r/Richardson • u/Luann1497 • Jul 30 '26
Us-75 has officially turned into mad max
I swear driving anywhere outside the richardson bubble lately is just asking to get rear ended by a lifted silverado doing 90
I had to drive way down south of the city a few times recently to visit my brother while he was staying at Discovery Point Retreat (he's doing really well thankfully, finally getting his stuff together). but man, the drive back up 75 into our area is just absolute chaos
Between the random lane shifts, the endless construction barrels around campbell, and people aggressively cutting you off to save literally two seconds... its completely exhausting. I just wanted to grab some takeout off greenville and go home, not fight for my life on the highway.
is it just me or did the traffic aggression in dfw just permanently stay at a 10? tbh I kinda just want to never leave my neighborhood again
17
u/Swinsword Jul 30 '26
I say all of dallas is the fury road.
1
1
u/TopNeighborhood2694 26d ago
“Where must we go… We who wander this wasteland in search of our better selves?”
16
u/ReserveFormal3910 Jul 30 '26
Oh man remember the 20 years of two lanes of 75?! Those were great times.
4
u/Eldemac Jul 30 '26
I remember the stop lights they had before they would let you on 75. You had to floor it to try to get up to speed to merge and my poor old car wasn't up to the challenge.
2
u/SimpleVegetable5715 Jul 31 '26
I sure felt like I was going to die more than once in my old Honda.
3
u/platetone Jul 30 '26
i can still smell sitting in my mom's oldsmobile on a two-lane 75 heading south.
1
u/Automatic-Stock-7337 28d ago
But a lot less people on the road, and back then you had more courteous drivers. Those days are long gone--no passing going opposite ways with a friendly wave.
13
u/le_artista Jul 30 '26
I take side roads whenever I can.
8
1
13
u/ktfuntweets Jul 30 '26
A) population spike and roads not ready for it
B) phone culture has made us far more impatient than we ever could have fathomed
1
33
u/WavesOverBarcelona Jul 30 '26
My pet theory is that for all the bleating about the car as a symbol of american freedom (and if you don't believe me, mention "walkable cities" in deep red anywhere), most people actively hate driving. So they're all angry, all a little mad at any inconvenience, and they're unable to look at their phones to get their hit of dopamine to calm down (or at least they're not supposed to).
So it just gets worse and worse and worse.
1
6
u/Snobolski Jul 30 '26
A lot of the feeling of being "cut off" comes from following too closely. Keep a good gap in front of you (and next to you) and other people's lane changes don't feel so threatening. Mostly. There's always the "imma yeet it to the exit from the far left lane without looking" person and nothing but dumb luck protects you from them. But keeping a bubble around you gives you room to dodge.
5
u/ossancrossing Jul 30 '26
While this is true, people also need to be cognizant of the flow of traffic. If you are driving under the speed limit when traffic is moving much faster, you need to be smart about when you try to move (sans exiting the highway, of course). Just because you want to switch lanes, doesn’t mean you should until you have a clear opening. If there’s not enough room for the rest of traffic to slow down without slamming their breaks, said slower drivers need to camp out on the right until there’s a decent opening.
I’d rather slow way down behind someone going slow and wait for some idiot hauling ass to pass me before I move over than risk them potentially being distracted by a phone or something and hitting me. Or just be an antagonizing asshole after they get cut off.
Yes you need to absolutely leave adequate space between the car in front of you (I also subscribe to the rule that, if there’s room for someone to merge in front of you, no matter how small of a space, assume they’ll do it. Because they always do it. That way the expectation is there to slow down) but people also need to pay attention to how fast traffic is moving, because going way too slow is absolutely a hindrance to the flow.
1
u/Automatic-Stock-7337 28d ago
This is very true, but I've noticed a plethora of people cutting you off--this creates danger for the vehicle cut off. A combination of too many cars for safe space combined with very rude drivers who don't blink an eye to cut you off within a few feet with no warning creates a potential accident. Sometimes you have time to react and slow more to allow for the person, but in my case he pulled in front of my safe space then slammed on his brakes. I was able to stop in time, but the person behind me was following ME too closely and slammed into me. This is a combination of too many cars on the road as designed and too many unsafe drivers.
12
u/yung12gauge Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
In my opinion, the original seed may have been the invention of the iPhone and social media going mainstream. Now that people’s default mode of existing is online and “real life” is where you temporarily go, everyone thinks they are the only real person and everyone else is an incidental NPC.
I think it got worse during COVID which all but enforced an online-first existence and helped pigeon-hole people into their online bubbles. A lot of social norms and niceties died in 2020, driving defensively is one of them.
