Drivers must shift gears to spring
Congratulations to everyone who drove successfully through the rigors of winter — especially you new drivers. You’ve just completed the 90-day course in winter vehicle operation: brushing snow, scraping ice and sliding around some. This winter wasn’t too harsh, but it still offered some days to test your driving skills. Both new and experienced drivers had to “read” the road surface, and adjust their driving accordingly, to safely navigate their machines during much of our winter season.
But time marches on, and right around the bend is spring — thankfully, there’s no more snow, ice or bitter cold. What we will have, however, is a new set of concerns and events emerging along with the buds on the trees: renewed enthusiasm, an increase in pedestrian traffic, and the presence of motorcycles and bicycles.
That renewed enthusiasm, or exuberance, can be a rude harbinger of spring. After the short days and cold temperatures of winter, the joy of sunshine and warmth sometimes causes drivers to put away their shields of caution.
Someone apparently lost their cautionary reason last week, when they ran through a red light, striking a police car at the intersection of Boone Avenue and Lincoln Street. Thankfully, both the officer and the other driver are OK, but the cruiser was totaled, and the other driver apparently was uninsured. This incident reminds me why I never pass through any intersection, including one where I have a green light, without confirming that it’s clear.
I began the practice of never trusting green lights after an intersection near-strike while riding my motorcycle. So, with the Boone and Lincoln incident as new incentive, I’ll have the blinders off when I board my bike this year, and continue my careful approach to intersections. You simply can’t take a hit on a motorcycle — luckily, this collision didn’t involve one.
On the subject of motorcycles, please heed their request to “share the road.” They have every right to be there, and drivers must mentally adjust to not only see them, but also acknowledge their presence and yield to them according to normal traffic rules.
Bicycles have even more difficulty blending with automobile traffic. With the advent of spring, we must contend with bicycle riders running the gamut from kids on BMXs to Lance-like adult riders. Like it or not, the law provides for bicycles on our roadways, and with their lack of speed and visibility, they are a challenge for drivers. Bicyclists have rights, but also have road rules to obey — riders please take note!
The warmer weather will encourage many individuals to embark on foot for their outings, creating an increase in pedestrian traffic. The effusive mood of spring affects our youthful citizens for certain; they may not be thinking about traffic, so “traffic” needs to think about them. You can also bet that there will be some spring police “stings” devoted to catching crosswalk ignorers.
On the subject of “stings,” or emphasis patrols, you may have read about the planned crackdown on drivers who don’t yield to emergency vehicles. I’m all for that, as it is an extension of my popular pet peeve: left-lane travel.
The law requires drivers to pull to the right and stop when emergency vehicles are approaching from either direction, and this is easier to do if you are in the right-hand lane in the first place. Please remember, the left lane is to be used for overtaking another vehicle, moving left to allow a vehicle to merge from the right, and for travel when about to make a left turn.
During this patrol, police will ride along in fire trucks and ambulances, and presumably mail tickets to those who ignore their presence. Hopefully, this will target and penalize drivers that are part of the problem. Just try not to retard the progress of these vehicles when they appear in your vicinity.
Old Business
Operation Emergency Vehicle will not be the only emphasis patrol to kick off the spring season — that old problem of following too closely will be on the docket, too.
Local and state law enforcement agencies have just announced that tailgaters are to be targeted once again because of the accidents they are causing.
We want to curb road rage, but don’t forget its close cousin: water rage! Yes, as sure as boats and jet-skis will hit the water soon, some of their operators are going to want to hit each other. Please be mellow and sober on the water.
The need for your input never goes away — I hope you regulars keep it up, and that some of you will write me for the first time this year. How about some police officers?
Stay safe and enjoy spring!