Red light, Green light...

I sometimes get a little peeved about the littlest things. There are about five or six national companies that will never see another cent from my wallet because of what others may consider "minor issues." There are plenty of competitors who are happy to take my business. This pet peeve is more than just a matter of pennies or brand loyalty. This one could kill you!

Red means STOP – Green mean GO…

We learn that early in life. We play games in kindergarten to help us remember it. The color scheme is used in advertisements as a call to action. And yet, some people just don't get it!

On my roughly 30 mile round trip to work and home each day, there are probably 4 or 5 intersections where these "ne'er do wells" tend to congregate. The two worst spots involve getting off of the expressway. On the way to work, getting off the expressway there is a stop sign on the service drive to allow the freeway traffic to exit on to the service drive. on at least 3 of the 5 work days, I see people blow through that stop sign while I'm sitting on the exit ramp. Not slow down and make a rolling stop, then continue -- blow right through without even a hit of red glare coming from their tail lights. The only way I can imagine that no one has been killed in a crash there is that those of us getting off the freeway just expect them to blow through the sign and are that much more careful. That's not the way it's supposed to happen though!

There is a similar issue on the way home. Getting off the expressway, I need to cross 3 lanes of service drive to make a right turn. The service drive has the yield (though not a stop if I recall). More often than not, people blow right through that merge without a second glance. In a little poetic justice, the day I almost get side swiped at that intersection, as I was mumbling under my breath, "where are the darn cops when you need them," I looked back to see the bubble lights flip on and a police officer pulling over the offender behind me. :-}

Back stepping a bit, the first critical intersection is actually at the end of my street. There is a 4-way traffic light at the intersection. Usually the way those work is that 2 sides are green and the opposing two sides are red. Well there must be an awful lot of color-blind people in my city, 'cuz they certainly can't see it change from one color to another... Thankfully, the local police officers need to keep up their funds so they occasionally will sit there and wait for the law breakers. I always stop and say "Thanks" when I see them sitting there (of course they reach for their sidearm when some cook approaches their car for no apparent reason, but they seem to be thankful for the appreciation after the fact.)

So, whether you're in a hurry because you're late for work, distracted by your cell phone, or changing the CD in the stereo... PLEASE, for all our sakes, PAY ATTENTION at intersections.