anarchy in the streets: the daily commute
DawnI’ve been daylighting at an organic cafe in North Tampa. A seven or so mile drive from my house that takes 35+ minutes in rush hour traffic. (Mind you, I am going against the flow of traffic.) I’ve driven in major metro areas before: Philly, Seattle, Dover, DE (just kidding). But seriously, the amount of red light runners in Tampa is no freaking joke. It’s bloody ridiculous. One reason we’re stuck at a light long after it turns green.
People become so selfish when hidden behind the steel frames of their vehicle. We all have places to go. Most of us are running late too. But way too many drivers have stopped giving a rat’s ass about the next guy and it’s making me want to put the smack down.
It’s offense-sive driving instead of defensive and there are no teams, just a handful of safe drivers abiding by the rules (and their common sense), which exist to keep us all safe.
Short of an infrequent accident on NB 275, most of trip is smooth. Until I get hit intersections on Fletcher or Bearss. Cars will jam intersections knowing their light will turn red and they’ll still be sitting there, blocking turning or oncoming traffic. In most cities, blocking an intersection is illegal. (Although so is red light running, but I’ve already been through that one.)
I think on my day off I’ll stand on the corner videotaping all the assinine antics of impatient drivers, complete with close ups and license plate shots. It could be the next hit show on community access.
Tags: law enforcement, tampa, transportation
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September 29th, 2006 at 11:25 am
wow, it’s incredibly true! i absolutely cannot believe how many people run red lights here. not that i’m some kind of authority advocate, but where the hell are the cops? granted, i think a lot of it has to do with the poor traffic management here. it’s not just the roads, but the timing of the lights and lack of turning lanes. this clogs traffic and gives people incentives for running lights, otherwise they’re stuck for another 2-3 minutes. i hate cameras, but i think some should be installed on traffic lights here in order to discourage this dangerous habit.
September 29th, 2006 at 11:44 am
The biggest problem is there are more non-natives than natives that live not only here but in all of Florida. What I mean by that is your have people who live here that moved from all 50 states and from many foreign countries. So you have different attitudes and driving habits. For example everyone in NYC or LA drive a simular way. But when in Florida you have a huge mix. So there really is no “standard” of driving attitude. I’m not talking what is legal but what is their attitude while driving.
Just another reason for a RAIL SYSTEM!!!
September 29th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
That’s why they call it the Lawless State. Park in the street against the flow of traffic? Sure. Park 3 feet from a fire hydrant or intersection? Why not? Run a red light? Red lights are for wimps.
September 29th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Back in June I covered a neighborhood traffic meeting in a Seminole Hts neighborhood near Nebraska and Hanna. All they wanted was a stop sign to slow speeders who used their street to cut from Nebraska to 15th, but the cop in attendance, as well as a city suit (whose name currently escapes me), both argued that drivers would just disregard the sign. When the people in charge have given up, it makes it a lot tougher on those of us who still care.
September 29th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
This really is pretty tame compared other cities I have visited though. Atlanta? If you have to run into a store I saw several people simply stop in the street and run inside, downtown I saw several lanes blocked because people had parked in them. In Chicago a friend considers his two hour commute “normal” and in Miami well they just drive fast as hell there.
September 29th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Actually, the traffic thing is more cause people won’t put their foot on the d*mn gas pedal. 35mph doesn’t mean wait four seconds when the light turns green and then drive 22.
September 29th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Rachel, I am one of the many who takes their time (moderately) at the green light because of all the freaking red light runners. Taking 2 seconds to look both ways before entering an intersection can save lives.
September 29th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
And ultimately, save more time by preventing an accident.
September 30th, 2006 at 3:15 am
Okay, so now I’m going to be looking for Dawn everytime I go into Abby’s.
September 30th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
shoot, i guess that means i have to stop acting goofy at work now.
p.s. try the kick ass sundried tomato hummus. i invented it myself (and have three minor burns to show for it). it was totally worth it.
October 1st, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Today I honestly witnessed a man jump out of his car (while it’s still turned on in park at the intersection) cross traffic lanes and over hedges, run into a store leaping over counters, then run back to his car like a gazelle before the light turned green. (Kennedy & Dale Mabry). I thought he was filming some type of action film. Crazy Hillsborough County, it’s what makes me laugh until someone gets hurt. Anyone else witness this “wonder guy” near Kinko? Man, I needed a video camera for that Jackass episode.
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:59 am
Dawn, you’re still kinda furthering the larger point, though, which you made in the first place, but whcih yo apparently are guilty of, too. People who don’t follow traffic rules hold traffic up.
Here’s the thing - you (as in most people) are not a lawmaker and you’re not an engineer, so when the light says go, just go, and when it says stop, you stop. Pedestrians cross at the counter-green or the walk sign.
Follow the rules and traffic flows. It’s when you decide you’re going to tailor the rule (”I won’t go when the light is green because I want to wait to see if other people are tailoring the rule, too.”) that everything gets backed up.
It’s stupid and self-aggrandizing, and, yes, I do realize just how qualified I am to speak on self-aggrandizing, but this is one area where you screw things up for everyone when you don’t act right.
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Green actually does not mean “go.” It means proceed with caution or something semantically similar. Rules are rules, but safety and common sense are unwritten ones that everyone should know.
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:19 pm
that was me. forgot to sign in.