IronTiger Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 It's no lie that I've been to Houston many, many times in the last 5+ years, and saw many things, went to different neighborhoods, Inner Loop, Outer Loop, and suburbia. I've been a co-pilot and a navigator, but I have a confession to make. I've never actually driven in Houston myself, as in, got my hands on the wheel, and experienced the thrill of the freeway system myself. I've driven in College Station myself, even in aggravating Bryan rush hour traffic (land of the poorly timed stoplights), of course I've used highways, and driving several years without accidents. In the next month or so, I will embark on a solo quest to take on Houston's highways as I navigate from the Great Northwest to Pearland. Problem is, I am kind of nervous about doing such a quest as Houston's drivers are substantially more aggressive than what I'm used to. The best advice I could give myself is to go the speed the rest of the traffic is going, not at the posted speed limit (posted speed limit rarely tops 65, and I sure as heck know that almost everyone goes faster than that). Anyone have some advice I could use about driving in Houston and not getting in a wreck and/or pissing others off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 If you're gonna get in the left lane you better be sure you're going their speed or at least get out if the way when you're done passing because Houston drivers don't forgive. Id just avoid it if at all possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Try on a weekend, weekday rush hour seems to get longer and longer, and stay far away from 290. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Maintain a safe following distance between you and the car in front of you. People will slam their brakes on the freeway for seemingly no reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Take backroads! You'll see tons more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Take backroads! You'll see tons more! That's the best advice. If you really want to experience the freeways maybe take them one way and take a backroad tour going back, or vice-versa. Biggest problem I can think of is the shortness of the merge on some of the onramps. Make sure you are up to speed, or maybe a little faster, when entering the highways. Bring a gps for the backroads tour. If you want to plan your trip out in detail, you can also look things over on google streetview so you are aware of the places where you have to move quick to get on the freeway and then cross lanes immediately so you can get where you are going. Don't worry too much about pissing other drivers off, that's normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 To be honest, I was considering taking Hempstead Road past the Beltway, if for nothing else to avoid the 610/290 interchange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 To be honest, I was considering taking Hempstead Road past the Beltway, if for nothing else to avoid the 610/290 interchange. I haven't been on the stretch of 290 from Eldridge to the 610/290 interchange in quite a while so I don't know what construction is going on there, but that interchange isn't too bad in my opinion, especially coming in from 290. It's wide and well marked in that direction. I always have the most fun on 59 from about Kirby to the 59/45 connector where there always seems to be a lot of traffic and there's a lot of merging and lane changing going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 JLWM's advice about following distance is definitely tops on my list. Especially in heavy traffic maintaining proper distance (you can determine that with experience but generally the greater the better) avoids having to do the accelerator/brake pedal tap dance which makes the whole ordeal less tiring and is more merciful to your car. On a three-lane freeway I stay in the middle lane and go with the flow of traffic no matter what the speed. I always "let" other drivers into the lane ahead of me and just re-establish the following distance I have determined is best. If it sounds like I'm some kind of milque-toast I assure you that I am not. I've accumulated my share of speeding tickets over the past 38 years and I have no problem "dropping the hammer" on the open road. All law-enforcement folks please ignore that last statement. Thank you. Put it this way: Speed/Following Distance = Safety Factor. Increase the following distance and you increase the safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaderJF Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Don't be slow, especially in roads like westheimer where people drive almost double the speed limit.Speed up on the left lane or move.Last night on 59 lots of cars were existing from multiple entrances and driving in the construction zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Use the left lane only for passing. Use your signals when changing lanes. There's really nothing special about it if you follow those and other rules of the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Do not be surprised or annoyed by people passing on the right and not using signals. This is Houston, not Europe. I also agree with the advice on leaving enough room ahead. Also, if at all possible, try to look beyond the vehicle in front of you, including what's going on in adjacent lanes. Or you can take FM 359 from Hempstead down to Richmond, and then 59 to get back onto 6 for the last bit into Pearland. Taking 6 all the way down and around is not for the faint of heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I hope you watch a lot of NASCAR because if you are ever trying to get from I-10 to 290 then you will have to master the art of traversing 5-6 lanes of traffic in the span of 15secs while dodging speedy cars as if you were on an enormous race track Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Luminaire's comment reminds me that the noobs really ought to avoid the shoulder times - say, between 9 and 10 in the morning and around 3 in the afternoon. That's when it's heavy, but also fast. Such conditions call for superior Traffic Ninja skills, Grasshopper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Just keep up with the traffic in front of you. There will always be one jerk that tailgates you even during heavy traffic when there is no place for anyone to go. Just ignore them. Also get used to people more concerned about whats happening on their cell phone then navigating traffic. if you don't already have one get a toll-road sticker. Best way to avoid freeway construction. The Grand