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I am a very concerned citizen of the Shoals area (particularly Sheffield), but I have one question to ask: WHY CAN'T WE TURN LEFT ON GREEN??? I mean, there are red lights in the most unnecessary places (not to mention unsynchronized) and stop signs at 3 way intersections in the middle of the road. If a person can't drive around thise area without all these red lights and stop signs, then they simply don't need to be on the road. Its not a hard area to drive in. And i'm still bothered by the old woman whom just sat waiting to turn right with no cars in sight. Unbelievable!!
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I totally agree with the "you said it" caller who said, as part of his or her argument, that drivers should be checked at every renewal after age 70. An alert older person will pass a short on-the-road test and a vision exam. A person who can't pass both should not be driving. Before you begin asking, I am middle-aged person who would not at all object to such testing. It might break me from a few bad habits before I become too old to change my ways.
N#24, make us a list of all the other things that bother you about the Shoals! I am still bothered about the guy who ran a light and broadsided me in Huntsville several years ago. His insurance company is still bothered over the punitive damages. He ran a light at high speed because the "sun was in his eyes" My quick reaction time and ability to back-up very fast saved my life!
quote:
sez earthmomma:
N#24, make us a list of all the other things that bother you about the Shoals! I am still bothered about the guy who ran a light and broadsided me in Huntsville several years ago. His insurance company is still bothered over the punitive damages. He ran a light at high speed because the "sun was in his eyes" My quick reaction time and ability to back-up very fast saved my life!



I shore do wisht ya' hadna' asked for that, earthmomma...

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The south will forever be ignorant, stupid, and slow.
Posted 04 October 2010 08:43 AM
by Northwest24
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Originally posted by electraglide:
you will be old one day. whats the big hurry? take life a little more relaxed and you will be just as well off. i have a problem with young folks on cell phones texting. that is usually why i hve to wait. but thats life i guess.
yes I will be old one day, but I would not want to sit behind a car thats just sitting there for no reason.. Its dumb to me.
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Originally posted by earthmomma:
N#24, make us a list of all the other things that bother you about the Shoals! I am still bothered about the guy who ran a light and broadsided me in Huntsville several years ago. His insurance company is still bothered over the punitive damages. He ran a light at high speed because the "sun was in his eyes" My quick reaction time and ability to back-up very fast saved my life!
A lot of things bother me about this place. I was condemned to hell because I said their should be alcohol in some areas. I mean, when will life ever catch up down here? Honestly
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Originally posted by mad American:
What I find so funny is the people that speed up to keep you from changing lanes. You check your mirrors, signal your lane change and the person behind you tries to speed up and block you like they're at Talledega.

Its like people are kids driving :Its my turn next im not gonna let you over", those are the thoughts people have driving. Most people here cannot drive in a bigger city.
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Originally posted by CageTheElephant:
quote:
sez earthmomma:
N#24, make us a list of all the other things that bother you about the Shoals! I am still bothered about the guy who ran a light and broadsided me in Huntsville several years ago. His insurance company is still bothered over the punitive damages. He ran a light at high speed because the "sun was in his eyes" My quick reaction time and ability to back-up very fast saved my life!



I shore do wisht ya' hadna' asked for that, earthmomma...

quote:
The south will forever be ignorant, stupid, and slow.
Posted 04 October 2010 08:43 AM
by Northwest24
Im I wrong? Do you not think its stupid to have to wait the whole other round if you miss the light. Not to mention the alcohol sales, high food taxes, etc etc. I can go own for hours.
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Originally posted by sheffield:
I also have the question: where can't you turn left on green? I don't know of any signs being posted at any traffic lights stating so. Have I missed something?
Everywhere!!! The lights should say "Yield on Green". Not "Left Turn Signal". Drive down court street in Florence. Its everywhere. There isnt't that much traffic here not to be able to turn left on green.
There is no Traffic Engineering in the Shoals area, any part of it. I've lived many places and this area is among the worst. The BEST? Fort Wayne, Indiana. Too bad folks here can't take notes from their traffic engineers on flow of traffic and timing of traffic lights.

Oh well maybe one day it will improve.
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Originally posted by Northwest24:
quote:
Originally posted by mad American:
What I find so funny is the people that speed up to keep you from changing lanes. You check your mirrors, signal your lane change and the person behind you tries to speed up and block you like they're at Talledega.

Its like people are kids driving :Its my turn next im not gonna let you over", those are the thoughts people have driving. Most people here cannot drive in a bigger city.


Got news for you pal, I've driven through big cities, Bham, Atlanta, and in California. People don't want to let you over, they just want to RUN you over. It's not just here, it's everywhere.
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A lot of things bother me about this place. I was condemned to hell because I said their should be alcohol in some areas. I mean, when will life ever catch up down here? Honestly


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Everywhere!!! The lights should say "Yield on Green". Not "Left Turn Signal". Drive down court street in Florence. Its everywhere. There isnt't that much traffic here not to be able to turn left on green.


