An Attitude Adjustment is Required!

I’m walking south on the east side of 3rd street preparing to cross the green light at the intersection of 3rd street and Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. There is a group of pedestrians crossing this green light, about 12 or more. There is also one car that is signaling to turn left going south on 3rd street and turning east onto Van Buren. However, he must wait until traffic clears. As we are walking across the streets the pedestrian signal light says there are 8 more seconds before the light changes to red. At this point a gap develops among pedestrians and this driver seeks to take advantage of this and blows his horn at a pedestrian and proceeds through the gap making his turn. I am a few feet behind along with a few other pedestrians. We all make it safely across the streets in the allotted time.

This driver’s action displays the rudeness, impatience, selfishness, contempt, and hatred reflected in the attitude that I have noticed in many Arizona drivers towards other human beings that share the roadways. I said it before, it is one thing to issue a ticket or citation to this sort of person, but what they really need is a change of mind, a change of attitude and a change of heart. This behavior is unacceptable. However, the question is “How can it be changed?”

The Operator

Think of something that you know how to operate. Can you operate a can opener? How many times have you opened a can and injured yourself and someone else? Can you operate a computer? How many times have you injured yourself while operating the computer? Think of some items that you operate what about a stereo, cassette recorder or an MP3 player, lawn mower, blender, jack hammer, espresso machine. How many times have you injured yourself doing so? What about others have you injured others while operating any of these items? What about killing yourself or someone else while doing so? Not likely?

That brings me to the automobile. How many of you operate an automobile? How many of you have injured yourself and others when operating an automobile? Why did you do it? What is the difference between operating an automobile and a lawn mower? When operating the vehicle you were paying attention, right? Eyes on the road ahead; hands in the ten and two position on the wheel, right? You were looking both ways, right? You know I’m joking, right? Because that’s not how it’s done in this modern era. You may operate the lawn mower like that but the automobile you take for granted. I don’t think people drink while operating a lawn mower or read, or put on make-up or any of those other things they do when operating an automobile. I think people tend to use both hands and keep their concentration while operating a lawn mower to prevent an “accident” from occurring. Why is the operation of an automobile any different? Maybe it’s because you feel safer in the automobile. Maybe you think you will not get hurt and don’t care about others! Is this the thought behind “hit-and-runs?” Or maybe you are just careless like the AZ father that ran over and killed his daughter or the AZ uncle that ran over and killed his niece. I’m sure that they did not mean to do it but carelessness kills too.

The automobile is no different from the many other tools we use on a daily bases; however, it all boils down to “the operator” and the level of respect they have for themselves and others!

Caution

Do you remember once upon a time when the yellow light meant “caution?” What does it mean today? Based on what I see on a daily bases it means “speed up,” “go faster,” and “catch the light.” What do you see? I have actually taken my video camera and recorded footage of folks performing these very acts. Upon viewing the footage you can hear the engine rev as the vehicle accelerates to “catch the light.” Sometimes in doing this the driver “catches” more than the light. They catch another vehicle or a bicyclist or even a pedestrian. I believe that the word “caution” should be redefined when it comes to traffic safety. In fact, what is the current definition for the word “caution” as it relates to traffic safety? Does anybody have an Arizona Drivers License Manual? Under the heading “Roadway and Vehicle Knowledge” on page 25 of my old book under the sub-heading titled “Signal Lights” it says “Yellow – yellow means brake! This signal means CAUTION. A steady yellow light is a warning that the light is about to turn red. If you have not entered the intersection, you should come to a safe stop. If you are already in the intersection you should continue moving and clear it safely. Speeding up to “beat the light” is illegal and could cause an accident.”

Well, in that definition it does say that “yellow means brake.” But come on how many Arizona drivers brake on yellow? None! Not even the so-called “good drivers!” If it’s illegal why is it that we NEVER see motorists getting pulled over and getting tickets? Instead of braking, many drivers SPEED UP this means go faster, perhaps faster than the posted speed limit, if they were not already over the speed limit. And you know when you are traveling at higher rates of speed it takes longer to stop and that's when so-called accidents occur. In the city of Phoenix 27% of crashes occur at traffic signals according to the city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department. Since the definition of yellow has changed from this to that I think the yellow light should be eliminated all together. This way there is no fudging, no wiggle room or loop holes. If we use the pedestrian count-down (10, 9 ,8...) the vehicle can see the counter and when it hits 1 and you run the light... you did it! This way the case will be very clear either you did it (ran the red light) or you didn’t. Red means stop and green means go! And caution means...what?