Wednesday, November 29, 2000

Herewith, pupils, some needed rules of the road

This started as a brief letter, but, like Topsy, it grew... Perhaps instead of a letter, having a reporter do an article on traffic and public safety in Peachtree City will be better. Although I believe the following points and advice are correct legally, getting an expert opinion would be wise. All I know is that the problem is getting worse. Children and teenagers, out of ignorance and sometimes to be rebellious, do these things. Nevertheless, I have seen many adults, who should know better and set the example, acting even worse.

I have lived in Peachtree City for 20 years. When the community was some 5,500 people, the problem that I will call "traffic etiquette" was small, because there were fewer people and cars. With our present population and volume of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the traffic etiquette problem has reached a danger level that could easily result in severe injury, or even death.

Unfortunately, people have to know the law, use common sense, and be alert to their surroundings to reduce risk to themselves and others. Everyone has to behave responsibly. Parents have to be good examples to young children and teens who drive or will soon.

Pedestrians:

Peachtree City is pedestrian friendly, but pedestrians also have responsibilities for safety. Why do you walk on the wrong side of the street, often two or three abreast and not pay attention to parked cars or traffic behind you? If cars are parked on the street, there is no room for a motorist to pass you and them. I hope that ignorance, not rudeness or selfishness, is the cause of this situation. The cars have nowhere else to go. You do.

If there are no sidewalks or cart paths, pedestrians should walk on the side of the road to their left, facing oncoming traffic. They should walk in a single file, or at least form a single file when a vehicle approaches. Keep your pet on your left side next to the curb so you can get both of you off the street if traffic appears. Remember that you can get out of the way a lot easier than an automobile or truck. Walking facing traffic is not difficult.

Runners and joggers, you should follow the same rules. Vehicles, not you, have the right of way on main roads. Running in the street in the same direction as traffic is suicidal, especially in the dark wearing dark clothes and no lights or reflective trim.

Motorists:

Just because the police won't ticket you unless you are 10 over the limit, they established that the speed limit for everyone's safety and reaction times. Different areas have different limits. Just because the road, under certain conditions, will allow you to drive at 60 mph, it does not mean you should go that fast.

School zones are 25 mph for the entire distance and for the entire time period. These limits are established for our children's safety not motorists' convenience or inconvenience. I cannot believe that a community such as ours has people who don't care about our children. Enough said. Surely, we are not that pressed for time.

Laws about intersections with four-way stop signs are clear. Magnanimously letting someone go out of sequence not only screws up the orderly flow of traffic, but it could cause an accident. The other motorists might not have seen you waving the other guy forward and they might just go through the intersection. I believe that if you signal someone to go on and there is an accident, you may bear liability.

Same things with people turning left (right) and you stop and wave them to make the turn.

When someone is waiting to turn left, do not pass on the right shoulder (or right side of the intersection). If there is no turn lane and there is an accident, you can be liable. If the car in front of you has stopped for a red light and there is no right turn lane, you do not have the right to pass on the shoulder or turn right. Just think, the person who has stopped to make the turn blocks the oncoming traffic's view of the intersection. You, who are sneaking by on the right side, are not visible to them.

Except in school zones where the speed limit is 25 mph, it is sheer lunacy to stop on a main thoroughfare and let a pedestrian, biker, or golf cart cross. No matter how much traffic is there, they can wait until it is clear. If you stop, say on Peachtree Parkway or at Braelinn Road off the Parkway, you could cause a nasty accident. You are not being generous, but you are being a traffic hazard.

If you are placing your garage sale sign near an intersection, please move your automobile to an area off the road, not halfway on or at the curb. Most intersections don't have enough road space for turning traffic and your parked vehicle.

When you are at a stop sign, why pull out in front of oncoming traffic? If you pull out in front of someone who is within the speed limit and they cannot stop, besides being at fault, you will likely be the one who is severely hurt. If the oncoming car is speeding, you are really in trouble. Is that extra second or two that you saved worth it?

Red lights even worse. You may turn right on red after a full stop. It doesn't mean that you have the right to scoot in front of the oncoming traffic without fully stopping. You can be at fault or killed, or both. Again, what have you saved?

Fire lanes in shopping centers are for emergency traffic only. They are not your convenience when it's raining or if you're in a hurry to pick up just one item. You are not privileged in our society.

Bicycles:

Follow the same rules as automobiles. Stay to the extreme right side and in a single file. Automobiles may pass you close, but concentrate on keeping your direction. Use hand signals the motorist behind you is not a mind reader. Young or inexperienced bicyclists should not be on thoroughfares, even with parents as escorts. Family biking is great, but plan your trip so that you stay off main roads.

These are a few things I have observed. The problem is that you don't just see it once in a great while, but every day on every trip. With a little thought for safety, we can all do better.

L.F. Bell, Jr.

Peachtree City

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