Warmer weather brings out the jaywalkers. I can't drive through town without dodging a gang of backpack-laden middle schoolers, running across four lanes of traffic, headed to Starbucks or an ice cream shop. I'm sure they think they're cool, walking from school to the center of town, without adult supervision. However, it would be cooler if their parents or teachers taught them how to use a crosswalk. We need a Safety Town for Teens!
And since when is it okay to open your car door into moving traffic? I'm talking about when people parallel park along city streets and then just willy nilly open their car doors to get in or out. This seems to be a recent development in human rudeness. Most folks know to HURRY and get in or out while the light is red and there are no cars coming. In the past month, I think I've had to brake a dozen times to avoid knocking someone's door off their vehicle and commit vehicular homicide.
Many people need to re-read their Bureau of Motor Vehicles learner's permit handbook and brush up on the rules of the road. Do not pull over for funeral processions. Do not stop for a school bus if you are on the other side of a four lane road, especially if there is a barrier! Do not beep at me if I'm in a middle turning lane and the light is red. Right on red is for curb lanes only in this state.
That is all.
Those suddenly-opened doors into the traffic lane are even more fun when you're on a bike. . .
ReplyDeleteAnd, living near a college town, that jay-walking thing is just normal daily life. The university is separated from the town by a six-lane boulevard, and the students treat it virtually like a game of chicken. . .
I admit, I'm not all the way up-to-speed on the school bus thing; I think I'm only required to stop if the bus has its lights flashing, or the little flip-out stop sign is deployed. Not sure what the opposing traffic is required to do, but I'm pretty sure we don't have to stop if there's a barrier. . .
And we're allowed to turn left on red from a one-way to a one-way (as you say, curb lanes); but people routinely treat it as 'go ahead when the traffic clears'. . .
I also attended an urban campus that had major traffic arteries running through it. It was a pain getting to class because there were no lights and no rules back then about stopping for people in crosswalks. Since then, they closed off most of the roads running through campus, making it more of a 'campus.' I envy those kids now.
DeleteIt seems driving skills are eroding--along with most other people skills. I can't believe some of the things I see drivers doing. It's like Mad Max out there. I'm glad I can take public transportation.
ReplyDeleteThe one year I didn't have a car was one of the best years of my life!
DeleteThose door idiots need their door taken off to wise them up. I can see running across the road if there is no crosswalk around, but most I watch run across are only 50 ft from the crosswalk and they still expect you to stop..pppffft. Not sure I'd ever run across a four lane road though, that's asking to get hit.
ReplyDeleteYes, people are too lazy to walk a few yards to a crosswalk here!
DeletePeople pull over for funeral processions here. I had never seen that before.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing one person does it, and then everyone else panics because they are then unsure what to do, so they follow suit.
DeleteThank you for sharing this post because when I still had a car and drove, it used to drive me crazy what some people would do!
ReplyDelete"And since when is it okay to open your car door into moving traffic?"
Yes! And not only is it idiotic, but it's also very dangerous.
Now I will admit that I'm guilty of jay-walking. But I live in city, where it's one-way traffic on the streets, so it's easy to cross in the center of the street. Yet still, I know it's not the smartest or safest thing to do.
Thanks for the reminder :)
X
I guess I can understand jaywalking if it's a one way street. Just don't dodge out between parked cars!
DeleteFortunately, when the college students leave for the summer here, we have fewer of the driving frustrations that you describe. The car door thing in town drives me nuts as well. It is as if some people exist only in there little world. Argh!
ReplyDeleteI agree . . . People seem to be in their own world (and on their phone!)
DeleteThe bus thing does sorta freak me out because one time years I turned right out of our apartment complex and got stern honking by the bus driver across the street. I was wrong, as it was only a two lane road, so maybe I'm more cautious now. lol
ReplyDeleteI don't pull over for funeral processions, although while in one recently I continued thru a red light at a major intersection to stay with the other cars and not get lost. You're not supposed to, although sometimes depending on the road and what the other drivers do, processions do go thru lights.
