View from the cop

By Temp

March 18, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

I’m totally for hard enforcement in residential areas, but ticketing people on the highways is completely absurd. The statistics show that the fatality rates decreased significantly when Montana got rid of their speed limit. The only reason we have the ridiculous highway speed limits are for revenue collection, not for safety.

By Political Foreskin

March 18, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Not one person has died on the German Autobahns since Hitler built them and posted no speed limits. They go 125 easy as pie on the autobahns. School Busses are banned from all German Highways as they are traffic hazards, unt why aren’t all the liederhosened hitler youth at orientation camp anyway?

I saw a motorist in Cobb using his cellphone to take pictures of another motorist speeding. Arrest that man.

By Kat

March 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

My bad driving pet peeve: When making a 90 degree turn at an intersection, stay the #&!! in your own lane. Don’t cut the corner and come barelling into my lane!

My ultimate pet peeve: officers who violate the traffic laws because they can. Where I live, there should be one of those “come to Jesus” meetings every day!

By Cindy

March 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

I think Temp and Political uncircumsized make excellent points. We as a public should be free to kill ourselves and everyone else at whatever damn speed we please. Kinda like a self-cleaning oven…ya know?

By Goodriver

March 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Here’s a few rules!!!!!

Rule #1—The left lane is the fast lane. If there are a bunch of lanes, the lane speeds increase as you move to the left. Do not be a left lane Nazi. Keep right. In Europe, you can be ticketed or even lose your license for hogging the left lane. That guy behind you flashing his lights while riding your bumper may not be impatient, he may be taking a friend to the hospital or his need for speed is far more important that your “cause”. There’s a reason for everything.

I could go on for days.

By Lunatic Fringe

March 18, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Drive right, pass left.

By Ellijay

March 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Yes, officers who disobey traffic laws are also a nat bite for me. There is a Cherokee County sheriff that passes me EVERY morning on I-575 between Ball Ground and Canton. The speed limit is 70, I’ve got the speed control set at 75, and he still flies by me every time.

By Cindy

March 18, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

Dear AJC,

Please provide goodriver a blog of his own…and post the link…

goodriver…keep it coming…

come one…i’m waiting

:)

By Temp

March 18, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Cindy, your comment is exactly the kind of drivel that I’m fighting against. The statistics clearly show that getting rid of the speed limit on highways REDUCES fatalities, by a factor of almost 50%. Perhaps if you did some research instead of listening to your useless and inane feelings, you could make an argument of substance.

By Wha?

March 18, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Only short parts of the Autobahn have unlimited speed now and they have accidents. They usually have 800-1000 fatalities per year in the unlimited sections. Still low by American standards but certainly not zero. Germans also have very strict driving rules: no passing on the right only on the left, no drinking and driving, can’t use a cellphone and drive on Autobahn, mandatory seatbelt usage, very high standards to pass just to get a license, you have to be 21 to even apply for a license, etc.

By Wants 2 Live

March 18, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Sounds like someone just had to pay for a speeding ticket on a highway. We have speed limits on the highway because with $20 and a “birth certificate” any lunkhead can get a driver’s license. There is no education required to get one. Many people already drive WAY too fast for the vehicles they drive. Hint: a F250 wasn’t designed to be driven at 90mph and it will handle and stop at that speed accordingly.
People weave in and out of traffic all the time in an effort to save, on average, about 30 seconds. Traffic fatalities have mostly gone down because more people wear seatbelts and cars are designed to absorb the energy of crashes. Drivers have most certainly not gotten better. The amount of tickets written in a school zone pretty much show that. If a thorough driving class were required to get a license, like Germany, we could have high or no speed limits on the highways.

By Cindy

March 18, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Temp,

Thank you for your self-help analysis of me and my feelings. I’m feeling better already.

I don’t have to present a substantial argument though…all the flowers and teddy bears and crosses on the side of the road already demonstrate the obvious.

Slow down to 90, buckle up and stay alive.

Point to ponder: imagine all of the people who’re on their cells (talking and texting)…now picture them with the greenlight to go whatever speed they desire.

By Howland Owl

March 18, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Bbut no one has solved the REAL problem yet, to wit:

Lt Steve, if you just stop checking those voicemails the mailbox will fill up and a little voice will tell the caller that there’s no room for another message. The caller will have to call back.

….or not..

By Temp

March 18, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Wants 2 Live, if you really do want to live, stop listening to the “Speed Kills” idiots and look at the cold, hard facts. Just a couple of links to back me up: http://www.hwysafety.com/hwymontana2001.htm http://www.heritage.org/Research/SmartGrowth/bg532.cfm

Cindy, the fact that you don’t think you have to present an argument… either you are exactly the type of “feeeeelings” idiot I am portraying you as, or you are just trying to get a rise out of me. If you want to reduce those crosses and teddy bears, look at the facts.

By brock

March 18, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

I agree w/ most of Goodriver’s points except for his stereotyping drivers and his disdain for cyclists. Most cyclists’ violations only endanger them, so I don’t get too worked up about them.

I would like to add a few more:

Lights on in the rain or at low light conditions. What’s up w/ drivers who run no lights or only their parking lights in these conditions? What exactly are you saving your headlights for, anyway? The police in Duluth are some of the worst violators of this law.

The fat white line at intersections is the stop line and the first car in line should align his vehicle w/ that line. Go over and you impede drivers turning, and leaving a car length or more ahead of you means other drivers behind in the line of cars cannot access the turn lanes. Or you may not trigger the light sensors in the road and we are doomed to an eternity of sitting at this light. The same goes for those in line; pull up to the car in front, leaving only enough space to see the rear tires of the car ahead.

Don’t brake for no apparent reason. Too many drivers treat their brakes as some sort of a panic button when they get nervous while driving. If you are afraid, take the bus!

Finally, many drivers seem to think hearing the sound of a horn is some sort of insult and react accordingly. Think of it instead as the audible equivalent of, I care about you and want to make sure we don’t run into each other. Or, there are people behind me that will not make it through this light unless you get going!

Happy motoring.

By lilibeter

March 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

I am from a farm in rural Georgia, and I have been driving since I was about 3 years old (on my father’s lap) and driving by myself since I was 7 yeras old (got my first truck). It scares me to death that there are people out there who sat behind the wheel of a vehicle for the first time when they were 15 and getting their learner’s permit, but I do understand that urban and rural areas are very different.

That being said, the Autobahn is an entirely different place than the Atlanta (or even American) road system. Americans do not have the same mind-set. In America, people consider it a right to have a driver’s license. In Germany, they know that it is a priviledge, and they treat it as such. Over there, you don’t just “get” a driver’s license, you earn your license. People tend to value what costs them more, and what is more, people tend to treat the things that they value with more consideration.

