Des Moines, Iowa, has a lot going for it. As the Capitol of Iowa, it has far more than its fair share of the arts, music, museums and cultural events. There are excellent medical facilities here. And let’s not forget the wonderful shopping all throughout the city. Des Moines is extremely clean with very nice suburbs. I live in one of them. Believe it or not, Des Moines is not flat with a bunch of corn fields, although farming is a serious industry here. There are rolling hills and superb sunsets. Des Moines has won several awards over the years for being a great place to live. Overall, it’s an incredibly nice city. The best feature of all is the fact that I’m only 14 minutes from my daughter and her family!
So, what in the world is my complaint?! DRIVING in Des Moines! I have driven in rush hour traffic in Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis, Seattle and Portland – just to name a few. Des Moines drivers are THE worst offenders in several areas:
- TAILGATING! I have never seen anything like it! Even though I might like to drive a little fast, I have never, ever had a ticket or been in a wreck that I caused in 51 years! I hate looking in my rearview mirror and literally seeing someone’s face extremely close to me! I thought at first that I must be imagining it but I have heard this complaint from several other people as well.
- Blowing their horns instantly for any reason. For safety’s sake, I’m all in favor of using those horns if need be but not the millisecond a light turns green and the poor soul in front of you doesn’t move fast enough. RUDE! Recently, I was pulling off of I-235 and and turning right onto Douglas Avenue. Had I been able to see the traffic coming to my left, I might have been able to turn right on red. However, there was a very large truck in the lane to my left completely blocking my view. The driver behind me repeatedly blew his horn for me to turn. I was not going to turn anywhere until I could see! It took all I had not to get out of the car and go back to have a little talk with him! I didn’t, of course. However, the
stupidrude driver didn’t remember that his place of employment was clearly printed on the side of his panel van. I did have a little talk with his superior. Hopefully, his driving courtesy will improve. - Not MOVING OVER – even though the other lane is clear and they could – on the interstate! For Heaven’s sake, people in Chicago will move over for you! Granted, you’d best be doing 75 when you hit the freeway, but they WILL move over!
- Here, speed limit signs change back and forth quickly and randomly throughout the city and suburbs. It took me a while to get used to driving slowly again after driving down the mountainside! Drivers here are a bit pokey and love that left lane! But I’m getting used to it. Pokey I can take – rude, I cannot abide.
I would definitely encourage you to visit the Midwest. There are some great things to see here. Just remember when you look in your rearview mirror and wonder where the front of the car behind you went, that I told you so! 😉
P.S. I am fully aware that the drivers who are guilty of the poor driving habits above will, most likely, not be reading my blog. I only wish…
8 Comments
Murray
I think the tailgaters in Des Moines probably once lived in Memphis. Actually, this appears to be a nationwide problem with younger drivers; they have watched way too many NASCAR races on television.
Dianne
Hey! I hadn’t thought of that possibility. Actually, not all of the tailgaters here are young. They’re all ages…both male and female. You can bet when my grandson learns to drive (he’s 15 with a learner’s permit), this Southern grandmother will instill being a safe and COURTEOUS driver!
Christine
I haven’t driven in the States for over 20 years (except a few times on visits) but I find the freeways on the West Coast too horrifying to manage. The last time we did a road trip, my sister and husband did the driving and I was made to sit in the back seat and told to “concentrate on my knitting” as I kept screeching. My knitting during that trip had a lot of mistakes!
It’s an interesting point about younger drivers and watching races – maybe the driving games people play are also a factor?
Dianne
I remember the first time that I traveled through Los Angeles! I was the passenger and thankful I wasn’t driving! Definitely horrific traffic. Don’t think I could have knitted through L.A.! 😉
Tom | Tall Clover Farm
Dianne, that’s so funny (in a contrasting kind of way); drivers in Seattle are often mocked for being too slow, letting too many drivers in, lolly-gagging about the freeways, and having little sense of urgency. Not sure if that’s because we’re resigned to gridlock or happy with the scenery. Here’s to your new home and being around the ones you love. I look forward to hearing about the farmers markets there, and the Iowa State Fair is supposed to be one of the best.
Dianne
Tom, I just remember the bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway trying to get through Seattle! The scenery may definitely have something to do with it. All that beautiful green and the mountains. I look forward to Spring/Summer and lots of fresh produce here. You are definitely right about the Iowa State Fair. From what I hear, it is terrific.
Kristeen
I’ve never stayed for a visit in Des Moines, Iowa but I would like too… The fun about this post is — you can happen on such driver EVERY WHERE.. I’ve traveled a lot and find all kinds of drivers — but NY Blowing their horns are number one on my list — if you want to have one of your nine lives taken drive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…– or even SLC Utah..wink!!! I’ll be with you and stay safe and COURTEOUS driver too…
Hugs
Dianne
Thanks for the visit, Kristeen! Des Moines really is a great place to live – especially if you like SNOW! Right now, there a few more inches on the ground and a blanket of white. Never been to Cabo San Lucas but, oh surely, it can’t be any worse than the drivers of the tiny little taxis in Cusco, Peru…THAT was an experience! You stay safe as well!