Tag Archives: driving

rants

Turn lanes and yield signs

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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!

fears, rants, tamu, texas

Keep it off the highways

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This morning, as my husband and I were on a nice drive through the country, a car started to tailgate us. My husband commented that they needed to back off, and we were frustrated at how they were driving. It’s not like we could do anything on a two lane road with a car in front of us, but still the girl stayed right on our back bumper.

We turned; she turned. We stopped at a stop sign, then went when it was clear. She, however, cruised right through it behind us. We finally opened up to a four-lane and were glad she’d be passing. She didn’t get in any hurry to pass, though. We were slowing down to enter a parking lot when she finally cruised past.

That was when I saw it. Right there in the middle of her back window. A Longhorn sticker.

I have a Former Student sticker for Texas A&M on my back window.

*sigh*

This is not the first time I’ve had a Longhorn tailgate me (which is amusing considering that I’ve never been known to be “slow.”) I’ve had a Longhorn heckle me in bumper to bumper traffic through an open window. When in college, I even had someone try to run me off the road, flashing a horns symbol at me as I tried not to go into the ditch and hit a road sign.

At the heart of it all, these events scare me even more than they anger me.

Seriously, I am the first to say Texas is a good school. I respect the school and the education people get there. The rivalry, for me, generally exists on the field. And as I said in a previous entry, I’ve always viewed that particular rivalry as one that has an undertone of respect (unlike other rivalries).

Sadly, you do have those on both sides that fail to remember that, and therein lies my fear. Its to those people, I plead… no matter what, keep it off the highway. A school rivalry is NOT worth someone’s life — be it you, your rival or an innocent bystander. We all put stickers on our vehicles to personalize them, to show allegiance to our schools, organizations, businesses, politics, etc. They are not there to be used as a target. Don’t tailgate, heckle, cut-off, or try to sideswipe someone because of their school allegiance. That’s dangerous and has potential consequences that are bigger than any rivalry.

So to the young woman who chose to tailgate us on the way home… grow up. We’re not even in Texas. We’re not playing today. I have nothing against you personally. I actually respect your school (just not the actions of people like, well, you.) And, at the end of it all, my vehicle is over twice as big as yours. If you had rear ended us in a sudden stop situation, I would have gotten out of my truck and run over to see if you were okay.

Then (assuming you were) I’d slap you upside the head for hurting my truck. Because, really, that would piss me off. A lot. A lot more than any rivalry. Because seriously… this crap does not belong on the highway. Leave it on the football field. ‘Kay?

Kay.

Thanks.