Be careful driving!!

[Happinow]

I know there has been much conversation on this board about driving and drivers. I have one more.....While out and about today, hubby and I (I was driving) were coming back from Walmart on 466 when we stopped at the intersection of buena vista and 466. We were going to take a right onto Buena Vista. When the light turned green for us, there were 2 cars ahead of me waiting to turn as well. Thankfully, the first car didn't go right away when the light turned green because a car blew right through the red light. Would have side swiped the car waiting to turn. My jaw dropped. Then, while going to golf lessons, we were out by Brownwood on Buena Vista when we came to the stop light at the intersection of (I think 42) and Buena Vista. I had the red light and traffic on Route 42 is 55 mph. Remembering what had happened about an hour ago, when my light turned green, I said to my husband "lets make sure everyone is going to stop before if pull out". I couldn't believe my eyes.....a car, traveling 55mph or better, BLEW through the red light. My jaw dropped!! I'll bet his light was red for at least 5-7 seconds. That's a long time. If I would have gone when my light turned green, I probably wouldn't be here now. I'm pretty sure getting hit broadside at that speed would have killed me and my husband. I urge everyone to make sure the cars are going to stop at stop signs, red lights and round abouts a before you step on the gas. It saved my life today.

[Roaddog53]

It is sad. We too saw in one afternoon Sunday at two intersections cars going through a Red light. Fortunately too no one was turning at the time or started.

[upinmaine]

You make a great case for defensive driving. Sometimes when you have the right of way you could also be "dead right".
I am glad you and your husband survived the day and have given us all a valuable reminder.

[ilovetv]

I've seen many scenarios like these, but rarely do I see a police or sheriff's car here in TV. Drivers like this need to be pulled over by police.....and ticketed.

[USSGompers]

You make a great case for defensive driving. Sometimes when you have the right of way you could also be "dead right".
I am glad you and your husband survived the day and have given us all a valuable reminder.

I am also glad that you and hubby are okay. Monday, as I was coming out of Burger King, off of 441, a man around 90 yrs old, came barreling thru the stop sign and I slammed on my brakes as he sped in front of me.

The poor guy in the golf cart ahead of me swerved and did a 190 degree turn!!!

:cus:

[CFrance]

I'm glad you're both okay. Those were close calls, and good thinking on your part. When we picked up our TV IDs, they reminded us to drive defensively, because there is such a diversity of driving habits represented here. I didn't realize exactly what he meant by "diverse," but I do now, and I'm pretty sure you do too. Good advice.

[champion6]

I know there has been much conversation on this board about driving and drivers. I have one more.....While out and about today, hubby and I (I was driving) were coming back from Walmart on 466 when we stopped at the intersection of buena vista and 466. We were going to take a right onto Buena Vista. When the light turned green for us, there were 2 cars ahead of me waiting to turn as well. Thankfully, the first car didn't go right away when the light turned green because a car blew right through the red light. Would have side swiped the car waiting to turn. My jaw dropped. Then, while going to golf lessons, we were out by Brownwood on Buena Vista when we came to the stop light at the intersection of (I think 42) and Buena Vista. I had the red light and traffic on Route 42 is 55 mph. Remembering what had happened about an hour ago, when my light turned green, I said to my husband "lets make sure everyone is going to stop before if pull out". I couldn't believe my eyes.....a car, traveling 55mph or better, BLEW through the red light. My jaw dropped!! I'll bet his light was red for at least 5-7 seconds. That's a long time. If I would have gone when my light turned green, I probably wouldn't be here now. I'm pretty sure getting hit broadside at that speed would have killed me and my husband. I urge everyone to make sure the cars are going to stop at stop signs, red lights and round abouts a before you step on the gas. It saved my life today.

It is sad. We too saw in one afternoon Sunday at two intersections cars going through a Red light. Fortunately too no one was turning at the time or started.

I am also glad that you and hubby are okay. Monday, as I was coming out of Burger King, off of 441, a man around 90 yrs old, came barreling thru the stop sign and I slammed on my brakes as he sped in front of me.

The poor guy in the golf cart ahead of me swerved and did a 190 degree turn!!!These incidents occur everywhere every day and night.

[Barefoot]

These incidents occur everywhere every day and night.

Hearing about them is a good reminder. I'm glad you're safe Happinow.

[graciegirl]

Thank you Happinow for starting this thread. There are a LOT of people driving our streets right now in high season and it is much better to wait until the coast is clear than be sorry. Prepare for honkers. But don't pull out in front of anybody.

It is really frightening to see disregard for rules of the road.

I echo all of the sentiments to drive defensively. And please law enforcement....nail those dingbats.

[rubicon]

Unfortunately the people who commit these acts probably are not members of TOTV nor are those inptient drivers who honk the horn at you if you don't initiate a rapid acclerated start.