Yes, the Autobahn has accidents and even fatalities; however, their tally does not even touch that of the interstate systems of the U.S.A. Perhaps if America were to make its drivers earn their licenses as opposed to practically handing them out like candy, the drivers here would treat that priviledge with more respect. Doing so would seemingly imply that they would treat their fellow drivers with more respect.

Since America does not though, people like me feel compelled to invest in things like expensive German cars to protect them from the masses out there who drive without regard for anyone on the roads except themselves. I would far rather invest my time, money, and effort in earning a license rather than a safer car if I knew that everyone else on the road with me had to actually earn theirs and, perhaps, valued and respected that fact.

By KJ

March 18, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Good driver = slight racist/sexist? Trust me, I am left in shock & awe on a daily basis of the white male who is driving around with his head shoved up his… well you know where. Particularly the other day where within 12 hours I watched one cause an accident as they tried to turn onto the offramp of 985 and two more try to rear end me because they were too busy eating breakfast to notice traffic was stopping. That smoke coming off your wheels? Not good. And to all you intelligent species out there with your cute little road rage, you do realize that your cussing, swerving, tailgating, finger-giving only makes me laugh at you and, depending on your level of psychosis, I may just try to p** you off more. Thanks for playing! Rule #1 of the road, which I believe is important given the events of the last few days: Drive the same direction as traffic. Do not get on 85N and attempt to go South. You will be injured… severly. And those of us going the right way, do not care to witness or participate in your death.
Rule #2: Any time you have to say “I’mmmm ffffinne, I can drivie home, no problem, no drunkie”, you should strongly consider NOT driving. Just a thought.

By KJ

March 18, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Good driver = slight racist/sexist? Trust me, I am left in shock & awe on a daily basis of the white male who is driving around with his head shoved up his… well you know where. Particularly the other day where within 12 hours I watched one cause an accident as they tried to turn onto the offramp of 985 and two more try to rear end me because they were too busy eating breakfast to notice traffic was stopping. That smoke coming off your wheels? Not good. And to all you intelligent species out there with your cute little road rage, you do realize that your cussing, swerving, tailgating, finger-giving only makes me laugh at you and, depending on your level of psychosis, I may just try to p** you off more. Thanks for playing! Rule #1 of the road, which I believe is important given the events of the last few days: Drive the same direction as traffic. Do not get on 85N and attempt to go South. You will be injured… severly. And those of us going the right way, do not care to witness or participate in your death.
Rule #2: Any time you have to say “I’mmmm ffffinne, I can drivie home, no problem, no drunkie”, you should strongly consider NOT driving. Just a thought.

By TJW

March 18, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

Personally, I’d like to a lot more police out there because, honestly, Atlanta is one of the most dangerous places to drive that I’ve ever been. People here like to break traffic laws ALL the time, the worst being running red lights and stop signs. I don’t blame the people who pause for a second or two after their light turns green, since their is a good probability that 1-3 cars will wizz through the red light. Turn lanes are even worse… I’ve seen people stop at a red arrow, then turn through it anyway when there are no cars coming… Really, there is a good reason people fight the Red Light Cameras so much…

Traffic around schools and school buses is horrible too, You may be in a rush, but if you endanger children in the process, thats inexcusible. I love seeing the speed trap by Sprayberry High do a booming business. I do disagree with a School Bus having a stop on more then a 4 lane divided highway though. Stopping that much traffic is just asking for problems… but I can’t blame the Buses since the development roads are too narrow for the Bus to safely enter, they have no choice.

Highway speedlimits are a joke… Do you really think you can enforce a 55 mile limit when 99% of the cars out there go 70? I seem to recall an incident where a group of people formed a line across the highway and all matched speed at the limit. The police actually pulled them over for ‘Obstructing Traffic’… Now, if everyone is doing 70 and your doing 80 weaving in and out of traffic, then your asking to be pulled over, or your poking along at 50 (non-emergency), then you should probably learn the surface streets since you should not be on the highway…

Cell phones should be banned while driving, period.

By trucker

March 18, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

here are a few words of wisdom (?) on rules of the road from someone who drives a big truck for a living. When entering the interstate system, don’t speed up coming down the ramp then slow down at the end of it. Big trucks are not allowed in the left lanes and most of the time, we are in the right lanes. When you come down the ramp, we see you and most of us will either change lanes if we can or will slow down to let you in. Take the opportunity to get up to speed. When a big truck passes you at night, DO NOT use your high beams to signal it is okay to return to your lane. Ruins our night vision. Just turn your lights off then back on. Speaking of headlights, spend somne time at the mechanics shop or your driveway and adjust that headlight that is pointing into the sky. Yes it might be pointing to the sky but it also catches our mirrors and ruins our rearview vision. When you pass a big truck, make sure you can see ALL of his grill in your INSIDE mirror before you get back in front of him. Remember, it takes almost a tenth of a mile (528 feet) for a loaded truck to come to a complete stop. Speaking of mirrors..if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you. Cell phone users…get the cell phone out of your left ear. Your arm blocks your left side vision. Invest in some sort of headphone for your phone. They sell for as little as $20.00 and will work on most cell phones. You may hate big trucks but remember this..if you wear it, eat it, sit on it, drive it, watch it, or drink it, a big truck transported it. Everything gets to a store by a truck. In a battle (wreck) between a big truck and a car (or pickup truck), the big truck always wins. Give us the room we need to manuver safely through traffic.

By Midtown Employee

March 18, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

I work in a Midtown highrise near the 14th St. and it is turning into a free-for-all around the 17th street bridge through 14th street.

Who the eff do you people think you are turning right from a lane where you are supposed to go straight? Do you honestly believe you are more important than the rest of us and think it is just hunky dory for you to drive past people waiting their for their chance to turn and then cut right in front of them?

And let’s not forget the 16th street access road to 75N and the asinine drivers who also believe it’s all fine and dandy to zip past people waiting their turn by driving in the on-coming lane to zip past everyone and get on 75N.

I drive a gas guzzeler and lemme tell you, I’m going to do what I can and put it to work and block you from your total inconsiderate behavior.

If you see me with a digital camera shooting your license plate, wave at me with whatever finger you choose because I will have the last laugh. Freaking idiots.

By brock

March 18, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

TJW, the reason you see so many drivers run those red arrows is because they are installed at too many intersections. There are many intersections without them and we don’t generally try to turn unless it’s clear to do so. If it’s not an intersection with visibility problems, there is no need for the red arrow. Why must signals be dumbed-down to the level of people who cannot judge speed and distance of approaching cars?

