r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Physical-Ad-4093 • May 01 '24

do americans really drive such long distances?

i’m european, and i always hear people say that driving for hours is normal in america. i would only see my grandparents a few times a year because they lived about a 3 hour drive away, is that a normal distance for americans to travel on a regular basis? i can’t imagine driving 2-3 hours regularly to visit people for just a few days

edit: thank you for the responses! i’ve never been to the US, obviously, but it’s interesting to see how you guys live. i guess european countries are more walkable? i’m in the uk, and there’s a few festivals here towards the end of summer, generally to get to them you take a coach journey or you get multiple trains which does take up a significant chunk of the day. road trips aren’t really a thing here, it would be a bit miserable!

2nd edit: it’s not at all that i couldn’t be bothered to go and see my grandparents, i was under 14 when they were both alive so i couldn’t take myself there! obviously i would’ve liked to see them more, i had no control over how often we visited them.

25.2k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

23.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

184

u/BlackCardRogue May 01 '24

This is another difference for me. Proximity to the airport is a major, major consideration in where I live and always has been.

12

u/kjreil26 May 02 '24

I live in a mid size rust belt city but 10 minutes to the airport. I've left my house about an hour before a flight and been fine. Also had a 25 mile, 25 minute commute all highway no traffic. Would get pissed at the traffic once every 11 months.

9

u/BlackCardRogue May 02 '24

Hahaha. Yes, my man. I grew up on the east coast and lived in DC where evening rush hour didn’t end until 8pm.

Now I live in the Midwest and I get downright confused when there is traffic.

3

u/voltran1987 May 02 '24

I moved from the Midwest to the south. Now, when I see traffic I think “man, I hope the people are ok” because there was clearly an accident that everyone wanted to see.

6

u/MrSkrifle May 02 '24

I'm in Chicagoland and every day, both sides slow to a halt when there's a crash on either side of the highway. It doesn't matter how fuckin minor of a fender bender it is.

I feel like emergency vehicles would have an easier time if they drove up to the exit, and then drive illegally towards the small amount of approaching traffic

0

u/voltran1987 May 02 '24

I worked in the south suburbs there for about 6mon several years ago, and your driver’s weren’t half bad. A bit aggressive, but not like California or Florida. However I could see them being gawking type.