Grrrrrrrrrrrrr Traffic Woes
Traffic has been bad, lots of road construction going on in hopes that once finished we’ll have less traffic jams near the major shopping area. Add Christmas shopping, (glad I do much of mine online) rush hour traffic, and I do all I can to avoid that area of town.
I knew something was wrong when I pull out of my subdivision and see a long line of semi’s on our little side road, as far as the eye could see. My 5-10 minute drive to pick up kids from swim practice became 50 minutes, return trip 70 minutes. Accident on the interstate had shut both inbound lanes down just before rush hour.
Annoyed with the traffic, knowing we’ll have to rush supper running late, errands I wanted to run no longer possible. Grrrr, who was the stupid person who shut down the interstate!
Then I saw the accident.
Sobering sight. One car was crumpled up like a wad of tinfoil. Hearse parked beside it. Firetrucks, ambulances, police cards, 18 wheeler, truck and a van. Tow trucks.
Someone lost a life And here I am griping because I’m stuck in traffic and can’t run all the errands I wanted. Yes it is a pain, but nothing like the pain of those involved in the accident. I can run my errands tomorrow. I know it’ll take a while, I roll down the window and talk to the other dirvers. Eventually we’ll all get were we are going.
Everyone just chill, no need to lean on your horns. A moment of silence for lost life.
Dec 20th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Heidi, you’re so nice. And I’m so mean. Lost life is a tragedy, no doubt. But every time I see a “crumpled car” on the highway as you so eloquently described it… I get angry. I get angry because someone is dead and PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.
Why? Why can’t they drive? Why don’t more people engage in defensive driving courses?
I get frusted sitting as the passenger in the car with my dear man, because as sweet as he is, he’s a “late braker.” I’m biting my tongue watching a row of tail-lights come on, one by one, and he’s not slowing down. I’m hitting my imaginary brake with my right foot, I’m hating every minute of this torture. Should I say it? Does he see that everyone is stopping? Finally:
HIT YOUR BRAKES.
And sometimes I say it and he WAS about to brake, and I feel badly for not giving him the benefit of the doubt. But a couple of other times I think I may have done us some good with my warnings.
The other thing is learning to “go with the flow of traffic.” This goes along with the late braking thing and having to semi-slam them. If you weren’t delayed in your reaction, I wouldn’t be getting this mild case of whiplash as we narrowly miss being rear-ended. It’s called proactive driving and it’s the safer way to do it. Coast along, go with the flow, if someone’s being reckless, make your choice: either get in the left, speed up and move away from them, or slow down, take your spot in the middle lane and let them go by. But don’t change your mind; be bold in your driving decisions.
The other things… idiots in the right lane who don’t know how to gently speed up a bit when they see someone trying to get over and not miss their exit. People who occupy the left lane but don’t pass. TRUCKS who ride your backside. Cell phone yappers. People who drive aggressively in the rain, sleet, snow, ice because they think they’re big shots in their 4-wheel drive vehicles.
Know your driving limitations. My “computer eyes” do not provide me with good night vision any longer. So I don’t drive at night anymore, unless it’s short trips to local, familiar places. If you’re lost, slow down and let the speed demons go ahead of you. Memorize directions before you leave; read them over carefully and visualize them in your head. Don’t drive sleepy, very hungry, when you’re emotional, or DRUNK!
Okay, I think I feel better now. I think trucks should have their own separate roads. I’ve gotten caught in one of those long lines of semis as you mentioned. It’s terrifying. And stinky. Last time it happened I pulled over and went shopping.
Thanks for listening! Whew, glad to get that off my chest.
Dec 21st, 2007 at 8:52 am
If trucks had their own seperate line this accident would never have happened. Or at least semi hitting semi. Reading the paper for more details, an 18-wheeler came around the corner of the interstate and found traffic at a complete standstill. Braking but not enough time to stop. As to why the traffic was stopped, don’t know. Semi hit the car of an elderly couple. Impact spun it around where it bounced off a couple other cars. Pinball on the interstate is not a pretty picture.
What happened to keep enough distance between you and the next vehicle so you can stop?
Great list of things not to do while driving.