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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > December > 23 > Entry
Why we act like morons at 4-way stops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Folks, we can put a man on the moon—or at least a convincible sound stage looking like the lunar surface, but take any four American motorists and put them at a four-way stop and suddenly they regress to moronic levels of intelligence.
First to arrive and first to go. It doesn’t sound hard—or so it seems.
Something, some weird Bermuda-Triangle like thing, somehow affects the ability of drivers to make a decision as to who got there first and then what to do about it. Interestingly, four-way stops allow us to see what type of personalities we have.
For instance, Type A drivers arrive at the stop sign and immediately take it that they arrived first and after a brief California Stop* continue through the sign at about 2-5 MPH. If they feel that they have arrived just a mini-second too late, they pull about one-third the way into the intersection and immediately place their hand up next to the windshield and begin waving back and forth, rapidly, not allowing, but ordering the other driver to immediately continue. It’s not a courteous gesture but more of a demand. Type-A drivers get a lot of tickets.
Type B drivers ease up to the stop sign but allow everyone and anyone to go before they do. This is also very aggravating because it causes the whole numerical rotation to go off-kilter. Once someone screws up the natural order at the four-way stop sign and what you believe to be the proper rotation, it’s every person to him or herself. The result is catastrophic. Once one person goes off, the rest fall into a sort of Type A and Type B funk.
The Type A’s begin waving feverishly first with their right hand up against the windshield and then out the window, first with all fingers waving and then just one. At the same time they’re throwing the other hand in the air as if to say: “What the (#$&%^) are you thinking??!!”
Type B’s, obviously more passive, don’t know what the hell to do and, with a death grip on the steering wheel, slowly try to ease through the intersection—at exactly the same time Type-A’s are trying to bully their way through. Ultimately both cars will pull out at the same time, pause, make hand gestures, shrug shoulders, then start forward again at the same time, and then repeat the last paragraph.
There is a third category which is the driver on his or her cell phone and who approaches and then just sits there like a (^$(#&)ing putz, enthusiastically babbling incoherently into the (%#*&$^)ing cell phone!!
Quite simply, these people should be beaten.
At some point, we need to realize that regardless of how smart we are individually, or how stupid for that matter, four-way stops are the great equalizers. We are conditioned to respond to them that way. We can’t, or at least we’re not supposed to run them but make no mistake, once we approach them, it’s a race.
What to Do?
Why not put a set of random lights, blue, red, yellow, and green, at each stop sign. As you approach, the automatic sensor picks up which car broke the super scientific laser beam thing and triggers green. The others cannot be the same color. If by chance two cars hit the beam at the same time, the winner is determined by answering a multiple-choice question from the driver’s manual, displayed on an electronic sign, or if the two driver’s agree, rock, paper and scissors.
Whether you’re Type-A or Type-B, don’t dread your approach to the four-way stop. Have fun with it. Celebrate it. Instead of waving the other driver on, do the Robot or perhaps a short rendition of your favorite interpretive dance.
*California Stop
Popular but illegal. From the folks who first introduced Right-on-Red at traffic lights took it a step further by trying to introduce slowing but not stopping based on the fact the driver didn’t see any real threat by oncoming traffic. Although reviewed, all fifty states rejected the California Stop, not because they were afraid of being labeled as “liberal,” but more because there were too many wrecks. Go figure.
Anyway, four way stops are among the most complained on. The traffic unit usually receives complaints on speeding first and then stop signs second. Neighborhood stop signs are the most complained on. Most people think that since it’s relatively remote and there is not much traffic, it’s okay to run the sign. It’ isn’t. A stop is more or less an absence of movement. Ultimately rolling through the stop sign, even at ½ miles per hour, is still moving and not a stop. So, why not just stop? You can be back on your way in 2.5 seconds! What are you missing?
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Comments
By Bob
December 23, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget the Type B(2). They pull up to a stop sign first, wait for the oncoming car (who may be 50 yards away yet) to reach their respective stop sign, then the B(2) proceeds onwards. The brief but aggravating and generally unnecessary delay is repeated for the folks behind the B(2) for every stop sign on the road.
By Yield To Me Or Else
December 23, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
I was taught in Driver’s Ed (in New Jersey back in the ‘70’s) that the largest car always has the right of way - that’s why I drive a big ‘ol early ‘90’s 20-foot-long-landyacht baby! No question who goes through that 4-way stop first when I’m there!
By Racebaiter
December 23, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
And don’t even bother explaining that in a case a tie, the one on the right has right of way. The morons will never understand.
You also need a whole blog dedicated to the idiot who stops while turning right, even though a big sign says “KEEP MOVING.”
By ron
December 23, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Since the 4 way stop is in itself installed because moronic drivers wouldn’t stop for a sign,why does anyone expect that the etiquette of a 4 way sign is going to be observed by these same drivers?There are drivers who are so important in their own minds that trafffic rules do not apply to them.
Bob—-Just because you know that first stop-first go is the rule,it doesn’t mean that the putz coming from the other directions does.Just as you reach the middle of the intersection,so does he.The insurance company doesn’t care if he stopped or not,it’s your bill that goes up.
By Larry L. Larry
December 23, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
We have a few roundabouts in my neighborhood. If you think Atlantans are confounded by 4-way stops, just pay us a visit sometime and see what happens. Cheese ‘n rice!
By Edward
December 23, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
And what is with the people who stop at every one of the “stop for pedestrian in crosswalk” signs when there are no pedestrians anywhere near? Several times now on intown streets with these little signposts in the middle of the road, I’ve been behind drivers who stop at each crosswalk, like it is a regular stop sign. Can’t they read? Are they really that clueless?????
By Chief Wiggum
December 23, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Steve, a solution…or perhaps a more comical disaster, would be a traffic circle. Nobody stops, they just enter the circle and work their way around. But, it could wind up like Clark in European Vacation, where he can’t get out of the circle. I think that happened, or maybe I just had too much to drink last night.
By Stewie
December 23, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Another favorite occurs at those high volume 4-ways when there are back-ups in all directions.
