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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Chronicles of an Angry Driver in New York City

Everything is so fast paced in New York City, so it is a pleasure at night when it is you and the road and the skyline and you can just ride without the heavy rush of the never sleeping town.

May Photo Challenge 2017: Skyline
The difference is that during the daytime, you are driving, stop at a red light and don’t let a second of green catch you standing behind it because you will be met with a chorus of beeps. So you start to move as you were prompted to by the cars behind you, and a person wearing all black clothes starts to cross the street in front of you. The latter example is even worse at nighttime when you can hardly see them at all. 

When I took my defensive driving class, the instructor told the class that every 3rd person on the road is under the influence of something. Whether it is alcohol, drugs, makeup or Snapchat that you decide to stream live while behind the wheel that has your attention, the driver might not see that camouflaged to the color of the pavement walker, or that crazy bicyclist who decides that no traffic law pertains to them. Yeah! I said makeup. Haven't you ever seen someone applying mascara and eyeliner while behind the wheel or using nail polish remover to take an old coat of polish off the nails? 


But then you have the city skyline to provide some extra needed comfort to that vision-zero spot you are in. All those lights keep you abreast and aware; unless you start gazing at the sparkle and decide that at that moment, patience to just enjoy life is more important than rushing through it. As that thought skates through your mind, may I invite you to "Enjoy Life" and sing along with me? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alV2ULnr9z8



How could you not see the draped in all black pedestrian when the neon lights kind of color them in as they cross the middle of the street that you might not have seen if it were in a different area? And how could you not stop to simply let them pass without road rage getting the best of you and leading you to want to curse them out because you are in a rush? And how could you not feel like stopping just to appreciate the beauty and to capture the essence of it? Just looking at the skyline transforms a driver and leaves them feeling good. 

Thank God for those lights. Here is hoping for more patience as we cruise on down the thoroughfares of life. 

10 comments:

  1. I have driven in NY one time and I survived. I always try to watch for pedestrians no matter where I am. It can be scary trying to cross the street in the city!

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  2. I think driving anywhere people are like that. I watched a video once that showed a guy running a red light and plowing through an entire lane of traffic. I don't jump the green anymore more...better safe than sorry!

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  3. My biggest concern for my kids learning to drive isn't so much them driving, but others. Defensive driving is so important and yet it doesn't allow us to avoid all of the infinite pitfalls of driving on the road!

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  4. Every third person? Yikes! I think I'll stick with public transportation and taxis while I'm in New York next. Let someone else do the worrying. Although, it's probably not much better here in Southern California.

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  5. Ugh, I can't drive in the city anymore, but my husband does! I still get anxious when he drives, but he's a pro!

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  6. I completely believe that "every 3rd person on the road is under the influence of something". People need to be focused on driving only when they are behind the wheel.

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  7. Experiencing the buzz of driving in NYC is an experience for sure.

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  8. It amazes me sometimes how people dart out like that. When they're wearing all black and a hoodie, they're super hard to see. Thank goodness for the lights indeed!

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  9. NYC driving is not for the faint of heart! You have to be on high alert all times for everyone else.

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  10. I've found myself utterly distracted so many times while city driving, and each time I say a prayer that nothing bad happened. It reminds me to slow down and do my job as a safe driver!

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