Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Distracted Driver Alert
I need to get back to NOT watching the super bowl, but want to give a shout out to the drivers of CT 915 YWL and NY SZS 757. I know you both think you are perfectly capable of driving and talking on your cell phone, but you're not. The erratic speed, weaving and inattention to what was going on around you was a dead giveaway. Emphasis on the word DEAD. Please hang up the phone and drive...although my guess is you're probably not a very good driver then either.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
If You Want To Sit In My back Seat, Just Ask!
I've not been here or a bit, mostly because I seem to have been in a mellow mood and things on the road haven't been bugging me as much as they sometimes do. Until today.
I had to run home from work this morning to pick something up. It's about a four minute drive. As I approached the stop sign at the entrance to the high school I stopped and had to wait for someone who was exiting the school driveway. She got there first. She had the right of way. Simple, right?
Well, not so simple for the driver of the Jeep with CT plate 469 YET. As I waited at the stop sign for the woman coming out of the high school to make her left turn in front of me, I watched the Jeep in my rear view mirror and braced for impact. I know things in your mirror are closer than they appear, but I swear if this one was any closer, the driver would have been a passenger in my back seat.
I am not sure if the driver was inattentive, simply used to rolling through that stop sign as most people do or testing their braking ability, but I fully expected to be visiting my local body shop this afternoon.
I love my car...and all 271,000 miles that I've put on it, but have expected to get broadsided or rear ended since the day I canceled my collision coverage. Is it possible to be a fatalistic optimist? Today was almost the day, but my old RAV 4 has survived for me to drive another day.
I had to run home from work this morning to pick something up. It's about a four minute drive. As I approached the stop sign at the entrance to the high school I stopped and had to wait for someone who was exiting the school driveway. She got there first. She had the right of way. Simple, right?
Well, not so simple for the driver of the Jeep with CT plate 469 YET. As I waited at the stop sign for the woman coming out of the high school to make her left turn in front of me, I watched the Jeep in my rear view mirror and braced for impact. I know things in your mirror are closer than they appear, but I swear if this one was any closer, the driver would have been a passenger in my back seat.
I am not sure if the driver was inattentive, simply used to rolling through that stop sign as most people do or testing their braking ability, but I fully expected to be visiting my local body shop this afternoon.
I love my car...and all 271,000 miles that I've put on it, but have expected to get broadsided or rear ended since the day I canceled my collision coverage. Is it possible to be a fatalistic optimist? Today was almost the day, but my old RAV 4 has survived for me to drive another day.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
This Could Go On For Years.....
The Arrigoni Bridge across the Connecticut River between Portland and Middletown is beautiful and a sight for sore eyes when heading home. Too small for the commuter traffic it now has to bear seventy-three years after it was built? Probably, but it's the only bridge we've got and I love it.
It is currently undergoing a massive update to make it safer for years to come and so traffic has been reduced to two lanes for the foreseeable future. When this project was announced you could hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth all up and down the Connecticut River valley. I was not one of the wailers for two reasons: 1) The repairs need to be done and a little inconvenience is worth not being at the wheel of the car that could have fallen through the deck to the river below and 2) I assumed that the forced reduced speed on the bridge would lead to fewer accidents on the bridge which hold up traffic for hours on end.
I travel the bridge every morning at approximately 7:00am and since this project began several month ago I have not encountered anything but minimal delays. I know there have been one or two fender benders, at least one of which was caused by someone following too closely, but all in all things have been running smoothly. As Main Street in Portland narrows from two lanes to one at the entrance to the bridge traffic merges fairly seamlessly. Everyone knows the deal and acts accordingly. Most of the time.
This morning as we headed to the bridge, alternating cars moved into the single lane until it came to me. The woman in the Chevy with CT plate 189 WMG apparently felt there was some major advantage to be gained by cutting me off when it was clearly my turn to enter the single lane. Despite the nose of my car being ahead of hers, I backed off and let her cut me off. Obviously where she had to be was MUCH more important than where I had to be. As I crossed the bridge directly behind her I had time to ponder just what she had to gain by her action. Turns out it was easy to figure it out. She turned off the bridge onto Spring Street in Middletown exactly TWO SECONDS ahead on me. I hope she uses those two seconds wisely.
