You know those kids who try to make everyone play by the rules, right down to the most insignificant minutia? Yeah, I’m one of them. I also have a freakish memory when it comes to little inconsequential rules, which makes me a great grammarian but not such a pleasant companion.
And also? I’m a traffic nazi.
For instance. At a four-way stop, if two cars reach the intersection at the same time, who has the right of way? The one on the right. Left yields to right. I hate it when someone approaches a four-way stop on my left and proceeds across the intersection like the road was named in his honor.
And also? When you are driving down a main thoroughfare, and you stop to make a left-hand turn, and there is someone trying to turn from the intersecting side street into your lane of traffic, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. If you stop and wave him on, it just messes up the flow of traffic. I KNOW you are trying to be nice, but it is not polite to break the rules. It just confuses everyone.
Thank you. My work here is done. Time for Dancing With The Stars where there is no traffic rules to observe but plenty of grammar to massacre.
Oh my holy heck. Are you me? It’s as though we were separated at birth.
I SO understand! My husband thinks I’m weird, but I too am a traffic nazi! And to make it worse, the street I live on is just off a four-way stop intersection. Daily frustration. UGH!
I heard that they are actively trying NOT to have more 4 way stops in this area. I think people must not have been taught how to use them in driving school. The rules really aren’t that hard…
Plus, it’s dangerous when it comes to driving. It is good to be polite but there is a good reason for the rules – to keep everyone safe!
HELP!! I’m trying to comment for the give-away on Reviewsings, but it’s not letting me. Just submitting comment constantly. What do I do?!
Also, so glad to know I’m not the only one who gets worked up over others who don’t know/follow the rules of the road!
Oh you sound like my hubby, the Colonel. He absolutely hates when people wave him on! And I truly believe they are no longer teaching driving skills properly! No one here in PA signals anymore. And no one understands the four way stop either. Great post!
Bwahahaahah omg you are SO MY HUSBAND. Except he’s a CoP!
Hilarious.
LOL I am so with you.. The 4 way stop is not that complicated yet now one knows how to do it! Also who invented traffic circles obviously is smart however, most drivers don’t get them and for some reason VA is adopting them!
My son is like that. He might be a little more so than you (he is very anxious). Everything has to be done in a certain order and he is terrified of getting anything wrong. This is not too good in school when he would rather not turn in homework than get a problem wrong. Oh, he is young yet.
Thanks for posting about driving. That drives me crazy, too!
Oooo, we’d get along just wonderfully. I’m a total rule follower too!
I can’t believe the number of times that someone going straight on a main road has stopped traffic behind them to ‘wave me on’ and allow me to turn left across their path. So incredibly dangerous! Because many times an impatient person behind them almost hits them from behind or tries to go around on the shoulder which would mean I can’t turn anyway.
Then there are just as many times that people trying to turn left at a traffic light assume the right of way when I need to drive straight through that intersection going the opposite direction. It happened yesterday at a major intersection near my mom’s house. The woman’s foot got stuck on the accelerator and the gas flow started a fire in her car.
Follow the traffic rules and no one gets hurt.
oh, you should hear me yell at bicyclists! Bikes are vehicles, right? Meaning that they should travel WITH the flow of traffic and not against it? Oh my word! Drives me crazy!
OK. How about THIS one?
If you have something blocking your way on your side of the street, YOU must stop, wait until the opposing traffic clears, before going over the line to proceed.
Does that make sense? I HATE it when, let’s say, there’s a UPS truck stopped in the opposite lane. The car coming toward me COMES INTO MY LANE, MAKES ME AND EVERYONE BEHIND ME STOP! so he can get around his obstruction.
DOH!
http://myexurbia.blogspot.com
I admit, I’m one of those people who hates the four way stop and sometimes “panics” when I get there.
Wait, do you live in Idaho? I swear there are more 4-way stops here than any other place I’ve ever lived. And everyone either takes the right of way all the time no matter whose turn it is, or they wave everyone else to go because they are confused. I hate it!!!!! Really.