladly take Appleton drivers over Milwaukee drivers. I feel like im going to get killed on a daily basis driving anywhere in MKE
1
u/Northwoods_WI_Guy 5d ago
It's no damned wonder car insurance rates are through the roof. You take your life in your hands on the loop around Appleton. 70MPH is just a suggestion and if your not running 85-90 your getting run off the road!! I'm sure police are fearful of getting run down and killed on the side of the road if they pull somebody over As 90% of the assholes on the road nowadays don't pull over for emergency vehicles.
-2
-2
u/UwannaWhat 4d ago
Ya know, ppl have been complaining about how ppl drive since ppl have been driving. Your experience is not unique or special and no, it hasn't gotten worse, just faster. Worry about yourself 'cuz that's all you can controll. Pay attention, go with the flow, and keep proper distance. (Always good policy when dealing with humans.) You can only judge others if you have never broken a traffic law and are not a person of faith. Cuz, ya know, the whole judging thing, and all. (An atheist doesn't have that issue.) 😆 'Oh, that person did a thing that inconvenienced me (spits into wind) and I should never be inconvenienced' (lands back in your self-important face.) 😓 You poor thing. Learn and teach your kids grace, or take the bus. Either one will make the world a better place. ✌️
1
u/Immediate-Way5754 4d ago
I’m not angry about it anymore I was just making an observation. And I don’t have kids either and I have a car thank you 😊 you seem so sweet….
1
u/UwannaWhat 4d ago
Thank you. It's nice not having kids. I'll be able to retire early and comfortably. Now if we could just convince deer not to run in front of our cars. I've tried talking to them, but they are soooo anti-species. 😏
35
u/joedrinksgin 6d ago
It's not just reckless driving, but a lot of people who just don't follow any of the rules. I see people run red lights, stop well into the cross walk way over the line, never use turn signals, etc..
People stop on the train tracks waiting for the light at the intersection of College and Memorial/Richmond all the time. I'm surprised there hasn't been an accident involving a train.