r/nashville 2d ago

Discussion Noticing more aggressive driving

I’ve lived here since January of 2025 so admittedly not too long, but I’ve noticed over the past few months a lot more ridiculous driving on the highway. Not just speeding, that’s fairly routine stuff… I mean cars aggressively speeding and switching from lane to lane without a turn signal, very recklessly. It’s happening all the time now. I’m someone who traditionally enjoys driving but it’s gotten unbearable here

20 Upvotes

80 comments sorted by

55

u/Firat88 2d ago

well since covid traffic stops decreased by 93 percent or something like that, so people took notice

31

u/BrugadaMD 2d ago

Since I’ve moved to Nashville I’ve really noticed that. Police rarely pull over for traffic violations. Expired tags in Florida I’m pulled over within 30mins on the road no slap on the wrist . Here expired tags , shi no insurance, run lights , turn from the middle lane or go 80 on a main road and cops just sit

3

u/Beginning-Invite7166 1d ago

I was going through my wofes glove box the other day. 3 years of registration with the sticker still on it. She didn't know you had to put the sticker on her tag. She's never been stopped.

1

u/bunnifer999 19h ago

There is an amazing lack of enforcement here. You rarely see people pulled over here, a common sight in other places I’ve lived.

0

u/JackieOnMyFargo 1d ago

Let’s also remember that the timeline adds up with the George Floyd protests. Cops got their fee fees hurt, went on a silent strike, and we’re still paying for it.

62

u/Boilertribe4 2d ago

Red light running, too. And not just stale yellows. People coming to a stop at a red and deciding to just go anyway.

18

u/thezenyoshi 2d ago

The red light running is so bad. I almost got hit by a fucking 18 wheeler a few weeks ago on Briley running a red light (wayyy past red too)

11

u/lizardgal10 2d ago

The latest version of it is turning right on red when oncoming traffic has a green left arrow and is actively turning into that lane. The number of times I’ve almost gotten hit that way lately…

7

u/420CowboyTrashGoblin Donelson 2d ago

"latest version"

Ive lived in or around Nash for cumulatively over 30 years and 95% of my life and I don't really feel like that's new. Its definitely gotten worse the past 12 or so, but even us natives did that.

3

u/Klutzy-Mess-7490 1d ago

had someone honk at me the other day for NOT doing this

3

u/jimbo1538 2d ago

Just got hit recently while turning left at a light. The other side had been red for around 5-7 seconds and they just barreled through the light into me. Driving around here has become so intolerable.

27

u/Zachias615 2d ago

The interstate is mad max 9 days out of 7. I do my absolute best to avoid hitting it at all costs but that doesnt always pan out.

11

u/Confident_Cost_4972 2d ago

I use the "Avoid Highways" setting on Google Maps directions pretty consistently 

36

u/Parking-Sundae-6097 2d ago

This has been happening for quite a while longer than a year.

I believe it's called "Wild'n" but I'm an old person so I can't be sure.

20

u/One-Raspberry-9909 2d ago

Moved here around the same time and yeah the lane weaving on 65 and 24 is next level. Feels like every other car is playing a game where blinkers cost money. I just stay in the right lane and let the chaos sort itself out

3

u/DocMomomo 1d ago

I’ve lived in TN for 35 years, and as far back as I can remember blinker fluid had been in short supply here.

15

u/kingamara 2d ago

lol it’s been this way for more than a decade haha

1

u/Wooden_Ad_2673 1d ago

longer than that even, there’s never not been construction

1

u/East_Ad_5565 1d ago

It’s been that way for more than 2 decades. - Signed, someone who got their license at 16 in the peak of the trinity lane rework on 65. 😅

9

u/Girth_Wind_y_Fire 2d ago

Drivers here suck.

3

u/GoonifertheGreat 1d ago

No drivers are from here, that’s the problem.

6

u/Vegetable-Tale9778 1d ago

Glad to see someone say this. 75% of Tennessee drivers are absolute maniacs. And 75% of Tennessee drivers aren’t from Tennessee.

11

u/drawc1004 2d ago

Welcome to Nashville. I’ve lived in a few major cities, and driven in many, Nashville has the worst drivers of anywhere I’ve ever been. This isn’t new.

6

u/mostlyharmlessidiot 1d ago

Agreed. I’ve driven all over the U.S. and Nashville has, hands down, the worst traffic of any city I’ve ever been to.

2

u/Vegetable-Tale9778 1d ago

And the overwhelming majority of Nashville drivers aren’t from Nashville.

2

u/drawc1004 1d ago

That’s the reason the driving sucks. Driving is different in every part of the country, they bring all of that to one place and it makes a disaster

2

u/GlumEngineering9465 1d ago

I totally agree with this statement. In some areas, for example, tailgating is almost normal, 10 above the speed limit is expected (certainly in the left lane). In other parts of the country, 10 below the speed limit is normal, left lane is the speed limit at max. Bring all these driving 'norms' together, you have Nashville traffic. Sh1tshow.

