Atlantacitizen, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
He sped off like an ambulance headed to an emergency. Within minutes of his highway entrance, traffic halted. He surveyed the dozens of vehicles ahead of them. “Damn … this Atlanta traffic!”
-Myron, “Choice of a Lifetime” by Pamela Jones
Ask me one thing I hate to do in Atlanta. I’ll tell you quickly, “I hate to drive.” I’ll further tell you I only drive out of necessity, not pleasure. If you are curious why I loathe driving, I’ll say, “It’s the traffic.” There are a variety of reasons behind this answer, though. Some of it even goes beyond traffic congestion.
Allow me to explain Atlanta’s traffic, particularly for those who don’t live here. You’ll probably bob your heads in agreement for readers who live here. It is, after all, a shared frustration that unites us while navigating these congested metro Atlanta streets.
First, I’m grateful to have a driver’s license and vehicle. Without these essentials, the transport alternatives are ride-sharing and public transportation. In the long run, these two transport modes are expensive or unreliable. For these reasons, a license and a private vehicle are the best choice. The trade-off, however, means dealing with Atlanta’s traffic congestion, which only worsens by the hour.
Traffic is horrendous in other cities. However, I’m making a point with Atlanta because I reside here. You might be unfortunate to experience similar traffic in your city or town. If you don’t, then by all means, consider yourself lucky!
Traffic in Atlanta: Hell Yeah, It’s Bad!
The following reasons are precisely what make the traffic in Atlanta torturous:
As Atlanta grew in population, so did its traffic. People realized that living here meant needing wheels to get around town. As a result, Atlanta now has morning and evening rush hours.
The morning rush hour is from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. People en route to work, school, appointments, etc., contribute to this heaviness. Evening rush hour is also rough. Its peak time is 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., when People are headed home from sporting events, dinner, etc. There is heavy traffic late at night as well. So, no matter the time, the current traffic conditions in metro Atlanta will be bad.
People self-create driving rules by not signaling, braking nonstop, and speeding, particularly in heavy rain. They act like they’re auditioning for the next “Fast & Furious.” These actions baffle me. I scratch my head because most metro Atlanta drivers have nice vehicles. I’m sure they have hefty vehicle payments, too (I nearly fell on the floor when my sister told me her new vehicle’s payment was over $600 five years ago). So, considering drivers pay sky-high prices for vehicles, why would they be risky drivers? Even if your car is paid off, who wants to go into debt for another vehicle because of reckless behavior – especially now?
These risky drivers often create an Atlanta traffic jam via an accident. Don’t believe me? Turn on the local news. You’ll hear, “Breaking news: I-75 (or I-20, I-85, or I-285) has shut down due to an accident.” And now traffic will be backed up for miles, sometimes hours.
Construction zones also create bad Atlanta traffic. Be bad if you want to, and speed through it! If you do, you’ll get fined as much as $2,000. This incident is considered a high-level misdemeanor. So don’t act like a fool!
Sadly, countless people face mental health issues. In Georgia, if you’re 21 or older, carrying a weapon in your vehicle with or without a permit is legal. Put these factors together with driving, and you have drivers committing road rage.
On the other hand, some road rage incidents are committed by lowlifes. Remember when drivers used to wave their fists, flip their middle finger, or curse at you for cutting them off? Those mild-tempered days are gone. Times have worsened.
I’ll never forget the time I witnessed a young man stick his head out the window and yell at a nearby driver, “Hey, I’ll *f* you up!” The innocent driver, who looked older, obviously didn’t hear the threat. He instead looked ahead as the lowlife threatened him again. Fortunately, the light changed without any incident. This was twenty years ago. These days, such a dangerous person wouldn’t just make this threat; he’d carry it out!
These same lowlifes sometimes decide they want to be mischievous and engage in a joyride. Thus begins a speed chase. And let’s not forget the heavy drinkers who suddenly want to drive. That creates a DUI. Both of these selfish, reckless incidents create traffic jams. Too many times, it leads to something worse: death.
And I mustn’t forget driving scams. You have to be careful of these situations. I once had a driver – a senior citizen! – claimed I hit him and caused him back pain. He even got an attorney. Fortunately, the insurance company could see through his scam and didn’t pay him.
Given all the above situations, you’re blessed to reach your destination safely. You might, however, feel as exhausted as having worked a grueling eight-hour workday!
Atlanta Traffic: Yesteryear and Now
I haven’t always felt this way about driving. In my younger years, I loved to drive. It was a pleasure and the perfect way to clear my mind.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Atlanta families took Sunday afternoon drives. It was a pleasant, inexpensive way to ease boredom and explore the city. Best of all, it provided an excellent opportunity to share some family time. I enjoyed many rides like this with my family.
These golden days are gone. The pleasure of driving is gone. In its place are traffic jams—a traffic crisis.
However, I don’t want to end on a despairing note. We can’t. We must face Atlanta’s traffic today for what it is: reality. That’s right. As much as I hate Atlanta’s traffic, it’s here to stay.
And we have to keep driving in it. We all have places to go: appointments, work, school, church, etc. Life continues, and heavy traffic is just a part of it now.
How to Deal with Atlanta’s Traffic: Strategies for Coping
Since you can’t avoid Atlanta’s bad traffic, here’s a tip to navigate driving in it:
Use a traffic app such as 511 Georgia, Waze, or WSB Triple Team Traffic. These applications provide up-to-date information on accidents, road construction, and real-time traffic.
Some residents park their vehicles and take public transportation. Please note, however, that its operational hours and geography are limited. This limitation is the main reason most Atlantans drive their vehicles.
So, how do I deal with Atlanta’s nightmarish traffic? I pray for a safe journey before leaving home. Some people prefer to meditate. It’s your preference what you do. It helps, however, to engage in some spiritual practice before driving these congested Atlanta streets.
Hopefully, traffic in Atlanta will improve someday. It would be miraculous to see drivers responsible and compassionate towards one another. It would be great if driving were no longer dreadful but pleasurable again, and you could reach your destination in less than an hour rather than one or two hours later. Let’s all hope that these days will eventually become normal in Atlanta.
Keep the hope, Atlanta!