It is also worth noting that she had two stickers on the back of her car which indicate she has school age kids in sports programs. I hope she doesn't take it upon herself to teach them to drive... or anything else for that matter. Rudeness is not a family value.
It is currently undergoing a massive update to make it safer for years to come and so traffic has been reduced to two lanes for the foreseeable future. When this project was announced you could hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth all up and down the Connecticut River valley. I was not one of the wailers for two reasons: 1) The repairs need to be done and a little inconvenience is worth not being at the wheel of the car that could have fallen through the deck to the river below and 2) I assumed that the forced reduced speed on the bridge would lead to fewer accidents on the bridge which hold up traffic for hours on end.
I travel the bridge every morning at approximately 7:00am and since this project began several month ago I have not encountered anything but minimal delays. I know there have been one or two fender benders, at least one of which was caused by someone following too closely, but all in all things have been running smoothly. As Main Street in Portland narrows from two lanes to one at the entrance to the bridge traffic merges fairly seamlessly. Everyone knows the deal and acts accordingly. Most of the time.
This morning as we headed to the bridge, alternating cars moved into the single lane until it came to me. The woman in the Chevy with CT plate 189 WMG apparently felt there was some major advantage to be gained by cutting me off when it was clearly my turn to enter the single lane. Despite the nose of my car being ahead of hers, I backed off and let her cut me off. Obviously where she had to be was MUCH more important than where I had to be. As I crossed the bridge directly behind her I had time to ponder just what she had to gain by her action. Turns out it was easy to figure it out. She turned off the bridge onto Spring Street in Middletown exactly TWO SECONDS ahead on me. I hope she uses those two seconds wisely.
It is also worth noting that she had two stickers on the back of her car which indicate she has school age kids in sports programs. I hope she doesn't take it upon herself to teach them to drive... or anything else for that matter. Rudeness is not a family value.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Driving as a Contact Sport
I went to my sister's house in Massachusetts today. After helping her with a few odd jobs she needed done, my friend and I set out to run a couple of errands. This required covering Weston, Waltham, Arlington, Somerville, Cambridge, Wayland and Natick, all suburbs of Boston.
When I tell people that I drive into New York City, they are usually amazed that I am so brave or foolhardy (depending on whom I'm talking to), but I always tell them, "I used to live in Boston. Driving in New York is a piece of cake."
And while driving in New York is challenging in its own way, driving in Boston is nothing short of training for the demolition derby. The most amazing thing I ever saw in my 39 years of driving actually happened in the allegedly staid and stuffy Back Bay. I was stopped at a red light at Clarendon or Exeter Street (I'm not sure which, it's been a long time), about to cross Commonwealth Avenue. There was a cab behind me at the light and apparently when the light changed to green, I did not move quickly enough for the cabbie. He proceeded to pass me on the right by driving up on the sidewalk to get ahead of me. Only if you know the Back Bay well can you truly appreciate that. Also in the back Bay one day as I was riding my bike to work, a Boston driver ran a red light at Fairfield and Commonwealth when I had the right of way. I saw my relatively short life pass before my eyes and didn't ride a bike again for over twenty years.
My friend who was riding with me today has her own issues with driving after losing her brother in a car accident. She is a nervous passenger, but trusts my driving ability enough to rein in her panic at drivers doing stupid things. But today was her first time riding around in the environs of Boston and I think it set her back a bit.
I could not take the time to jot down all the license plates and details of all the bad driving we encountered this afternoon, but I'd like to give a special shout out to the two lucky winners of today's
"Dented Fender Award". First of all, the young lady driving the huge boat of a car in Teele Square in Somerville who took the opportunity to force her way from a side street into the lane of traffic simply because I was not tailgating the car in front of me could have won for that selfish boneheaded move alone. But running the red light and making the right turn on red where it clearly said "No Right Turn on Red" a few minutes later earned MA plate 22S T81 the honor in spades.