Traffic is flowing fairly well as those in the know go in a two by two rotation, then invariably, one of the Type Bs panics and doesn’t go when their opposite lane counterpart goes, thus setting off an indecipherable merry go round of confusion and false starts/stops until, eventually, logic is restored and the two by two rotation begins anew.
By RealityKing
December 23, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
A 4 way stop accident is the fault of both cars. And since I don’t mind a few more dents in my ugly paid off car, I always get the right of way. Progressive American style…
By mel
December 23, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
I agree that 4 way stop signs are not that difficult. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure them out. I will approach stop noticing who got there first, look all ways just in case some idiot goes out of turn, then go.
I also agree that the california stop is not a stop at all. It makes me laugh when I see a sign that says stop all the way. Well, duh? Such a sign must be for those california stinking drivers that cause these accidents. When I stop, my vehicle ceases to move, just like the law requires.
One of my professors went to egypt once and said he prayed every time he got into a vehicle. The drivers there were loud and crazy. Maybe that is where the californians got their behavioral traffic rules…
By greg
December 23, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Is this what retired people do in their spare time? dissect the different type of drivers at 4 way stops…
By Slow down
December 23, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I find 4 way stop behavior depends on where you are and how educated the general population is. In East Cobb where we live, I find many people are thoughtful and will wait their turn or let someone ahead rather than be bullish or cause an accident. On the other hand, for example, I was in Douglasville on Friday and witnessed crazy drivers. Manners sometimes mirrors education level & upbringing - sorry this is how I see it. It also seems the beat up car with a questionable insured driver or the redneck in the toy size truck seems to be the bully at the 4 way stop, eh? Driving near these types is a waste of time and had rather drop back than drive near them. Some 4 way stops need to be traffic lights. It appears the stops signs are cheaper than a light for our local governments. Had you rather wait a few seconds longer at a 4 way stop or sit on the side waiting for the police to show up and assess your accident? Show some courtesy on the road, folks!
By Bryant
December 23, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Lets not forget the dumb people who can’t figure out how through intersections where the lights are flashing. Here is a crash course. If you are traveling on a major road or highway usually your light will flash yellow. This does not mean stop. It means you are to proceed through the intersection with caution. The smaller side street lights will fash red, so they will have to treat it like a stop sign. This does not take a genius to figure out.
By wayne
December 23, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Odd. I always (ok, usually) see traffic moving more quickly through intersections where the lights have gone out - thus rendering them 4-way stops, than I do when the lights are working. I agree there are some absolute morons that freeze up, but on the whole, they actually seem to improve traffic flow. It’s not til the cop gets there and starts directing that it all backs up again. =)
By Diane
December 23, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Greg, It’s more productive for a retired person to analyze stop sign personalities than for a working person to be reading blogs when they should be working! LOL!
By Scott, Atlanta, Ga
December 23, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
4 way stops are fun. However the “Keep Moving” intersections are so much better.
Something about those two little words makes people come to a complete stop and illicit a chorus of horns in approval.
By Scott, Atlanta, Ga
December 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
4 way stops are fun. However the “Keep Moving” intersections are so much better.
Something about those two little words makes people come to a complete stop and illicit a chorus of horns in approval.
By Scott, Atlanta, Ga
December 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
4 way stops are fun. However the “Keep Moving” intersections are so much better.
Something about those two little words makes people come to a complete stop and illicit a chorus of horns in approval.
By David C
December 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
If you want to see a bunch of confused morons. Instead of a 4-way stop, Install a Rotary or A-Round-about, or whatever they are called in the south.
By atlgadgetgrrl
December 23, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
My personal favorite Atlanta traffic moments:
Put a normal traffic light on so it blinks yellow in one direction and red in another. Where I came from, the yellow = caution (so keep moving but be aware) an the red = stop. Effectively, it becomes a 2 way stop with cross traffic. But, this blows the minds of my fellow Atlantans who want to turn the whole damn thing into a 4 way stop. Priceless! You have some people who want to continue (it’s yellow, after all) and some who want to stop. It ends up a crazy version of the 4 way stop!
Have a school bus stop on one side of a divided road e.g. Johnson Ferry in E. Cobb and watch what happens next. Again, where I come from, you have to stop for a bus if it’s going the same direction you are at any time, but if you’re going the opposite direction, you don’t have to stop if you’re on a divided highway (e.g. there is brush in the middle).
And, while I’m on a roll, what is UP with the right hand turn must yield on a green light mess?
Steve, can you clear this up for us? Seriously, because most of us are from someplace else, we’re all driving on different laws. When I moved to NC, we had to pass the written exam to get our licenses. Come to think of it, it might help everyone be better drivers if we were all operating off the same set of rules.
By c james
December 23, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
I applaud your thoughts on this topic. We Atlantans keep our traffic issues at the top of the hot topics list all the time. You would think that all the buzz about bad Atlanta drivers would cause drivers to be more conscious of their driving behavior.
How about intersections equipped with tire spikes that go up and down with the changing of the stop light? If you roll past the stop line to wait for the light, your tires will blow out!
By jakesdad
December 23, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
I had an almost surreal, potentially near death experience a few yrs ago at a 3-way (“T” intersection) stop just down the street from my house. I was approaching my street from a feeder road and came to the stop sign to turn left into my neighborhood. another car was already at the stop sign to my left leaving “the hood” but didn’t have a turn signal on to go either way (straight isn’t an option unless you want to end up in the ditch across the street). as I sat there waiting for this putz to go a car rapidly approached from the opposite direction, must not have noticed the stop sign (presumably not from our area), locked up their brakes HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, skidded to a stop PAST ME, proceeded to BACK UP through the intersection back to their stop sign (better late than never I guess…) then waived apologetically for me to go. if it wasn’t for the nitwit on my left not going I likely would have been t-boned by this idiot going at least 45 (in a 35).
By Uwee
December 23, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
“do the Robot” HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Seriously can’t stop laughing.
By MountainDawg
December 23, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
Funny but valid blog + posts here. There are indeed a ton of “obliviots” on metro Atlanta roads. To me, the 4 way stop has always been pretty cut & dry. The idiots who stop/stall (before turning right) on a green light is pretty annoying.
