Why do people in Atlanta drive so fast on the freeway?
On let's say I-85 and I-75, the speed limit posted is 55mph, yet the flow of traffic is at around 70mph. On certain sections past I-285, the average traffic flow (not the extreme drivers) is moving at like 80mph. What gives? I've seen drivers on the HOV lane going 90mph. As a person from out-of-town, I'm like wtf. Is there a race between people there? Also, I-285 driving is insane.
I come from place where people rarely go beyond 5+mph above speed limit (which is usually 65). So it's nerve-wracking to drive there.
a really cool guy2008-11-15T22:05:52Z
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I used to work at the cargo area of the airport and we had truckers come from every state in the country. They always told me that Atlanta had the worst drivers they ever saw. One of the main reasons for this is that the Atlanta Police Department is very understaffed. I also knew a guy who worked for the Fulton County Police Dept. and he told me the average speed on GA 400 (before traffic got so bad) used to be 97mph (the fastest average speed in the country!!!). I actually used to have people try to run me off the road when I lived there! I am so glad I loved away from metro Atlanta!!!
I saw this on a news report a few years ago. The state police in GA have a basic rate they pay state troopers. The county sheiffs in the metro area pay more than the state police. So if someone wants to get a job in law enforcement, they get paid more to be a county sherriff than a state trooper.
Because of this, there is a shortage of state troopers in the ATL metro area. There literally not enough of them to patrol the miles of interstate there. So since there are not enough cops to stop them, people speed.
Delta is the quickest way. ATL to LGA in case you're driving Google maps says take 80 5 to seventy seven then take 80 one to seventy six. in case you are attempting this you ward off Richmond, Wash DC and Philly. slightly below 950 miles and sixteen hours. The 80 5 to ninety 5 direction is closer (purely 882 miles) yet is plenty extra congested with site visitors in considerable cities.
I live in atlanta, however my boyfriend drives a semi and I rode with him for a year or so. Atlanta as far as truck drivers are concerned is the worst city to drive in. I, after being thru every major city in the 48 states concur. I don't know why they drive like nuts but they do!!!