By TJW

March 18, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Brock: Just because people don’t believe that the intersection should have a red arrow does not give them the right to run it. Personnally, I agree with you, some of the ones that come to mind should be yields, not stops. If people have such a problem with them then they should request the city to re-evaluate the light.

By Wants 2 live

March 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Temp, I don’t necessarily believe that only speed kills. My main point was that lack of skill combined with speed kills.
Montana has a 75mph speed limit since 1999 partly to prevent yahoos from other states coming in and driving 150mph on the highways. http://www.doj.mt.gov/driving/drivingsafety.asp#speedlimits So, you may need to readjust some of your factual references. Some stats show that while deaths are marginally down, they aren’t even out of the normal statistical range. http://members.cox.net/mathmistakes/speedlimit.htm

By lovelyliz

March 18, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Obey the speed limit or accept the speeding tickets you so richly deserve. Speeding to not impede the flow of traffic doesn’t count.

Don’t talk on your cell phone while driving. Hitting another driver because you were discussing what’s for dinner, what you are up to, etc. is unacceptable. This is one of those things that shows why the government must occasionally mandate common sense to people.

Don’t park in the middle of an intersection. This really does impede the flow of traffic.

Might doesn’t make right. Just because your vehicle is bigger doesn’t mean you rule the road.

You know that thing that is attached to the right side of your steering column? It’s not a dummy part put there just for looks. Use your turn signals when you intend to turn or change lanes.

I don’t claim to be a driving saint, but when I do get a ticket for a traffic violation I actually commit, the last thing you will hear me do is bemoan those cop who should be out fighting real crime.

By Cindy

March 18, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Temp,

My other posts were light-hearted attempts to make comments and use a little sarcastic humor. It apparently came off as only sarcasm…overlook me, please…i’m going back to the drawing board.

By lovelyliz

March 18, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Please remember that you are setting an example for the children who are rididng in you vehicle. Last summer when I was taking my neice out to run errands, she asked my why I was using my turn signal. I had to explain to her what it was and than since I was making a turn into a 4 way intersection, I was obligated by law to use it.

By Jimbo

March 18, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

All of your advice is for naught because I’m buying a BTR-80 from Soviet surplus, then we shall see who rules the road.

It’s legal to ride bicycles two abreast, in many places it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk. That’s a little fun fact for the SUVs and BMWs I put my boot into commuting to work on a bicycle. Stay in your lane and you won’t get the boot.

I totally agree on the turn signal thing, you should add “use your mirrors” because lord knows that when they float into my lane without a signal they sure didn’t check first.

If you choose to drive a 45,000 pound SUV, the least you can do is take some sort of class to teach you how to A: park it in one space, because I’m letting you know that I slam my door into your car mercilessly when you violate the boundaries of my parking space.. and B: Learn to maintain lanes in that giant space pig because the alternative is to find yourself in flex cuffs riding my hood, there’s not a jury in the world who’d convict me.

Now, a lot of you are going to disapprove of what I’m going to say here, but.. I use my cell phone in the car all the time. ALL the time. The amazing thing is that I manage to use my signals, check my mirror, stay in my lane and SHIFT GEARS. It is my theory that cellular phones are a red herring used to explain drivers who would be sub-par if they were on a tricycle on a playground. I also believe that if you want to blame something for poor driving skills, blame the automatic transmission. It makes us lazy and will be the end of humanity as a whole. People just slumped into their cars, melted into their seats like they’re piloting a lazy boy chair. THOSE are the people who are floating into my lane, it’s only about 50% of the time they’re on the phone.

By Akima

March 18, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Saw a lady the other day in Duluth on my way home. Texting, smoking a cig, and driving a stick, doing 30 mph in a 45 zone;

AND

the FAT lady trying to eat ice cream, holding the cup with one hand, and the spoon in the other, while talking on the cellphone held between her head and shoulder and driving;

AND

The man shaving with an electric razor, with the newspaper up on the steering wheel, doing 65 mph on Peachtree Industrial Blvd in Suwanee;

AND

The man working from his car, who constantly drifted into my lane, doing 70 mph on PIB;

AND last but not least, the idiot who pulls out in front of me from the Fresh Market, as I’m doing 70 mph up PIB……..I cannot tell you how many times this happens on my way home.

I am sick and tired of slamming on my brakes for some idiot coming out of a shopping center, and turning right in front of me. They actually wait until I am right up on them, and they pull out……

By Anonymous

March 18, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Forget all this traffic blather… do you really send somebody out for sassy 12 year olds who don’t eat their vegetables?

By Irish Eyes Are Smiling

March 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Traffic actually moves in Gwinnett? I had to drive over to pick my son up at Brookwood HS (from the Fulco side of Duluth) last week and sat in traffic for an hour and ten minutes!

Instead letting any idiot driver get the best of me, I let out a curse word or two, all the while smiling at the jerk who intentionally cut me off or whatever. He/she is usually watching me, all smug, in the rearview, just ahead of me—-at the next light or stop. It’s quite a stress release. The smile is what throws them off, really.

By KJ

March 18, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Holy crap- the speed limit on P’tree Ind went up to 70 mph? Wow- that will make my ride home go so much faster! Because doing 60 wasn’t good enough, that 10 extra mph should ensure that I get through my front door three minutes sooner! Woohoo!

By Cindy

March 18, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Anonymous and Irish Eyes…ya’ll are funny. :) Thanks.

p.s. Anonymous…I don’t think you’re supposed to do 70 on PIB!!! LOL!

By JJ

March 18, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Do Atlanta drivers know what YIELD means?

I was behind some stupid idiot the other day, who trying to make a left hand turn. There was a driver coming the opposite way, turning right with a YIELD sign. The person in front of me stopped dead in the intersection, the other driver stopped and they both sat there and stared at each other…….I’m like HELLO, we have the right of way you idiot……..

By gtfan

March 18, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

here’s an idea, get the illegals off the road….

