Tulsa Drivers

[Rookie Okie]

Tulsa drivers probably aren't that bad, just overly distracted.  Arterial streets and roads throughout most of town are in such bad shape that one must pay equal attention to navigating the traffic as well as road surfaces.  Ignoring either may put you and/or others in serious peril.

[Ginsberg]

I've never posted on these forums before, but had to delurk (shout out 1990s!) to post on this topic.  My pet peeve about Tulsa Drivers is that apparently none of them know how to properly navigate a four way stop. When a traffic light is out the intersection becomes a free-for-all zone and I end up loudly lecturing all the other drivers (in my head).

[Ed W]

Welcome to the nuthouse!

I believe the law in OK is FIFO- first in first out - but a friend insisted that motorists should take turns in a clockwise direction. In practice, the oldest, most beat up car gets priority 'cause it isn't worth the front clip on your Honda and the driver has neither license nor insurance.

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[Ibanez]

I've never posted on these forums before, but had to delurk (shout out 1990s!) to post on this topic.  My pet peeve about Tulsa Drivers is that apparently none of them know how to properly navigate a four way stop. When a traffic light is out the intersection becomes a free-for-all zone and I end up loudly lecturing all the other drivers (in my head).

Wait until you encounter some trying to figure out a traffic circle/roundabout.

[Red Arrow]

I believe the law in OK is FIFO- first in first out - but a friend insisted that motorists should take turns in a clockwise direction. In practice, the oldest, most beat up car gets priority 'cause it isn't worth the front clip on your Honda and the driver has neither license nor insurance.

I believe that FIFO is correct but absent other circumstances, the person on "your" right has the right of way which would lead to counterclockwise rotation.  That mode would prohibit cars on the same street traveling in opposite directions from crossing the intersection at the same time.  What a time waster that would be.

[Red Arrow]

Wait until you encounter some trying to figure out a traffic circle/roundabout.

Traffic circles and roundabouts are not the same traffic rules.  Roundabouts work better since the traffic in the round part have the right of way.

[Hoss]

Traffic circles and roundabouts are not the same traffic rules.  Roundabouts work better since the traffic in the round part have the right of way.

So technically, that makes the 'traffic circle' at Admiral & Mingo a roundabout.  That explains why visitors who try to navigate it drive like idiots.  Makes it worse on weekends because most are visitors to that area when they go to the damned flea market.

[TheTed]

Four-ways in Tulsa are the worst. It's like people don't understand that more than one car can proceed at a time. At a four-lane, four cars should be going simultaneously, or as close to simultaneously as possible if somebody's turning.

At the lesser-traveled four-ways, they take that 'complete stop' nonsense seriously. Slow down to like 2mph, make sure nobody's there, and proceed. Don't stop and wait for 9 seconds despite a total lack of any other people around.

[Red Arrow]

At the lesser-traveled four-ways, they take that 'complete stop' nonsense seriously. Slow down to like 2mph, make sure nobody's there, and proceed. Don't stop and wait for 9 seconds despite a total lack of any other people around.

I'm going to have to disagree about the complete stop.  It's not a safety issue, just a financial one.  I don't feel like checking for a revenue generator police officer at every stop sign.  I come to a complete stop while looking in my mirror for you.  Then it is a habit and I don't need to look for anything except traffic.  I don't stay stopped more than a few (maybe 1 to 3) seconds if the path is clear.

One of my neighbors got a ticket a few months ago for the very action you recommend.  He didn't deny doing a "rolling stop".  He just complained about the ticket.

[Ginsberg]

Thanks for the welcome Ed! I agree with the first in first out on a low traffic 4 way stop. What I am talking about is an example like when it's 5:05 and the traffic lights at say 11th & Denver are out. In that situation the counter-clockwise 1 car at a time (2 at a time going the same direction) should be happening - not 4 lanes of both N & S or E & W drivers - and definitely not just a go for it when you think you can do it without getting hit. Keep it nice and tidy people!  The degree to which this annoys me reminds me that I have officially become the cranky old lady I used to roll my eyes at. ;-) As for traffic circles, I never encounter them - unless you count the intersection at 11th & Elgin where the City of Tulsa found reason to post every traffic sign ever invented.  Seriously - have you counted them?!

[AquaMan]

I just drove 12 hours to northern Minnesota. Only a few scary moments with selfish, stupid drivers and guess what? Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas plates. The most egregious was a little sub compact that was trying to bully a 53' long tractor trailer. The little white car refused to move out of the fast lane. Huge ego, small car...you guessed it....Texas plates!

I forgot how really warm and friendly these people are up here and how good the roads are.

[Red Arrow]

In that situation the counter-clockwise 1 car at a time (2 at a time going the same direction) should be happening - not 4 lanes of both N & S or E & W drivers -

Why do you propose to cut the traffic flow in half?

[guido911]

I see that Tulsa drivers have already begun to panic over the upcoming weather disaster. Even the oil change place I passed had a line 5 cars deep. Should I even bother venturing the 1/2 mile Braums?

[Hoss]

I see that Tulsa drivers have already begun to panic over the upcoming weather disaster. Even the oil change place I passed had a line 5 cars deep. Should I even bother venturing the 1/2 mile Braums?

Warehouse market at 11/Garnett wasn't too bad; neither was the Braum's across the street.  This WHM actually had more groceries than any of the Reasor's I've seen.

But yeah; the bad driving started around noon.

[guido911]

I am heading out into, pray for me...