Tag: Traffic

Are you more important than anyone else?

October 3, 2024

Driving through Springfield streets it can often be noticed that certain people do not obey traffic laws, signs, and stop lights.  As a Christian you may wonder who these people are or, hopefully not, you may find yourself participating in these unlawful and unsafe practices.  The only explanation for this is that those who ignore common sense or instruction and posted ordinances think they are better than everyone else and laws do not apply to them.

Some examples of this observed behavior are those who do not attempt to stop when the traffic light turns yellow.  When the Springfield Police cars and Greene County Sheriff cruisers do this, it is common knowledge that they do not have to obey the laws they are paid to enforce.  Why should they set the example by stopping just because the light has turned yellow?  Those who drive through red lights must just be off-duty officers who know they won’t get any tickets.  How many people are killed in accidents when the instruction of a light is ignored?  No more than two hundred or so each year.  Who cares about that small a number?

Bicyclists can go anywhere they want to because they are cutting down on pollution by riding.  Sidewalks are alright and just because there is a marked lane showing the cyclists to follow the flow of other vehicles doesn’t mean you can’t travel on the wrong side of the road and cuss the drivers that aren’t paying attention to you being where you aren’t supposed to be.  If you are hit and killed by a motorist, they will be blamed and must live with it, not you.

Do you like roundabouts? Is that why you do not yield to traffic that is going around the circle? Some of you drive your trucks over the center destroying the expensive landscaping that we all had to pay for. What is even better is the medians that are placed between the lanes on small two-lane roads for no good reason other than for idiots to drive in the wrong lanes.

I won’t even talk about the motorcyclists that we are all reminded to keep safe by watching for them as they speed between lanes of traffic to get in front of cars. It is especially enjoyable to watch them pop their wheelies as they race down the road. The last thing I want is to drive over them when they wipe out on a grease spot.

The two biggest problems are inattentiveness and impairment. Missouri finally has decided to make texting and the use of handheld phones while driving illegal. Road rage is rampant. Someone shot at a car recently. Hopefully, that person will be caught. The prosecutor and judges will slap their hands and put them back out.

I had to deal with drivers for one company where I was the office manager.  My boss did not want to deal with it. I was the one that the company delivery truck was issued to by the leasing company. When the driver violated the law and a call was made, it was to me. I also got to send young men home when they came to work drunk.

I’m glad to be off the roads most of the time now. I also am glad I am retired, and it is someone else’s problem to deal with employees who believe lying to their bosses is a good idea. I know that generations younger than I are not any worse than we boomers. It is a fact they are no smarter.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

Are you more important than anyone else?

July 20, 2022

Driving through Springfield streets it can often be noticed that certain people do not obey traffic laws, signs, and stop lights.  As a Christian you may wonder who these people are or, hopefully not, you may find yourself participating in these unlawful and unsafe practices.  The only explanation for this is that those who ignored common sense or instruction and posted ordinances are better than everyone else.

Some examples of this observed behavior are those who do not attempt to stop when the traffic light turns yellow.  When the Springfield Police cars and Greene County Sherriff cruisers do this it is common knowledge that they do not have to obey the laws they are paid to enforce.  Why should they set the example by stopping just because the light has turned yellow?  Those who drive through red lights must just be off-duty officers that know they won’t get any tickets.  How many people are killed in accidents when the instruction of a light is ignored?  No more than twenty or so each year.  Who cares about that small a number?

Even worse than this are those who run red lights. I have witnessed a number of these violators. Recently I have had two different vehicles running lights as I was beginning to start into the intersection. Had I not been observant, I would probably have died. In my opinion, these actions are those of someone who does not care about anyone else on the roads. Violating this law should be considered first-degree murder. I know our legislators will never change the penalty because they are some of the worst offenders.

Another similar situation is that of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Once again, we all have heard of government officials fighting DUI charges. A friend of mine once was talking about how he almost passed out the previous night while he was driving home after having drunk alcohol. I asked how he would feel if a drunk driver hit and killed his family. He did not like having to think about that.

A friend of my wife was killed in an accident with a drunk driver years ago. She left a husband and children. While the other driver was charged and prosecuted, the family did not feel justice was done. I was also a witness to an accident caused by a man who was drunk. The trial was delayed when he agreed to go through treatment. It was not his first prosecution for that offense.

Speed limits are the top limit set by the city, county, state, and federal governments. Many of us view anyone going under the posted limit as causing problems. A common misconception is that you can drive five to ten miles faster than the posted number and not worry about getting a ticket. This is not true. You could get a ticket if an officer is having a bad day and wants to get someone.

Missouri has laws restricting the use of cell phones by younger drivers while behind the wheel of a car. It seems that it would be important to stop all of us from this distraction. My wife and family know not to call me while I am driving. They can text. Then they must wait for me to respond when it is safe. I have done this since I began carrying a cell phone.

I could mention more things than these I have mentioned. I will stop with this list of my complaints. I know many of you do not agree with me and that is fine. I would like to hear from you if my thoughts have struck a nerve either way. We are all entitled to our own opinions.

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger