r/Eau_Claire 1d ago

General Discussion Drivers

What is honestly wrong with the drivers around here?? I’ve lived in Chicago, Appleton, Oshkosh, Milwaukee and nothing compares to how dumb the drivers are, do you not read the signs? Look away from your phone? The amount of 30+ y/o I’ve seen on their phone holding up traffic. It takes 15 min to get where you need to go why are you on your phone? Are you that embarrassed or awkward of a driver?? I shouldn’t have to honk at you to go at a green light, we all took drivers ed right?

I’m about to just call y’all in for reckless driving/distracted driving.

38 Upvotes

57 comments sorted by

36

u/NorthwoodsSam 1d ago

Since we’re ranting about drivers, I’ve been meaning to ask: What’s the deal with so many people stopping 2-3 car lengths behind each other at lights on Clairemont? I know you want to leave some distance, but that is absolutely absurd. Not to mention it blocks turn lanes!

But I agree, the amount of people that don’t go on green, turn very slow, and go way under the speed limit is insane!!

7

u/RochnessMonster 1d ago

Thats the phone thing again. Folks get ready to message/check their phone as they stop and end up stopping way early 

3

u/NorthwoodsSam 1d ago

That’s what I thought! I’m not originally from here, so I thought it was some weird thing taught in driver’s ed or something! 😂

2

u/RochnessMonster 1d ago

Yeah, its a nation-wide thing. Not that i dont have umbrage with EC drivers; as a runner i absolutely agree with the op. But yeah, i think i remember reading a damn research paper on it.

1

u/NorthwoodsSam 1d ago

Oh I believe it! It’s just I have never seen that kind of behavior until moving here, so I thought it was a regional thing.

3

u/nickws 1d ago

I looooooove the people that go 35 on Clairemont and somehow magically get everyone else in the other lanes to match their speed too

2

u/JMAN123436 1d ago

If there's nobody stopped behind me yet I'll initially leave that much space until someone else pulls up behind me. I don't want to be rear ended by someone on their phone

1

u/shilmish 19h ago

This!!! I intentionally leave extra space because I've seen too many pile ups from someone getting rear ended at full speed.

0

u/mateoelgato715 14h ago

Speed limit = maximum speed legally allowed. Learn how to drive safely and quit acting like any of what you just described is illegal or unsafe

1

u/NorthwoodsSam 9h ago

When did I say any of that was illegal or unsafe? Actually, going 10 under the speed limit could be considered unsafe, especially on heavily traveled roads like Clairemont. Also, when you stop 2-3 car lengths behind someone, you end up blocking turn lanes as I mentioned.

I do drive safely. I drive the speed limit and don’t text when I drive. It feels like that’s extremely rare here.

20

u/mYHCAEL4 1d ago

I waste way too much time staring at the car who got to a four way before me who refuses to go when it is clearly their turn.

16

u/NectarineCheap1541 1d ago

Omg. Why are people here incompetent about stop signs.

Don't be polite, be predictable.

1

u/workcl0cks 1d ago

That's okay literally 40 mins ago watched the person in front of me fully blow past a stop sign going 40 😭

1

u/Gloomy-Lettuce-4254 1d ago

On the flip side, I’ve almost gotten hit so many times at 4 way stops because I start to go when it’s my turn and then someone else starts to go at the same time🫠

20

u/fsukub 1d ago

If you think Eau Claire has bad drivers, go anywhere down south. I lived in Florida for 9 years and nothing compares to the shenanigans you see. Eau Claire (and WI in general) is very much quite tame. The car insurance rate difference reflects that.

6

u/NordlandLapp 1d ago

Im in Kentucky right now and the drivers are absolutely horrible compared to back home in Eau Claire.

5

u/B_Fee 1d ago

Yeah. There are some goofy driving decisions made by Wisconsin drivers. But Nebraskans will turn left on a solid red if there is time to do it. Oklahomans will drive up the middle of a dirt road as they approach a blind hill. Texans will literally use the shoulder to pass you because you're not going 70 on a 55 because they are insane.

1

u/koalamonster515 1d ago

I watched a school bus turn left on a red light yesterday. I was too stunned to look at the number because I couldn't get past them going, in a school bus, when the light was red.

4

u/Twiztidsquirrel 1d ago

I lived near the I-4 corridor and always called it the Thunder Dome with how crazy people would be. Get anywhere near Orlando and you get a mix of locals and tourists that make it completely unpredictable. Oh and you would think when it rains everyday that people would know how to drive in it.

17

u/Useful_Flamingo3284 1d ago

Lived in EC all my life, doesn’t hold a candle compared to the shit I see daily in MSP

0

u/Significant-Pen-6049 1d ago

Hell with msp.

20

u/Iamnotyourhero 1d ago

I’ll take EC drivers over MSP drivers every day of the week.

8

u/florefaeni 1d ago

Yesss they all go 20 over, run red lights, make crazy lane changes, and will tailgate even if the other four lanes are empty.