By I Hate non-Atlanta Drivers

March 18, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I think “Gooddriver” from this morning may be my best friend. I feel the exact same way about EVERY single point made! But there are others, even people from metro counties seriously suck at driving on Atlanta interstates but even more from outside the area make driving here an impossibly frustrating experience! To them I have this to say:

*If the speed of traffic on the interstate is moving at 65-70 mph, then your @$$ better be moving that fast in the lane to merge! I HATE (hate hate hate hate) when I get stuck behind some ignorant redneck who insists on using the entire on ramp (however long it may be) to speed up to a grand 35mph… 40 if I’m lucky. I can’t remember the last time I had the freedom to merge onto 285 at the speed the rest of traffic was going! *If you can’t handle a car going as fast as the majority of traffic on the interstate, then DON’T DRIVE ON IT. It’s that simple. *Rich socialite moms in oversized SUVs: get off your damn cell phone. You and your thousand+ kindred spirits have nearly killed me several dozen times in the last month or two alone! *Anybody ever notice how bad spaghetti junction backs up on to 285? All the way to Perimeter mall at least, starting at 2pm, on a good day. What idiot decides to stop at the bottom of the bridge/ramp onto 85 every single day on end? *When did people forget how to use blinkers? *Pet Peeve #1: FORMATION DRIVING!!! How come people on 575 HAVE to have a buddy dead next to them the entire length of their drive? A buddy who is likely going UNDER the speed limit, and since its only 2 lanes on that interstate, there’s NO chance of passing them. Severely blocks traffic. *The left lane is the FAST lane. Yes, it might be moving at a speed higher than the posted speed limit. If YOU don’t want to go that fast, THEN GET OUT OF THE LANE! Just yesterday morning on 75N I witnessed some idiot in the fast lane in Bartow county (past all the construction) cruising at 65mph with at least 15+ cars tailing him and it didn’t phase him a bit— he even had a buddy in a motor home next to him the entire time. The speed limit on that stretch is 70. By the time the truck next to me exited and I was able to manuever around, the # of cars tailing him was so long I couldn’t see the end in my rearview mirrors. He didn’t have a single car in front of him. So inconsiderate. *At a redlight, particularly one at a busy intersection, there is absolutely no need to leave 10+ car lengths between you and the car in front of you when you come to a stop. Thanks for pushing the rest of us back that far too and slowing down traffic thru the area, jerk. *And don’t get mad when I find a way to maneuver in front of you. *I agree with Temp— the posted speed limits on the interstates need to be raised. Speeding doesn’t kill. Crashing does. It’s not hard to drive a car at 80mph in a straight line. *WHY do so many people feel the need to SLAM on their brakes the instant a drop of water falls from the sky?! I’d be curious to know how many accidents are from THAT rather than hydroplaning, etc. *If you plan on driving on the interstate in a truck with crap in the bed of it, TIE IT DOWN! 2 weeks ago I was nearly impaled by a 10ft pipe some dumb@$$ had rested on top of a sheet of plywood laid over the bed of his truck. It started to rain, he slammed on his brakes for no reason, the pipe flew off the back, and somehow I managed to dodge it without hitting any other cars.

I’m not a perfect driver all the time, but I do my best to make sure I’m not driving stupidly or being inconsiderate to p** others off. If only the rest of GA would do the same! Learn to drive!

By Aurora

March 18, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Yes the afternoon traffic on Peachtree Ind North (up to Suwanee) runs at 65-70, once you are out of Duluth…..I drive it every day. I’ve known it to hit 75 mph sometimes, just keeping up with the flow, especially after Sugarloaf.

And turn your lights on when its raining. I’ve given up flashing my lights at you idiots. Don’t you realize if you are driving a dark colored car, and you are spitting up water off the back tires, that I can’t see you?

Oh, and you idiots who don’t turn your lights on at 6:30-7:00 in the mornings. I see numerous cars on Suwanne Dam with no lights on at all. How do you see your dash?

By I Hate non-Atlanta Drivers

March 18, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

I think “Gooddriver” from this morning may be my best friend. I feel the exact same way about EVERY single point made! But there are others, even people from metro counties seriously suck at driving on Atlanta interstates but even more from outside the area make driving here an impossibly frustrating experience! To them I have this to say:

*If the speed of traffic on the interstate is moving at 65-70 mph, then your @$$ better be moving that fast in the lane to merge! I HATE (hate hate hate hate) when I get stuck behind some ignorant redneck who insists on using the entire on ramp (however long it may be) to speed up to a grand 35mph… 40 if I’m lucky. I can’t remember the last time I had the freedom to merge onto 285 at the speed the rest of traffic was going! *If you can’t handle a car going as fast as the majority of traffic on the interstate, then DON’T DRIVE ON IT. It’s that simple. *Rich socialite moms in oversized SUVs: get off your damn cell phone. You and your thousand+ kindred spirits have nearly killed me several dozen times in the last month or two alone! *Anybody ever notice how bad spaghetti junction backs up on to 285? All the way to Perimeter mall at least, starting at 2pm, on a good day. What idiot decides to stop at the bottom of the bridge/ramp onto 85 every single day on end? *When did people forget how to use blinkers? *Pet Peeve #1: FORMATION DRIVING!!! How come people on 575 HAVE to have a buddy dead next to them the entire length of their drive? A buddy who is likely going UNDER the speed limit, and since its only 2 lanes on that interstate, there’s NO chance of passing them. Severely blocks traffic. *The left lane is the FAST lane. Yes, it might be moving at a speed higher than the posted speed limit. If YOU don’t want to go that fast, THEN GET OUT OF THE LANE! Just yesterday morning on 75N I witnessed some idiot in the fast lane in Bartow county (past all the construction) cruising at 65mph with at least 15+ cars tailing him and it didn’t phase him a bit— he even had a buddy in a motor home next to him the entire time. The speed limit on that stretch is 70. By the time the truck next to me exited and I was able to manuever around, the # of cars tailing him was so long I couldn’t see the end in my rearview mirrors. He didn’t have a single car in front of him. So inconsiderate. *At a redlight, particularly one at a busy intersection, there is absolutely no need to leave 10+ car lengths between you and the car in front of you when you come to a stop. Thanks for pushing the rest of us back that far too and slowing down traffic thru the area, jerk. *And don’t get mad when I find a way to maneuver in front of you. *I agree with Temp— the posted speed limits on the interstates need to be raised. Speeding doesn’t kill. Crashing does. It’s not hard to drive a car at 80mph in a straight line. *WHY do so many people feel the need to SLAM on their brakes the instant a drop of water falls from the sky?! I’d be curious to know how many accidents are from THAT rather than hydroplaning, etc. *If you plan on driving on the interstate in a truck with crap in the bed of it, TIE IT DOWN! 2 weeks ago I was nearly impaled by a 10ft pipe some dumb@$$ had rested on top of a sheet of plywood laid over the bed of his truck. It started to rain, he slammed on his brakes for no reason, the pipe flew off the back, and somehow I managed to dodge it without hitting any other cars.