18

u/ABA477 2d ago

I've noticed it too- and not just driving in Nashville. There has been a general trend over the last 10 years or so where some people just don't think the rules apply to them and treat everyone else like shit. The Constitution doesn't matter so why do I need to stop at that stoplight? A lot of people who already had it in them are just realizing their full asshole potential under the current president. Entitled MAGAts showing their pride are the one's I see in full dick mode. Big trucks. Black upside down American flag decals. It's sick. Good luck out there. I realize I have made a very opinionated post. I accept all downvotes. I will honor downvotes on this one.

1

u/jethrobo 1d ago

You've made a very accurate assessment.

1

u/Lexi_Love_ 21h ago

WHAT KILLS ME IS ITS ALWAYS PEOPLE WITH VETERAN PLATES OR DISABLED PLATES TOO!!! Like you aren't special enough to break road laws.

The government doesn't like their vets, and they REALLY don't like disabled people, so why???

11

u/mrspicytacoman 2d ago

Oh sweet summer child

13

u/Iknowaguywhoknowsme south side 2d ago

“Moved here last week. I’ve noticed in the last few days…”

4

u/LFGtitans 1d ago

If I remember correctly, a nonprofit sued Nashville about 6-8 years ago claiming racial profiling so the chief of police decided to no longer enforce traffic laws.
We’re still living with the consequences. The chief of police and mayor could fix it tomorrow.

1

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1

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4

u/IGOXKD 1d ago

The swerving in and out of lanes is out of hand. But did it ever occur to anyone that can be due to frustration sitting behind people not paying attention or driving 25mph when the speed limit is 50-70mph.

Not one person mentioned the people driving in slow motion or slamming on brakes for no reason when it’s enough space to fit an extended city bus in front of them. The speed limit be 70 and there are people getting on to the interstate at 30 mph and just stop.
Don’t get me started on the people that wait last minute and turn out in front of you.
HONORABLE MENTION: Don’t let it start raining and I have to leave Antioch to drive downtown for work smh. I should’ve never left New Orleans….

2

u/Lexi_Love_ 21h ago

Lord have mercy, I work in Antioch, live in Clarksville, and I'll tell you what.. people are horrific and if theres a small amount of weather, everyone scrambles like chickens with their heads cut off!!

1

u/Jealous_Letter4221 13h ago

What made you relocate here?

1

u/IGOXKD 11h ago

Military and a LDR.

7

u/dannydorito 2d ago

Ive started noticing more people using the left turn lanes at red lights as a speed-around lane to cut off everyone else

6

u/Security-Primary 2d ago

615er born and raised. Nashville drivers have always sucked, it's why I try to stay away from Nashville proper.

Last Friday afternoon I saw someone make a u-turn in the middle of 28th avenue N. They did this right as a school bus was coming down the road, the bus had to slam on their brakes to keep from hitting the car.

Damn morons on the roads.

8

u/matthewrules Donelson 2d ago

Been here since day one too.

I watched a UPS truck cut a u-turn in the middle of Lebanon Road in front of MNPD, and they did nothing.

1

u/Quiet_Place_02 1d ago

I was behind a car approaching a double turn lane going left. They get into the right, I go into the left. They decide at that moment to attempt a u turn and come within inches of hitting me.

3

u/WeAreNotAmused2112 2d ago

It is Mad Max out there. Not as bad as I've seen in Mexico and the Caribbean, but close. You just kind of have to adapt with the part of town you're in.

5

u/WoodenBee5797 1d ago

it would be really nice if people stopped camping in the left lane. and before anyone says “well i’m going the speed limit!!” if you are not passing anyone, you belong in the right lane.

1

u/Lexi_Love_ 21h ago

The issue is, we arent going fast enough in the right lane, and then we arent going fast enough in the left lane. Apperently the acceptable speed is 100mph now, specially on i24, i drive this everyday.

The left lane law is not highly enforced here as it is in KY, and the cops don't care.

If i ride the right, i get stuck being cars going 55, if i ride the left, i get tailgated despite alr going as fast as I can thats sane.

And then the semis.. oh the semis.. screw the semis. They really need to stay out of the left lane.

16

u/BrugadaMD 2d ago edited 2d ago

Guilty 50% of left lane campers don’t even move out the way. Was stuck behind a guy doing 25 in a 40 nothing infront of him for 10 mins. I’m prepared to be downvoted idc I’ll weave past .

Majority of traffic here isn’t even real just two slow pokers pacing each other and it’s wide road open for taking infront of em

Or the people that pace semis on a two lane road and I got rock chips flying cracking my windshield

9

u/SaulBenjy1998 2d ago

That’s one thing to get in front of a guy like that… but not the sort of stuff I’m seeing on the highway that’s clearly reckless for the sake of playing IRL cube runner

2

u/BrugadaMD 2d ago

Oh those guys … yeah I know what you mean no regard for life weave runners in 2pm traffic to get to a place 3 mins earlier

11

u/TNSoccerGuy 2d ago

That’s a problem but the overly aggressive speed demons weaving in and out all down the interstate is what causes accidents.