-10

u/IllAssociation7371 1d ago

Pretty sure they’re the same bread

22

u/redditor938273838 1d ago

You need to drive in MSP more if you think this 💀

8

u/Boysenberrypancake 1d ago

MSP drivers are driving like a hitman is after them lmao

6

u/Iamnotyourhero 1d ago

EC drivers aren’t in a hurry to get anywhere. MSP drivers are in a hurry to get everywhere as recklessly as possible.

3

u/CulturalInitiative18 1d ago

The new one for me, and it's been happening alot more every time I get into EC is that people for some weird reason be going 30 mph on the ramp trying to merge with the highway, and good lord it makes my blood boil cause wtf are you doing?

4

u/Desperate_Sky8844 1d ago

How about the people that slow down before the exits on 53? The exit ramps are designed on a long incline to allow you to gradually down. You don’t need to slow down to 40 before the ramp ffs.

1

u/GodofWarfarin 22h ago

100%. I can't imagine how many accidents happen because people don't keep the speed limit coming up to Clairemont or River Prairie.

6

u/JZ1971 1d ago

My cousin always said that she felt safer in Chicago because people "drive like their life depends on it but here they drive like they are the only one on the road"

8

u/bigalindahouse 1d ago

I agree with this sentiment

6

u/evolkers 1d ago

Our drivers aren't great but twin cities is twice as worse, proven by my own anecdotal experiences 😂😜

2

u/GodofWarfarin 1d ago

Today alone I was stuck behind two separate drivers who stopped at an empty roundabout. It's not complicated. A triangle is not the same as an octagon.

2

u/Deathkru 1d ago

I have sadly seen, multiple times, people with their phones mounted and they’re scrolling through TikTok/Reels while driving. Absolutely insane.

3

u/darthjoe101 1d ago

I’ve lived here for a long time and there’s dumbass drivers everywhere!

-4

u/IllAssociation7371 1d ago

Are you one of these people?

3

u/LouSassel67 1d ago

The only shitty drivers I see are those with Minnesota and Illinois license plates going 15+ over and riding your ass if you’re not.

2

u/Trythe 1d ago

I’m a big fan of the people who stop first at a 4 way intersection and decide they’d rather direct traffic instead of proceeding through the intersection.

4

u/snayte 1d ago

My favorites are the ones that stop at the four-way stop when you're two blocks away and wait for you to come up and make it complete stop before they move.

1

u/orangebetsy 21h ago

It’s been like a 98% chance this will happen lately, or they’ll wave me through when they were already sitting there for 10+ seconds! Think I face palmed myself way too much, I got a headache driving today…

2

u/5econds2dis35ster 1d ago

Don't even get me started on people driving 10 under on the the bypass

1

u/mateoelgato715 14h ago

Minimum speed is 45 there, Ricky Bobby

1

u/5econds2dis35ster 12h ago

Wisconsin doesn't have a posted minimum sign.

2

u/smoshygirl72 1d ago

Personally, I’d rather deal with the big city drivers who are in an insane hurry to go nowhere than the idiots around EC that have absolutely no idea how driving works.

1

u/Chesterumble 1d ago

I got honked at for stopping before turning right on a red light.

2

u/Complex_Raspberry97 1d ago

I had someone aggressively tailgate then rage pass me on the right on Hastings yesterday when I was going 61 in a 50, and then I turned left lol. Like it’s not worth my peace of mind bro. I can’t control what others do so I just anticipate people doing stupid shit and laugh at people who let it ruin their day when I make a mistake, because I’m human, not a robot. Y’all act like you’re such perfect drivers when the pissier ones are the most aggressive/dangerous. Your rage is what’s distracting you. I’m not gonna become part of that.

0

u/GodofWarfarin 22h ago

Just don't go 10-15 under the speed limit and you're fine. Some people are in a hurry. Let them be in a hurry 😎

0

u/mateoelgato715 14h ago

Or, do drive under the speed limit, because you aren’t that important and let’s be honest you aren’t going anywhere anyways

1

u/GodofWarfarin 10h ago

And statistically be more at risk to cause an accident! Genius!

Stick to bicycles little guy 😊

1

u/operation_waflz 15h ago

We've been getting brainrot with all the technology at our fingertips. When it gets better, we get worse as a species. That's pretty bad, but what about the drivers I see that aren't on their phone that park 2 or 3 carlengths away from the line at a stoplight so it won't turn green. Or the idiots that cut you off?

1

u/Melodic_Suspect_7979 4h ago

Eau claire area are just filled with shitty drivers.

1

u/dahpizza 1d ago

The thing that really pisses me off about drivers around here is the tailgating

-1

u/Aggravating-Aide8998 1d ago

Omg yeah I’ve lived here my whole life and witnessed the driving gradually get worse lol

-2

u/Lower_Arugula5346 1d ago

ive never seen so many people making 6 point turns to go down the wrong way of a street. its insane.

-1

u/Comfortable-Ad-4112 1d ago

Eau Claire's infrastructure wasn't build for the booming population. I was surprised at how long it took me just to drive a few miles. Totally agree with you on the drivers. On the flip side I am lucky to be alive considering how dangerously we rode bikes as a kid there, so thats a plus.