1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name , it is: “FEE-NICKS”.
2. The morning rush hour is from 5 am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7 pm. Friday’s rush hour starts on Thursday morning.
3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On Loop 101, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered “Wussy”!
4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Phoenix 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, East Valley, SUV-driving, cell phone 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 Phoenix. 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, barrels, cones, cows, horses, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, squirrels, rabbits, crows, vultures, javelinas, roadrunners, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.
9. Maricopa Freeway, Papago Freeway and the “I-10″ are the same road.
SR202 is the same road as the Red Mountain FWY. Dunlap and Olive are the same street too. Jefferson becomes Washington, but they are not the same street.
I-17 is also called the Black Canyon Freeway as well as the Veterans Memorial Highway.
And if all that is not enough to remember, SR 51 has recently been renamed to Piestwa Freeway, because Squaw peak Parkway was too easy to pronounce.
Lastly, Thunderbird Rd. becomes Cactus Rd, but Cactus Rd does not become Thunderbird Rd., because it dead ends at a mountain.
10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been “accidentally activated”.
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 will be shot.
12. For summer driving, it’s advisable to wear potholders on your hands.
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December 22nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far.
March 4th, 2011 at 1:26 am
I am so glad I discovered this site! I can’t remember when I’ve had so many laughs in such a short time.
Actually, a lot of these directions apply here in the Atlanta GA area.
Road construction is an on-going thing, but I never realized the entertainment value associated with it.
Phoenix has us beat in the hazards dept. All we’ve had is a bear and a pig.
You say, “Cactus Rd does not become Thunderbird Rd. because it dead ends at a mountain.” Now that is a dead end!