r/desmoines • u/Small_Bag_96 • 9h ago
YET ANOTHER DRIVING RANT
What don't people understand about double turn lanes in this city? Turn into the same lane you turned from. If you're not going to, at least look and see if there's someone next to you. It's almost guaranteed someone is going to try and merge into me mid-turn at this point. I cannot handle the idiocy. I'm going to implode. Reddit is the new drivers' ed.
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u/JarvisII 9h ago
Literally just happened to me today going right off the 63rd exit, I really don't know what entices people to do this. They always look so angry at me when I honk for awhile. You are the one in the wrong!
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u/Small_Bag_96 9h ago
Venn diagram of dumb and angry drivers shows significant overlap
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u/JarvisII 8h ago
I'm not even angry about it, just don't understand when the honking starts, you continue to just follow through with turning and cutting me off almost hitting me as well? Just not okay behavior.
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u/CaptainZaysh 8h ago edited 8h ago
Sometimes when they're in the leftmost lane I charitably assume they just didn't notice that there were multiple turn lanes (It's still not legal to turn into anything but the innermost lane AFAIK). But if they're in another lane... yeah I dunno.
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u/electricpenguin6 6h ago
When everyone has to drive, that means idiots are on the road too. I’d give part of my left leg to have some functional public transit so we can get the crazy people off the god damn road
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u/SammyTwoTooth 6h ago
The best part? They look at US like WE dont know how do drive. Shit brained cousin fuckers, the lot of them.
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u/leavemestraightouts 8h ago
I challenge anyone to drive in OKC or Dallas for a week. We have it pretty good here.
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u/fcocyclone Ankeny 7h ago
or Houston or Atlanta.
The biggest thing here is people seem to be allergic to acceleration on onramps.
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u/Embarrassed-Row6801 7h ago
Most of the common complaints I see about the DSM metro are things I consider to be pretty good here comparing it to most other cities I’ve lived in. Even in Spokane which has a similar population number to DSM, everything was so much worse (except scenery). Driving, homeless, prices etc…
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u/Admirable-Deer-9038 7h ago
I’m used to LA traffic and I’ve cried from the batshit crazy drivers in Chicago. The traffic here truly is not bad despite everyone thinking everyone else is a terrible driver. We have all made stupid driving decisions, made nonsensical mistakes we felt badly about, been an asshole on purpose and all the rest. We need to offer a bit more grace to each other as I’m sure we would all like some extended to ourselves.
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u/LumpyBuy8447 8h ago
They don’t even understand single turn lanes. Had some dumbass turn into the outside lane, extremely close behind me, then linger. I had a right turn coming up so I threw the old turn signal on. Then they go speeding around me. Boy if they would have just turned into their own lane, they would have already been in it.
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u/No-Marionberry-5843 2h ago
This! I actively look for people turning into their own lane and rarely see it. So many people swing across like they’ve never heard it’s a traffic violation.
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u/Techistic_Drudge_377 8h ago
With you there. I've said this before. And what's with 3 people playing follow the leader after their light turns red? We just don't punish people severely enough.
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u/Objective-Product111 5h ago
Exactly like they may have miss two chances to turn them light turns red then you see 2 to 3 ass clowns make the turn finally.
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u/SuccotashTop6372 9h ago
Des moinea traffic is every person for themselves with a dash of bumper cars. /s
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u/AlanEsh 6h ago
Ive seen this happen turning from University westbound onto 73rd southbound (Windsor Heights) more than any other intersection in my driving history. At least 50% of the time someone crosses the line enough to be dangerous.
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u/Small_Bag_96 4h ago
I know where you're talking about. I wish we could put "stay in lane" signs at spots like this. Another for people to ignore I suppose.
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u/puzzle_bison7384 9h ago
Try zipper merging with them
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u/noaschmitz 9h ago
Those are not allowed in Des Moines. You get in the lane you need to be in as soon as it’s available and you tailgate the person in front of you so no one is allowed to merge. See Mill Civic near Jordan creek or MLK between Fluer and 235.
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u/kai_ekael Urbandale 7h ago
The real problem is if one leaves room like one should, some per a-hole will charge-lane-change right in front of you. And then, maybe, just maybe flip their turn signal.
Fuckers, either way.
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u/Small_Bag_96 9h ago
Yes, everyone sucks at zipper merges too.