I’m not a perfect driver all the time, but I do my best to make sure I’m not driving stupidly or being inconsiderate to p** others off. If only the rest of GA would do the same! Learn to drive!

By Goodriver

March 18, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

No, I’m not a slight racist/sexist. I’m a slight realist. I call it like I see it. Rich white idiots in big Mercedes going 100mph while reading? Seen it. Old Asian ladies going like..4mph? Seen it. Van full of Mexicans with 99 ladders on top swerving on 85 north? Seen it. I chose to comment on the ones that I see the most around here. 16 year old high school girls don’t care. They swerve, run stop lights, park like idiots, brake late, don’t signal—I can go on and on. All because either “daddy will fix it” or because they’re too busy talking to Jes-ka about Tyler’s new haircut! Jes-ka, Jes-ka, Jes-ka, why are people honking at me? Jes-ka!!

Oh, I’d like to comment on the Thugs/z that ride blacked out or with parking lights only. Grow-up. That’s sooooo 1992. This ain’t Compton or Crenshaw. Thug behavior never stops re-inventing itself. Why do these losers think it is so cool to break the law and act like criminals? Wouldn’t it be cool if being educated and supporting your children was thuggy?
Remember, Karma is a beeeeatccch.

By E

March 18, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

The best (and I use that word VERY sarcastically) thing I’ve seen yet are the women doing their makeup while driving. I’ve seen it 4 times now on both 285 and 400. The classic one was the woman PUTTING ON MASCARA, WITH THE VISOR MIRROR DOWN, DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE ON 400 NORTH! She was also driving at about 75 mph, as I was doing 70. Needless to say, I got away from her quick!

Ladies, PLEASE take the time to do your makeup at home before you leave! All it takes is getting up a little bit earlier in the morning. If you can’t do that, take your makeup to your workplace and put it on in the restroom. You’re making the rest of us women drivers look bad!!!

By CubbyBlues

March 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

Ahhh, where to begin…..well I have lived in Texas, California, Chicago and several other places in between.

When I moved to Atlanta from L.A. in 1995 I said to myself, “self, Atlanta will be the next L.A.” boy was I correct.

Here is a general question….how/why do the two left lanes of traffic on 400S slow down because the two right lanes are merging with 285? I understand that SOME, note the word SOME, not all of the drivers are waiting until the last minute to get in the right lanes. If I can see the traffic moving and your are riding the brakes, please pull over and park and wait for the traffic to cease.

I live in a residential area less than a mile from an elementary school. I thoroughly enjoy stopping for the kids so they can use the cross walk and some moron with a phone attached to their ear is honking at me to move. Yo, genius, see the kid holding his school bag and other items? Let him/her get to school.

The other favorite school zone driving issue I thoroughly enjoy is when traffic backs up when parents drop off children. The suits going the same way are too impatient to wait so they actually drive in the wrong lane. Please hit me so I can sue your dumb behind. I have not problem taking a head on collision because you are too impatient to wait.

Two of my personal favorites, while merging on the freeway please do not move over so I may join the traffic (catch the sarcasm). The yellow merge sign means I am coming over so give me some room. Don’t speed up unless you are actually going to be well ahead of me by the time I get to the bottom of ramp.

My other favorite is when a driver turns onto the road I am traveling and there is not anyone behind me for days. The driver insists on pulling out in front of me and takes 20 to 30 minutes to reach the speed limit. That is just inconsiderate.

I am sure that I have many, many others but I will have an aneurysm if I keep on going.

By red

March 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

JJ You must live in Fayette County. That kind of thing always happen there. Driving Rules in Fayette County: 1.) Only 3 cars are allowed to make it through a green light at any given time. 2.)Fayette drivers make it their personal business to drive slowly side by side just to slow you down if they think you are driving too fast. 3.) Everybody drives at least 5 but usually 10 miles below the posted speed limit. 4.) You must use ride your brakes constantly and never use your horn. 5.) If something there is a finder bender or anything of that nature you must come to a complete stop and have a full conversation with the people involved (including the weather condition). 6.) To make a turn of any kind you must come to a complete stop in the street and inspect conditions for at least 2 minutes.
7.) Lastly if you enjoy sightseeing the ideal time for this is between 7am and 9am while people are trying to get to work and school.

By red

March 18, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

JJ You must live in Fayette County. That kind of thing always happen there. Driving Rules in Fayette County: 1.) Only 3 cars are allowed to make it through a green light at any given time. 2.)Fayette drivers make it their personal business to drive slowly side by side just to slow you down if they think you are driving too fast. 3.) Everybody drives at least 5 but usually 10 miles below the posted speed limit. 4.) You must use ride your brakes constantly and never use your horn. 5.) If something there is a finder bender or anything of that nature you must come to a complete stop and have a full conversation with the people involved (including the weather condition). 6.) To make a turn of any kind you must come to a complete stop in the street and inspect conditions for at least 2 minutes.
7.) Lastly if you enjoy sightseeing the ideal time for this is between 7am and 9am while people are trying to get to work and school.

By red

March 18, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Please overlook the typos in my blog. For a minute I thought I was actually in Fayette traffic.

By Jimbo

March 18, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah, headlights.. what the hell people? At night, in the rain.. at twilight.. twilight is actually the worst for your eyes supposedly because you can’t effectively adapt to it.

I just leave my headlights on all the time. Apparently even during the day having your headlights on reduce your chances of having a wreck by something like 30%.

By slim

March 18, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

lots of good points. People in general brake too much. If you can’t handle it when the road diverges from straight and flat, you need to get your butt on marta.

Also, if you are in front of me and you need to make a left turn, get your butt into the L turn lane, instead of braking to a crawl and waiting to get into the turn lane.

And too many slow blue-hairs on Henderson Mill Rd!

By GermanAmerican

March 18, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Political foreskin, there are speed limits on the Autobahn and there have been accidents….yes, it’s slightly lower than U.S. interstates, but there are fatalities. Traffic jams are frequent. I lived in Germany for about 15 years. Plus, you can look up all info about it here http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/autobahn.htm#history If you think driving in Atlanta is bad….move to Florida and try it. Between the illegals, international travelers and the senior citizens, you take your life in your hands every time you drive!!! I just want people to hang up and drive. Oh, and I don’t understand how people can pay so much for a BMW or Cadillac and not get the turn signal option on them!!!

By atl gadget grrrl

March 18, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

JJ, re the YIELD sign:

Georgia is the only state I have ever seen where the guy making the RIGHT HAND TURN needs to yield. In all other known places in civilization the guy making the left needs to yield.

