Like Jenn, I’m always quick to do a comparison of driving styles and circumstances when I arrive in new cities. I find that driving styles reflect the general mood of the populace. In Omaha – deliberate, calculated, thought out. In Pittsburgh – well-meaning, and generally polite, but easily angered at small transgressions. Can’t let a honk go without a response (often resulting in mini honk wars).

Driving in Seattle – laid back. Passive. Reactive. People who have lived here who-knows-how-long pass five signs notifying them of their lane ending, only to merge over at the last second, as if it came out of nowhere. The people cut off by this passive gesture slow down to let them in, not at all phased. More occurrences, and we’ve got heavy traffic.

I’ve been driving during all different times of the day, (7am - 10pm), and I’ve always encountered stand-still traffic. Yeah, it’s a big city – but I think it’s also indicative of that passive attitude. The flipside, though, is that Seattle people have come across as laid back and agreeable. So I’ll put up with the traffic.