And then we come to the bald, more than middle aged driver of the blue BMW convertible (mid-life crisis/penis substitute, anyone?) with MA plate 987 WDC on Rte 20 about 12:20pm who looked me right in the eye as he pulled out in front of me without even attempting to pretend he stopped at the stop sign. Our second winner of the day.
I love Boston and but for a twist of fate or two might have ended up living there permanently, but if the drivers in the Portland area annoy me on a daily basis, I suspect that driving in Boston every day for the last 30 years might have made me homicidal by now.
By the way, I'll be driving intop New York at the end of the week. Piece of cake.
When I tell people that I drive into New York City, they are usually amazed that I am so brave or foolhardy (depending on whom I'm talking to), but I always tell them, "I used to live in Boston. Driving in New York is a piece of cake."
And while driving in New York is challenging in its own way, driving in Boston is nothing short of training for the demolition derby. The most amazing thing I ever saw in my 39 years of driving actually happened in the allegedly staid and stuffy Back Bay. I was stopped at a red light at Clarendon or Exeter Street (I'm not sure which, it's been a long time), about to cross Commonwealth Avenue. There was a cab behind me at the light and apparently when the light changed to green, I did not move quickly enough for the cabbie. He proceeded to pass me on the right by driving up on the sidewalk to get ahead of me. Only if you know the Back Bay well can you truly appreciate that. Also in the back Bay one day as I was riding my bike to work, a Boston driver ran a red light at Fairfield and Commonwealth when I had the right of way. I saw my relatively short life pass before my eyes and didn't ride a bike again for over twenty years.
My friend who was riding with me today has her own issues with driving after losing her brother in a car accident. She is a nervous passenger, but trusts my driving ability enough to rein in her panic at drivers doing stupid things. But today was her first time riding around in the environs of Boston and I think it set her back a bit.
I could not take the time to jot down all the license plates and details of all the bad driving we encountered this afternoon, but I'd like to give a special shout out to the two lucky winners of today's
"Dented Fender Award". First of all, the young lady driving the huge boat of a car in Teele Square in Somerville who took the opportunity to force her way from a side street into the lane of traffic simply because I was not tailgating the car in front of me could have won for that selfish boneheaded move alone. But running the red light and making the right turn on red where it clearly said "No Right Turn on Red" a few minutes later earned MA plate 22S T81 the honor in spades.
And then we come to the bald, more than middle aged driver of the blue BMW convertible (mid-life crisis/penis substitute, anyone?) with MA plate 987 WDC on Rte 20 about 12:20pm who looked me right in the eye as he pulled out in front of me without even attempting to pretend he stopped at the stop sign. Our second winner of the day.
I love Boston and but for a twist of fate or two might have ended up living there permanently, but if the drivers in the Portland area annoy me on a daily basis, I suspect that driving in Boston every day for the last 30 years might have made me homicidal by now.
By the way, I'll be driving intop New York at the end of the week. Piece of cake.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
No PowerDoesn't Have to Mean No Manners
This freak snowstorm certainly has thrown a monkey wrench into a lot of plans and schedules. I never did lose power but I am one of the lucky few.
I was in Massachusetts on Saturday and planned my trip according to the weather forecast, planning to be home by 5:00 when the storm was supposed to start. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans and by the time I hit the road shortly after 2:00, it was sleeting and there was full blown snow by the time I got to Worcester. Needless to say the rest of the ride home was tricky, but I have to say, people were pretty conservative, driving at a reasonable rate of speed and recognizing the poor conditions for what they were. By the time I got to Glastonbury I had already witnessed two spin outs on I-84 and then came the downed wires and trees on Routes 2, 17 and 17A. I did a bit of a spin myself on Route 17 in South Glastonbury. Black ice on an incline is a bitch, but I was going slowly enough I was able to ride it out and recover with no damage to my car or psyche.
Late Sunday I ventured out to see what the situation was around town and I was out again on Monday morning to give my friend a ride to work. Honestly I was impressed with the civility at all the intersections. It seemed like everybody recognized that we are all in the same boat and courtesy ruled the day. Until yesterday.
