What Great People in This State!

[Dennis1209]

Let me preface this by saying I spent most of my life around the St. Louis Metro area. I've been to many countries and U.S. states, most states have been North of the Mason-Dixon line. I moved here roughly three years ago. Since retiring here in Tennessee, my driving mileage has dropped from about 12,000 miles per year, to about 2,000. In other words, I don't drive a whole lot anymore.

Since moving here, for the second time, I was driving on Highway 79 on my way to purchase some .223 ammo, and all of a sudden... Breaks lights and every swinging Peter, Paul and Mary was pulling over to the side of the highway. Not knowing what was happening, I also pulled over to the side of the road to wait.

Momentarily a Hersh and limousine followed by many cars with their head lights on was passing by the other direction. What beautiful respect and compassion! It made my heart swell...

Where I came from if you disrupted the flow of traffic, even for a funeral, one handed birds would be flying everywhere and crazies developing road rage and cutting the funeral procession off!

If this is a Southern tradition... I like it and gives me one more reason to be proud I'm now a Tennessean!

Would there be any more wonderful traditions / gestures a newer resident might not be aware of?

[dralarms]

And to top it off, its not even the law. We do it out of respect.

[Wingshooter]

I recently attended at funeral in MD, I had to do some aggressive driving just to stay in the procession without getting cut off. I do love the South. Welcome to TN!

Other things I like... people tend to move over to the left when you are merging on a highway. Also, people move over to the left if able when passing a vehicle on the shoulder (actually the law now I think). That didn't always happen when I lived up North.

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Edited September 1, 2012 by Batman

[gregintenn]

Sir, We also take off our hats when a funeral procession passes, as well as for the singing of the National Anthem.

[Dennis1209]

I recently attended at funeral in MD, I had to do some aggressive driving just to stay in the procession without getting cut off. I do love the South. Welcome to TN!

Other things I like... people tend to move over to the left when you are merging on a highway. Also, people move over to the left if able when passing a vehicle on the shoulder (actually the law now I think). That didn't always happen when I lived up North.

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I've noticed most folks down here are more courteous driving too.

It's sad that you have to pass a law to regulate common sense safety and courtesy to a fellow motorist broken down on the side of the road, much less LE.

After all, if it was you broken down on the side of the highway, say changing a flat tire, how pleasant is it with other trucks / cars blasting by at 65+ miles per hour, three feet from your vehicle? The wind blast alone is enough to destabilize your vehicle jack.

But as you mentioned, it's much worse up North for some reason.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

That's why it's now the "Great State of Tennessee, instead of the "Three States of Tennessee", Dennis.

Y'all remember that?

[Guest sL1k]

I thought they did this everywhere. I do it Everytime.

[nightrunner]

I thought they did this everywhere. I do it Everytime.

This. I always thought it was common courtesy.

Anybody remember when it happened in Smokey and the Bandit? Buford didnt want to stop but it was like he didnt have a choice.

[dralarms]

I almost got run over last month in ky. I stopped but no one else was planning to.

[hornett22]

Always just seemed like common sense to me.

[daddyo]

This is commonplace in RURAL Tennessee at least. Don't know about the urban areas.

Just be sure you watch out for 20 and 30 something females driving big honkin' SUVs while yakkin' on their cell phones. They're dangerous.

[enfield]

What I've noticed is a lot more people pull over for a funeral procession than pull over to let an ambulance pass. Makes you wonder . . . .

[Caster]

What part of Tn are you in? I'm surrounded by idiots and ay-holes.

[gnmwilliams]

What part of Tn are you in? I'm surrounded by idiots and ay-holes.

This. Cause I just laughed when I read that Knoxville made it into the 4 safest cities for driving in the country. Don't know what they were smokin when they reviewed us but Knoxville is not what I would consider safe. And I learned how to drive in Memphis so there's my frame of reference for ya.

[Guest Spurhunter]

I had a lady honk her horn like crazy as she swerved around me for stopping last week. Crazy peeps, I didnt think to check where her tag was from on her SUV.

[gregintenn]

What part of Tn are you in? I'm surrounded by idiots and ay-holes.

LOL. I was a part of a funeral procession yesterday. We were on Vietnam Veteran's Parkway. I'll admit I'm a hillbilly, and do not know the proper etiquette for a city funeral procession. Anyway, as we passed an entrance ramp, there was a car entering, so I got over a lane. When the car got on and by me, I pulled back into the lane with the rest of the procession. The guy behind me, who was also part of the procession, laid on his horn and shot me a bird. I thought about confronting him all the way to the gravesite, but decided not to cause a disturbance at a good man's funeral. There are indeed a-holes among us.

[quietguy]

What part of Tn are you in? I'm surrounded by idiots and ay-holes.

Well, you are down there amongst those self-important Williamson County residents. They just can't be bothered by the inconvenience of anybody (dead, injured, or otherwise) getting between them and Whole Foods.

[Gun Smith]

Sadly, some cities are no longer allow their police officers to escort funeral processions because of the liability.