vermontliving

Once again, driving during Memorial Day weekend proved to be one large head ache.  Tourism season runs throughout the year, but with the advent of the Vermont Marathon and then the holiday week, one during which many take a full week off, roads are busier than ever around here.  I had a few occurrences that ticked me off and I find myself ready to explain a few rules and common courtesies that should apply when driving.

Do you recognize this sign?  Hopefully, you also know what this means.  Exit 16 in Colchester from the southbound lane ends with a sign stating there is no right turn on red.  Too many times I’ve been sat at this light and had the person behind me lay his/her hand on the horn.  It is the law!  You do not ignore this sign.  I’ve been sat in the left turn lane to go to Costco and seen people ignore it.  One time, there was a sheriff behind me.  His lights came on and that person was welcome to a nice ticket and fine.  Traffic fines in Vermont can go as high as $1,000.  If you are ticketed in a construction zone, expect the fine to double.  In addition to the fines, you will also receive points against your license.  Too many points and you can kiss your license good bye for a set period of time.

When you are entering a highway from an on ramp, you need to merge properly.  This means two things.  First, the driver in the right lane should move to the left lane if at all possible to allow you to move.  Sometimes, there is traffic in the way.  I’ve run into too many situations where the left lane has been clear and people still do not move over.  I’ve had to stop on on ramps and this is not supposed to happen.

Another issue I’ve run into happens near the southbound on ramp on the Winooski/South Burlington line.  The interstate is three lanes wide here for a reason!  This area is always busy and quite often I can’t merge over to the left lane, though I would if I could.  I can’t count the number of accidents I’ve seen and the near misses I’ve been in because those coming up the on ramp feel they need to get over immediately and will cut you off doing so.  You have a long span where three lanes exist, so stop pushing it and causing accidents!

The Champlain Bikeway goes right in front of my house, so I get a lot of bike traffic around here.  One thing that always drives me batty are the bicyclists who do not obey the road signs.  If a car has to stop for red lights, so does a bicycle.  Running a red light is bound to get you killed.  I almost hit a guy once who ran a red light on his bicycle and then cut in front of my car at Chimney Corners (where Route 7 and Route 2 form a T intersection).  I was going straight down Route 7 and he was turning left onto Route 2.  He did so right in front of me and then flipped me off.

One of my favorite auto incidents didn’t happen to me, but it did happen to my brother.  He drives for Domino’s Pizza and had run into the shop to get his next delivery.  He owns a Hyundai Elantra and gets approximately 32 miles to the gallon.  It was mid-winter, so he kept his car running for the minute he was in the shop.  He came out to find some woman driving a Lincoln Navigator yelling at him for leaving his car running and wasting gas.  This coming from a woman who drives one of the largest SUVs available?  Please!

Finally, I hate how people, especially those from out of state, try to drive in the winter.  When there is snow or ice on the road, you are supposed to slow down.  This helps keep you on the road!  I was driving home after the Super Bowl this year and it had rained lightly all day with temperatures in the mid-30s.  By the time the Super Bowl ended, temperatures were in the low 20s, so there was ice on the road.  I had one person ride my bumper and flash high beams at me to get me to speed up.  I’m not willing to risk my life.  If you aren’t happy with the speed the person is doing and want to risk your life, pass when it is safe.  Flashing your lights and riding their bumper isn’t helping.  I don’t care what kind of car you have, icy roads are icy roads!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS