To my fellow Lakewooders,
As we all know, driving in town is not for the faint-hearted. I would like to recommend a few things that can make driving a bit less nerve wracking.
Boruch Hashem there are a lot of playgroups and babysitters in Lakewood. I have noticed that it’s very hard for people to back out of the driveway when they are leaving after dropping off or picking up their child. Quite a few times this is because the parked cars on the street obscure the drivers’ vision from seeing oncoming cars. Multiple times, as I was driving down these blocks, I had to swerve or beep to let backing out cars know I’m coming, since by the time I saw them it was too late to stop. My suggestion to all playgroups and such is to invest in a mirror that you can put opposite your driveway so parents and those backing out can see the oncoming cars and avoid many accidents.
Another tip: A lot of traffic is caused by a car waiting to make a left turn from a busy road onto a quieter one. I constantly wonder why we don’t stop and let them make the turn. Of course, if you’re going more than 25 mph you can’t slow down safely; however, in slow moving traffic like on the 9, when you see a car waiting to make a left turn slow down and let him go. Why? Because not only are you being a mentch and helping to keep traffic moving, in a few hours you too might be in that position and would be happy if a person stopped to let you go.
Parents, please don’t hold up traffic when the school bus drops your kid off by talking to the bus driver. Most issues that occur on the bus anyway need to be resolved through the school or the bus company office. If there’s something you urgently need to tell the driver, just call the bus company and they will relay the message.
Finally, don’t honk if a car doesn’t go into the intersection unless you know he’s not paying attention. Legally, you can’t be in the middle of the intersection if there’s already a car in front of the white line. Aside for the fact that it aggravates drivers who now can’t turn when it’s their light, it also causes accidents and backs up traffic.
Until then, I guess my bike will be coming out of storage,
Hoping to make driving easier.
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to letters@thelakewoodscoop.com)
Great ideas, one thing you missed was GET OFF THE PHONE AND DRIVE!!
It is rude to honk at someone making a left turn into a busy road. when you are waiting behind them. Do you think they’re sleeping and not paying attention? Of course not, they’re being cautious and don’t want to be in an accident. So be more patient. When you honk you can scare someone and cause them to do something rash which might not be safe. When someone honks at me when I am trying to turn I just IGNORE them.
Many times, they are just on the phone. The honk is to wake them up from their stupor.
If you are honked at, don’t take it personally. The honker means the guy on his phone, not you.
But seriously, if you are the scared type, who waits another few seconds after it is safe to turn, you are the cause of many accidents on the road, as well as much of the traffic. If you won’t take the opportunity to make the turn when it is available, you have no business driving on these roads. Take a car service, stay home, or move to Montana where heavy traffic means two cars on the same day. Chocka block traffic means two cars driving in the same direction
I’m getting my moped out. Its faster then driving in this town.
Yes, bikes is a great idea!! Just make sure to have lights – required legally and very important for safety. Also reflectors etc.
Ride on side, cross safely.
But time-wise, during traffic it’s not any more than driving.
Thank Gd for traffic and that everything is open BH