By Rudy
December 23, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Four way stops are simply another place to showcase “idiots on parade.” How about a blog on morons who turn left onto a multi-laned highway and proceed to drift all the way into the curb lane in front of oncoming traffic?
By Shaye
December 23, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Some real truthiness here… lol
Pretty much every day I drive, I want all drivers to have to re-take their driving tests every few years because obviously they have forgotten anything they ever learned.
“Keep moving” and roundabouts are definitely more confusing than 4-way stops, though it is close. And don’t dare honk at some idiot who can’t figure it out—you’re liable to get shot. :P
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 23, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
In the modern era, 4Way Stops have caused the invention of the Figure 8 racing track, where cars go through the intersection pell mell. 4Way Stops caused the invention of bumper cars at amusements parks, and games of automobile chicken where the drivers rush head long into each other at full speed unless one of them chickens out and veers off, avoiding the collision.
4Way Stops are being studied by anthropologists, along with parking spaces. Did you know that it takes 40 percent longer for a person to pull OUT of a parking place if they can see someone waiting for them to leave? True. Anthropologists claim that it is our ancient sense of territoriality that causes us to keep possession of the parking place as long as we can when we see that someone else will grab it imminently. If the parked car waits too long, however, then the driver assumes the primitive-man posture of crouching as the guy waiting starts shooting at him in anger and frustration. The Shootout at the Shoppping Cart Corral. In paperback this winter.
By Shaye
December 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Some real truthiness here… lol
Pretty much every day I drive, I want all drivers to have to re-take their driving tests every few years because obviously they have forgotten anything they ever learned.
“Keep moving” and roundabouts are definitely more confusing than 4-way stops, though it is close. And don’t dare honk at some idiot who can’t figure it out—you’re liable to get shot. :P
By JtJ
December 23, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
When did the road rules change for “Right turn must yield for oncoming traffic turning right”?
I got my license back in 96 and I don’t remember that at all. I have had so many close calls with that one…….I purposely don’t turn on my blinkers anymore when turning right so they will think I am keeping straight.
By Harold
December 23, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
If you think I’m stopping my SEQUOIA for your little fuel efficient car, you’re the idiot!
By JtJ
December 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Ooops….I meant oncoming traffic turning left….still hate it,though!
By Craig
December 23, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Way to go Steve. If you are not already writing articles or books you have missed your calling. I love it, you have hit on all the fun at 4 ways. Personally I do what another reader suggests. When your counter part across the intersection goes I try to go as well, sometimes works ok. Keep writing…..
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
This one time, at driving camp, I was confronted with a 4 Way Stop, and I didn’t know what to do, so I just sat there, and this chinese guy got so mad in the car to my immediate right, that he got out of his car and stood in front of my car with a white flag and he wouldn’t let me go and if I tried to go around him, he’d shimy left or right to block my passage, and it was like Tianemin Square only worse.
By catlady
December 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
I’m glad I live in a rural area. When I moved here 35 years ago there was one stoplight in the entire county. Now we are up to 6, plus a round about. Our main problems fall into two types: Floridiots and those from “Atlanta” (meaning, everyone who lives between Canton and just north of Macon.)
By Patrick
December 23, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
Sometimes Stop Signs are !@#$ because of the way they are used. Hapeville is a great example. There is a railroad line down the middle of town with parallel streets on both sides and numerous cross streets.
So if you are driving parallel to the train tracks, you have to stop A LOT for the cross streets. If you are crossing the tracks at any of about a million crossings, you are supposed to stop and then cross over. Track-crossing traffic has right of way over everyone else even though actually cross the tracks takes forever.
What happens is that the crossing traffic usualy does not stop and instead goes right on across, and this forces everyone else to wait and wait and wait while they bounce across the badly maintained crossings. Nobody takes proper turns. Oh and of course every single one of them is on the phone so they never see the trains anyway.
Hapeville is literally held to the ground by stop signs and would probably float off into space if they got rid of them. Some are only feet away from each other, like in front of the Greyhound stop. Geez. WHO designed that?
By GaLiberal
December 23, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
The reason drivers here can’t handle a 4-way (or all-way) stop is they didn’t attend drivers ed. I know the rule of the right (if two cars put up at the same time, the one on the right has right of way) and that you go when it’s your turn. What I find really interesting is these same people will get to a yield sign. They will either 1) come to a complete stop then check for traffic before pulling out or 2) ignore the yield sign, but stop at the end of the merge area then check for traffic. I have rear-ended two such morons, but of course under GA state law it’s my fault.
Part of the problem with stop and yield signs is poor intersection design. If you don’t pull half way out, then you can’t clearly see oncoming traffic. Combine that with inept, self-centered poorly educated drivers and you’ve got a cocktail for disaster.
By Shawny
December 23, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
4-way stops are stupid. Why does everyone have to stop? What is the purpose of that? It is terribly inefficient.
Also, there should be no traffic signals at malls, like MOG. Rip them all out. Anyone needing to go straight or turn left must make a right and go down a ways and make a U-ey. Let it flow.
By Troglodyke
December 23, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
I appear to the the only person in my residential neighborhood who drives 25 mph (the speed limit, for a reason) and who stops at the stop signs. I almost got t-boned the other day by someone who flew through the intersection as I was going forward after a stop. S/he didn’t even think about stopping.
I admit to being cautious in places where I technically have the ROW. Why? because of idiots who aren’t aware of the rules! I’d rather slow down a bit and be cautious than get creamed. I know that flashing yellow means proceed with caution and red means stop, but the number of times I’ve almost been creamed by a driver who has been waiting at the flashing red and decides it’s his “turn to go” just as I am slowing down and moving through the intersection is more than I would like.
So I slow down even more at yellow flashing lights to avoid a wreck. Yes, it would be his fault. But why deal with the hassle?
I also hesitate at stop signs if a car hasn’t come to a complete stop yet on my left or right. I make sure he is going to completely stop before I take my turn.
I’d rather you folks behind me yell at me in your cars than get into a wreck. Being “blameless in a wreck” is, nonetheless, being in a wreck.
Oh, and by the way, “right turn on red after stop” means after a full stop, and only if there is not traffic coming! It’s not your right to turn if I am in the lane with the green light, moron!
