Driving In Washington

Compared to driving in Oregon (where everyone drives 10 mph below the speed limit, such that I felt like I was speeding even though I was driving 5 mph below the limit), driving in Washington is great. Andrew and I have discussed how every place has a driving culture. It's true! In Logan, people drive slow, do right turns without pulling to the side, and need HUGE gaps to turn left. In Utah Valley, they are mean, cut you off all the time, and drive really fast. In the Salt Lake Valley, they drive like normal sane people (this is where both of us learned to drive).

Washington also has its own driving culture.

• Weaving Traffic - Here in WA, it seems like the city planners said one day, "Oh, I think we need an interstate. Oh no! There is no room for one. I guess we will have to make a lot of round entrances and exits. In fact, we will have to make them in the same places." This means you drive in a circle to get off the freeway, and then you have to quickly merge to avoid getting back on AND avoid the cars that are trying to get onto the freeway. It ends up being kind of like a dance where the dancers make an X and just take turns. This ultimately results in people who are actually willing to let you merge, and don't get angry and think you are being a jerk who cuts them off.
• The roads make no sense. Yes, there are numbers that go in order, so that helps, but there are a lot of word streets. This isn't too bad, until you consider that all the roads are curvy. None of them are straight, so you end up not knowing what direction you are driving. Thank goodness we have a little compass in our mirror! It is also hard to navigate because the roads are not connected. I grew up in grid-street-land, and every street can get you to the other street, even if you miss it. In Washington, if you miss the turnoff, you should just turn around and try it again, cuz you are not getting to it any other way. It is ultra annoying when you are in one spot, and you know your destination is only a little ways off, but you can't get to it cuz the road does not connect with it.
• So many highways! One thing is for sure, I will be very good at merging and reading signs after living here. The map I have included doesn't even include all the state highways. Every exit off of the interstate goes onto a highways. It is so weird! One thing for sure, the interstates are lovely with so many trees growing along both sides. However, the roads are so loud! I think they all need to be re-done. They are going to wear our tires down as if I were driving on rocks at 60 mph all day long.
• Sometimes I wonder about the intelligence of Washington drivers. One of the most common signs I have seen on the sides of the interstates, highways, and entrances is a sign that reads: "No Parking: Tow Away Zone." This makes me wonder... How many people stop on the freeway, lock their cars, hop the fence, and go shopping? If they have signs for it, it must have happened.

I hope these things prepare you for driving in Washington. We are having a good time here. Andrew really likes his job at Boeing so far! Hopefully, we'll be able to go hiking this weekend. :)