Page 25 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – January/February 2019

‘ME-FIRST’
We all get frustrated by traffic backups. Why can’t traffic flow as smoothly as water through pipes. Vehicle crashes, breakdowns and poor roadway design all lead to additional delays? Before we start pointing fingers, don’t forget to look in the mirror. Think about the chaotic scene played out on our roadways every day. Speeding and distracted driving are common, but we also see a tremendous amount of aggressive driving. Frequent lane changes, tailgating, cutting people off and driving around others using the shoulders and median areas, are clearly aggressive driving. This “me-first” behavior causes the traffic backups we are all trying to avoid.
Let’s look at a few examples:
• Rush hour traffic backs up in the same places
almost every day, even when there are no crashes or breakdowns. We sit in stop-and-go traffic for a half mile or more approaching a popular exit. When we finally reach the off ramp, traffic begins to move smoothly again. This traffic back-up is caused by “me-first” driving. Dangerous drivers pass a long line of traffic before cutting off others waiting for the same exit. These same drivers also contribute to fender benders and even bigger traffic delays. Remember – you don’t have to be directly involved in the crash to have contributed to it.
• This same “me-first” driving behavior plays out during roadwork and while police and emergency crews try to clear crashes and breakdowns. When traffic is slowing ahead of you, there is a reason. These other drivers have places to go as well. Weaving through congested
traffic and making one dangerous lane change after another is no answer.
• These “me-first” drivers are a hazard off of the highways as well. When a driver ahead of you signals and slows for a turn, what do you do? Many drivers go around them, using the shoulder, median area or even the oncoming lane. Not only are these behaviors illegal, they are recklessly dangerous. Remember – in order
to take advantage of the “right-on-red” law, you have
to be the first vehicle at the red. An additional turning lane would be needed to go around others waiting
at the light. Don’t forget, we share the roadways with pedestrians and bicycles. The shoulder and median area of a roadway should not be used by moving vehicles. So how do we get the roadways to flow as efficiently as water through pipes? One method is through roadway redesign. Roundabouts, road diets and more efficient traffic light timing are all being added. Removing toll plazas also is part of the plan. Self-driving, or even semi self-driving vehicles, might also move us closer to this smooth traffic dream.
What we really need is better drivers. Drivers who realize how lucky we are to have such freedom of mobility. But remember, freedom comes with responsibility. A two-ton vehicle has the power to destroy. The roadways can be a frustrating place. Avoid the temptation to be a “me- first” driver. It won’t come easy, but one car at a time, we can make a difference.
Mike Sweeney is a Traffic Safety Educator at AAA Hudson Valley.
SAFETY ZONE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 I 25