Most installments of this column are different iterations of the same premise: be a good neighbor on the roadways. Commuting is one of the most important things we do and is one of the few things that unite almost everyone. In Metro Atlanta, anything related to traffic is higher on our list than in most cities. So being considerate — whether a driver, a worker, an officer, a cyclist, or pedestrian — is even more important in the Capital of the South.
Motorists, the most inconsiderate thing we can do is drive distracted. That encompasses much more than just texting. Distractions can be an emphatic conversation, tinkering with the tunes in the dash, eating, putting on makeup (farding) or even talking on the phone. The biggest consequence of distractions is terrible wrecks, but inattentive driving also causes late lane changes, missed turns, people missing greenlights and simply frustration. Keeping our full minds on our driving is every level of considerate.
Cyclists, we need to do a better job driving around you, as addressed in this column last week. You are in a vulnerable position, compared to cars. But with equal treatment on the roads, comes the expectation of equal behavior. Nothing torques motorists off about bikes more than when riders run stop lights and stop signs. That not only is an illegal advantage, but it also puts you and motorists in harm’s way. Please help the goodwill and obey the traffic laws.
Pedestrians, you are in the most vulnerable spot of all. But you have to pull your weight in the plight of your safety. Texting and walking can be as dangerous as doing so when driving; don’t do it. And please don’t cross the roads illegally and force traffic to stop for you on your terms. Cross when your turn arrives. And, for goodness sake, please stop trying to cross the interstates.
First responders, God bless you. You put your necks on the lines to keep everyone safe. We do ask, though, that you not block extra lanes for the different operations, but only what is needed. Just because you have the authority to put a fire truck across four lanes of I-85, doesn’t mean you should. And police officers, when you stay behind long after a call has cleared and just leave your lights on, while on the side of the road, it causes delays. Rubbernecking is our fault, but we could use your help with judicious use of the light bar.
Construction crews, we also respect that you risk your lives to fix our roads. But we really wish that project managers applied more common sense to road closures. In the WSB Traffic Center and behind the wheel, we often see much larger portions and stretches of roads blocked than what is necessary to work. We also see road closures scheduled during rush hours and sometimes for when little to no work is even being done! Atlanta needs to be more patient, but that is hard when these closures are so tone deaf to the world around them. We implore the managers and public officials who approve the closures to have a better look at the small picture, while they work on the bigger one.
We all share blame in the complicated Atlanta commuting web. But since we are all in this paved jungle together, we can all support each other also. This means we need to put others’ needs before our own and think beyond our own auspices. We should drive, bike, walk, construct, and govern defensively. We cannot cure every Atlanta traffic ill, but a nice dose of consideration will beat it back.
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