The results are in: Richmond drivers are the worst
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Richmond drivers do a lot of things when they're behind the wheel, but following traffic laws and paying attention to the world around them aren't on the list, according to results of our unofficial poll about local drivers.
Why it matters: The resounding consensus of the more than 1,000 readers who weighed in: RVA needs to go back to driving school.
The big picture: Richmond drivers aggressively speed, carelessly cut across multiple lanes of traffic, never use turn signals, and constantly tailgate, readers tell Axios. Locals also:
- Make U-turns in the middle of the street (even when other cars are held up),
- Refuse to let others merge,
- Drive the wrong way down a one-way street,
- Cannot understand 4-way stops or turning left on Monument, And run red lights — sometimes with a whole parade of cars following behind, according to at least 50 people who wrote in to say so.
Once stopped at a light, though, drivers are on their phones and checked out.
🅿️ Then there's parking, which local drivers often do in the middle of the street, according to readers, because they're lost, chatting with someone, confused at a roundabout, dropping someone off or just can't be bothered.
- When intending to actually park, Richmonders aren't much better. They face their cars the wrong way on the street, are way too far from the curb, and will not stop taking over bike lanes.
What they're saying: Reader (and Boston transplant) Stephanie S. gave us some perspective. The difference between Richmond and Massachusetts is that "there, everyone's aggressive but knows what they're doing/are paying attention," Stephanie says. "Here, people are somehow both aggressive and oblivious."
- "I'm from New Jersey, poster child for aggressive drivers, and Virginia drivers scare me!" says reader Staples S.
- "The poor and dangerous driving habits in RVA are significant. There is a weird entitlement here, on and off the road, especially in the suburbs," says reader (and Pennsylvania transplant) Marci T.
Fun fact: Some of RVA's bad driving behaviors are so rampant (and annoying), that locals have named them.
- "The random U-turns people pull in the Fan ... anytime my husband and I see that we say, 'Oh, Richmond-style,'" says Suzanne S.
- Coming to a dead stop in the middle of the road, "a Richmond parking spot," says another reader.
The intrigue: Multiple readers said Richmond's most egregious driving happens in the counties, not the city.
- "I, of course, blame the 'come heres,'" says Clint S.
By the numbers: The top responses to our biggest driving pet peeves poll:
- 18%: Texting / Distracted drivers
- 15%: Not obeying traffic lights and signs
- 14.6%: Not using turn signals
- 11.8%: Speeding
- 11.2%: Cutting drivers off
- 9.7%: Left lane loafing
- 6%: Going too slow
The bottom line: This is embarrassing, Richmond. Put down the phone, place both hands on the wheel and do better.