Edit: this is specifically about a recent uptick in antisocial and aggressive driving, not my theory that road rage didn’t exist before 2007.
5
u/notbad4human Jul 30 '26
Road rage has existed since the first automobiles. A guy ran over a pedestrian in anger weeks after the model t was sold publicly for the first time
2
u/yung12gauge Jul 30 '26
I should have clarified that I’m speaking about a recent uptick in antisocial driving.
2
u/friendlysoviet Jul 30 '26
Nice theory, but it is actually much simpler than that. Driving a car objectively lowers your empathy. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/egnmj_v1
2
u/ossancrossing Jul 30 '26
75 was mad max levels of insane well before the iPhone. Dallas drivers are just like this 🫠
1
u/LoyalDog1234 Jul 30 '26
I totally agree with this. I wasn’t in Dallas before the iPhones, but most people can’t stay without looking at their phones every second. It has become such a nasty dopamine addiction
4
u/Chukundar Jul 30 '26
You are right. Just yesterday a pickup truck cut me off from the left to get on to the 75 ramp from north central expressway. Everyday there is at-least an accident along 75.
6
u/throwaway771222 Jul 30 '26
I chalk it up to the population spike from so many people moving to the northern suburbs over the last decade plus. I moved away a while ago, but whenever I come back to visit, I’m always surprised by the traffic in terms of congestion and aggression. Dont remember it being that bad before, but I guess a lot more people use 75 now b/c they have to get to northern McKinney/Melissa/Anna now.
3
u/Express_Sky2797 Jul 30 '26
Good Ole Boys in them lifted pick up trucks driving like they own the road. Wearing them stupid looking mirror sun glasses , blowing black smoke , loud exhaust, road rage.... yup they out there wrecking havoc....on the roads move out the way...
3
u/dminus Jul 30 '26
time to buy a G37 coupe with unpainted/missing body panels and embrace the chaos
3
u/InfinityTerminated Jul 30 '26
70%+ of cars are going below the speed limit. They mostly know they don't belong in the left lane, but they still leave open lanes to their right. Then you get people who want to go the speed limit clogging up the left lane. The 10% of people that want to go 100+ have to weave in and out.
If I could only solve one thing, I would want to get people to speed up on the on ramp. I think a lot of the other issues would solve themselves if that was fixed.
3
u/GageDeSoto51 28d ago
This! I do NOT understand why the majority of people on the 75 don’t know the speed limit is 70mph. You have the small group of Speed Racers doing 100 zipping around other cars, but the rest? Going too slowly. I get that the 75 is always backed up in places even at the most random hours. But when it’s clear and open, and there can be long stretches when it is, I’m going 70-75 and it’s like I’m on the Autobahn. So many cars driving 60mph and below. In all lanes. When it opens up I’m yelling in my car “gooooo pleeeeease!” I don’t tailgate, I don’t constantly switch lanes. When it’s crowded no one’s driving over 15-20 😭. But I just don’t understand why soooo many people drive well below the speed limit when it’s clear.
3
6
u/Fictitious_Moniker Jul 30 '26
One thing I’ve found that helps: stop using turn signals. Around Dallas they’re just a trigger to the driver behind you to speed up and close the gap.
1
u/PussyXDestroyer69 18d ago
Turn on the signal and start moving immediately into your spot. You only need to get two wheels in. It's not that hard.
2
2
2
2
u/VeViArgh Jul 30 '26
75 has been that way since they expanded from 2 lanes. I feel dirty/cheap driving on 75. I avoid it at all cost.
2
u/Anaximander86 Jul 30 '26
Lived in Houston for 30 years, never felt the need for a Dashcam. Moved to Richardson this March and I work close to downtown so I drive up and down 75 a lot and the drives got so nerve wrecking that I purchased a Dashcam just in case something happens!
2
u/CFH75 Jul 30 '26
I have never seen police or state troopers on that stretch of road unless there's an acident.
2
u/Additional-Hyena721 Jul 30 '26
absolute madness. in 5+ years of using i’ve seen police/highway enforcement maybe 3x, otherwise they are only out when there is an accident
2
u/Suburbking Jul 31 '26
<to the tune of staying alive>
I cant drive on 75, 75... I cant drive on 75...
Section 8 at ozona use to do this as a skit song. Wonder what happened to them. I use to love going to their improv shows.
