Right of way
by Lori Barrett | April 14, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Posted in baltimore news
Everyone in Baltimore has something to say about our stupid drivers. Thankfully they usually cause no harm. That was not the case on Saturday.
Two little boys were hit when a van jumped the sidewalk on the 1000 block of West Fayette Street. One of the boys, 3 years old, was killed. The driver of the van was forced onto the sidewalk when a car in the right lane attempted a left turn and clipped the van in the process.
This tragedy illustrates a broad problem of our city’s:
A general disregard for traffic laws. (In addition to most other laws, that is.)
The phenomenon begins with minor issues, like the lack of turn signals, and extends to reckless behavior like this case. Or take the dirtbikers, who are emerging from hiding as the weather improves. Just last week, I saw a pack of them run a red light at a busy intersection and then proceed the wrong way down Charles Street. How easy can it be to react properly when eight of them are barreling towards you against traffic?
Police officers obviously have their hands full with more pressing issues. Red light cameras are good for generating revenue, but seem to do little to stop the fundamental problem. Is there a way to get people to change their driving behavior, save a few more tragedies like this one?
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April 14th, 2008 at 8:15 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
i'd like to know why people are disregarding traffic laws. in bel air, i saw someone from the right hand lane turn left. at a red light. if their goal was to be a dangerous douche bag, then they succeeded with flying colors
April 14th, 2008 at 8:26 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Well those bike assholes don't wear helmets so bring on the crashes.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I have a problem with the bikers in the city as well. There have been countless times I have been driving and a pack of bikes have driven through a red light right into crossing traffic. However, the police don't want to deal with them because they don't have the resources or even want to have to get out of their cars. It's going to take someone getting badly injured or killed for the city to do anything.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:55 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
If anything, red light cameras not stop the problem, they seem to increase it. I have seen more people running red lights since cameras were in use than before. No camera? Ignore the red light.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:06 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I think the cops need dirtbikes themselves. Once these bikers start weaving in and out of traffic, there's nothing a cop can do to stop them from behind the wheel of a sedan.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
motor vehicles, when improperly operated, are potentially as dangerous as a gun (and statistically more so). We need to crack down and agressively punish and pursue those without valid licensces and insurance, yet we constantly hear of people out on the road that shouldn't be - -
that should warrant such a prolonged incarseration as to keep these morons off the streets and discourage future violations
April 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Yeah, let's put them all in jail for a long, long time. I'd love for 50k/year of my tax money to be spent punishing those dreadful aggressive drivers. And if we're lucky, they'll learn how to be REAL criminals while in jail, and then society can pay for their bad behavior forever!
What a novel plan Matt. While we're at it, I say we close all the bars in an effort to curb alcoholism and promote family values. We can call it, Ida know...prohibition perhaps?
Yeah, let's just police those problems right out of existence. Perfect.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:45 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Agressive drivers must be the smallest problem the city has. Let's start doing something about the tens of 1000's of abandoned homes in city before we worry about red lights and bikers.