My occupation taught me that a driver is best served to look both right and left before entering an intersection on the green light.

some of those folks running red lights have a habit of doing so and hence are a real danger to society.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Pays to look both ways and take your time pulling out at a light or stop sign. Doesn't matter who has the right of way if your dead

[missypie]

I have to also agree with Gracie. Thank you Happinow for starting this thread.

[perrjojo]

BTW, what's up with all of these honkers?

[CFrance]

BTW, what's up with all of these honkers?

Well, that's the thing. They're from all over the place. In the off season, they're busy honking in MI, PA, NY, NJ, MA... all their home states. We just get a concentration of them down here in the winter.

Which was the guy's point when we went to get our IDs last year. People bring their driving habits from all over the country down here for the season. Happinow did a public service bringing these incidents up. One MUST drive defensively.

[Happinow]

I'm guessing that the driver of the car that blew thought the intersection had no idea that they went though the red light because they didn't even break. It was a Cadillac so my best guess is that it was an older person(not many young people drive Cadillacs) who just wasn't tuned in with their driving. What ever their age, sex or reason, it could have been their last ride on the highway.

[2BNTV]

I couldn't agree more that all should drive defensively and check the clearing of an intersection before proceeding.

BTW - A yellow light does not mean you speed up to beat the light but means you should be braking to stop for the red light. I see that a lot in CT and I also see many people blowing through a light as the yellow came on and they were in a big rush.

[JoeC1947]

I have to also agree with Gracie. Thank you Happinow for starting this thread.

I have to disagree with Gracie. Why do we need yet another thread on bad drivers? It's been beat to death.

[BobnBev]

I have to disagree with Gracie. Why do we need yet another thread on bad drivers? It's been beat to death.

And I have to disagree with you. It's always good to be reminded of who's out there driving insanely.

[2BNTV]

I haver to agree to disgree also. We all need to be reminded to practice safe driving as we all fall into bad habits.

[JoeC1947]

I haver to agree to disgree also. We all need to be reminded to practice safe driving as we all fall into bad habits.

You're right. If you need to be reminded to drive safely then this thread is for you. Personally, I don't need to be reminded. Everyday I see many traffic violations and unsafe drivers and drivers that couldn't care less about others. We could fill up this board quickly if everyone reported when they saw a bad driver.

[CFrance]

Do we really need to turn this thread into an arguement?

Happinow, another explanation might be that the person is an arrogant driver, saw the yellow light and gunned it. He could have very well known he was running a red light.

Anyway, I am too trusting of others' driving and foolishly breeze blithely forward when the light turns green, so I benefit from this kind of reminder every once in a while.

[graciegirl]

Don't get after me Joe. I will cry. ;)

Happinow was only being protective of all of us.

[keithwand]

We were on 44 and BV at Brownwood (maybe same time as Happi) and stopped for the light. Car in the left lane from about 6 car lens behind ran the red light.
It was so red it was going to change back to green soon!
You gotta be kidding me.
2 deputies were busy writing up others so prob. never noticed the idiot fly by.

[JoeC1947]

Don't get after me Joe. I will cry. ;)

Happinow was only being protective of all of us.

Gracie,

I'm not after you I just disagree about the need for yet another negative thread about TV. We all know that with the snowbirds coming down that the percentage of good and bad drivers increases. It happens every year and is nothing new.

[Jaggy]

We had same experience on 441.. car blew right through a red lite.. and it had been red for a good while.. I was surprised when we moved here that our car insurance went down. the insurance companies must do a study before they set the rates.. so there.. but someone will be honking at me because if I am the first car at a light and it turns green I never go until I see the other lane stop.

[janmcn]

So many people driving have visual and mental impairments. Drive like your life depends on it. It does.

[tommy steam]

I know there has been much conversation on this board about driving and drivers. I have one more.....While out and about today, hubby and I (I was driving) were coming back from Walmart on 466 when we stopped at the intersection of buena vista and 466. We were going to take a right onto Buena Vista. When the light turned green for us, there were 2 cars ahead of me waiting to turn as well. Thankfully, the first car didn't go right away when the light turned green because a car blew right through the red light. Would have side swiped the car waiting to turn. My jaw dropped. Then, while going to golf lessons, we were out by Brownwood on Buena Vista when we came to the stop light at the intersection of (I think 42) and Buena Vista. I had the red light and traffic on Route 42 is 55 mph. Remembering what had happened about an hour ago, when my light turned green, I said to my husband "lets make sure everyone is going to stop before if pull out". I couldn't believe my eyes.....a car, traveling 55mph or better, BLEW through the red light. My jaw dropped!! I'll bet his light was red for at least 5-7 seconds. That's a long time. If I would have gone when my light turned green, I probably wouldn't be here now. I'm pretty sure getting hit broadside at that speed would have killed me and my husband. I urge everyone to make sure the cars are going to stop at stop signs, red lights and round abouts a before you step on the gas. It saved my life today.

