There are times when I wonder if anyone remembers some of the basic traffic laws. Almost daily, I hear people talking about other drivers who are not following the laws and nearly causing accidents. Every time I’m in the car with someone, I experience “road rage” like yelling and pounding the dashboard, due to people neglecting the laws.
One of my biggest pet peeves is drivers who fail to follow the rule “pedestrians first.” Because my friends and I have yet to get our driver’s licences or learner’s permits, we have to walk everywhere. I have no idea how many people walk around town regularly but I am sure those who do have been nearly run over countless times, like me. Just because someone has a car, they are not the only person in the world. Until there is a magical car that eliminates everyone else except the driver from the road, people are going to have to be aware of others they share the road with.
A couple of weeks ago I was crossing the street to go to the post office to get some mail. I stopped and saw a small car approaching. As it came to a stop, we looked at each other for two or three seconds. Because of my past experience, where most drivers ignore my presence and continue on their way, I made sure to look at the driver. Through this look of a few seconds, I thought the driver and I reached a consensus that I, the pedestrian, would cross the street first and then the car would go on its way. Obviously, I was wrong. I looked down so I wouldn’t fall off the curb, and started walking across the street. The car kept driving. Realizing I was about to be run over, I looked up and into the driver’s enraged eyes. The driver waved her arms at me like a toddler in the middle of a fit and I ran the rest of the way across the street.
Successfully returning from getting the mail without dying I reached the intersection again. Once again, a vehicle was coming but this time it was a giant four-wheel drive truck. It could kill tiny me much easier and more efficiently than the small Toyota which nearly ran me over before. Wary of what happened five minutes ago, I looked at the driver of the truck. There was intense eye contact and no way he could have missed me. So, stare down done, I looked down and started and across the street. Once again he kept driving! And once again, I was subjected to a crazy display of stink eye and toddler arms. Situations like the one above are why there are stop lights, cross walks and other road signs. I don’t know, maybe I’m just incompetent at crossing the street or have the wrong ideas about pedestrian laws.
I seem pretty clear on the idea of driving laws. For example, what does one do if they come to an unmarked intersection? To me, it seems like a lot of drivers have no idea. If there was some horrific incident where all the stop signs in the world disappeared, half the world would cease to exist because people have no idea what to do, and apocalyptic road conditions would soon take over.
In fact the right thing to do when a driver stops at an unmarked intersection is to yield to the right of way (the driver’s right). Whenever I am in the car with someone who follows the law, the driver my driver stopped for seems to get really confused or mad. I have seen people throw their hands in the air and glare at other drivers for being polite and letting them go first. I’ve seen some drivers just sit there for ten seconds waiting for the law abiding person to go. Sure, it is nice,but it is confusing for the car that yielded to the right of way.
The reason these laws were created to avoid this type of situation and have traffic run smoothly. I know some people who usually yield to the right of way but stop because no one else does. Something else drivers seem to forget when they stop at intersections are blinkers. Not everyone is telepathic and it is nice to know where the person in front of or next to one is going. Using blinkers prevents accidents and frustration amongst drivers. Blinkers let one know where they can go at what time. If they were of no use, would car makers bother to put blinkers on the car?
I may not be able to drive legally yet but I can assure everyone that I plan to use my blinker, obey the right of way and pedestrians first every time I drive. The roads are already a dangerous and crazy place and by remembering just a few simple rules, roads could be a lot safer and enjoyable to drive.
—Candace Fladager
Park High School Intern
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