Posted: 4/18/2008 9:08:26 PM EDT
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We have several intersections in town that are a similar set up. A side road with 3 lanes labelled, left to right, left turn only, left turn or straight and right turn only getting onto major road with 6 lanes and a grassy divider down the middle. Everytime I get to one of these intersection it is the same deal. The left turn only lane is empty. Occasionally there'll be one car in it. The lane to go stright is full of cars. 1/3 of these cars have their left turn blinker on, 1/3 don't have the blinker on but are going to turn anyway and the remaining third are going straight across. Two turn lanes and only one getting used. These intersections all have a busy gas station or 7-11 on the corner with people pulling onto the side road so they can make a left onto the main road. There is always a person in the center lane who considers themselves wonderfully polite and they will leave an opening for the person pulling out of the 7-11. Polite to the one person pulling out of the 7-11, rude as hell to everybody stuck behind them. Unfortunately for this so-called polite driver, the guy pulling out of 7-11 is more interested in getting the wrapper off the junk food he just bought and doesn't see the opening. When the light turns green the 7-11 guy won't see the opening until all the other cars are moving and then will turn and look at the "polite" driver. The "polite" driver is still sitting there waving for 7-11 guy to pull out. 7-11 guy could have pulled through the gap and into the far left turn lane and been one of the first through the light. Instead he's sitting there doing some "oh, you're letting me go?" BS with the "Polite" driver as the light turns yellow. 7-11 guy will finally go, just making it through the light as it turns red and the "polite" driver will run the light, leaving all the people who were stuck behind him still stuck there wasting gas idling at a red light. Through this whole thing there'll be "screwed driver #1". This guy wanted to turn left. He saw that the left lane was open and he could get into it. And he would have done so if only the so called "polite" driver would have pulled forward about 6" so he could fit between them and the curb. By this point his horn is about to give out and it's a coin toss whether he runs the red light or sits there waiting for another green. Behind him is a line of cars a few blocks long. A line that would move a lot faster if they'd use both of the turn lanes. I see this same sequence of events day after day at several different intersections and it's always the same. Since they will have sat there and watched this sequence play out at leasts twice this time around, have probably sat through it for days on end, and yet they still won't use both turn lanes, I guess they deserve to sit there wasting gas. I just wish I didn't have to be stuck there with them, especially since I'm usually going straight across and have no choice about which lane to use. In accordance with current forum guidelines: 
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| There is a time for being polite, but for the most part I try to treat my car as nothing but another molecule in the great driving grid. I take the path of least resistance, I avoid problems, and I ignore the intentions of other drivers unless it will interfere with my intentions. I've found that the best driving experience for me and everyone around me is an emotionless one. If you always let that dumb driver into the line of cars like the Polite character in your story, then he'll never learn to better plan his escape route. Instead of the path of least resistance, he'll learn to rely on the good will of others, and like you've shown, slow down the rest of us. |
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Here's one for ya.......... I'm in Dallas several weeks ago..........the lane configuration is the same as OP except there is an additional "thru only" lane between the thru/left and the right only. I'm in the the thru/left and have chosen to take my thru option when unknown dumbass in thru only lane decides to make a left right in front of me. My antilocks managed to bark the tires a bit but did their job as the brakes never fully locked up. I stopped very quickly and avoided hitting him in the driver's door. Anyway, yes, here in NW Arkansas, we have an endless supply of the overly courteous drivers tying to let other drivers in and causing an extreme waste of "green time" while doing so. Seems like they often take way too much time sending thank you waves back and forth! I suppose it's not all bad. I'd rather have southern politeness than yankee rudeness anyday! |
This isn't me being anal, this is ignorant drivers costing me time and money. gas mileage in my truck is bad enough without wasting it sitting at red lights all day.
Don't I wish! As it is, the biggest reason to own a 4x4 around here is having enough ground clearance so that if you're "Screwed Driver" you can go up on the curb and get around them without damaging the undercarriage. |
On the weekends, you betcha. During the week when I'm on the clock, not so much. This column describes it pretty well: www.fredoneverything.net/FOE_Frame_Column.htm sample:
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