Turn lanes and yield signs

You know what I think is one of the biggest failures I’ve seen in a long time? The lack of good drivers ed programs in schools today.

I mean, I love Nashville and all, but its got some of the worst drivers. Ever. And I am starting to see the same issues I have with Nashville drivers everywhere else. And those issues come down to lack of basic driving rules.

Like, “What is a yield sign?” Yield does not mean merge! Yield means STOP unless it is completely clear, then you can roll on through.

When we lived in our old house, we had a helluva time getting on the Interstate, because the ramp onto the Interstate had a Yield sign for people coming onto the ramp from the opposite directions (Say I am coming at the Interstate from the West, people trying to merge onto the same ramp from the East were supposed to yield to those of us coming from the West before entering the ramp.) I witnessed and experienced SO MANY PEOPLE not Yield but instead almost side swipe or run the person with the right of way completely off the road. More than once, I would just lay on my horn at the offender as they looked at me like, “What???” I so badly wished I’d had a sign that said, “LEARN WHAT YIELD MEANS AND DO THAT!!!”

Just yesterday, my parents and I were traveling to a store, and hopped in the turn lane just at our left turn. Ahead of us was a car full of teenagers just cruising down the turn lane like it was another lane of traffic DIRECTLY AT US. The turn lane is for turning. Not for cruising. Did you know you’re not supposed to try to get up to speed in the turn lane either? I mean, think about it. You’re trying to get up to 55 mph to merge as someone else coming AT you is stopped waiting to make a left turn. Can you say head-on collision? Turn lanes are for turning, not for traveling.

What about a 4 way stop? Ever end up in line at one and no one has a clue who goes first? I have. Crazy annoying.

I don’t claim to be perfect in my knowledge of the rules of the road. I mean, for the longest time, I got confused on a 2 way stop sign. I actually had to dig out my old drivers ed book and look up how those work.

Ah. Driver’s Ed. I am REALLY glad I took it. I am REALLY glad it was offered. It scares me to know its generally not offered anymore, and we’re relying on parents, etc. to teach our youth how to drive. I used to enjoy going for a drive. Today, it just stresses me out. Today it feels more like a suicide attempt than a relaxing thing to do.

Probably just as well with the gas prices… but that’s a whole other topic. I have thought many times about taking a defensive driving course just for a rules refresher. I wouldn’t even be opposed to having to take a test every so often with a drivers license renewal just to make sure we are all on the same page. It would be a pain in the butt and take time, but if it meant staying alive while running errands? It would be worth it. Just my opinion!

2 thoughts on “Turn lanes and yield signs”

  1. I didn’t freak out yesterday driving until I got home. Meh. On the way home from taking Chris to the office to his TxDOT truck, a car turned in front of me from the left. I decided to go to Dollar General to pick up a few things, and I was nearly hit by three different people. I was just like, “I GIVE UP!” I’ve never seen so many people pull out in front of other vehicles, ever, as I have in the past week. I realize the car that went in front of me last week, that caused me to run into them, was a rare thing – people don’t normally come up to a highway from a side road and speed up without looking and try to go straight across 70mph traffic. However, all of the other little things? Those are daily. Those are becoming normal. My right hand aches from gripping the steering wheel in my two short outings yesterday. *sigh*

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