Why did Candice cross the road?
By Candice at 15:51:52 on Oct 21, 2008 in General
This is an intersection near my apartment. During the day, there is usually a line of cars waiting at point (a) to cross through to either point (b) or point (c). A car driving straight from point (a) will end up at point (b). To get to point (c) it must make a left turn. This should be fairly obvious. Yes, it’s not a full 90-degree turn to the left, but you would think that a driver might notice that they’d have to turn the wheel to the left to get there, and that there’s a continuation of the street they’re already on directly in front of them. A particularly attentive driver might notice that they’d also be getting into a left-turn lane, or that there’s a left-turn light next to the regular light. And maybe even that some of these things apply to them. However, since most people just aren’t very smart, those attempting to turn left here usually seems pretty confident that they are going straight. This is a bit of an issue to me when I am trying cross the road at point (x) (with a walk sign!), or indeed, to any oncoming traffic that isn’t also turning left. On account of people don’t watch where they’re going or bother to slow down when they are going straight through an intersection, since they assume that they have the right-of-way. I’ve managed to stay alive so far, but just barely. Today was the same as any other. I wasn’t quick enough with anything to yell, but I was forced to give three very dirty looks in the course of walking to the bank and back. I’ve tried crossing at other places, but all that happens is I’m confronted with speeding cars that are turning right driven by drivers who think they are going straight. Either that, or walk a whole extra intersection north or east at some point, and screw that. Conclusion: people are morons, and I’m going to have to stay inside, or be killed.