Please, when you're waiting to turn right at a red light, don't do a kamikaze turn immediately when the light turns green without checking for pedestrians first. When I see the walk signal, I start walking because I have an unambiguous right-of-way. I'm funny like that.
Certain corners seem to be worse for this than others: Caroline and William in particular. I pretty much expect people to try to hit me as I start crossing, so I always make a quick (and legal) step out just to wake them up and get them off their darn cel phones.
PS: Drivers, also signal when you turn, so I know which direction you're going at an intersection. We'll all be happier.
4 comments:
I take it the hand is feeling better? ;)
Good luck on the turn-signal plea: years of my profanity are still floating in the air above Chicago because of that annoying habit.*
*Yes, a semi-ripoff of Jean Shepherd, but I miss him and Darren McGavin.
Yielding the right of way
At any intersection where you want to turn left or right, you must yield the right-of-way. If you are turning left, you must wait for approaching traffic to pass or turn and for pedestrians in your path to cross. If you are turning right, you must wait for pedestrians to cross if they are in your path.
When entering a road from a private road or driveway, you must yield to vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalk.
You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing at specially marked pedestrian crossings or crossovers.
Remember, signaling does not give you the right-of-way. You must make sure the way is clear.
Cellular phones
Currently, there is no law against using a cellular phone while driving, but you can be charged with dangerous or careless driving if you cause a collision while using one.
Use signals
Signals tell other drivers what you want to do, giving them a chance to co-operate.
Use your turn signals and brake lights to signal before stopping, slowing down, turning, changing lanes, leaving the road, or moving out from a parked position. Give the correct signal well before the action and make sure other drivers can see it. Check the way is clear before you act - just signaling is not enough.
If your turn signals and brake lights are not working, use hand and arm signals.
The Official Driver's Handbook, Ontario, 2002.
Driver's handbook or not, making a blind right-turn -- with or without signal -- is a sort of epidemic with drivers. I assume the thought process is:
"I want to turn right. I'm stopped at the red light. I'm aware that I can turn right on a red if there are no cars coming, so I watch carefully to wait for a gap in the cars. Aha, finally a gap is coming, since the light has turned yellow! I'll make a quick right turn after the last car passes...HEY, WHY'S THAT GIRLY-LOOKING PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME?!? Oh, I guess the light turned green while I was waiting for the last car to go by..."
Sadly I've seen my mother do this.
That's exactly my point. ;)
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