Driving used to be fun. People followed the rules - usually - and were polite (for the most part).
I do realize I've gotten older, but now it appears that lawlessness is the order of the day. It's not unusual for people to:
- turn left when they have a RED arrow for their turning lane,
- go through red lights - slowly - not even bothering to speed up to "beat" the light,
- make turns from center lanes,
- eat (messy things), read newspapers, shave (normally men), put on make-up, get dressed (yes, I've seen this more than once) and almost anything else you can think of that should have been done at home BEFORE the car was started.
My all time favorite is the newspaper lady who must have been behind schedule because she was diligently folding her papers and inserting them in their clear plastic sleeves while driving.
The best part was she'd somehow attached the packet of sleeves to the driver side sunvisor, making it a simply process to insert each paper after it was folded. However, the sleeves were hanging directly in front of her face - while she was driving!
Can you picture this? She's driving. The sleeves are hanging down from sunvisior which is folded down. She's using one hand (sometimes two) to fold the papers that are apparently sitting in the passenger seat.
What is wrong with this picture?
I'm following her, along with a lot of other vehicles. We're all holding back, giving her a wide berth because she's wandering all over the two lane road. Finally she finishes her folding. She removes the sleeve packet off the visor and speeds off - probably to deliver the papers.
I realize the use of cell phones can be dangerous and that texting is even worse, but what about newspaper folding?
Then there is the total disregard for YIELD signs. Does anyone really know what yield means? One of the various meanings (never have said English is an easy language) is to surrender or relinguish.
In plain words, this means to STOP if there is 1) someone or something in the cross walk, or 2) a vehicle in the lane you would like to merge into.
Where I live, any intersection with a YIELD sign is one to watch out for, because no one stops or even looks.
Doesn't anyone have to follow rules anymore? Don't they test new drivers on what the rules of the road are? Aren't law enforcement officers supposed to give tickets to people who violate the rules of the road?
We've all done stupid things behind the wheel, but normally we are aware of what we've done. If we survive our stupidity we vow we'll be more careful and apply a little common sense and/or follow the rules.
However, now it appears that people no longer fear dying so they just don't care. Not caring about life or limb results in lawlessness on the road.
www.redgage.com/rene
