By David Colmans
My 2005 Highlander and I have put more than 210,000 miles on that hard-working SUV, and I see a great deal on the roadways of Georgia that makes me either curious, irritated or just plan nuts. My unscientific observations are intended to remind us of how these actions can result in traffic crashes that are easily avoided, and will help keep our auto insurance rates in check.
There’s a law in this state that one should, whenever possible, move to the left one lane when a law enforcement officer has a vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Guess how many vehicles don’t make the move even when they would have no problem doing so? Professional truckers get it. If they can move those big rigs, why can’t someone driving a two-door sports car? Oh, did I mention the driver is usually on a cell phones in one hand, eating a burger with the other, and steering with one knee?
Georgia has just enacted its “no texting while driving law.” OK, that was welcome news, but now we have a new chorus growing at stoplights and stop signs. It the sound of car horns behind the driver who, while stopped, takes a few seconds to check incoming email on his or her Blackberry or iPhone, and doesn’t see that the light’s changed or the car in front has already moved on. This problem is getting worse as more and more drivers lower their tolerance for lack of attention by the driver in front.
Here’s the one that really is a curiosity more than anything else. When I’m on an interstate, and it really doesn’t matter which one, no matter how fast I drive, somebody will pass me before long. Now it seems logical that one might go five miles an hour over the posted speed limit on an interstate, but when I’m doing 60 in a 55 mph zone, and the car on my right passes me doing no less than 70, it reminds me of the comedian who noted that speed limit signs must be just a suggestion.
My all-time favorite is the driver who gets behind a transit bus that should have been noticed blocks away, and then proceeding to get stuck in traffic as the bus stops to let off and take on passengers. That same driver’s inattention occurs often when coming up on a traffic crash that blocks part of the road or when construction closes one or more lanes ahead.
The one that really makes me wonder about the attention span of some motorists is the individuals who do not see or hear the police car, ambulance or fire truck coming up behind them with emergency lights flashing, siren and horn blaring.
People learned to walk way before they thought about wagons, cars or other forms of mechanical transportation, so why do so many motorists treat pedestrians like they have no business crossing a street? Law enforcement puts a sign in the middle of a crosswalk that states what any motorist should know, “Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. It’s state law.”
Let’s not forget the “You can’t see me…I’m in your blind spot” driver. There’s always someone who likes to drive to your right or left with the front if that driver’s vehicle even with your back bumper. That puts him or her in your blind spot so if you decide to change lanes quickly without looking over your shoulder, guess who is at fault in the crash that occurs?
What’s your favorite traffic obsession? What makes you nuts when you see other drivers do really weird things in the name of saving a few seconds, or for no particular reason? Let me know and we’ll revisit this topic again with several readers’ favorites.
Just one more. The oldie but goodie set including me learned to drive on stick shift vehicles. Today, it’s more of a new thing for many drivers. When stopping at a red light, please put the car or truck in first gear right after you come to a stop so you don’t have to fumble with the transmission when the light turns green.
David Colmans is the executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. Contact him at 770-565-3806, or e-mail dcolmans@giis.org.