I’m betting this is why everyone stopped in the middle of the intersection to stare at one another.

By Matt

March 18, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

Brock, The reason there are turn arrows at intersections is because Federal Guidelines require one due to several factors, one being sight distance. The other major factor is the total volume going through the intersection. It obviously gets more complicated than that, but that’s the reason left turn signals are used.

As for right turn yields, the right turn lane has to yield to on-comming traffic like those going straight through the intersection or those who have a dedicated left turn arrow. If you will notice on some intersection, especially those with a green circle and arrow on the same signal, there is a sign that states that under green circle operation (only the green circle luminated), left turn drivers must yield to all other movements, just like under normal circumstances.

By Brock

March 18, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

Thanks Matt. I know the regs stipulate the general circumstances where red arrows ought be used, and that may be why local officials are constrained from changing them. Nevertheless, I was attempting to explain why some run them, say when sight distance is good, at at low volume times of the day. Too bad those signals could not be timed to adjust for varying traffic levels in the day. Until then, I will use good judgement at them, just like I do in all other driving situations.

By Cassie

March 18, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

Two things:

People using 400 N to exit at Windward. What’s the matter with you people who don’t WAIT IN LINE for the exit ramp like the rest of us? I have turned into a tailgater because I refuse to get cut off by another butt monkey again!

Mansell Exit 400 South - why do people fly down the ramp, pretending to turn left, only to illegally turn right?

By Randy

March 19, 2008 3:34 AM | Link to this

Post your frustrations and let others know how they are driving at www.platewire.com

By ElBubba

March 19, 2008 4:08 AM | Link to this

Butt monkey! She said “Butt monkey”! Butt monkey, butt monkey, butt monkey. I am, I am, a toad smoking butt monkey man, and I can do anything.

By Female race car driver

March 19, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this

Turn signals!!!! They are conveniently placed next to your steering wheel for your convenience—USE THEM!!!

I’m all about using the left lane for passing, and then moving over. But don’t tail gate me because you’re in hurry. You being late is your problem, not mine. Don’t try to intimidate me by driving on my a*, that will just make me slow down—just to p** you off even more. The 55 mph law is stupid and is outdated. The speed limit should be increased to 75. I would say higher but there’s many people driving today that can’t drive safely at the slowest speed limit. They would just cause more problems. The drivers test should be made a lot tougher, the idiots on the roads today prove that. All drivers should take advanced driving courses that teach you the physics behind the automobile, i.e. apexes, not breaking in corners etc… There would be more better drivers if people experienced what race car drivers know. People using their cell phone should be shot and killed on the spot for their stupidity. TV’s should be illegal, if they’re in the front area of any vehicle. If you are caught driving under the influence, once, you lose your driving privledge forever!!!! Driving is NOT a right, it’s a privledge—and it can be removed. If you can’t afford to have a vehicle that runs properly, you can’t afford to drive. Spare tire donuts do NOT belong on the freeway, fix your damn flat you moron!! When you play that stupid rap music at the loudest possible decible and people are staring at you? It’s not because they think ‘you’re so cool’, it’s because we think you’re a stupid inbred idiot who ‘thinks he looks cool’—you’re really NOT!!! Okay, enough from this lady….

By Female race car driver

March 19, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this

Turn signals!!!! They are conveniently placed next to your steering wheel for your convenience—USE THEM!!!

I’m all about using the left lane for passing, and then moving over. But don’t tail gate me because you’re in hurry. You being late is your problem, not mine. Don’t try to intimidate me by driving on my a*, that will just make me slow down—just to p** you off even more. The 55 mph law is stupid and is outdated. The speed limit should be increased to 75. I would say higher but there’s many people driving today that can’t drive safely at the slowest speed limit. They would just cause more problems. The drivers test should be made a lot tougher, the idiots on the roads today prove that. All drivers should take advanced driving courses that teach you the physics behind the automobile, i.e. apexes, not breaking in corners etc… There would be more better drivers if people experienced what race car drivers know. People using their cell phone should be shot and killed on the spot for their stupidity. TV’s should be illegal, if they’re in the front area of any vehicle. If you are caught driving under the influence, once, you lose your driving privledge forever!!!! Driving is NOT a right, it’s a privledge—and it can be removed. If you can’t afford to have a vehicle that runs properly, you can’t afford to drive. Spare tire donuts do NOT belong on the freeway, fix your damn flat you moron!! When you play that stupid rap music at the loudest possible decible and people are staring at you? It’s not because they think ‘you’re so cool’, it’s because we think you’re a stupid inbred idiot who ‘thinks he looks cool’—you’re really NOT!!! Okay, enough from this lady….

By Inherit America

March 19, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

There’s really only one driving faux pas: leaning into turns. Why lean into turns? There’s no G forces in domestic road situations. Even if the path veers a tiny bit, most drivers lean like it’s tryouts for the Jamaican Bobsled Team. (and that’s just in their driveway).

What do these same crashtest dummies do when they’re in a subdivision? “Put on a helmet, martha, it’s a cul de sac…”

By JJ

March 19, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this

“Put on a helmet, martha, it’s a cul de sac… OMG That’s the funniest thing!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha!!!

By Confused

March 19, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Lt. Steve, could you please tell me the real answer on the right turn yield issue? It seems we have a few opinions here and I’d love to know the truth. Does a right turn with a green light and a yield sign yield to a left turn coming from the opposite direction with a green light? Thanks!!!

By Confused

March 19, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Lt. Steve, could you please tell me the real answer on the right turn yield issue? It seems we have a few opinions here and I’d love to know the truth. Does a right turn with a green light and a yield sign yield to a left turn coming from the opposite direction with a green light? Thanks!!!

By KJill

March 19, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Office Steve - Please tell us what goes on at a ‘Come To Jesus - You guys are driving too fast and the public can see you’ meeting’—- Inquiring minds want to know …

By HS Neighbor

March 19, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Steve-

That’s my neighborhood where your guys wrote 80 tickets on Monday. What surprised me was that they were back again on yesterday and probably wrote just as many tickets again. Looked to me like most of the offenders were my neighbors….the same ones that complained to begin with !

This neighborhood is full on small kids on bikes, skateboards, etc and the callers are right…even with multiple traffic tables (those huge traffic calming humps that are seemingly on steroids) people drive through here constantly at 40+ mph.

I hope it doesn’t take a nasty accident to slow things down. We have 2 high schools and 3 elementary schools within 1 mile of this neighborhood and cut through traffic is horrid. Tell the guys thanks for us and ask them to slow down a bit…we don’t want them on foot patrol - we need them over here in their cars.

