It seems to me that no matter what the” powers that be” are
trying to achieve they always create more problems by making new rules. The latest addition to the traffic laws that
I’m aware of is the “if your wipers are on your lights are on” rule. That’s supposed to magically keep us safe at
some level I don’t understand. In truth is
it has just magnified a problem that’s been bugging me for a long, long while.
I think the majority of new
cars have lights that come on automatically when you turn the key. The lights are purple and piercing like laser beams, and what no one
considers is they may have turned the car/truck off with the lights on
high beams. Once again this morning I
had a big, manly truck right on my bumper with his bright lights gouging my
eyes out of their sockets through my rearview mirrors. I adjusted both side mirrors away from my
line of sight….he obviously didn’t notice.
I turned my rearview mirror down….not something he paid any attention
to. Since he was six inches from my
rear bumper you would think he might have seen me adjusting anything shiny to
keep his death rays from cooking my retinas…..but no. This, of course, is at eight o’clock in the
morning. Someone, somewhere did the
math and decided that cars/trucks (the Pok-er) with their lights on at eight in
the a.m. are less likely to crash than those who (the Pok-ee) are plodding along
without lights. Since I am the “pok-ee”
I do not agree. To make matters worse the authorities
created the law that requires everyone to have lights on when it rains,
immediately even the OLD cars are wandering around with their bright lights on in broad daylight. I am
all for safety on the roads, but given the fact that many of today’s cars are equipped
with headlights that can be monitored from a satellite you can see what a
problem it can become if you end up with a truly dedicated tailgater on your
bumper. Rain or shine it can be very uncomfortable.
Another driving hazard we’ve created is the “two lanes turning”
traffic pattern. If you read signs, if
you pay attention, if you have half a brain there is no problem. Obviously the ones who can meet those
standards are not the people I am
meeting at “First Street turning onto Diamond Street as two lanes turn left” in
Mansfield each morning. Two days last
week two different drivers almost side swiped me as we had a four wheeled
disagreement over which lane I was allowed to occupy. Here’s the basic rule if you happen to be one
of the people I am trying to avoid …..Pick a lane AND STAY THE HECK IN IT. Two lanes turning are not meant to converge; you
should never change lanes during a turn, and you are not welcome in my lane at
any time! One woman at least had the
decency to waggle her fingers at me in a concillatory gesture as she barely
missed shearing my driver’s side door off.
I’m assuming it was concillatory ; she was, after all, using all her
fingers.
I confess to being an impatient driver. The more I’m running late the greater the
chances are that I’m going to end up behind some law and order freak doing the
speed limit. However, as I work on my
unbelievably long list of things I need to improve upon I wish the “light
brighters” and the “tail gaters” would work on their own lists before one of
them blinds or runs over me.
Please….dim your lights and watch where you’re going!!!!!!
This has been a public service “suggestion” from the
curmudgeon in the convertible that you nearly
took off the road last week. In an effort to feel safe on the roadway again I have decided to trade my car in on an urban assault vehicle. Green is my favorite color, after all, and the trade in value on these things is pretty good. Oh, and just for the record... I will be using the right lane as we turn left. I suggest you remember that.
In
spite of my traffic rant, LIFE IS GOOD.
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