Don’t hate the intersection…
There have been many accidents at the intersection of Lawrence Ave. and MacArthur Blvd. That intersection, along with Lawrence and Walnut, has been dubbed “dangerous intersections”, and even have cute little yellow warning signs saying so, complete with flashing amber light to draw your attention (away from said dangerous intersection).
Gotta love irony.
Anyway, a certain former alderman had long opposed doing anything to improve the safety of the intersection. I’m not sure of his reasoning, whether the cost, or the removal of trees that would be required, who knows? A few days ago, he and his wife were involved in a six-car accident at that intersection, and suddenly something needs to be done about it and done now (slam fist on table for effect). Shocker.
Don’t get me wrong- both the MacArthur and Walnut intersections of Lawrence Ave. are somewhat dangerous. They are somewhat “blind” depending on from which way you’re approaching, and there needs to be left turn lanes added for all directions of traffic. But heaven forbid, folks- you don’t think just maybe at least a few (read: most) of those accidents might just possibly have been caused by shitty drivers?
Not only are we the home of all things Abe, and possibly all things Simpson, we are also the bad driver capital of the world. Highest number per capita, apparently. People on their cell phones. Applying makeup. I saw a guy just today (perhaps not so coincidentally, it just happened to be at the Lawrence and MacArthur intersection) who was shaving while he was driving. People changing clothes. Reading. Practicing for the Air Guitar Championships (there actually is such a thing). Eating. Being way too friendly with the dog, cat, ferret, macaw, llama, barracuda, wildebeest, or other assorted varmint that is sitting in their lap as they drive. Dicking with their car stereo, iPod, in-dash DVD player, laptop, battery-operated or DC-compatible self pleasure tool, or other mobile distraction device. Getting road head. Hell, maybe even giving road head. Then, of course, there’s your “standard” shitty drivers: the speeders, the tailgaters, the road ragers, the red light/stop sign runners, the people whose vehicles apparently aren’t equipped with turn signals, the carful of horny teenyboppers of either gender, the people who believe they have got to get where they are going before anyone else gets where they are going, etc. Oh, and don’t forget the chemically impaired.
Like I say, I’m all for improving the safety of this or any other intersection that needs improvement. I think both the MacArthur and Walnut intersections at least need left turn lanes in all directions, but take some damned responsibility, people. Pull your heads out of your asses and learn to drive, and maybe there won’t be nearly so many accidents there (or at other intersections). It’s a dangerous intersection, but it’s not the intersection’s fault you can’t drive.
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Those flashing lights there are stupid. Just a band-aid over the gaping wound.
You’re right in that the lights are stupid. But I still maintain my stance that, while the intersection(s) have some safety issues that need to be addressed, the bigger problem (i.e. the “gaping wound”) is the shitty drivers. Sure, it’s a lot easier and less work to fix an intersection, but… HEY–
I know, let’s change the REST of the world to accommodate the inadequecies (in this case, shitty driving abilities) of a {relative} few instead of people taking responsibility for the problems [we ourselves are causing] and changing ourselves so that it doesn’t happen again. That’s fucked up.
I’m glad I have that “out” the next time I get in an accident. I can just tell the officer (and my insurance company) that the particular “intersection was dangerous” and it’s not my fault that I hopped the curb/ran the red light/t-boned the school bus. I see no reason why they wouldn’t buy it- apparently all others in the past have.
I go through that intersection a lot, and it seems to me that most of the problems occur when people in opposite directions are stopped waiting to make left turns. Cars stack up behind them, and nobody can see if anyone’s coming. Inevitably someone will turn without being able to tell if it’s clear, and usually at the same time cars will change lanes to get out of the stopped traffic and zoom through a yellow light.
It’s impatience and stupidity that cause the wrecks here, nothing more.
Exactly, Dave.
So it goes without saying that the majority of the “accidents” aren’t really accidents. The majority of all these crashes can be avoided if you WATCH WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE DOING!
DING DING DING DING DING DING
We have a winnah!
You rock, Daddy O.
Pass through those intersections every day.
I recall one morning zooming north up Macarthur with a taxi tailgating me all the way. As I approached the intersection in the right lane my view of the center of the intersection was obstructed with cars backed up waiting to make a left turn.
Knowing the intersection I slowed, and slowed, and slowed, all within a second or so. I could see the cab driver throwing his hands in the air in anger (you know they think they’re the best drivers in the world), but as I came into the intersection a woman turned right into front of my car (I had the right of way).
I tapped my breaks and slowed just enough to let this bad driver’s car pass in front of my own – narrowly averting an accident.
The cab driver behind me could see it all, and suddenly stopped tailgating me after we both proceeded down the intersection.
That intersection is bad for many reasons, and improvements are long overdue.
JP