By Cassie

March 19, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

El Bubba - you just gave me a bad Michael Stipe visual. Thanks for burning my retinas!

By LI

March 19, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

As a parent of a new driver, the right turn yield on green has to be the dumbest idea yet. Green is supposed to mean “go”, now it means “maybe you can go”. Give the oncoming left-hand traffic a left on green arrow only, and eliminate the right turn yield on green.

By Kat

March 19, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

I’m convinced that 90% of Atlanta’a traffic problems are because people don’t know how to merge.

By ElBubba

March 19, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Cassie! You got it! I don’t know what a butt monkey is but I do enjoy the back-side of a shapely woman El Bubba ps Is it only the good drivers posting?

By WW5

March 19, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

aside monetary reasons, can someone tell me why the 1st and 15th of the month are interstate speed enforcement days??

By Cindy

March 19, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

El Bubba…LOL…duh…the bad drivers don’t know who they are. haha. plus the bad drivers don’t frequent the cop blog, i guess. hahaha. seriously though…i’ve done some stupid stuff on the road…a couple of weeks ago, i was at a 3-way stop with the twist of the people coming over the railroad tracks (they have the right-away). but i sotto-voice cussed at someone who wouldn’t just take their turn…got on through the intersection and played it back in my mind and realized i was the dumb-dumb. does that mean i can’t be a good driver anymore? :)

By Irish Eyes Are Smiling

March 19, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Everyone thinks of him/herself as a good driver. Have you ever heard anyone critique him/herself as a “bad” driver? Of course not, even those who drive infrequently and those say they hate to drive, claim they are good drivers, which, of course, they most certainly may be. So, who are these bad drivers???

TG (!!!)for all of the defensive drivers. Keep up the good work! Defensive drivers prevent a lot of wrecks. Several near-miss situations have been noted in this blog. The flip side to that equation is that bad drivers, the ones who don’t pay attention b/c of cell phones, gadgets, papers, maps, etc., think they’re good drivers b/c they’ve never been in an accident, all thanks to the defensive driver. It’s a vicious cycle.

By ATLGADRIVER

March 19, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Does a right turn with a green light and a yield sign yield to a left turn coming from the opposite direction with a green light? Thanks!!!

I’m not Lt. Steve but when you think about it, of course the right turn has to yield on green to a left turn. If the light is red, the right turn has to stop and yield. If the light is green w/o a yield then there isn’t a right turn yield. So when else would the yield be appropriate? So quit honking at me b/c I’m yielding.

And lets not forget that ALL cars MUST yield to pedestrians! I’ve had drivers look right at me and continue on their way. Idiots, I swear.

Everyone thinks of him/herself as a good driver.

The one thing we all have in common regardless of race, gender, or religious affiliation is that we all think we’re a better driver than the other person.

By ElBubba

March 19, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Cindy! I’m sure you’re a good driver, I can tell by your grammar and syntax.

I had a bad wreck once, when I was sixteen (got my license when I was 14). One of the good cops came to visit me in the hospital, he said he’d seen a bunch of train vs. car wrecks and I was the only one that survived.

Now I’m just a good, resposible driver. A couple of years ago I got pulled over for going to slow, I was listening to something interesting on NPR.

El Bubba

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

March 19, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

That wasn’t a good cop. A good cop would have held a pillow over your face for about 5 minutes.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

March 19, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

That wasn’t a good cop. A good cop would have held a pillow over your face for about 5 minutes.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

March 19, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

That wasn’t a good cop. A good cop would have held a pillow over your face for about 5 minutes.

By plumberdog

March 19, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Funniest or saddest thing I’ve seen in a while.on I-85 N.B. going home about 2:30 PM. traffic @ Jimmy C. & 85 was already @ about 40 Mph fast lane,when a work van 20 ladders & all swoops into my precious little safety zone between cars. Yep U got it SMASH.. Good thing I’m used to this scenario was paying att. & knew I had an opening to swerve into the HOV lane. Just in time to pass A HOV cop.When I tried to explain why I was in the lane, he cut me off with a tyrade of I’ve heard it all before.Whipped out his ticket book just in time for his cruiser to get creamed by the same van I swerved to avoid hitting.Hate to say I told you so.PS> bunch of illegals, no ticket for me today!!

By Goddess

March 19, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

At least you don’t have to sit through endless messages saying, “Are you there? Pick up. Are you there? Pick up.”

By Bama

March 19, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

We used to drive to Atlanta every few weeks to do a little shopping but your Atlanta traffic is too much. Does everyone in Atlanta own car?

By I agree with all of you

March 19, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

This is the worst…

Traffic stops at a flashing yellow light and treats it as a 4 way stop.

Traffic continues on at a flashing red light.

Hello?…did you read your driver’s manual before you got your license? The rules haven’t changed.

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Cop pulls me over. He asks to see my license and registration. He pulled me over for racing a train to the crossing inside of a flashing-light school zone and I’m pretty sure he had seen that my passenger had hit the school’s mailbox with an aluminum bat. I knew if he looked in my backseat, he’d spot the six illegal aliens I was transporting to Lowes. I had to think fast.

End of Chapter one. Stay tuned for Chapter two. Preview: A tasered hotdog actually tastes pretty good……

By Cindy

March 20, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

how long do we have to wait? I mean am I supposed to check back once an hour for updates, or more like once a day? :)

By Another Mom

March 20, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

I would LOVE for it to be harder to get a driver’s license, and for more road testing AFTER your first license. It’s been 20 years since I took my driving test, you forget things after that long!

I do have a question though. 400 south around 5pm at exit 6 the traffic to get off is backed up pretty far. Legally what are you supposed to do? The line of traffic is on the shoulder, which seems safer, but is that legal? Or should the traffic in the far right lane on 400 come to a stop? ALSO if there is a mile long line of traffic on the shoulder waiting to get off, and someone stays in the lane and at the last minute exits and slides into the line of cars, is that illegal? or just rude? ;)

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

I think I can field Mom’s Q: It is so illegal to drive on the shoulder. you may not do that. If others are driving on the shoulder, you may report them. Do not drive on the shoulder of any highway or road. A cop can ticket all fifty drivers who are backed up on the shoulder waiting to exit 400 if he wants to.

By Another Mom

March 20, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

so then the “legal” way to do it would be to stay on the road until I reach the exit then safely merge into the cars also exiting?