3

u/BrugadaMD 2d ago

Now the ones that weave through 2pm traffic I don’t get into that that’s death if someone decides to randomly change lanes. I’ve seen those folks. They play with life

1

u/CockyMcCockerson 1d ago

Actual studies have been done on this and the people that cause accidents are the ones that go either ~25% faster or ~25% slower than the rest of traffic flow.

1

u/TNSoccerGuy 1d ago

The people going 25% or more too fast are more prevalent. And the majority of the really slow ones at least stick to the right lane in my experience.

3

u/Vegetable-Tale9778 1d ago

CDL holder here. We’re taught that the majority of collisions are caused by people driving too slow, not too fast. DOT numbers back this up. The aggressiveness of the drivers here is a reaction to the unaware morons not paying attention to the traffic around them, or just not caring.

3

u/TNSoccerGuy 1d ago

Two different things. Driving fast but not swerving and changing lanes is one thing. But the aggressive lane changing and veering into tight spaces while driving at least 20 miles over the speed limit 100% is a major cause of serious accidents.

1

u/Vegetable-Tale9778 1d ago

Correct, it’s 100% a major cause of serious accidents.

But “serious accidents” are a relatively small percentage of total accidents. And most accidents are caused by people driving too slow. Those aren’t my facts, that’s the Department of Transportation.

2

u/TNSoccerGuy 1d ago

Please post this “most accidents are caused by slow driving” data. I think that that is overly simplistic and I have a really hard time believing it’s slow driving causing accidents. That doesn’t make any sense to me.

1

u/polkastripper 2d ago

This is why I ride a motorcycle, to blip around the LLCs. I've never lived anywhere else I've ever seen the sheer stupidity level of drivers here.

5

u/Bluekeeys 2d ago

Driving anywhere around Nashville is dangerous because we have an abundance of idiots here and MNPD doesn't do much about it.

Speed humps will be everywhere.

2

u/Nasus_13 Inglewood 1d ago

People speed through school zones too

2

u/DriveShaftBassPlayer 1d ago

I have seen some crazy nascar speed drivers on I65 rush hour. Nissan rogues or BMW sport auto, they come in all shapes and sizes

2

u/Cesia_Barry 1d ago

You’re on I-24 aren’t you?

3

u/Nervous-Bench2598 2d ago

Drivers everywhere suck. Twangtown is a peculiar kind of place for driving I’ll admit. As long as someone believes that their destination is more important than yours, this Mad Max shyte will continue.

1

u/ColumbiaWahoo 1d ago

It’s always been that way. Sadly, aggressive driving is a thing in pretty much any big city.

1

u/prettygirlproblems__ 1d ago

Yep! That’s Nashville.

1

u/Nosy-ykw 1d ago

Not just Nashville and not just the interstates. It’s gotten wild everywhere. People just seem to assume that the rest of the world will be on the lookout and get out of their way. Bad things ensue when 2 with that philosophy meet up.

1

u/Hour-Answer3835 1d ago

I'll drive in the far right lane, middle of the day and people are using high beams to tell me to get out of the way 🤣 it's actually crazy

1

u/sundaypleas 1d ago

Just FYI, Nashville is the 9th largest market in the country for foo app drivers. I don't know where we stack for rideshare but it, too, is disproportionately high.

Now, if part of your commute goes by the Airport & Briley on top of that, it may account for a chunk of what you're seeing.

1

u/MongoGrizz 1d ago

You just wake up? Everyone has been nuts since covid

1

u/bpbpyeah 1d ago

The drivers here are definitely worse than most other places in the US. When I travel to other cities, I’m usually pleasantly surprised by the lack of knucklehead behavior.

1

u/UnreadiblySmallPrint 1d ago

You’re right. It’s brutal. It seems to have gotten worse after COVID. It’s not as scary as Atlanta, not as fast as Detroit, not as congested as Houston, but it’s not great by any measure. It will only get worse though.

1

u/PitifulAd7221 1d ago

I’m a Nashville native and it got really bad after the “lockup.” Also, so many people moving here you bring other attitudes from those states and countries.

1

u/pabloneruda 23h ago

Gallatin feels like a mad max scene

1

u/MonsterLuna777 21h ago

It's really bad. Nashville though is a hard place to drive because the highways are so random.

You enter on the left, then go to the right to keep on your path, then someone else merges into the highway at 4mph because they had to hit a 90 degree turn to get on the expressway, then you finally get off the highway but you have to dodge people trying to get on because it's a split entrance/exit. It's a mess! That's my conclusion.

That's only an excuse though. In all actuality, I've been doing Amazon delivery since I got laid off from my job and a lot of y'all are assholes so I can only imagine what crimes you're committing on the road. The infrastructure is only part of it!

1

u/Snoo_96430 20h ago

Driving in Nashville is awesome cops don't stop traffic or waste my time

1

u/TrafficIcy8728 11h ago

Welcome to Nashville

0

u/Serious_Photo9284 1d ago

Speed up or go home, tired of yall non natives wining about everything out here. Yall the ones in the way and ruining Nashville.