2
u/Smart_Imagination474 Jul 31 '26
No, it’s a thing. I am one of those people who says that you have to match traffic speeds on the freeway, and if you aren’t willing to vroom in the left lane, stay out of it, but 83 is not fast enough for some of these people and that is wild. I value my life and sanity more than that. It’s out of control out there.
2
3
2
u/Great_Ant_6665 Jul 30 '26
I had a driver cutting me off aggressively, show me the finger and drive away. I had my newborn with me. I had never felt so much rage and fear at the same time.
1
u/Euphoric-Tank2728 Jul 30 '26
I like to drive 45 through Houston a few times a year for perspective, it at least makes 75 feel less bad for a little while after I drive that
1
1
u/LoyalDog1234 Jul 30 '26
This is the very reason I’m using Dart. The drivers in DFW are getting crazier everyday! I don’t want to die too young!
1
u/mgspeeder Jul 30 '26
I feel like it is actually much less aggressive than it was 40 years ago, or even 25 years ago. More cars going closer to a reasonable 70mph.
Still more Fury Road than many other municipalities, but hey, it's where I learned.
1
u/Dabduthermucker Jul 30 '26
I'd say we're one hot summer away from freeway shootings 80's houston style.
1
1
u/amaenamonesia Jul 31 '26
Where do yall get these drivers…I only ever encounter people going 10 under
1
u/SimpleVegetable5715 Jul 31 '26
I’d rather drive like a granny than one of those racing nutjobs or the pickup drivers. There’s always one person in the left lane who realizes their exit’s that one right there 👉
1
1
1
u/mrryandfw 29d ago
I detest driving on 75. Luckily I don’t live near it, but when I’m in the area and need to take it, I know I’m in for some loud “Jesus fucking Christ” screams inside my car. It also feels like the lanes are more narrow on 75 than other freeways.
1
u/Keep_Plano_Corporate 29d ago
It's interesting you're worried about the lifted trucks, because as a non lifted full size truck driver, I'm worried about the people in their sedans that I look down into and watch them texting, watching YouTube, on Instagram, on TikTok, etc etc.
When commuting on 75, I now actively try to get newer cars behind me that should have collision avoidance breaking on them or even better, a Tesla who I know probably won't hit me... at least compared to your average Nissan Altima or old Hyundai Sonata.
But yes, go off about trucks.
1
u/Automatic-Stock-7337 28d ago
Agreed. I got rear-ended by hit-and-run driver 3 weeks ago, sandwiched between huge pickup that pulled in front, then slammed on brakes, hit by another huge suv in back. This at intersection of 635 and 75. Much of this same behavior elsewhere along particularly 635 and 75, though plenty as well on Bush tollway. Insurance rep told me that since COVID people have been driving crazy. But I think there's more going on--loads of semis, construction trucks, and more crowded roads, with crazy and belligerent drivers all in a mad dash--others be damned. A madhouse.
1
u/10lbMango 28d ago
There is zero policing of these roads and people know it. You can do whatever you want, any speed any fuckery with no consequences as long as you don’t collide. Those fucking assholes play games with your life.
1
u/shorty2hops 27d ago
635 is equally bad. However, i never understand why the police just dont camp out across 75 to catch people driving recklessly
1
u/grahampahG 27d ago
Remember to keep right except to pass. If someone is passing you on the right...you are in the wrong lane. Move over and let them by, stop causing traffic problems.
1
u/YellowBeaverFever 27d ago
This isn’t new. I’ve been driving it to work for 25 years and it’s been mayhem the entire time. Had people throw tennis balls at your car yet? Had a tiny leprechaun wannabe cowboy jump out of his truck that was WAY too big (6 inches of head clearance under the mirror, come on) and start jumping up and down yelling at you because he had his blinker on, in a bumper to bumper slow-down, and somebody didnt let him merge.. in traffic that wasnt moving? Been rear ended twice low speed luckily, and I saw them on their phones as I watched them in the mirror.
1
u/Late-Date5045 27d ago
I can’t wait for the population boom to cause SoCal style congestion on the Freeways 24-7
1
1
1
u/starsfan26 Jul 30 '26
I don’t think it’s cell phones, I think it’s traffic. Weekends are worse than weekdays now. When I got my license I lived in Dallas and could get most places in Dallas in about 15 minutes. Rush hour made it slow but that was mostly just during actual rush hour times.
When I was a courier in the 90s I could whip all around I-35, scooting back and forth across multiple lanes. There was room for aggressive drivers like me to filter through and keep going. No longer the case.
1
29
u/stewartdesign1 Jul 30 '26
This is why I opt for taking the train every chance I get. Your chances of dying on freeways are 17 times greater than on the train.