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Here’s the law: any car stopped or moving on the shoulder MUST YIELD to traffic on the road. If there’s a collision, the liability is against the car which failed to yield as it emerged from the shoulder, unless it was securely on the road before it was struck by an oncoming car, kinda like an offensive vs defensive foul call in basketball, the roadspace belongs to whoever had secured that portion of road where the collision occurred, thus in the slow motion merge of a car on the shoulder vs a car on the road, that shoulder car better be clever enough to inch his way onto the road without colliding until he actually secures his position on the road, then if you get mad and bump his bumper from behind (by definition), it’s your bad.

You can call the cops if there’s a merge mess and motorists are on the shoulder. They’d love a situation like that with so many sitting ducks. Try it. you’ll like it.

By Irish Eyes Are Smiling

March 20, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

Years ago, we got stuck in a major traffic mess…at 1 a.m.(!!!), going over the Outerbridge Crossing in NJ into NY. Cars were using the shoulder as a lane, causing a mess of a merge ahead. All of the sudden, the shoulder, too, was at a standstill. There were the police, collecting licenses, etc. from about 75 cars. They got honks of appreciation from the lane drivers. We at least had a show to watch as we waited for the accident to clear.

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Hooray for opportune police traffic enforcement! Three cheers: Hip Hip Tazer! Hip Hip Tazer! Hip Hip Tazer!

Wish I had been there. How did you resist sticking your head out the window and doing that valley girl, “Ah HA!!” you know, where you intone it like a spoiled mall-brat, and wiggle your head and everything? Man oh man, I’d have really rubbed it in, BUT, if you are tempted to do that, make sure the cop doesn’t see it, it’s illegal to taunt traffic in any way shape or form.

I think the half-headturn would be just as cruel and that’s not illegal in any state.

By Cassie

March 20, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

I will confess a horrid secret.

One night I was drunk. Now, I do not actually drink really ever anymore, so this night was a statistical abberation. I had been out with a girlfriend, downtown, and had been into the Reisling. It was raining, I did not want to pee at Gordon Beirsch…and I thought I could make it home to Roswell. I could not. So as I pulled off of 400 onto my exit…it was get out and pee or pee in my car. So as I scrambled back UP the hill to my car there was a cop waiting for me. He was kind enough NOT to give me a breathalyser, but DID fuss at me for peeing in the woods.

It does suck being everyone’s DD though.

And on an absolutely unrelated note: those folks that caught Pumpkin’s dad have restored my faith in humanity.

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Cassie, do U have an older sister 4 me?

By islandwish

March 20, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

When did the law change about using your turning signal? Not only everyone quit using their turning signal to turn….but they don’t use them to change lanes either! I am always having to slam on my brakes because an idiot just veered quickly into my lane with no signal about 2 inches from my bumper. Why don’t you guys ever ticket people for not using their turning signals? It started with people being on their cell phones and not having a hand to use the turning signal, then they just quit using it altogether. Stop the madness! Ticket these people!

By islandwish

March 20, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

When did the law change about using your turning signal? Not only everyone quit using their turning signal to turn….but they don’t use them to change lanes either! I am always having to slam on my brakes because an idiot just veered quickly into my lane with no signal about 2 inches from my bumper. Why don’t you guys ever ticket people for not using their turning signals? It started with people being on their cell phones and not having a hand to use the turning signal, then they just quit using it altogether. Stop the madness! Ticket these people!

By islandwish

March 20, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

When did the law change about using your turning signal? Not only everyone quit using their turning signal to turn….but they don’t use them to change lanes either! I am always having to slam on my brakes because an idiot just veered quickly into my lane with no signal about 2 inches from my bumper. Why don’t you guys ever ticket people for not using their turning signals? It started with people being on their cell phones and not having a hand to use the turning signal, then they just quit using it altogether. Stop the madness! Ticket these people!

By islandwish

March 20, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

When did the law change about using your turning signal? Not only everyone quit using their turning signal to turn….but they don’t use them to change lanes either! I am always having to slam on my brakes because an idiot just veered quickly into my lane with no signal about 2 inches from my bumper. Why don’t you guys ever ticket people for not using their turning signals? It started with people being on their cell phones and not having a hand to use the turning signal, then they just quit using it altogether. Stop the madness! Ticket these people!

By Inherit America

March 20, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Obama’s appearance yesterday became an instant icon that seared his presidency into the heart of america. he looked like a leader. He sounded like a president.

Obamamania. It’s America, stupid.

By Lee

March 21, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

What do you want to bet Lovelyliz is a blonde?

“You know that thing that is attached to the right side of your steering column? It’s not a dummy part put there just for looks. Use your turn signals when you intend to turn or change lanes.”

That thing on the right side of my steering column is the wiper controls. LOL

By Hanz

March 21, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Wrong, Lee. In Heetler’s first prototype of the Volkswagenheimer, he putzen der turnen signal on der side where der leiderhosen buttons up, the right side. unt den he putzen der vindshiedlen vipers under der blitzkracken which is where der parken braken ist.

Maybe if you had read “Mein Pet Kampf” like our great president did on 911, you’d know more instead of being a doofus-lagen unt a buttholenheimer.

By Lee

March 21, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Hanz, thanks for clearing that up. I always thought you leiderhosen boys had the buttons in the back.

Uh, not that there’s anything wrong with that…

By ElBubba

March 21, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Lt. Steve, I saw something on the news about some young guy shot another young guy at a convenience store. My question is this; If someone is caught with a loaded handgun and they don’t have a permit for it what happens to them? What happens to the gun? El Bubba

By Cassie

March 21, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

ElBub - Don’t some states seize and destroy the weapons as goods seized during the course of a felony?

By Fred

March 22, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this

Dear El bubba, the gun is tossed (loaded, spinning and with the safety off) to the first gang banger that can say in ebonics, “gimme da gun so’s I can cap someone while holding da gun sideways so’s I looks kool.” Just damn.

What the hell do YOU think happens to the weapon? Apparently what I just typed.

About the driving stuff? There isn’t time for me to get into that. That and the militant bikers who scream “share the road” while ignoring every law on the books. I do my best to run those butt wipes off the road. And yes, I’m proud of it too. They can be just as militant as they want but my 3/4 ton pickup with those redneck wide mirrors can clear them off the road in a heart beat. Play chicken with me you buttwipe, militant biker. You will be too busy spinning head over butt to get my tag as I crap can your stupid militant a*. Tell it to the orthopods in the ER, I don’t care.

I show the utmost respect however to bicyclists who actually DO obey the traffic laws. And of course always to dumb butt kids. I was once a dumb butt kid myself. God only knows how I survived to adulthood………

By DJ

March 24, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

GREAT JOB SANDY SPRINGS POLICE…….KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!