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[Marlin Democrat] Column -- Pet Peeve #39
Mar. 2nd, 2005 09:54 amPet Peeve #39
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
March 02, 2005
Everyone has them. Those little things that just get under the skin and rub, like a pair of shoes that haven't been broken in properly. They rub and rub until a blister forms.
Pet peeves. Those things that just annoy a person.
I used to say I didn't have any pet peeves. Nothing could really fluster me. Today, however, I realize I have quite a few.
For example, there's pet peeve #12: the one about cup holders in the car. Today's vehicles generally come with cup holders that tuck into the dash and that can be brought out for use with the push of a button or the flick of a lever.
It bugs me when someone leaves the cupholders out after using them. It's even worse when an empty cup stays in the holder for days at a time. (That would be pet peeve #13.)
It seems like such a minor thing, but to me it is a huge bother. I itch to push the holder back into its place and send the empty cup sailing into the closest trash bin.
Pet peeve #3 is someone standing behind me while I type at the computer. #20 is being asked to help with something only to never be allowed to do anything. #31 is stale chips and flat soda.
That brings me to my latest pet peeve, the one I lovingly refer to as #39 or "Buy a blinker!!!"
The increased number of people not using turn signals is hard to miss, and it has quickly climbed its way up to a featured place on my list of peeves.
I travel a lot. I drive 37 miles one way to work every day, and my love for road trips has lead to my trading three trucks in four years due to high mileage. I've seen a lot of odd driving habits in my travels, but most things are seen once and then not seen again for 100s of miles. The lack of turn signal use is rampant, however.
In a recent trip to Dallas, as I made my way down I35 I had to rely of fast reflexes several times as cars chose to just drift into my lane with no warning. Several times a week on my way home, I find myself stuck behind a car stopped in the highway because I have no clue if they are making a left turn, a right turn or just feel like taking a moment to blow their nose mid-stream.
I went to College Station this last weekend, and I have always found amusement in being able to pick out the visitors there to view the campus and surrounding areas. They don't know the streets in which the outside lane just disappears and you have to be prepared to merge with the other lane. Then there are the places in which the lane that was through traffic becomes left-turn only. Generally, a turn signal is flipped on and the person is allowed to merge safely into traffic and go about their way.
Not this time. This time breaks were slammed and undoubtly many curse words uttered as vehicles whipped into traffic with no regard for letting others know what was going to happen.
This is how people get hurt. As a driver, you are responsible for yourself, your passengers and all the others on the highway.
All the other drivers? They don't have ESP. Just because the driver of the Blue Chevrolet knows they are going to make a left turn, it doesn't mean that the line of ten cars behind them knows that. Not without the use of a turn signal.
My usual passengers (read: my parents) have become used to my snipping, "I'd buy you a blinker if I thought you'd USE it."
How hard is it to give other drivers an idea of what is going to happen? It's simply a matter of a quick flick of the wrist to turn on the signal light.
I, too, am guilty of not using a turn signal. I think everyone has been guilty of it at some point in time. Lately, however, as it seems the lack of using a signal has become common. I've reached the point that when I see someone use it to change lanes, it takes me a moment to comprehend what that blinking light means!
Okay, so I'm exaggerating at this point. However, the idea remains the same. Turn signal use has declined, and it's going to get someone killed some day, be it in an accident or a result of road rage.
Use a blinker or learn the proper hand signals. When on the highway, everyone is manuevering heavy equipment at a fast pace. The need to know what is going on around you and to let others know what you are going to do is high. It could mean the difference between life and death.
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
March 02, 2005
Everyone has them. Those little things that just get under the skin and rub, like a pair of shoes that haven't been broken in properly. They rub and rub until a blister forms.
Pet peeves. Those things that just annoy a person.
I used to say I didn't have any pet peeves. Nothing could really fluster me. Today, however, I realize I have quite a few.
For example, there's pet peeve #12: the one about cup holders in the car. Today's vehicles generally come with cup holders that tuck into the dash and that can be brought out for use with the push of a button or the flick of a lever.
It bugs me when someone leaves the cupholders out after using them. It's even worse when an empty cup stays in the holder for days at a time. (That would be pet peeve #13.)
It seems like such a minor thing, but to me it is a huge bother. I itch to push the holder back into its place and send the empty cup sailing into the closest trash bin.
Pet peeve #3 is someone standing behind me while I type at the computer. #20 is being asked to help with something only to never be allowed to do anything. #31 is stale chips and flat soda.
That brings me to my latest pet peeve, the one I lovingly refer to as #39 or "Buy a blinker!!!"
The increased number of people not using turn signals is hard to miss, and it has quickly climbed its way up to a featured place on my list of peeves.
I travel a lot. I drive 37 miles one way to work every day, and my love for road trips has lead to my trading three trucks in four years due to high mileage. I've seen a lot of odd driving habits in my travels, but most things are seen once and then not seen again for 100s of miles. The lack of turn signal use is rampant, however.
In a recent trip to Dallas, as I made my way down I35 I had to rely of fast reflexes several times as cars chose to just drift into my lane with no warning. Several times a week on my way home, I find myself stuck behind a car stopped in the highway because I have no clue if they are making a left turn, a right turn or just feel like taking a moment to blow their nose mid-stream.
I went to College Station this last weekend, and I have always found amusement in being able to pick out the visitors there to view the campus and surrounding areas. They don't know the streets in which the outside lane just disappears and you have to be prepared to merge with the other lane. Then there are the places in which the lane that was through traffic becomes left-turn only. Generally, a turn signal is flipped on and the person is allowed to merge safely into traffic and go about their way.
Not this time. This time breaks were slammed and undoubtly many curse words uttered as vehicles whipped into traffic with no regard for letting others know what was going to happen.
This is how people get hurt. As a driver, you are responsible for yourself, your passengers and all the others on the highway.
All the other drivers? They don't have ESP. Just because the driver of the Blue Chevrolet knows they are going to make a left turn, it doesn't mean that the line of ten cars behind them knows that. Not without the use of a turn signal.
My usual passengers (read: my parents) have become used to my snipping, "I'd buy you a blinker if I thought you'd USE it."
How hard is it to give other drivers an idea of what is going to happen? It's simply a matter of a quick flick of the wrist to turn on the signal light.
I, too, am guilty of not using a turn signal. I think everyone has been guilty of it at some point in time. Lately, however, as it seems the lack of using a signal has become common. I've reached the point that when I see someone use it to change lanes, it takes me a moment to comprehend what that blinking light means!
Okay, so I'm exaggerating at this point. However, the idea remains the same. Turn signal use has declined, and it's going to get someone killed some day, be it in an accident or a result of road rage.
Use a blinker or learn the proper hand signals. When on the highway, everyone is manuevering heavy equipment at a fast pace. The need to know what is going on around you and to let others know what you are going to do is high. It could mean the difference between life and death.
