When driving in Memphis, always be aware of your speed. If you like to drive fast, the cops will jump out of nowhere and you will be wondering where in the world they were hiding. Sometimes they are in store parking lots, apartment complex driveways and I'm sure you can imagine--behind billboards. There used to be certain times of the month that they would be out but lately their presence has been pretty random. There are also cameras attached to the traffic lights on major streets throughout the city. If you run the light, 9 times out of 10, it will catch you. Next thing you know, you will check your mail box and there will be a nice, colorful letter inside of a City of Memphis envelope with several pictures of your car including a close up of your license plate. Depending on how fast you were going, it may be enough to make you cry, or at the very least mumble a few bad words to yourself. They pull people over for dark tint but in my experience they never really give you a ticket for that. But if your driver's license is expired or suspended or your registration hasn't been renewed, you may get a big, fat ticket. Car insurance is mandatory so be mindful of that as well.

There are more car dealerships on Covington Pike than on any other street in Memphis. New or used, luxury or economy, foreign or domestic-- they got you. The two dealerships I've had great service from are Jim Keras and Gossett. I've bought two cars from Keras so I guess you could say they are my favorite. They are great for people on a budget that need a nice car. There are other dealerships throughout the city and I guess you can say the cars here are reasonably priced, for the most part. I mean unless you want to spend $80,000 on a car. I'm balling on a budget so I prefer cars priced under $20,000. My cars usually last three to five years. I've had the one I'm driving now over six years, so I'm definitely getting my money's worth. I don't know of many people that have bought cars online or through Craig's list but from what I hear, you have to be very careful. They robbing and carjacking folks when they come to look at a car so... Yeah, keep that in mind.

Even though my father always says that it's dangerous for me to be out alone, I love driving through Memphis at night. From Monday thru Thursday, after 10 pm, everything seems to slow down. Most people are either at home getting ready for bed or on their way to third shift jobs. I can ride through the city streets, or on the expressway, without being bothered with bumper to bumper traffic. Lord knows I enjoy not having to deal with the people who love to jump in front of me only to go five to ten miles below the speed limit, like I don't have anywhere to be. I usually take these drives when the temperature is in the 70s. I have the windows half way down to allow the cool night air to soothe away the craziness of my day. Sometimes I have the radio on, but most of the time I like it silent so I can hear myself think. Sometimes I drive by old homes that I or one of my loved ones occupied in the past, just to reminisce. Other times I go downtown by the river, pull into a space near the walking trail, and just look out over the Mississippi River.

I240. In the day time Interstate 240 is out of control, but at night it's pretty peaceful. Mostly truck drivers occupy the road after midnight, so I can just ride and think. Sometimes, I let my foot get a little too heavy and I end up floating up to 75 to 80 miles an hour. Of course after a few minutes, I get paranoid and go back down to 55 to 60. Interstate goes all the way around Memphis, which means I get a chance to see areas that I had avoided during rush hour traffic. The city workers are always working on the roads to extend them or re-route them. The best time to see this is when there's no one in the way and I don't have to worry about someone blowing their horn at me because I'm taking my time. No air pollution, no noise pollution, just listening to the sound of the tires meeting the road. It may sound crazy but I even get mesmerized by the street lights and billboards on along the side of the highway. Signs pointing the way to Southwest Tennessee College and the University of Memphis or FedEx Forum and the Bass Pro Shop.

On certain streets, especially ones like Elvis Presley Blvd, take your time and always slow down when the traffic light turns yellow. There are traffic cameras EVERYWHERE! Yes, Memphis is definitely cracking down on illegal driving practices. Especially running red lights. Traffic cameras will record the action, snap a picture, and send a ticket to your house.

Car dealerships in Memphis are never in short supply. There's one on nearly every other corner. However, finding a dealership that's not going to sell you a lemon for an arm and a leg?... that's another story. Everyone in Memphis is either a cook, a hair stylist, or a mechanic so it's fairly different to find the real deal. My advice, if you're going to buy a car in Memphis, is to get it new - not used. Yeah, new cars cost a lot, but they're worth it. Otherwise, you'll pay a little less for a used car and spend more out of pocket getting repairs than you would have paid for the new car, in the long run.

Well, I'm 31 years old and I've only been driving for about two years now. In 2013 I was determined to learn to drive and receive my license. And I did! However, I didn't have a car. For about a year after receiving my license I barely had the chance to drive. I would use my mother-in-law's car every once in a while to run some errands, but the opportunities were few and far between. Finally, after saving up for a while, I was able to purchase my own car! The feeling of driving the streets of Memphis in my own car for the very first time was both thrilling and frightening! But I'll never forget it.

I wouldn't say that I have a favorite road, but I do have specific roads that I take more so than others. Like Noncconah.. I always take the Noncconah route when commuting to and from work. It's near the expressway so most people would rather take it than Noncconah. I find it peaceful with so little traffic. Plus, there aren't any traffic lights so for me it's very convenient. It only takes about three to five minutes from beginning to end, but it's kind of a fun little drive. Lots of curves to go around and the speed limit is 40! You do have to be careful, though, because it's a corporate road and there's always a police patrolling the area.