Driving gives me a headache, and I do get very frustrated, but I really try to avoid accidents. That may frustrate others, but it saves me money, time, and possibly my life.
In short, much of the way I drive is, unfortunately, dictated by what other drivers are doing.
However, I never stay in the left lane when someone wants to pass me. I am anal about passing, then getting out of your way. Left lane cruisers are sooo annoying!
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
At the turn of the century there were only two cars in the state of Indiana.
You guessed it: They crashed into each other at a four way stop. (true)
I think it’s time we banned all stop signs entirely, and bring about the change Obama was elected 4.
By Lauren
December 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
This blog is hilarious! I love it! Some of the responses have me laughing out loud! Cheers!
By Dee
December 23, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
The 4-way stop and the blinking stop lights are hot topics and THANK YOU for bringing this up. It p** me off when I get to a 4-Way and I’m first and some dumb behind Type A driver comes up after me and just speeds through the intersection or God forbid the street lights at a 4-Way intersection are on the blink and NO ONE stops. It’s those times that I wish I had a gernade launcher.
By snarky
December 23, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
General rule: If you’re driving (or even just in a car) in Atlanta, there’s always SOMEONE who thinks you’re an idiot.
By Craig
December 23, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Here’s another thought….back to horse and buggy days. REMOVE ALL STOP SIGNS and Let the bravest go first.
By Cardog10
December 23, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
What is more annoying is the drivers who arrive at the stop sign and they see me coming at 2 mph, obviously going to stop, but they wait until I finally get there before they decide they are ready. By this point, I could’ve already been on my way again, but I have to wait for them. Therefore, they forfeit their turn. If they are that stupid, then I’m going to cut them.
By scrappy
December 23, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Atlanta 4-way stop drivers could also use a lesson in turn signal usage. The two by two rule works very well during rush hour until someone starts to turn without signaling and almost causes an accident. The other cars don’t know where you are going, you have to signal!
By Cardog10
December 23, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Dee, the fact you didn’t mention what COLOR the light is blinking at a 4-way stop means you are one of the idiots that stop when it blinks YELLOW. The busy street usually has the yellow light and the other street blinks RED, they do this for a reason. Half the people stop at YELLOW. If everyone went through like they are supposed to, then those waiting at the blinking Red would soon have a clear street to turn onto. Instead, idiots stop at the yellow, causing a backup. If I go through the yellow and hit you, it is your fault.
By Tomorrows Gas
December 23, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Atlanta drivers need a last minute gift idea?
For the fun of the Christmas spirit, we’re givng away $10 of free gas for the next couple of minutes. When it’s not completely free, we still sell at today’s price and let you redeem it in the future. tomorrowsgas.com
By jill
December 23, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
My 2 cents’ worth? I’d rather deal with 4-way stops than traffic cops any day. Traffic cops always make things worse.
By Noelle
December 23, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
A partial solution to rampant ignorance of basic driving rules would be to require retesting, maybe every other time you renew your license (so every 8 years). Gather data on traffic stops and accident causes and test on the ones that come up most often, plus any new laws that have come onto the books within the previous 10 years. Fail the test, and you get a temporary license and 90 days to take it again and pass, or take a driver course.
No, it won’t solve all the problems; true idiots are always going to be idiots. But there are a lot of otherwise smart people who are clueless about traffic laws because they were tested on them exactly once, when they were 16 years old. Retesting would eliminate a great deal of those problems.
By mystery poster
December 23, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Slow down certainly personifies the term “East Cobb Snob.”
By al dunbar
December 23, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
a few things: Cops need to start obeying traffic laws when they can (why do they feel they don’t need to signal when simply cruising on patrol?) and need to start enforcing traffic laws. Take the time to consistently pull over the nimrods who run the lights and stop signs (with the added benefit of nabbing bad guys, like busting the turnstile jumpers in NYC).
Folks need to learn that the left lane is for passing, not cruising. Cops really need to crack down on this one.
Folks need to learn when a traffic light is completely out (not flashing yellow), they need to treat it light a stop sign. Yesterday on Piedmont in Morningside, I stopped at an out light, but the person behind me swerved out of my lane so they could fly through the intersection. This behavior was reinforced by the two motorcycle cops who flew through the intersection coming from the other direction.
And, I’ll note, before the carpetbagger onslaught (see, e.g., Yield To Me Or Else above), folks signaled, stopped properly at stop signs, and generally drove better here in Atlanta.
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 23, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Once I came to a four way yeild sign inside of a roundabout traffic circle that went two ways with alternating lanes going in opposite directions. The cops gave out alot of tickets that day my friends.
By Lt. Steve
December 23, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
If you are here from another state, regarding the license, check with Department of Public Safety / DL Division on the test. I’m not sure if you take the test coming from another state or not. I’ll post it. Someone will know.
By rmbr343
December 23, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
When I moved from CT in 1995 I had to take a written exam to get my GA DL.
atlgadgetgrrl, I too would like the answer to your question… “what is UP with the right hand turn must yield on a green light mess?”
Scenario #1: First of all, (and this part is only kind of related to atlgadgetgrrl’s question) why is there a YIELD sign at an intersection that already has a traffic light? If there’s a traffic light, you obey the traffic signal color, right? Green means GO, Red means STOP and Yellow means “PUNCH IT MARGARET!” (<— who remembers the commercial with the little old ladies?) Sorry, I digress… If I arrive at an intersection with a traffic light where I plan on turning right onto a one-lane-on-my-side road and I have a red light I do the following: — stop — look to the left — look at the road in front of me for people turning left — and look to the left again to make sure it’s safe for me to proceed. — If I determine it’s safe, I proceed to turn right.
The obvious exception would be if there is a “NO RIGHT TURN ON RED” sign which would indicate to me I am at risk for not only getting a ticket from one of my beloved 5-0 buddies, but for getting creamed should I proceed to turn right. Is having the YIELD sign there just for confusing the fudge out of everyone? Really, why is it there? Is it to remind people that they cannot just proceed with their right turn without stopping to look first? Are drivers that stupid? (Nevermind… don’t answer that.)
