Nobody knows how to drive in Dallas and the major highways and roads ALWAYS have work on them. I avoid Dallas like the plague unless I just have to go there, usually only for sports games or shows.
When I'm in the UK and in English language mode I guess I would call it soda. I do actually call any type of cola regardless of brand "Coke" though. I guess that's stupid. But not quite as stupid as calling something like Fanta or Sprite Coke.