How to Operate a Motor Vehicle: Part 1

About a week ago I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle. I do not seem to be injured much by it, only a bump on my knee and a red mark on my shoulder. However, my bike was totaled and I very easily could have been killed. You can read about the accident at my other blog Cycling Fool.

However, in light of that near miss I want to take some space here to review a few driving rules:
First, turning vehicles must yield to traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians. The man who hit me was turning left. He was turning across two lanes of traffic and a bicycle lane. According to the law, he was supposed to make sure that all lanes AND the crosswalk were clear before turning left across them. He obviously failed to do this.
This is also true when turning right, especially at a red light or stop sign. Many people do not know (because they are ignorant of traffic laws and selfish on the road) that they must come to a full and complete stop at a red light BEHIND THE CROSSWALK or BEHIND THE STOP SIGN. Many people think that they can stop in the crosswalk, or that they only have to slow down if they are turning right. These people are stupid and are likely to kill someone.
Here is the proper way to turn right at a red light or stop sign: First, come to a full stop behind the crosswalk or stop sign. If at this time you need to move your car forward in order to see to your left (for example, if there is a car to your left blocking your view) you can do so carefully, watching for people crossing in front of you. Then if everything is clear, you may turn.

If you are turning right OR left on a green light, YOU MUST YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS!!!!!!!!!! I know that this comes as a complete surprise to many of you. After the amazement wears off you might want to go check and see if there are any dead bodies under your front bumper.
When you a have a green light, pedestrians may also have a green light and there is no reason why you should run them over or honk at them while they legally crossing the street. Simply wait for them, then turn.

Now many of you violate these rules because you are in a big stinkin' hurry and you think that you are more important than other people in the world, especially those who are not in cars. Many times you are in a big hurry because you are late.
This is a problem with a solution: Leave earlier.
Plan ahead, know how long it is going to take for you to get there, then add 10% and leave accordingly. The world is full of clocks and you can even buy one at Wal-mart and wear it on your wrist so that you can know precicely what time to leave. If things go well you will arrive relaxed and early and if you have to wait for some pedestrians you will arrive on time.
If this does not work and you are going to be late anyway, simply be late. Driving fast will not get you there much sooner but it will greatly increase the chances of someone dying.

Stay tuned for future installments of "How to Operate a Motor Vehicle." And I am more than willing to give one-on-one lessons and/or deomnstrations.