Scenario # 2: Here’s where a similar scenario gets interesting. Ok, I come to an intersection with both a traffic light AND a (stupid) YIELD sign where I plan on turning right; only this time I have a GREEN light AND I’m turning onto a road where there are two lanes or more on my intended side traveling in the same direction. (Example: Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road has four lanes, two on each side that flow in the same direction.) Are the people turning left across from me supposed to turn LEFT into the LEFT-MOST lane as I would expect them to so that I may proceed to turn RIGHT into the RIGHT-MOST lane? Or are they allowed to turn LEFT into any damned lane they choose? <—source of SERIOUS road-rage-ish tendencies on my part. Seriously though, if I turn RIGHT into the RIGHT-MOST lane and someone turning LEFT turns LEFT into the RIGHT-MOST lane and our vehicles make contact, who is at fault? I have asked this question so many times and no one gives me the same answer twice. Please, let me go to bed tonight knowing whether or not my use of the “f-word” when someone turns LEFT into the RIGHT-MOST lane is appropriate or if I should shut up and just breeeaaaatttthhhheeee when it happens?!?
Now, this last scenario is one where the use of the YIELD sign for cars turning right makes sense: A car is turning RIGHT into a subdivision (example Mine) and there’s a YIELD sign. What does this mean? From what I can figure out, it means that I should YIELD to all traffic turning LEFT into the subdivision even though that little rule from Driver’s Ed is saying “I’m turning right and anyone turning right has the right of way.” Here’s why I think the perverted traffic people in the ATL have decided this: traffic turning left into my subdivision has to get across two lanes of very busy traffic; therefore if they have an opportunity to do so, I need to yield to them even though I’m turning right so that they can clear the path of traffic. Does that sound right?
My head hurts…
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 24, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
This one time, at DUI detention camp for perpetual losers, I was practicing parallel parking without a seat belt, beer hat or a bar fly passenger earning her ride home, and suddenly I got the DT’s and I smashed into the imaginary pink elephant that shouldn’t have been there, and when the smoke cleared I realized that I was actually the tram operator at the zoo, and that I had actually killed Dumbo. (and I WAS wearing the beer hat).
Let this be a warning to you kids: Dont drink and operate a fifty passenger tram at public attractions like zoos, amusement parks, or scenic tours.
And Respect the Law!
By Tar and feathered
December 24, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Looks like pitiful pofo has lots of free time on his hands to blog this holiday season what with all the family getting together…somewhere else. I can picture that little old man hudled in his cold house with his Santa hat on, drinking cheap wine and driveling on about the past. Do yourself a favor analman and start the new year off with a bang, if you know what I mean.
By Stone
December 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
yea..uh..Merry Christmas to you too.
By MyTwoCents
December 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
The stop sign issue is a huge problem. I live down the street from a school complex. Teenagers fly through the stop sign and glare at the other folks waiting their turns.
Another pet peeve of mine is getting behind someone who slows down to get through an intersection when they have a green light. Yes, the light will turn red and we will all sit there! Just idiots!
By Vexorg
December 24, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
The only thing that REALLY chaps my a$$ about Atlanta traffic in general are these idiots, when they do stop at a traffic signal - INSIST upon leaving a full car length or more before the stop line or the car in front of them! Would somebody take the time and patience to explain to these retards exactly what the stop line or proper length between stopped vehicles is???
What dumba$$ is responsible for starting this kind of lunacy???
By Lee
December 24, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Speaking of STOP signs, I can usually tell when it’s the end of the month and the cops are needing to make their quotas.
Down the street from my house is a four way stop. One of the roads to this stop sign is on an incline, so most folks with a straight shift are going to roll through it instead of burning the clutch to try to start from a dead stop. Cops know this and also know that they can hide in the bushes down the road and write about 10-15 tickets per shift.
Way to go guys! Why patrol the neighborhood trying to catch criminals when you can generate revenue all night.
By ron
December 24, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
In the small city where I grocery shop there is a traffic circle that is a marvel of engineering.It can handle Heavy traffic with ease.There are three interconecting highways involved here.The primary is straight through,the secondary has a yield sign and the tertiary has a stop sign.The one thing that causes utter chaos here is when in times of heavy traffic the primary highway driver stops to allow the secondary highway drivers to enter the circle.Within 3 seconds the circle is blocked by cars that have to stop behind the idiot and within 3 more seconds the entire circle is full of immobile vehiches.I have seen this happen on a number of occasions.The drivers will eventually sort out who goes where and when,but it is fun to watch.The originator of the mess is never shot.Too bad.
Iam happy to report that the gift wrapped horse manure wasn’t stolen this year.Maybe crime really is down.
By mark
December 24, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
even MORE frustrating is STUPID drivers that don’t enter the intersection on green when making a left turn. once the green arrow is done, the light turns green, yet they stay behind the white line!! in reality, the law is that you can enter the intersection on green and complete your turn on yellow and even red (provided you were already in the intersection and can safely complete the turn).
i learned to drive in chicago and if drivers did this over there, they’d be beaten silly.
By Pierce Randall
December 24, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
If you hate other drivers so much, next time take the bus or the train. Do other drivers a favor and stay off the road!
By kate
December 24, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Not on topic, but my all time pet peeve are the ATL drivers who insist on driving at night with their lights off.
Are they so oblivious that they cannot figure out that their car is dangerously vulnerable to getting hit? Their dashboard lights most likely will not be on (if the headlights are off) so how can they see how fast they are going etc?
By mark
December 24, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
even MORE frustrating is STUPID drivers that don’t enter the intersection on green when making a left turn. once the green arrow is done, the light turns green, yet they stay behind the white line!! in reality, the law is that you can enter the intersection on green and complete your turn on yellow and even red (provided you were already in the intersection and can safely complete the turn).
i learned to drive in chicago and if drivers did this over there, they’d be beaten silly.
By It's ME!
December 24, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Those folks who stop even though a sign says “Keep Moving” … have probably been ran over by some idiot who proceeds to get in the keep moving lane!!! Better safe than sorry . . is my motto. Let’s face it all those transplants who move here and insist on blowing your horn at the least little thing you’re wasting your time… my husband is hard of hearing and I keep my radio on so I don’t have to listen to your horn honking!!!
