Kinder, Gentler 4-Way Stops
July 10, 2011
2 Comments
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If you Google "Road Rage Baseball Bat", there are 507,000 references/links. Holy Crap!
Is it just me, or does it seem like car/truck drivers are a bit more well-mannered at 4-way stops since the Styx concert at River Roar.
I know I am much more patient.
I yield the right of way.
I yield the left of way.
I was so kinder and gentler (and cautious) at a 4-way stop on the corner of Wheeler and Bangor Roads the other morning, that the driver in the car behind me brought me coffee and a Cinnamon bun.
I think it might have something to do with that baseball bat incident at Vet's Park a week or so back -- after the Styx concert.
If you remember, driver #1 allegedly cut off driver #2 during the exit traffic jam after the concert. Normally this just ends up in a harmless honking, finger-pointing, head out the window name calling incident.
But in this case, the pot boiled over and a baseball bat got injected into the argument. Very sad for all involved.
After two days of reading the graphic news reports about the altercation and adding in the fact that one of the drivers is still hospitalized in an induced coma -- I think most of us (drivers) are making sure we don't cut anyone off for the rest of the summer.
I know one thing sure . . . if someone hangs a Louisville Slugger out his driver's side window . . . or even looks like he might be a disgruntled Little League coach with a bag of bats in his back seat . . . I certainly won't be the one to make a left turn in front of him.
You might think that this kind of Road Rage with a Baseball Bat is rare. I Googled Road Rage Baseball Bat and our local Styx Concert incident wasn't even listed until page 3 -- or some 30 articles down the results list. And . . . there we're 507,000 links to additional "Road Rage Baseball Bat" articles.
Holy Crap!
Seems as though this kind of road rage, baseball bat, head-bashing is more common than then I had ever imagined.
My lovely wife Donna has an interesting take (Imagine that) on why there are so many Road Rage incidents these days.
According to Ms. Donna, road rage is much more prevalent in 2011 because everyone is driving sober. "People are a lot happier when they've had a few drinks," Donna offered, somewhat tongue in cheek. "Everyone knows that happy drivers are less likely to have road rage incidents," she went on. "Today's drivers are just way to tense behind the wheel . . . just waiting to explode," Donna added smiling with a twinkle in her eye.
This wifely perspective may take a bit more research. But in the meantime, at least for the next couple of weeks, I'll be the one waving you through the intersection when we're tied for first arrival at the 4-way stop.
You just go right on ahead.
I'm just politely waving you on . . .
No problem.
No sir.
No problem at all.
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Youngd741 Says:
On July 12, 2011
at 02:43 PM
I liked your article on the kinder gentler 4 way stop. I want to run something by you though. I cant seem to get a hold of the concert promoter for STXY or Lynrd Skynrd but a serious problem is delveloping on the hill the past few years. people used to leave a little walk area up and down the hill to get to the beverage tent/bathrooms/food etc.. but this year I have noticed nobody cares as they sit anywhere, even the spot people with common sense left open as a walkway, and verbal comments are made when someone tries to climb the hill to go to the restroom or grab a beer when they get their blanket stepped on or so much as walk in front of a drunk trouble maker. I have seen good people walk away from ignorant people and its only a matter of time before a scrap takes place. I sure wish someone would just spray paint a walkway on the grass going up the hill on all 3 directions so people can walk up it without getting into an arguement. people dont seem to care anymore whether they sit where it appears nobody is sitting in a walkway for good reason (duh) its because it was a makeshift walk way!!! can you pass this on to prevent a fight. your a good man O.J. thanks for all you do.
Doug Young |
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A Reader . . . says:
On July 16, 2011
at 07:22 AM
Well written, OJ
Enjoy your column every week. |
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O. J. Cunningham |
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