My dad's first piece of advice for me when I started driving was that everyone else on the road is an idiot, so don't trust anyone. This was pretty much the best advice I've ever gotten. I'm hyper aware on the road- and this has definitely prevented me from getting in a few accidents. Multiple times, I have waited to pull out of a drive way or turn in front of someone who has a turn signal on...but never turned.
There are definitely a
 |
| Sorry for the excessive cusswords. Especially the C word- I hate that one. But this is prettty close to how I feel some mornings... |
Let me start by saying, my drive to work is only 9 miles, but it takes 30 minutes or more every day. It is all city streets and is one of the main ways into the city from the east side suburbs, because apparently, the city planners thought highways were a stupid idea. So traffic always sucks. And when traffic sucks, Margaret gets angry. Here's why:
1. Even though this road is always super busy, things like turn lanes were deemed unnecessary. Instead, they put up a screen that puts up a left turn arrow with an X through it at specific times during the day, which I appreciate. What I don't appreciate is that people decide that they can ignore it and turn left anyway. Even worse, when they don't turn their turn signal on until the last minute and then I'm stuck while every person behind me gets over and I sit and wait. And normally honk. Because, clearly their is a damn sign!
2. Which brings me to #2. Turn Signals. They are not optional. Actually, it's pretty necessary and takes a whole 0.2 seconds to use. For that matter, it also takes 0.2 seconds to turn it OFF! Do both of these.
3. There is a special place in hell for the next group of people that bring on the road rage. This happens in a few places...construction where one lane is closed, people trying to exit the highway, basically anywhere where a line of cars builds up. But where there is still space for another car to completely fly past the entire line and then try to cut off the person in the front.
We all waited asshole. Your turn. Nothing makes me happier than seeing that NO one will let this person in. I give internal high fives to all other drivers around me. This happened to me last night- there is construction in the middle of the road so only the outside lanes on either side are open. There are multiple signs leading up to this that tell people to merge. There is a large flashing arrow sign. And yet, some guy flew up and tried to cut me off. Not a chance. I may have gotten a hard stop on my Progressive Snapshot (don't even get me started on that damn thing...), but it was so worth it.
4. To help explain the next one, I drew this awesome picture for your. It's super cool.
Now let me explain. The black part is a bridge, with posts come down in the road, separating the outside lane. It's a skinny lane, but even me- the super
5. This isn't really a people problem. It's a road problem.
Pot holes. Seriously Cleveland? I know winter last 9 of 12 months...but fix the 2 feet deep hole in the damn road. I would like to keep my tires.
That's all.
