It was challenging to decide on a blog post with a subject of my choosing for the second time. The last blog subject that I selected was the Chinese weather balloon. This time, I have no desire to discuss a controversial topic, even though it’s easier to write about a subject with a vested interest. Then I had an epiphany, what is the one facet of daily life that people are opinionated of but generally does not cause conflict but agreement?
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the topic of Phoenix traffic. I spend an excessive amount of time on the streets of Phoenix. I live in the West Valley and work close to Sky Harbor Airport. Eighty miles roundtrip is my lovely commute each day. I also Ubered part-time for 3 years. I purchased my Ford Fusion brand new in 2015 and now have 215,000 miles on it. I have three particular driving habits that are more irritating in fellow motorists than any other.
The first is maintaining the speed limit or five to ten miles above the speed limit on the highways and interstate fast lanes. I have read in community forum posts from drivers who chose to stay in this lane because they “are going the speed limit” and “trying to prevent people from excessively speeding.” Well, Mr. or Mrs. Road Boss, you are causing a more significant driving risk and breaking the law yourself. According to Arizona Title 28-721, if the roadway is divided into three lanes, a vehicle should only utilize the innermost lane under normal conditions when overtaking and passing another vehicle. Mr. and Mrs. Road Boss, you are creating a hazard when Curtis prefers to set her cruise to a comfortable 85, and you like to stay in this lane at a slower speed causing her and other like-minded motorists to figure out how to pass you on the right. You are impeding the flow of traffic. A debate is there concerning my speeding, but you’re also making the roads more dangerous. Two wrongs don’t make a right, so let me be the only one in the wrong to keep us all safer.
The second is those high achievers that move into a lane that later merges super early and then prevent others from entering at the actual merging point. Good on you for being proactive and seizing the opportunity to wait longer to contemplate all your life goals! All this additional waiting time allowed you to think of new items to add to your vision board. According to howstuffworks.com, the thought process is inefficient because it “minimizes the amount of usable road.” Think of everyone coming together and letting that zipper merge happen.
The final annoyance I will discuss today is when motorists fail to operate signal lights. I’m not sure why countless people move around in traffic without signaling to others their intentions. Maybe their life has been full of surprises, and they’re now passing surprises on? Whatever the reason, if I can accelerate and block you from trying to move into my lane without a signal, I will 100% make this my goal every time. Learn your manners.
That is all, folks. I could preach all day about everyday road annoyances. Instead, everyone should attend a defensive driving class at some point, preferably with an engaging instructor that will not put them to sleep. In my class, I learned a driver cannot always drive within the laws of the road while simultaneously avoiding all dangers and accident situations. Use common sense and courtesy, and we will all travel harmoniously down this road of life.
We are, each one of us, the best driver on the road and the rest are terrible! hehehe I agree with all you say here. If I was to add a fourth, it would be related to the rules of moving over for emergency vehicles. So many drivers just stop, or some hardly even come to a complete stop. Upsets me greatly. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteName: Nazeef Adoi
ReplyDeleteThis was a great blog and really funny to read but overall I understand your experience and why you felt the way you did . Great blog .