Where I lived in LI NY., they installed red light cameras to check people who run red lights. A lot of people didn't like them figuring big government was at it again. The outcome was a huge drop in accidents,front and rear, and a dramatic drop in people running red lights. Maby it's time to have these devices installed on the lights around here.

[RedChariot]

Where I lived in LI NY., they installed red light cameras to check people who run red lights. A lot of people didn't like them figuring big government was at it again. The outcome was a huge drop in accidents,front and rear, and a dramatic drop in people running red lights. Maby it's time to have these devices installed on the lights around here.

I agree. We no longer can ignore the reality of TV. It is not Disney.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Thank you Happinow for starting this thread. There are a LOT of people driving our streets right now in high season and it is much better to wait until the coast is clear than be sorry. Prepare for honkers. But don't pull out in front of anybody.

It is really frightening to see disregard for rules of the road.

I echo all of the sentiments to drive defensively. And please law enforcement....nail those dingbats.

Correct. And too many old people. When I was younger and my son just got his drivers license he called them "white heads". Now I R 1. :ohdear:

[Barefoot]

Correct. And too many old people.

That's the thing about these darn retirement communities, they are filled with old people. :evil6: I just wish the wrinklies would stay off their cell phones when they're driving.

[paulandjean]

I never make mistakes when I am driving. Its always the other guy.................

[mrsyarbie]

I remember several years ago that my Uncle Donald who passed away about 5 years ago told me that when he was a young lad you only had to send to your state motor vehicle deparment a driving application and 25 cents he said and they sent you back a drivers licsence(hope I spelled that right) , in WI anyway. Does anyone else remember that?? I think there may still be some of those drivers on the road ... I was "the man at the red light" several times since we moved here in April ... We all have to be careful out there and look out for ourselves I guess.. Glad you and your hubby are fine...

[ohhappyday]

That's why you look before you pull out. I have given light blowers the horn a few times to scare the crap out of them and wake them up. The only time they don't get it is if they're in the intersection in prep to turn and the light is turning before they can turn. They have to get out of the intersection. Yes I'm one of those that don't put up with stupidity. Hence the smart car that tried to make 3/4 of the circle from the right lane as I was travelling top to bottom from the top, he entered at the same point :) He was not allowed to do that from the right hand lane. Tsk tsk. Guess he's trying to test out how well built those things really are.

[DAWN MARIE]

As a runner, I've almost been run over by vehicles coming out of side streets (no lights involved). They tend to look left and accelerate turning right without first looking right. I've learned over the years to watch the driver trying to make eye contact as I'm coming up on their right side. More than once my hand landed on their vehicle as I tried to stop them as I'm running by. They usually brake hard and apologize profusely. It does scare them and me for that matter. Yes, we need to be careful out there and it's always good to be reminded.

[rubicon]

That's the thing about these darn retirement communities, they are filled with old people. :evil6: I just wish the wrinklies would stay off their cell phones when they're driving.

Now I am getting offended I object to the word "retirement:D

[NotGolfer]

I've observed the "light-runners" taking a left turn on the arrow...but after it turns red. Three of them yesterday from 466 to Morse Blvd. We all know that the lanes have become longer so we might have to wait for the next arrow to turn green. Patience is a virtue!! Some folks haven't figured that out yet.

Our daughter was visiting recently, was out for a walk in the early evening when a man nearly hit her (she was already well into the middle) of the cross-walk. His statement was "I didn't see you!" The area is well-lit with street lights too...he also said "I wasn't paying attention!" Well that mistake could have taken a life!!

[ilovetv]

You're right. If you need to be reminded to drive safely then this thread is for you. Personally, I don't need to be reminded. Everyday I see many traffic violations and unsafe drivers and drivers that couldn't care less about others. We could fill up this board quickly if everyone reported when they saw a bad driver.

A person who is new to this forum, or even one who's been here a year or more, is not prone to have read all the past threads on these subjects. Many of us find what to read today by clicking New Posts. The older threads on these topics are not seen this way (unless somebody has dredged them up and added a new post).

Also, people who are new here in TV might be thinking it's a whole lot safer driving here compared to the city they came from. I think it's good to alert newcomers to some of the hazards.

[graciegirl]

A person who is new to this forum, or even one who's been here a year or more, is not prone to have read all the past threads on these subjects. Many of us find what to read today by clicking New Posts. The older threads on these topics are not seen this way (unless somebody has dredged them up and added a new post).

Also, people who are new here in TV might be thinking it's a whole lot safer driving here compared to the city they came from. I think it's good to alert newcomers to some of the hazards.

Well said....as usual.