When I get a green light, especially if I’ve been sitting at the red light and I am the first to go, I pause, very briefly, and look both ways.
You know, the way we were taught to cross a street as a pedestrian.
As children!
I do this because I have noticed a distinct increase in red light runners.
Those who cannot be bothered to be stopped by a bit of red plastic.
I mean, who does the light think it is?
Doesn’t the light know that you in the little sportscar, or the big truck, or the minivan, or the sedan are important and have places to go!
Time is a-wasting, after all.
This habit of pausing has saved my life many times.
I mean it, MANY times.
Because someone is too impatient to follow the rules of the road or the laws in their state.
Because, they have places to go, man!
I am important.
Yeah, so is the stroller that you hit, or the pedestrian that you creamed with the several thousand-pound machine.
Why is your life and desires and needs more important than theirs?
On my way to the hospital last night, I saw three red-light runners. During a three-mile trip, that is impressive. And dangerous.
Not only to you who is piloting the car but to the others that you might impact by pursuing this dangerous habit.
Is there a scare-them video for this like the ones we had to watch to get our driver’s license in the 1990s? A Blood on the Highway type video?
Maybe it can be called Red is the Blood. Or something to that effect.
Maybe Red Death, Green Insurance Money to the Victims.
I’ll keep thinking about it.
Until the dangerous drivers get their collective heads out of their collective orifices, take a second to pause at each red light.
You might save yourself and anyone else in the car.
Dispatches from the Evening Shift 