By Use it or lose it
December 24, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
If you arrive at a 4 way stop before me, you have the right of way and had better exercise it. If you are still sitting at the intersection waiting on everyone in sight to stop moving before you will proceed, you lose your turn. If you are still sitting there after I have stopped, I will immediately proceed through the intersection and you can continue to sit there until hell freezes over for all I care. Idiots.
By Flasher driving retards
December 24, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
What is the idea of women (yes, always some woman) who feels the need to drive down the road at highway speeds with their 4 way flashers on? What kind of retards are these bimbos? Why don’t the cops ever ticket these morons? I’ve got an idea, lets ALL turn our 4 way flashers on when we are driving and completely negate the value of the flashers? Better yet, hopefully somebody will run them off the road.
By Dave
December 24, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Here’s another annoyance. At the entrance to my subdivision off a busy four lane road there is a traffic light which “sometimes” gives us the left green arrow after the regular green rather than before it.
I’ve never seen another “left green arrow” after the regular green anywhere else. You’d think the traffic engineers would want to make this light standard like all the rest. But what’s even worse is the arrow still comes before the regular green sometimes but after it at others. It’s like the engineers said, “Let’s see just how bad we can screw with everyone!”
By kate
December 24, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
I agree with you on the 4-way flashers. Even more bothersome is when it is raining, not a hurricane, and they drive on the 85 with 4 way flashers on at 20 miles per hour. Are the 4-way flashers to let you know that it is raining, as if you can’t figure it out yourself? If you are not comfortable driving in the rain on a freeway then move to a side street.
By Damien
December 24, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Once when I was at the 4 way stop someone who was there before me (by many seconds) decided I needed to go first. This annoys me to no end. after checking to make sure no one was behind me, I put my car in park picked up my book and started reading. Eventually that other person left.
Letting someone go first at the buffet or at the door is a kind gesture. Letting someone go first (out of turn) at the 4 way stop is moronic. You not only hold up traffic but you cause other to have to break the law
By Steady
December 24, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
The other frustating type of driver is the one that doesn’t pull forward up to the stop sign, they stop about 10-15 feet back from the stop sign and then drove through before their turn. I guess they are just another version of the type A.
By gregodawg
December 24, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
If you are confused, I am gonna go. If I am confused, I’m gonna go. ‘Course I drive an f-150.. If your truck is bigger- I might -just might -yeild.
By sandy
December 24, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
If you get to a 4 way stop before me, I’ll let you go but you had better go. Otherwise I’ll take your slot.
By Bill
December 24, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
I ALWAYS
By Hugh
December 24, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
I ALWAYS let Georgia Drivers go first at 4 way stops. I encourage all 3 of them to clear the intersection before I go. 30 seconds of my time is a great trade off for the morons that drive in GA. HELPFUL TIP: If you see a HUGE ‘G” anywhere on the vehicle. Let that idiot go first. ALWAYS. The Bigger the G, the smaller the brain/penis.
By Andy
December 24, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this
Even worse than drivers who don’t know the rules are cops who don’t know them either. I was once pulled over in Pinecrest, FL because I obeyed a rule that most drivers in south Florida ignore. I used my turn signal before I changed lanes. The cop pulled me over because he thought my brake light was malfunctioning.
By Dave Parker
December 24, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
I agree with Bob (first comment). It is VERY RUDE to remain stopped at a stop sign, and wait for cross traffic to stop. If you’re stopped first at a stop sign, and then I stop, I can legally proceed (because I’ve STOPPED) even if you got there first, and you’re waiting (for God knows what) So neener neener neener.
By yupi
December 24, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Dave Parker sux. If you are being waved across while I wait for you, you GO you Obama voter moron.
By Jeff
December 24, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
LMMFAO! As I’m reading this, I’m thinking, “Did I write an article about moronic drivers and forget about it??” My favorite part: “Quite simply, these people should be beaten.”
By Real Driver
December 24, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
In case you haven’t noticed, 4-way stops aren’t the only places in this country where most drivers have their heads up their… tail pipes. Remember, blinker first, then brakes. Keep right except to pass — or if that confuses you — slower traffic keep right. In other words, if people are passing you on the right, you should probably get your finger out and move over.
By Dixie
December 24, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
ron - Did you use the same wrapping paper as last year? Last year’s culprit may have remembered it. And rip-off season isn’t over yet. There will be lots of items in cars waiting to be returned. Maybe your poopy present will still be targeted.
Lt. Steve - Happy Holidays to you and your family Including the extended family here.
By PM
December 24, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Nailing people for the “California stop” is just another way for local governments to milk drivers for their money. If a driver sees clearly that there is no traffic coming and no danger in carefully pulling on through without pulling to a complete time-wasting, momentum-destroying, gas-eating stop, then why bother? When idiots pull through in front of oncoming traffic, of course there’s a reason. The rest of the time it’s a waste and a crock.
It’s like a new bypass built in my town recently. It’s a wide 4-lane road, fully divided median, extraordinarily long left turn and u-turn lanes, very few entrance and exit drives into businesses and crossing roads, flat, excellent sight lines throughout the entire length—-and a 35 mph speed limit with hot and cold running cops out to bust anyone who goes 40 or over, even if there’s not another car in sight. A gold mine for the local government, but utterly ridiculous in practice for the drivers.
By Mother Nature
December 24, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
Stop signs, stop lights and fast food drive throughs should abolished. They promote pollution that eats away at our ozone.
By bobby dee
December 24, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
When I lost my license, my wife drove me crazy. She always lost her turn at the 4 way stop. I divorced her. Now I’m happy just driving myself. I’m a type A. Hope I don’t get pulled over until I get my license back.
By jay
December 25, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
Like England, Roundabouts would work but England has had 80 years to get use to them where as we got stuck with the Stop Light industrial complex.
Could computer processors work with “California Stops” instead of binary? (only a geek would understand that question.)
By Corkie
December 25, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this
I thought the, “California stop” was really called the, “California Roll.” Why can’t people remember that the people to their right has the right of way….geesh!