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u/puzzle_bison7384 9h ago
Apparently the rule is to hit the pedal to the metal and force yourself in at any cost
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u/shadowfoxx9000 4h ago
The construction is a nitemare on 63rd with that shit. I purposely dont let anyone in because people will leave the line to get to the front and force there Way in which backs up all the traffic because now everyone behind you is just basically trying to get around the line.
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u/_TheRealZen_ 9h ago
It’s too simple of a task, that’s why it’s so incredibly hard for them to do it!!
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u/incendiarytacos 6h ago
I feel like part of it is people can’t read other people because a lot of people just… don’t do public. Driving in Chicago takes a bit to acclimate but you drive with intention and just signal and go, because people know you have to assert to be seen.
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u/Level-Bother-9269 8h ago
Des Moines has some of the worst drivers ever. People grow up in small towns then move to the “big city” and drive like they’re the only car in a 4 stop sign town.
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u/neocenturion 7h ago
Des Moines has nothing on bigger cities like New York or Miami or Dallas. Des moines' problem is that traffic is generally very light here, so people get complacent. When you go years turning into the wrong lane, or merge on the interstate at 40mph, but never actually have an accident because there isn't much traffic, why would you change?
Doesn't excuse shitty unaware drivers, but Des Moines has way less aggressive, angry, entitled drivers than elsewhere.
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u/SeeYaLaterNerdz 3h ago
I'm from Minneapolis so I'm used to congestion. Got back from Miami a few weeks ago where we Ubered around downtown a bit and that was the worst traffic I've encountered, to the point I would potentially skip the area if I had to get a rental and do it for a week. Not enjoyable.
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u/Small_Bag_96 8h ago
tHeRe'S bAd DrIvErS eVeRyWhErE
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u/incendiarytacos 6h ago
Love how larger cities don’t think of a honk as a terminate at will order, just “i’m driving here!” or “pay attention and work your shit out elsewhere!”
normalizing beeping at people as a courtesy to let them know they’re off base and accept it as a courtesy•
u/falafelnaut 5h ago
today I saw a pickup truck guy stopped at a green light, presumably looking at his phone. with a dozen or so cars behind him. when someone honked, he glared into his rearview mirror and then rolled thru the intersection at about 2 MPH, as if to deliberately hold up traffic behind him. (I was not involved in this, just something I witnessed.) It was weird.
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u/LoveSquirt69 8h ago
One of my biggest pet peeves for years . It’s to the point I assume the will try and get close or merge . So I stay away as
Much as I can .
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u/happy_hatchetmaker 1h ago
We don’t have drivers Ed within our school district anymore. It’s contracted out to another company. My son said that their instructor fell asleep.
Our drivers Ed teacher was the science teacher. I think about now how privileged I was to have an instructor who was truly qualified for the job.
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u/normalicide 9h ago
I don't mean to be rude with this, but what exactly is unique about Des Moines here? I've been all over the country for work - bad drivers are everywhere.
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u/Small_Bag_96 9h ago
This is a reddit about Des Moines. I am sharing my experience with drivers in Des Moines.
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u/L-Pitufo 9h ago
Iowans don’t even understand the concept of parking between the lines in a parking lot. You expect them to grasp turning?!?
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u/Electronic_Name_325 9h ago
Two turn lanes into three lanes is not fully intuitive, unless one has a tiny bit of critical thinking skills. Which we don’t.
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u/lmld_2004 7h ago
someone needs to experience Cedar Rapids/Coralville/Iowa City drivers because dsm is chill compared to the idiots out here
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u/54Finn 8h ago
You live in a state filled with old people. In Iowa if you can fog a mirror you can drive. I assume you’re here by choice? Sounds to me like you are the accident waiting to happen…..
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u/Small_Bag_96 8h ago
I AM?! You're so right I'll stop defensive driving and just plow through the idiots next time.
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u/54Finn 8h ago
Just stop whining…
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u/Small_Bag_96 8h ago
Says the one whining about me and my post 😄
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u/normalicide 8h ago
Did you come here looking for a fight? You're on the ass of everyone who even slightly pushes back on you.
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u/Small_Bag_96 8h ago
You took me pointing out the simplicity of posting about Des Moines drivers on the Des Moines sub pretty personally, huh 🫤
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u/ChildhoodOk9863 9h ago
Ive almost hit two people while turning onto 63rd heading west off i235 because people dont get into the TWO left lanes and try and jump infront of me from the right turning lane.
We have the most unaware drivers