I took the storm refugees who were bunking with me out for a hot meal and we ventured to Wallingford to find an open restaurant. On the way home we were stopped on Route 68 in Durham, waiting to make a left turn onto Route 17 toward Middletown. Apparently our very existence annoyed the passenger in a bright yellow car, CT plate 485 XLE. As the car passed in front of us, heading south on Route 17, the female in the passenger seat felt a need to turn and give me the finger. Why? All four of us in the car are still puzzling over that. So much for letting courtesy rule.
Mother Nature can be fickle, but I would suggest we don't piss her off any more than we already have or it will be a very long winter.
I was in Massachusetts on Saturday and planned my trip according to the weather forecast, planning to be home by 5:00 when the storm was supposed to start. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans and by the time I hit the road shortly after 2:00, it was sleeting and there was full blown snow by the time I got to Worcester. Needless to say the rest of the ride home was tricky, but I have to say, people were pretty conservative, driving at a reasonable rate of speed and recognizing the poor conditions for what they were. By the time I got to Glastonbury I had already witnessed two spin outs on I-84 and then came the downed wires and trees on Routes 2, 17 and 17A. I did a bit of a spin myself on Route 17 in South Glastonbury. Black ice on an incline is a bitch, but I was going slowly enough I was able to ride it out and recover with no damage to my car or psyche.
Late Sunday I ventured out to see what the situation was around town and I was out again on Monday morning to give my friend a ride to work. Honestly I was impressed with the civility at all the intersections. It seemed like everybody recognized that we are all in the same boat and courtesy ruled the day. Until yesterday.
I took the storm refugees who were bunking with me out for a hot meal and we ventured to Wallingford to find an open restaurant. On the way home we were stopped on Route 68 in Durham, waiting to make a left turn onto Route 17 toward Middletown. Apparently our very existence annoyed the passenger in a bright yellow car, CT plate 485 XLE. As the car passed in front of us, heading south on Route 17, the female in the passenger seat felt a need to turn and give me the finger. Why? All four of us in the car are still puzzling over that. So much for letting courtesy rule.
Mother Nature can be fickle, but I would suggest we don't piss her off any more than we already have or it will be a very long winter.
Friday, October 28, 2011
TGIF
Last night was a bit of a trial. I had to go to Bloomfield and the roads were a mess in every direction, north, south, east and west, I-84, I-91, Route 2. It was raining and eventually sleeting and snowing (in OCTOBER!!!!!!???!!!!). And yet, except for a few minor irritations (such as the store I was going to having gone out of business) it was not as annoying as this morning's commute.
To the driver of the VW with CT plate 438 XTH who was near Ace Hardware in Middletown at 7:14 this morning: Turn signals are not optional. Try using it. It's the lever to the left of your steering wheel. And to the driver of the convertible with CT plate 937 VAU who missed their turn off of High Street in Portland: Backing up to turn into the street you apparently missed when there are cars coming down the street behind you? Not such a good idea. Go around the block next time.
Heck, it's only 9:25am....but at least I'm headed straight home after work today. And if you're driving on Main Street in Portland between 4 and 7 this evening, please watch out. It's time for "Trick or Treat on Main Street" and there will be literally hundreds of kids out collecting candy. Don't let your carelessness ruin what has been a really great town wide event.
To the driver of the VW with CT plate 438 XTH who was near Ace Hardware in Middletown at 7:14 this morning: Turn signals are not optional. Try using it. It's the lever to the left of your steering wheel. And to the driver of the convertible with CT plate 937 VAU who missed their turn off of High Street in Portland: Backing up to turn into the street you apparently missed when there are cars coming down the street behind you? Not such a good idea. Go around the block next time.
Heck, it's only 9:25am....but at least I'm headed straight home after work today. And if you're driving on Main Street in Portland between 4 and 7 this evening, please watch out. It's time for "Trick or Treat on Main Street" and there will be literally hundreds of kids out collecting candy. Don't let your carelessness ruin what has been a really great town wide event.
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