This Post May Save the World

Brace yourselves. I am getting ready to give a driving lesson.

There are people who might claim (erroneously) I don't drive well enough to give a driving lesson. The truth is my passengers sometimes lack a sense of adventure.

Anyway I read a post on pet peeves the other day and it made me think of one of mine. I thought I would not post about it because it would be gripey and show my road rage side. Then I thought y'all readers know I steal from my kids, and throw phones into the wall, so road rage really shouldn't shock anyone. Plus this is like a public service announcement. It is good for the world! It could save a life.

In Houston we have a way to bring early demise upon yourself in the form of The Unprotected Left Turn. It usually involves a suicide lane on the highway, or a break in the esplanade.

This is an esplanade. (I know I am not an artist. It is one of the many wonderful qualities I did not inherit from my mom. Am I adopted? Mom?)(There is a strong possibility my time would be better spent packing. Or working. Remember though this is an important public service announcement. )

If a driver wants to make a left turn (and I don't advise it) they have to pull into this death zone and wait for a break in oncoming traffic. The problem is that most people for some reason decide this is a good time to start all of the sudden, for no good reason driving on the left side of the road like an idiot. When they stop on the left side of the death zone no one can see around them and they are in the way. Plus other drivers get distracted because they have to cuss at them out and also honk. Like this....

The left turn of death should be made by pulling all the way to the far (RIGHT) side of the break and waiting there.

I have illustrated the correct procedure above.
I admit it gets confusing when more than one person is waiting to make the death defying left turn. Such is life in a city of four million people. On the flip side, Starbucks are easy to find.

This is really the only driving mistake I yell at others about. Let's face it. I just don't drive well enough to criticize others. I often call people, "MO-rons" though for this mistake.

Several years ago when Tanner was probably in the first grade I was driving the kids to church on a Wednesday night and I got distracted and tried a make a death defying left turn into the church parking lot on the wrong side of the break. (Unforgivable, I know.) About that time a truck turned from the other direction the correct way almost hit me. (My fault.) I waved and muttered under my breath, "I'm sorry." Tanner noticed all this from the back seat and said, "I guess you are the MO-ron today, huh Mom?"

Yes. Tanner. Yes I am.

I also just decided upon a better solution to this problem.

Avoid the left turn of death at all costs.


It may add time to your journey but you are more likely to arrive there unscathed.

Because of the monumental importance of this post I am sharing it with the lovely hoppers at the following blogs. Please join!

Daily Dose of Reality


Trendy Treehouse

The Girl Creative