My friend Rachel recently posted about Driver Safety. I agree 100% with what she said. After reading about her roommate getting hit by a car and all the grief they've gotten for being "unsafe pedestrians" even though it was 100% the driver's fault, I posted a lengthy comment on her blog to add to her thoughts. I thought I'd post my thoughts on my own blog as well. If you'd like to read the original post that spurred my thoughts, you can find it here. Otherwise, you can just read my comments.
Before I share what I shared on Rachel's blog, here is my thesis statement:
Everyone - pedestrians, drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, EVERYONE!!! - BE SAFE AND AWARE! It's everyone's responsibility!
Now onto the meat:
At Target just yesterday there was this car behind me that was a little peeved with how slowly I was driving in the parking lot. I was driving slowly because people were crossing. It is a store afterall. So this peeved lady swerves around me, runs a stop sign and almost hits some people crossing in the crosswalk all because she couldn't wait 2 seconds for the pedestrians to finish crossing. And guess who found a parking spot first. ME!
Also, I am very glad to hear that you are a safe motorcycle driver. Yesterday there was a guy on a scooter behind me at a red light and we were both turning left. After the light turns green and we turned left, I look in my mirrors and see no scooter kid anymore. I thought it was really strange but figured he must have already turned in somewhere else. At the next red light (quite a ways down the road) I realize that the scooter guy had been in my blind spot the entire time! A major rule of bike safety: stay out of blind spots. I was being as aware, but when the scooter chooses to be in the blind spot, it seems like scooter kid has a death wish or something. (Oh and NO helmet - which is scarily common in Provo.)
My advice to everyone: Cars: be aware of bikes, motorcycles, and people as well as surrounding cars. People: Look out for cars. Motorcycles: Look out for cars and people, wear helmets, be smart. Bikes: Ride on the proper side of the road, wear a helmet, watch out of cars and people, and follow traffic signs. Everyone: Be aware and be safe!!!
Haha, thanks for the pimp, Angela! I'm glad we (being the apartment) aren't the only ones who seem to be aware that there is a problem. Everyone really needs to start pitching in. Society is putting up too many fail safes, and people are dropping their guard I feel. Everyone seems to be in such a rush, they forget that taking a second to look around, spending a little extra on a helmet, or checking everything is working in their vehicle could not only save other people's lives, but their own. I loved your comment, nail on the head!
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