Right of Weight
Part One in a series on how you can keep yourself from being on the wrong end of physics.
Photo by Matt Hudson, via Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@lalunecreative)
I had an encounter today that typifies some of the boneheaded things that I see happening on the roads of America. I’m sure that it happens elsewhere, too. Wherever you will find humans, you will find noodniks and nitwits aplenty.
To Describe the Situation…
We will scrub away place names and identities -- except for mine, as this happened to me just recently.
I was driving down Albert Lane, which comes to a four-way intersection with Bosco Road. There are stop signs at each entry point to the intersection. As I am coming up to my stop sign, a minivan pulls up and stops at the stop sign to my right. So, this individual is coming across Albert Lane, from my right to my left.
They get to the stop sign first, and they have already begun to move as I am coming to a complete stop. They have the right of way. I intend to stop and wait (which they can't know 100%, because they are not in the car with me).
But then, something stupid happens.
The driver of the minivan crawls out into the intersection and stops their car there. They are directly intercepting my path of intended travel. And, they're looking at me.
Now, my car is nice but it's nice to me. I expect maybe 10% of other drivers, on the high end, would recognize it for what it is. I don't think this driver is ogling my car. They are stopping so they can ascertain whether I am going to let them pass.
While they're inside the intersection.
Stopped in front of my car, with about ten feet between us.
Staring at me.
The Big Oops
There are a couple of problems here, and the perceptive among you will no doubt have spotted them. The reason why they are doing it is not as important as the fact that they are doing it.
You do not stop inside of an intersection unless you do not have a choice. This is sometimes called “blocking the box", and it's a no-no for several valid reasons. The big one is because you're stopped in a lane of travel.
Stopping in a lane of travel when you're not supposed to is not a great idea. Let's assume that this driver is trying to figure out whether I am going to plow through their vehicle. Remember, I am coming to a stop as they are starting to move again.
If I am not trying to commit crimes with a car, then you are wasting everyone's time, including yours. Again, the reason is not as important as the action. Whatever it is that I'm doing, you are putting yourself directly into harm's way. As well as anyone else in the vehicle with you. So, if I was out to get some blood on my tires, then you are in the firing line, so to speak.
The same goes for any unintended mismanagement of my vehicle. If I am not going to stop, or my brakes fail, someone behind me slams into my car, etc, then you are in the crosshairs.
You can talk about laws all that you want -- which we will do at this blog! -- but you cannot argue against physics. That is the right of weight, and it reigns over all others.
How Do We Fix It?
The fix here is simple: don't do that! Do not sit inside the intersection. Do not stare at other cars (no rubbernecking period!) and do not take your eyes off of where you're going. Looking around at the road is fine. Studying something while you’re in the middle of an intersection is not.
“Don’t get into trouble in the first place” is a great theory to put into practice, and it is always my first piece of advice to you. If you're already in the intersection, then just drop the dumb idea and drive away.
Some General Advice
If you absolutely need to stop your vehicle, park it inside of a parking lot, or on the side of the road if you must. Do what you need to do while you're not in anybody's way and not putting yourself or anyone else in danger.
Everything that you do while behind the wheel should be pushing you toward safety. Your car is several thousand pounds heavy, and you're using hundreds of explosions a minutes to make it go 65mph or faster.
Think about what you are doing, and what the other cars could end up doing to you.