By smartazz
December 25, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
funny…. because cops are at fault for driving like idiots at 4 way stops….. driving down Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs over the summer…. traffic light is out…. guess what, it is supposed to be a 4 way stop…. but a sandy springs police officer runs the intersection without stopping….. I guess the state forgets to tell police officers the rule on traffic light outage….. dumb cops…..
By David
December 25, 2008 6:02 AM | Link to this
Living in a foreign country for years I’ve gotten used to a roundabout (traffic circle).Much better than a 4 way stop. The traffic keeps flowing and there are no left turns only right turns.You always go to the right when entering or leaving the roundabout.The vehicle in the roundabout has the right of way over a vehicle entering the roundabout.
By Your Boss
December 25, 2008 6:50 AM | Link to this
Hope you’re enjoying using my material, you should know it’s cursed and the only way to break the curse is to pay me cash money, a lot of it.
By Stone
December 25, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
Merry Christmas to all the regular bloggers on this blog….. oh what the heck! Merry Christmas to all.
By Rob
December 25, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I think type D”uhh” is worthy on an honorary mention in this article. The type of driver who stops at the 4 way stop but is obviously lost, confused, mentally challenged…or perhaps all three. It only dawn on this driver that he is any of the above the moment he reaches the center of the intersection and being completely overwhelmed comes to a complete stop, blocking all traffic and looking frantically around like a confused squirrel.
By Sam
December 25, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Having come from California I know first hand that the so-called “California stop” is nothing more than urban legend. They actually have police there that patrol the streets and ticket people for traffic violations.
Please rename it the “Georgia Stop.” Drivers here learn early, there is nothing going to stop them. Nothing.
By Skip Wickham
December 25, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
I nominate the four way stop at Monroe and Outer Drive in Dearborn Michigan as the worst A-hole related cluster F*s that ever happened to an intersection.
By Skip Wickham
December 25, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
I nominate the four way stop at Monroe and Outer Drive in Dearborn Michigan as the worst A-hole related cluster F*s that ever happened to an intersection.
By Christopher Cook
December 25, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
In 1989 I was in traffic court, and a case that was so inane it was hilarious came before me. A dude was cited for failure to yield while trying to turn on an I-20 entrance ramp and tried to convince the judge vehemently that he let several cars in the opposing lane go by and that the car that hit him as he turned onto the ramp should have stopped for him.
Idiot(s) #2 - Anyone going north on Roswell Road and turning left into the Fountain Oaks shopping center should know that the lane to enter is the right side of center. Yet many vehicular brainiacs seem to think the entrance is around the pylon which is the entrance for southbound Roswell Road. This had led to many near-misses with people entering properly from northbound.
By Mac
December 25, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Female drivers always have the right-of-way. Especially when they are 3 ft. 8 inches driving an SUV that they have no business being behind the wheel of. Did I mention they are on their cell phones as well?
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 25, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
If someone waves you with impatient hands to go at a four way stop, then move your head side to side like the slap dance move as if he were your dance partner doing the slap part. It always gets a laugh, unless a cop sees it, then you’re fooked. Cops hate conspiratorial clowning by motorists at four way stops. I think it’s a felony in 37 states.
Merry Christmas.
By Cletus Snow
December 25, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
We recently took a trip out west With the exception of California the drivers seemed to be knowledgable and courteous. I saw very few left lane campers who refuse to move over and allow faster traffic to flow. On our return I noticed a distinct change about 40 miles outside Atlanta. I’m almost ashamed to ask what it is about Atlanta, Do we attract bad drivers or is there some other reason for the level of stupidity displayed on 285 day or night it doesn’t seem to matter, it’s like Forrest Gumps mom say’s stupid is as stupid does.Either way it’s a nightmare.
By Tanya Flentz
December 25, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Jeez, you just pull up to the stop sign and wait for it to turn green. How hard is it? ; )
By lawyr
December 25, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Although the 4-way stops are as dysfunctional as you suggest, it is the intersections that have a blinking yellow in one direction and a blinking red in the other that yield the most idiocy. For reasons known only to them, many drivers facing the yellow blinking lights insist on stopping as though it is a 4-way stop intersection. The result is chaos and frustration.
By ron
December 25, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
Merry Christmas to all.We’ve had a fine day here.The auto has not left the premises and there have been no frustrations.No crime to report in the neighborhood.Certainly no one dressed as Santa Claus scything people down.No rockets being sent in from the idiots in Gaza.No one blew themselves up.What a completely boring,wonderful place I live in.
P.S.——I still hate 4 way stops.
By old guy
December 25, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Mark I also am from Chi and had the same problem when I moved to Atl. I’m now in Fargo n D and notice it here also. Could it be that they teach this behavior in drivers ed?
By old guy
December 25, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
Mark I also am from Chi and had the same problem when I moved to Atl. I’m now in Fargo n D and notice it here also. Could it be that they teach this behavior in drivers ed?
By layla
December 25, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Oh, I LOVED this!!!!! Then we have the very best - a four way traffic light that is blinking red on two sides, and yellow on the other two. This is the ultimate idiocy test. Unfortunately, almost every driver in GA fails. I blame this on the fact that people have taken their driving tests in PARKING LOTS in this lovely state.
By Alan
December 25, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
Eliminate stop signs completely and replace them with roundabouts or yield signs. Stopping is very inefficient.
By Tim
December 25, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
Simple Solution - Ask Congress for the funds to install fly overs at every intersection in the entire country. Saves lives, creates jobs, and spends some more of the infinite supply of tax dollars they are anxious to give away.
By Stefan
December 26, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this
Let’s not forget yet another type of 4-way stop sign bimbo — the guy or gal who thinks that stopping ten to fifteen feet behind the stop sign entitles them to the right of way at the expense of the person who stopped AT the stop sign but did so a moment later. I can not count the number of times some low-class imbecile has honked his horn at me because he believed it was his turn to go, even when he was so far back he probably couldn’t even see my car. People, the white line is there for a reason, because that is where you are supposed to come to a stop! If someone else got to their white line before you got to yours, guess what? Time to exercise a bit of patience!
P.S. Steve, it’s called a California ROLL, not a California “Stop.”
By Shreela
December 26, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this
Texas has “Parent Taught Driver Education”, and also probably quite a few illegal alien drivers. So between both of those, is it any wonder that every major intersection was an accident waiting to happen after Hurricane Ike.
