Driving in south Florida
I’ve got so many posts about this it should have it’s own category. Lately I’ve been noticing one specific driver. I’ve run into him (not literally, though almost,) several times now. He seems to be going to pick up what I can only assume is his grandchild, or great-grandchild… maybe great-great; the bullet point of this part of the presentation would be THE DUDE IS OLD. You can already see where this is going. Ancient driver, south florida, this story basically writes itself. Obviously he does something wrong and stupid. It’s just what he does that gets me.
He doesn’t use turn lanes.
I’ve told stories about people making turns from the wrong lane before, or turning across traffic, or ignoring lights, but this one really blows my mind. The other people were just obviously assholes who don’t care about endangering themselves or others, but I really don’t think this guy understands the concept of turn lanes. It baffles me that he has a license and car, but then again maybe he just doesn’t have a license.
It unfolds like this. On my way to work from home there’s an elementary school. I take a right onto the road where the school is, then past the school have to take a left. That road also borders the school and has a turn in on the left. Both of these roads have turn lanes. This guy’s routine is to drive along in the right lane, get to the road I must turn left on, and turn left onto it… from the right lane. The first time this happened I was in the turn lane about to make MY left hand turn. It was a bit more than alarming to suddenly have a car in front of me. You can imagine the amount of honking and swearing that encouraged. So after the minor heart attack, I made my left turn, I’m following behind the guy now. He does not signal, but suddenly slows and turns left into the school. Nevermind he could have done this from the previous road, nevermind there’s also a turn lane here which he ignored.
I let it go, figure whatever, the guy didn’t know where to turn and had to at the last minute, or he’s having a bad day. Until I saw him again a few days later. Same behavior. Now when I see him I slow down so that I’m not in the turn lane when he’s making his little manuever, I don’t trust him not to overturn and clip me on his way over. I’ve seen him do it 5 or 6 times now. The last time I tried to help by shouting “Hey, you can use the turn lanes.” It wasn’t an angry yell, and I think he heard me as he had his window open. I have no clue if he speaks english (or at all,) but I really hope he does so maybe he’ll learn how to not almost cause wrecks every single day.
On that note about 560 more hours and I’m out of this human wasteland.
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