You Call That Driving!!

Driving……  Times have really changed.  My thought from a few days ago is, “you call that driving!”.

Here’s what happened….perhaps I should say, “here’s what happens”.  Because I’m sure it doesn’t happen everyday.

I grew to expect this sort of driving and worst in my 16 months in Mexico.  I just didn’t expect what I encounter here.

Foolish me….

First incident…..  You may think this is normal and while it’s not as bad as in Mexico…..I found this ridiculous! I’m on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge.  I’m driving the middle Lane and there’s this car going slow in front of me with their flasher on to move into the right lane.  This went on for about a mile.  The driver had several opportunities to move to the right lane, but didn’t, the driver slowed down even more.  Now, I’m tutting my horn for her to move over.  I couldn’t pass on the left because of traffic, I was stuck behind this slow moving vehicle in the middle lane.

Then it happened.



The car darted across the lane to the exit ramp for Acadian!!!  WTF!!  I couldn’t believe it!  With all the opportunity to move over to the right, she refused, there’s even a far right lane for that particular exit!!  It didn’t make any sense!

Welcome to Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s traffic.  Wait, the third one’s a kicker too.  I’m still beside myself as to why this driver just wouldn’t move over!  Male, female, it doesn’t matter stupid isn’t prejudice.

You Call That Driving!!

That’s actually mild compared to Mexico…..you can be driving on a 2 lane road in one direction with no lines on the road and that sucker becomes FIVE lanes!  And in town down a six lane boulevard and the driver in the far right lane wants to turn left (yep, left across all those lanes) they take the opportunity, or should I say they make the opportunity!

Gosh folks!

I’m a little further down Interstate 10 when the next event took place.  This is ALL in one day…..just 10 to 15 minutes apart.

After this little deal, I’m past the on ramp for traffic from Acadian getting on the interstate and I’m still in the middle lane except the middle lane is now the second lane from the left and now, there’s 5 lanes (I-10 Splits shortly into I-10 New Orleans and I-12 Hammond (going towards Mississippi).



I want to get to the next lane to my right, so I put on my flasher and start easing over to that lane as I had plenty distance between me and the oncoming traffic.  Everthing is fine.  Well with the exception of this guy from the forth lane.  After I’ve made my commitment to change lanes (I could see a police car about 100 yards behind me), just about halfway in the lane this guy wants the place that I’m in……but I’m not about to swerve.  Now this guy is starring at me like I’ve pissed on his cat (he does not have his flasher on for the lane change).  He hits his accelerator and gets past me and changes into my lane….not he just crossed FOUR lanes.  No blinker indicating his intention to change lanes.

Accck!!!

You Call That Driving!!

I exit I-12 (towards Hammond ) at Airline Hwy. (Hwy. 61) heading to my destination (Home Depot) a short distance, two traffic lights down the road.

I have to be in the left lane.  I’ve no problem making my way there.  Suddenly a service truck (like for a tire place) is behind me, by now, I’ve turned in to the turning lane and he did the same.  Except, he stopped!  No one else was getting in that turn lane…..the distance behind me is about 30 yards.  Why in the hell is he stopped there, I’m thinking?  None of my business is my next thought.  Then I saw why.  When my left turn traffic light came on, it stopped the on coming traffic and he proceded to drive over the median seperating the two traffic directions to reverse direction.

Driving in the traffic around Baton Rouge is just a bit below the harrowing experiences of driving in Mexico for those 16 months.  But, it’s something I really didn’t expect.



Have I had other experiences that made me want to scream……yes.  But this took place in the matter of 15 minutes or less!!

I’m not driving in Europe.  Public transportation…..trains, trolleys and buses, I can’t wait.

I need a beach!

Peace, love and beaches,

John

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