While many people did seem to understand and abide by 4-way stop rules, it seemed the majority of drivers either hadn’t learned about those rules, or were simply too impatient to follow the rules.
They’d tread it like it was a 2-way stop, and wait for ONE car to go before taking their turn; meanwhile there’s 4 2-lane that also have seperate left-turn lanes that were supposed to have their turns too.
Then the drivers that had to wait until the idiot driver waited just one car had cut the line, so their patience grew thin, and tried to take their turn next.
There were SO many stop and go’s, inching through the intersections. Luckily, accidents are very dangerous at such low speeds. But I can’t believe that parents wouldn’t teach their children this, whether they were taught at school, at a private commercial school, or by the parent’s themselves. I don’t have a clue about how to handle the illegal alien situation on the roads though.
I never once heard intersection problems addressed by the main Houston talk radio program in Houston. But they spent a LOT of time trying to arrange a lady trying to get married directly after Hurricane Ike. About 7-10 days after Ike, at least a TV media addressed the intersection problems.
I’d imagine there might be similar stories with Northern cities suffering outages due to blizzards.
By Steve
December 26, 2008 5:47 AM | Link to this
The reality is, a four way stop is just pure laziness by whatever DoT, local or state, put it up.
How about this, stop putting up STOP signs at every stupid intersection. It’s real simple. If one road has more traffic, they get the right of way. If both roads have a significant amount of traffic, then install a signal.
No, that would be far to difficult. It is ridiculous that they are putting up stop signs for every little neighborhood that springs up along a 45 mph main road. Stop the nonsense. Stop wasting gas and polluting our atmosphere by causing fifty or more cars to stop for every one that might come out of a neighborhood.
I believe most of these signs get put up because one or two people who have no idea how to drive, live in those neighborhoods and complain to city councils or police about it being a dangerous intersection. The reality is, it is not nearly as dangerous as those very same people are when they get behind the wheel. Don’t cater to the bad drivers and instead make them learn how to drive and it will make all the roads safer. And for the intersections that really are busy in all directions, then install a traffic signal as you should instead of government getting cheap on us.
By gpsman
December 26, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Apparently, the driving experiences of the author are limited to his imagination.
His observations of drivers waving to one another, other than to flip the bird, occur rarely even on television, and even less often in real life.
By Stone
December 27, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
Apparently, the driving experiences of the author of the last post are limited to his limited time spent on the road. His lack of observation in seeing people wave to one another while driving shows that he needs to drive more with his head out of his a*.
By Dianna
December 30, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
There is a sign in front of the Hapeville Post Office that says, “State Law: STOP for pedestrian in cross walk”. If I had a nickle for every moron who stops at that sign when there’s not a pedestrian around for miles, I’d be a very rich woman.
By catlady
December 31, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
In my small town they have put up a few of those crosswalk signs in the middle of the road so that drivers will at least give the out of town antiques-shopping pedestrians a chance to get across alive. The problem is, with parking on one side of the road plus the little sign in the middle, there is not much extra room for the cars to use the road. Especially, it seems, the Latinos in their big vans and the elderly in their Chevy Suburban Subdivisions who swing wildly from side to side, trying to dodge the signs and the parked cars. It reminds me of the Winter Olympic skiing.
Officer Rose’s stem for this blog reminds me of a story about a friend’s elderly father. He was eating at one of those big all you can eat buffets, like Ryans. As he neared the end of the line of buffet tables, he noticed an elderly gentleman approaching him, as though he wanted to come down the side “dad” was on. Dad politely stopped, bowed, and motioned the other man on. The other man did the same. Dad did it again, and again, still smiling as the other man invited him to take a turn. Turns out dad was, of course, looking at his reflection in the big wall of mirrors that they put at the end of the buffet tables. He’d probably still be there, waiting patiently for the other guy to take his turn, if his son hadn’t redirected him.
By Lt. Steve
January 1, 2009 6:34 PM | Link to this
California roll is okay if you like crabmeat and not real sushi. California “Stop” is what they call it in California. The judge calls it California Stop too, just before you get the $127 fine. Now I have a craving for sushi.
By Brock
January 3, 2009 12:08 PM | Link to this
Damian hit it on the head in what I call the Pillsbury Nice-off. Two drivers approach the sign at nearly the same time, one waves the other to go, then the second driver waves, no you go. If you have been given the go signal, then go. Otherwise, we’ll both be there until the end of time.
One other peeve of mine is the 4 way stop intersection in neighborhoods. The stop signs are put up on the main street because some paranoid neighbor wants to use the stop signs to control speeding on the main road, not because the whole intersection needs a stop sign. Stop the minor street but not the major one. There are federal engineeering standards of when stop signs are justified, and they specifically say “stop signs should not be used to control speeding.” If there are no other drivers around (or cops), I run these paranoia placebos without slowing (but I don’t speed, so why stop?).
By Drew
January 6, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
**One more thing that should be addressed here (maybe it already has but I’m not reading through 100+ comments) is the lack of knowledge about what to do when a traffic light goes on the fritz.
Here’s your lesson, read it, learn it, know it, use it.
1 Traffic light out (as in no power) treat it as a 4 way stop. 2 Traffic light blinks yellow/red. One direction will get a yellow flashing light, the other will get a red flashing light. Guess what that means?! The folks who have the red light are required to stop, the folks who get the yellow light are not. They have the right of way and should continue driving - do NOT stop! 3 Traffic lights out at major intersections. No real rules here because people make crap up. Police are really needed but often they drive through the intersection without a care in the world. If only they pull their heads out of their a$$ and actually show up to help direct the intersection traffic. There’s too many people, too many lanes and too many variables.**By Type A
January 6, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU DON’T HAVE TO STOP FOR A SCHOOL BUS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY! IT HAPPENS EVERY MORNING AT 7:15 ON THE BUFORD HIGHWAY CONNECTOR AT SIDNEY MARCUS. INFURIATING!
By Tom T
January 9, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
Handy rule of thumb when two or more vehicles reache the intersection at the same time. The one with the right-of-way is the one driving the biggest P.O.S. of the bunch.