Driving in NJ or What Exit?

[NJspin]

This is a follow up to some of the comments poted about driving in our Fair Garden State. Enjoy:o

Rules for driving in New Jersey:

1. You must first learn to pronounce Newark's name - it is New-erk not New-ark.

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00 a.m. to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on the NJ Turnpike is 85 mph. On the Garden State Parkway it's 105 or 110. Anything less is considered "Wussy."

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Jersey has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, in Monmouth county, SUV-driving, cellphone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in all of Jersey. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, cats, barrels, cones, celebs, rubber-neckers, shredded tires, cell-phoners, deer and other road kill, and the Homeless feeding on any of these items.

9. Mapquest does not work here -- none of the roads are where they say they are or go where they say they do and all the Turnpike EZ pass lanes are moved each night once again to make your ride more exciting.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activate d."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. Do not try to estimate travel time -- just leave Monday afternoon for Tuesday appointments, by noon Thursday for Friday and right after church on Sunday for anything on Monday morning.

[SpinBob]

Fact is stranger than fiction! It's all true, you can't make this stuff up.

[SpinningInPrescott]

This sounds like my old commute in the Bay Area of California as well...now in Prescott, traffic is a non-issue.

The definition of rush hour in Prescott from my mother-in-law:

"I had to wait TWO FREAKING lights to get on Hwy 69 on Friday at 4:00 pm coming off of Sheldon Street. If any more Californians come here it's going to be crazy!!"

Don't miss it at all. In fact, I usually leave at 11:45 for my 12:00 noon class at the Y and get there 10 minutes early...

:) PS

[Pink]

What a riot and, unfortunately, somewhat true. It's a good thing they are slowly but surely getting rid of those traffic circles....boy, they were entertaining!

[sandy]

I still head south when I'm on my bike. Wider shoulders,cleaner (in general) roads. But I'm going through N Jersey towns, not on any major roads.

[Pink]

I still head south when I'm on my bike. Wider shoulders,cleaner (in general) roads. But I'm going through N Jersey towns, not on any major roads.

We bike in Hunterdon County and it is pure bliss.

[JFK]

9. Mapquest does not work here -- none of the roads are where they say they are or go where they say they do and all the Turnpike EZ pass lanes are moved each night once again to make your ride more exciting.

I learned to drive in Boston, so I thought I was prepared...silly me. :rolleyes: One time I flew into Philly to present in Cherry Hill. Was trying to follow Mapquest's directions. Mapquest said highway X ran East/West. So if Mapquest says to go East, what do you do when said road gives you a choice of North/South?

Thank goodness for the nice tolltaker guy who gave me correct directions (he must have felt sorry for me, I went over that big bridge about 5 times...):cool:

[Lewis]

I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if any of you have ever driven in either the UAE or Rome...it makes Jersey seem like a dream...

[Pink]

I learned to drive in Boston, so I thought I was prepared...silly me. :rolleyes: One time I flew into Philly to present in Cherry Hill. Was trying to follow Mapquest's directions. Mapquest said highway X ran East/West. So if Mapquest says to go East, what do you do when said road gives you a choice of North/South?

Thank goodness for the nice tolltaker guy who gave me correct directions (he must have felt sorry for me, I went over that big bridge about 5 times...):cool:

There's a section that I95S & 295N are the same road. :confused:

Lewis, here's a story: I was in Rome when I was about 20 and a local was trying to 'teach' me to cross the road, since the drivers didn't seem phased by the traffic lights. He gave me a newspaper, told me to open in up and read it while crossing the street, ignoring the cars & scooters. :o

[JFK]

I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if any of you have ever driven in either the UAE or Rome...it makes Jersey seem like a dream...

No, but I've driven in Paris and been a pedestrian in Prague, both of which were terrifying and frustrating experiences. The episode in Prague was pre-fall-of Berlin-wall, so the value of life was particularly low. I was nearly run over by an ambulance. :o

[sandy]

I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if any of you have ever driven in either the UAE or Rome...it makes Jersey seem like a dream...

I would have to say yes to Rome and Tuscany. Holy crap, talk about agita! Its enough to make you toss your linguine.

[cfoam4me]

I must confess that although I was born and raised for half my childhood in the great state of North Carolina...I spent the other half (driving years included), in the less than great state of NJ. The benefits that I have from those formative driving years are: No fears of driving anywhere, an innate ability to sense the split instant amount of time it takes for a yellow light to turn red, an even more innate ability to sense it for stop signs and last but not least a desire to drive in the Garden State only when I must. Nuff said!;)

[NJspin]

Is it as bad as driving in Lima, Peru where directionals and hand signals always go the opposite of the way they are turning? Where they stick their heads out of the window and yell when they want to get in your lane? :o I'm going to go out on a limb and ask if any of you have ever driven in either the UAE or Rome...it makes Jersey seem like a dream...

[BFSpin]

Too funny, NJ -

A few years ago, my niece (from Hazlet), got married in Weehauken, with her reception at The Chart House; we were staying at a hotel in Secaucus.

We left Hershey early enough that we had time to check in at our hotel before heading to the wedding. Or so we thought. For better than an hour we circled and circled the highway trying to get to our hotel (of which we had a great visual). Just couldn't get to that side of the highway, no matter what exit (ramp?? a NJ version of a ramp is a sudden dump-off at 65mph + with a teeny tiny sign pointing the way).

Finally we stopped at a hotel that we could actually get to and asked for directions. They had pre-printed directions on how to get to the hotel on the other side of the highway. Hmmmmmmm. . . . . . :rolleyes:

It was a Great Adventure.

Beth

[AC]

I've recommended that we change the nickname from "The Garden State" to "The Pullout State" since you just pull out into the road whenever you like.

Conversely, when expressing feelings for another driver, we just extend the middle finger, flip the other guy off, and keep it moving.

[Julibird]

I've recommended that we change the nickname from "The Garden State" to "The Pullout State" since you just pull out into the road whenever you like.

Conversely, when expressing feelings for another driver, we just extend the middle finger, flip the other guy off, and keep it moving.

Kinda makes me want to move there - because in my town (largest city in Vacationland), when you do the random pull-out, or bird-flip, 9 times out of 10, your victim will turn out to be your kid's teacher, the guy filling out your prescription, or someone that you will see six more times in your neighborhood.

[SaraSpin]

Driving in London, opposite side of the road and car, while trying to figure out how to shift AND which way to go around a traffic circle. I'm surprised that DH and I are still alive and still married!

I learned how to drive in New Jersey so nothing phases me anymore.