Parkway is wonderful and will be better when it connects from 59 to 45. Lastly go to Austin and drive around for a while. It will make you appreciate our traffic more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Use the left lane only for passing. Use your signals when changing lanes. There's really nothing special about it if you follow those and other rules of the road.Not only that, but always try to keep passing the cars to your right. Each lane to the left should be passing the cars on their right. When this doesn't happen, and you get two or more cars just driving in a single line, creates traffic. Follow those rules, as well as the distance rule and you will be fine. If people would keep proper distances when driving, then cars merging onto the freeway, or needing to change lanes can do so without a problem. Not to mention it makes rush hour traffic easier if you just let your car roll and slightly accelerate when needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 To be honest, I was considering taking Hempstead Road past the Beltway, if for nothing else to avoid the 610/290 interchange.This might be a bad idea as it is very confusing to get on 610 from Hempstead once your each this area. On the other hand you could continue straight on Hempstead thru 610, and go under the railroad bridge/Old Katy then take a right onto I10, from which you can easily get onto 610South. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Hmm...I was just thinking. If you decide to do back roads you could do Hempstead --> Washington/Franklin --> La Branch --> Texas/Harrisburg --> Lockwood --> Telephone (35) if you're going to east Pearland. West Pearland, you could do Hempstead --> Washington/Franklin --> La Branch --> Alabama --> Crawford/Almeda. Those would be what I'd consider "Houston scenic." Unless you're trying to bee-line it to Pearland, in which case just stay in the middle lanes of 290-610-288 and drive defensively (but it might take you just as long) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 I was thinking NW Freeway -> Hempstead Road -> Post Oak Road (at Northwest Mall) -> SB 610 Loop -> Merge into 610 in Uptown -> Keep on 610 until 288 -> Get off at desired exit in Pearland. I'd love to get a toll tag but right now I'm not sure I'll even live in Texas next year. I'd love to get a job in Houston though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pragmatist Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Trust me, IronTiger, that's going to take you 20 minutes longer. You shouldn't have an issue with the interchange since you will be in one of the 3 left lanes on 290 that become the left lanes of southbound 610. These lanes don't really back up that badly outside of rush hour. Then you just stay on 610 until you hit 288. The 610/290 interchange isn't too tricky unless you're going from I-10 onto 290 as someone else mentioned. Of course, it all depends on the time of day (for traffic reasons) and if TxDOT has the interchange shut down (as they may during weekend nights). Just don't sit in the left-hand lane unless you're passing; though you'll see a bunch of people doing this, aggravating others on the road. As you approach 59 on 610, be in the second lane from the left, lest you run into the gridlock nightmare that is the 610/59 interchange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Or 290 to 610 to 10 east to 288 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted August 26, 2014 Author Share Posted August 26, 2014 Well, it would be probably slower to take Hempstead Road if it's not rush hour, but I can see the sights and take a break from freeway driving for a bit. The goal isn't necessarily to get there as fast as possible, Or 290 to 610 to 10 east to 288 10 East doesn't even go to 288 directly, and I'm not going to downtown if I'm going to Pearland, especially if I'm coming from out of town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Hmm...I was just thinking. If you decide to do back roads you could do Hempstead --> Washington/Franklin --> La Branch --> Texas/Harrisburg --> Lockwood --> Telephone (35) if you're going to east Pearland. West Pearland, you could do Hempstead --> Washington/Franklin --> La Branch --> Alabama --> Crawford/Almeda. Those would be what I'd consider "Houston scenic." Unless you're trying to bee-line it to Pearland, in which case just stay in the middle lanes of 290-610-288 and drive defensively (but it might take you just as long) Until about 25 years ago that is very close to the route my aunt took when she drove her husband from their house near Clay Road to his job at Texas Southern University (He didn't drive due to a medical condition). She absolutely refused to drive on the freeways but never complained about her travels on the surface streets of Houston. Truth be known they weren't very solid financially (though a better person than my late aunt you would never meet) and some of the automobiles they owned were best kept off the freeways anyway. Auntie passed away in 1989 so she did not see the steady growth of this city over the last quarter century but I doubt it would have fazed her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Or 290 to 610 to 10 east to 288 Say what?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolaboy Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Or 290 to 610 to 10 east to 288 Say what?? I think he meant 610 east?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I think he meant 610 east??You have to go on 610 for a short time before you hit 10, then you take 10 east to downtown, then 45 to 288 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 You have to go on 610 for a short time before you hit 10, then you take 10 east to downtown, then 45 to 288 Drive much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolaboy Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I think he meant 610 east?? You have to go on 610 for a short time before you hit 10, then you take 10 east to downtown, then 45 to 288 610 north for a short time to 610 east to 610 south to 610 west to 288 also works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Drive much?No. My relatives live in jersey village so I remember that route fondly as we went a lot when I was younger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 You have to go on 610 for a short time before you hit 10, then you take 10 east to downtown, then 45 to 288 Alternatively, you can take I-10 E to US 59 S, and then 59 S to 288 when I-45 S is backed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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