Right Turn Rant
Maybe I’m the only one, but I doubt it… You’re in the right lane, waiting to go straight and there are not that many cars behind you. There’s a lane to your right that says, “Right Turn Only” with no one in it. Before your red light turns green, a car pulls into the very right lane, but doesn’t turn, instead, when the light turns green, he pulls straight out in front of you. Really? You in your cool shiny car? Does it not occur to you that it’s an accident waiting to happen?
Maybe I’m still the only one, but I doubt it… You’re in the “Right Turn Only” lane, behind one car, and the light is red. Since you are not in New York, you know that you can make a right turn on red (it’s a beautiful thing). There is no cross traffic and the coast is clear and yet the car in front of you is not moving. As he does not have New York plates, let’s assume that he’s from the area. He sits there and waits the entire light, not moving, and then when it turns green ends up going straight and by now you’re pulling your hair out.
Now I know sometimes people are new to the area, are trying to find something and are completely lost. I have sympathy for those people and they are usually identified by the back and forth movements of their head, and if you are next to them, their deer in the headlights expression. I don’t have a problem with these people and at times I’ve been one of them.
It’s the people that do know better, and yet figure that the signs apply to everyone but them. What makes them so special? Why do I have to suffer so that you can get somewhere 30 seconds sooner?
Maybe they can’t read. Maybe those three simple words: “Right Turn Only” are too difficult to sound out. I mean lets face it, the “g” and the “h” are silent. But wait! It’s always accompanied by a big black arrow curving toward the right! Do they think this is just artistic license to make the sign look prettier?
If it’s not you, and it’s not me, then it must be someone out there doing this, and bringing my blood pressure up, and unfortunately, until they get into an accident or get an expensive ticket, they’re gonna keep doing it. So I guess I gotta get used to it.