 Op-Ed Contributor: "Damn you,
left-turners!"
I'm
trying to get through town in a hurry yet directly in front of me you
left-turners keep yielding to on-coming traffic! Why not turn
from the right lane like the considerate right-turners do?
Haven't you noticed they never have to pause completely before making
their desired turns but rather simply slow to an acceptable turning
velocity? Doesn't that sound to you like a more efficient use of my time? It certainly does to me!
You
left-turners seem oblivious to all the people whom you inconvenience with
your selfish left-turning ways. The city has even gone so far as
to give you your own designated lengths of street in some spots so the
rest of the driving population doesn't need to mingle with your
ilk. Now, I'm not about to advocate this type of segregation
based on intended direction but I can certainly understand how the idea
arises: We're constantly waiting on you to get out of our
way!
I know there are those out there who believe that
not all left-turners are bad. They say at least the oncoming
left-turners have the decency and respect to wait until we pass before
they temporarily block our path. But they've missed an obvious
distinction. Those “left-turners” are not turning left at
all, but rather right. My right, that is!
Now, you may argue then that the real
oncoming left-turners cause me no harm whatsoever. That fact, I say,
is merely a consequence of their location. They've chosen to live their
left-turning lifestyle at a safe distance from me (and for that I'm
thankful). But I swear, most left-turners flaunt their nasty
business right in front of me time and time again with nary a notion of
my tight schedule and chronic lateness.
I do not believe
the “theory” that left-turners are born. Rather I
think it is a conscious life choice. In fact, I've even seen
straight drivers transform into left-turners right before my very
bumper. Often with little or no warning. No sir.
Left-turning is a choice. And I believe it has been tolerated
long enough. Some young people are even starting to think it's
“cool”. We've seen this happen before with
cigarettes, haven't we? And now we have laws banning smoking in
public places.
The most immoral of all left-turns, the
U-turn, has been banned nearly everywhere since the dawn of traffic
history. Are other left-turns next? I've recently been noticing the occasional sign instructing the
public that left-turning is not allowed in certain parts of the city or
during certain times. As well-meaning as these laws are, all they
do is drive the illicit activity underground, making it not just
unsightly but dangerous as well. We end up with imprudent
“lefties” who don't use a turn signal in the vain hope of
escaping notice until it's too late. And still others who whiz through oncoming
traffic without waiting for a safe gap through which to drive. I
realize this means they are getting out of my way more quickly, but they do so at a potential cost that would certainly be too heavy to bare.
Banning
all left turns on public streets? No. I hope it does not
come to that. I hope that we as a society can pressure each other
in friendly and congenial ways to keep on the straight path, or at
least the right-turning one, so all of us can quickly and efficiently
get to our next appointment on time, which just happens to be all the way across
town!
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