A SIMPLE LEFT TURN, RIGHT?
BY DAN MILLER
October 10, 2006
Most anywhere on our roadways, left turns are an aggravation.
They slow the orderly flow of traffic, and drive-up blood pressure.... especially mine.
That's why I've considered structuring my life so that, no matter where I travel, only right turns are involved.
I'm not a maniacal driver, filled with road rage.... and I'm not overly paranoid.... but this essay is aimed at the (man/woman) -- (and I think you know who you are) -- who's driving the car stopped in front of me everyday at the same intersection.
If (he/she) makes it through the green LEFT TURN ARROW, then all is well and I'm a happy motorist.
But the trouble begins if the left-turn arrow shuts off before (he/she) enters the intersection.
Even though the solid green light stays on, signaling drivers that they can go straight.... turn right.... or turn left -- the (man/woman) in front of me freezes.... and will not turn left, even when there's no traffic approaching from the other side.
On several occasions, I -- or other perfect drivers like me -- have signaled with a friendly little honk of the horn that it's OK to turn left -- still, (he/she) will not move.... choosing instead to sit through another red light cycle, until the next appearance of the left-turn arrow.
I often wonder, what they would do if there wasn't a left-turn arrow attached to the traffic signal, or if it wasn't working? Would they just sit there until city workers came and constructed a new left turn arrow?
Don't they understand that, when there's no opposing traffic, IT'S OK TO TURN LEFT ON A SOLID GREEN LIGHT.... unless there's a sign reading "No Left Turn On Green?"
But really, the fault is not with the drivers.... the fault lies in left turns.
Maybe they should be outlawed altogether.
In some places, politicians have actually proposed eliminating left turns.
One of the major delivery firms in our country seriously toyed with the idea of having its drivers never make left turns in their trucks.... only right turns.
Going left would be accomplished by a series of right turns, sort of circling around a big block.
Of course, one of my personal favorite options is often to go straight, pull into someone's driveway, turn around, then go back and make a right turn at the intersection.
Left turns can sometimes be a problem for elderly folks whose reflexes and vision have diminished with age.
I recently read an article about an old man, deep into his 90s, who attributed his long life, in part, to the fact that he gave up left turns years earlier. I'm not making that up.
Anyhow, I hoping today for two things....
First, that the (man/woman) who's always there in front of me will realize that it's OK to turn left on a solid green light.....
Second.... I hope I never end up behind (him/her) at the intersection seen in the other photo posted here, wherever it might be!
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