Hi Everyone,
I think we can all agree that this winter hasn’t exactly been the best. Depending on where you live, you might say this year has been the worst for snow. Here’s today’s blog.
As a pedestrian, it is my responsibility to ensure that I cross the street in a safe manner. That also means that it is my responsibility to ensure that drivers have fully stopped before I move. You know, cross the street or intersection. This to me is common knowledge. So, yesterday as I crossed an intersection I paused because I was not completely convinced that the driver was going to fully stop before they turned right. The driver gave me cut-eye!
I know this because one of the jobs I had, trained me to always make eye contact with drivers. I just decided to take that training and apply it to real life. Anyway, I was pissed off! I thought, seriously! You are in a van, not fully stopped, and it has been snowing all day. There’s slush everywhere. How am I to know that your vehicle isn’t going to skid or slide forward and into me! I don’t! And I don’t know how many drivers are medicated either! Medicated to me, is anything the doctor prescribed and anything that people decide to take to numb the pain in their lives. Prescription, non-prescription drugs, alcohol, cough medicine and any other over the counter products are all things that people use to fill the void in their lives, to numb their pain.
The reason I mentioned the above is because about 35 years before, I watched a segment on 60 minutes, pertaining to the increased number of accidents in Florida. From what I can remember, the growing numbers of senior citizens were causing a lot of accidents while driving. The theory was that their reflexes weren’t as fast as they used to be due to their age and their medication. Some elderly drivers were plowing into bus shelters and killing people by the dozens! I am serious. With the growing number of elderly and medicated people in society, I am concerned for my safety, hence my extra precautions. Winter isn’t the only time to pay close attention.
Last summer in the middle of the day, I was crossing the street, on a green light as the countdown began. A younger woman was walking a few paces behind me. She had her ear buds in. I did not. I heard something. As I turned to look, I saw that the driver had accelerated and was inches from her. I grabbed her arm as I quickly made eye contact. The elderly driver stopped half way into the intersection, and of course looked pissed off at me!
What I found even more disturbing was that the driver was already on a one-way street and turning onto another! Not only was there no traffic in sight, there was no need to hurry! The countdown still had over 20 seconds left as both I and the younger woman reached the sidewalk! As someone who walks everywhere physically possible, I have hundreds of other examples, but you get the picture. Dangerous drivers are everywhere at all times of the year!
So before anyone decides to give anyone cut-eye for pausing while crossing a street or intersection, maybe they should check themselves! Maybe they should consider that not every driver is fully alert and that pedestrians have valid reasons for being careful. And well, maybe if drivers have decided to medicate themselves in the past before or during the times they decide to get behind the wheel, they will stop. After all, a lot of lives are at stake! And really, how do you explain to someone, that you killed one or more people because you chose to be irresponsibly! Exactly! While I am at it, if you or someone you know, can’t stop medicating themselves, maybe you should check them into rehab! I am serious!
Please always drive carefully and responsibly. If you are crossing a street or intersection, pay extra attention, a lot of drivers aren’t! Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Here is a link to a past blog about drivers,
http://arebelsrant.com/dangerous-drivers-d/
Thank you for reading, A. Rebel’s Rant! ;D
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