At least here, you are supposed to go through red lights to stay in a funeral procession. Everyone else has to yield, but not pull over!
DeleteI have to confess, I make right turns from non-curbside lanes on occasion - there's one freeway offramp in particular where this happens. But a lot of others do, too. I'm not even sure if it's legal or not here in Washington state. Guess I should look into that, huh?
ReplyDeleteIt may be legal there. I've looked into it here and it doesn't seem to be legal due to the fact that the only places where there are multiple turning lanes are heavy traffic intersections (like at a mall). It stresses me out to get beeped at!
DeleteBoth pedestrians and motorists do idiotic things all the time. And doubtless that includes me. My golden rule when driving is always to expect the unexpected and always to look ahead for danger-signs. My pet hate is drivers who cut in to my lane with no warning.
ReplyDeleteI'm a defensive driver, too. A lot of driver's ed tips have stuck with me for decades.
DeleteI think it is for the things you listed here that I am glad I work at home and hardly ever drive personally. I make hubby do all the driving too when we travel. I think it is safer that way for all parties involved :)
ReplyDeleteMy biggest gripe, which happened more where we used to live, was the kids sauntering across the street, never quite making it to the other side before the light turned red for them, green for us, and you had to wait until they finished sauntering before you could go. This of course while they were looking down at their phones texting.
betty
Having a chauffeur would be nice, although I can't imagine not driving. That's funny that you describe the kids sauntering there. I feel like kids are darting in and out of traffic here.
DeleteMy sister lives in Chicago and bikes to work sometimes. Cyclists are injured on a regular basis by people parallel parking and swinging open their doors without looking for bikes.
ReplyDeleteI rarely bike on main roads, but now I will be vigilant about riding near parked cars anywhere!
DeleteWe can turn right on red in any turning lane here. I had assumed that was true in all states, so I'd probably be one of those people beeping at you if you were sitting there!
ReplyDeleteIn general, I try to be safe and watch always before opening my door. But I am definitely a jaywalker. I don't dash out in front of cars, but I do cross the street in places other than the cross walk all the time.
I'm glad we live in different states . . . joking! XO
Delete:)
DeleteJust finished a cross-country drive with the in-laws. Pop-in-law does each and every one of these and more. The thing that hit Queenie and I the most is that his/their generation (and sometimes ours) blames 'kids' for all these woes but in every case of ignorant driving we witnessed on the drive every single one was from folks in the In-laws' generation. Every. SingleOne. Oh, except the street crossing thing, that's on every generation can 'agree' to ignore.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm still alive to tell the tale .... eventually. Now back to work.
Yes, it does seem like it's the senior citizens who are not following the rules. Yesterday, I saw an old lady with a cane jaywalking in front of the police station! Nervy old broad!
DeleteBetter yet, the same oldsters that (lie and) claim following generations have no manners, are uneducated, etc I find to be the worst of the bunch. I can hold doors, defer position in line, give up my seat for, whatever and 7 out of 10 will just take it and go. Please, thank you, excuse me seem to not exist in whatever dimension a lot of 'em live in.
DeleteWith our generation I'd say maybe 60/40 and with youngers maybe a bit better than 50/50. Seems as people age they start blaming others for their rudeness while ratcheting up personal rudeness. Or so it seems.
Interesting observation.
DeleteBe safe and don't let what others do get your blood pressure up (something that I still struggle with but do fairly good as long as I stay out of urban areas)
ReplyDeleteI'm already on meds, trust me!
DeleteOh man. Don't get me started on bad drivers. It is ridiculous. And it is pretty scary how clueless some drivers are. It always amazes. And yes, rudeness has taken on a life of its own and has definitely spilled over into driving. Makes me crazy!!!
ReplyDeleteI am seriously dodging jaywalkers a couple of times per day now. It's freaking me out how reckless people have become.
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