What did they say when you did your civic duty and brought this up at the City Council meetings?
quote:
Originally posted by E.Z. Lee Pistoph:
Why are yankees like hemorrhoids? These folks that move here and can't find anything but fault remund me of people who find their "perfect match" and then set out to change them. If you've lived lots of places and this one is so d@*n bad why don't you go back to one of the good ones!


Because they are so much smarter that we are......or at least think they are.
quote:
Originally posted by earthmomma:
I do not know where you moved from, but there is obviously a shortage of spelling books! Maybe you could study spelling while you are waiting for the person in front of you to "Hurry, hurry"! Is it possible for you to return to the former paradise from which you came? Your homonym/hoophone blunders are deplorable.



Was that response directed at me earthmomma? I don't think so but then since it followed my response I did want to ask.
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Originally posted by kimberleehel:
What??? U can turn left on green. When there is a green arrow, you have the right of way. When it is solid green, you have to yield to oncoming traffic before you can go. Maybe you were trying to turn left onto the one way street on Court?


Apparently a lot of people aren't understanding the original poster's gripe--I completely do. What they are referring to is the lights that ONLY have an arrow for the left turn lane. It's either green or red. There is no option to yield on a green light because there is no green light for the turn lane. As they said, travel north on Court St. for an example. Try to turn left on Veterans, Dr. Hicks, etc. If you miss the green arrow, you're stranded until the next round.
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Originally posted by gbrk:
quote:
Originally posted by earthmomma:
I do not know where you moved from, but there is obviously a shortage of spelling books! Maybe you could study spelling while you are waiting for the person in front of you to "Hurry, hurry"! Is it possible for you to return to the former paradise from which you came? Your homonym/homophone blunders are deplorable.



Was that response directed at me earthmomma? I don't think so but then since it followed my response I did want to ask.
No, luv. It was directed toward the perfect one who has come to fix the traffic problems, lambast the police, and whatever else he can find wrong with the Shoals - namely NW24. The more I think about his not realizing that you could not turn left on green, the funnier it gets. His grammar errors could keep him from passing the graduate exit exam for AL high schools!
quote:
Originally posted by E.Z. Lee Pistoph:
Why are yankees like hemorrhoids? These folks that move here and can't find anything but fault remund me of people who find their "perfect match" and then set out to change them. If you've lived lots of places and this one is so d@*n bad why don't you go back to one of the good ones!


Why don't they go to hell? There are no traffic signals there. Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by canade:
I thought you could turn left on green (even if the left turn signal is off or red) if there is no traffic coming. Ooops, my bad.


I stand to be corrected by one of our resident LEOs, but I don't believe you can turn on a red arrow even if the green light in the go-straight lane is on. I understand if the turn lane itself has both a round green light and a green arrow. But I think a red arrow in the left turn lane means just that: You can't turn.

Ala.Code 1975 § 32-5A-32. Traffic-control signal legend.


Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word or symbol legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

(1) Green indication:

a. Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.

b. Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

c. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, as provided in Section 32-5A-33, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(2) Steady yellow indication:

a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.

b. Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 32-5A-33, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(3) Steady red indication:

a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in subdivision (3)b.

b. Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, after stopping as required by subdivision (3)a. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

c. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 32-5A-33, pedestrians facing a steady circular red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
With all due respect to "locals" and "outsiders" I have heard many complaints about driving habits in the shoals from both factions. This is my list in order of frequency of what I have heard. #1 (By a long shot)- Driving slow in the left hand lane. #2- slowing down in the main traffic flow to turn left when there is a middle turning lane, then moving to the middle turning lane slowly before your turn, rather than going to that lane first and then slowing down #3- stopping in a merge lane when the oncoming traffic is blocked from continuing into "your" lane because the merge lane is actually the beginning of a new lane, or the merge lane is really, really long and you can merge into traffic when you get up to speed (IE, merging onto O'Neil bridge going north into Florence when the merge lane is all the way from the Webster Hotel to the bridge. #4-Putting your turning signal on when a car in front of you is turning even if you have no intention of doing so. #5- stopping in four lane traffic to let someone in oncoming traffic turn in front of you when someone traveling in the same direction as you may not see the turning vehicle and slam right into it.

I hope I have explained these so that others can understand what I am referring too.

Anyone else have any other driving pet peeves?????
Last edited by Katgurl
quote:
Originally posted by Katgurl:
With all due respect to "locals" and "outsiders" I have heard many complaints about driving habits in the shoals from both factions. This is my list in order of frequency of what I have heard. #1 (By a long shot)- Driving slow in the left hand lane. #2- slowing down in the main traffic flow to turn left when there is a middle turning lane, then moving to the middle turning lane slowly before your turn, rather than going to that lane first and then slowing down #3- stopping in a merge lane when the oncoming traffic is blocked from continuing into "your" lane because the merge lane is actually the beginning of a new lane, or the merge lane is really, really long and you can merge into traffic when you get up to speed (IE, merging onto O'Neil bridge going north into Florence when the merge lane is all the way from the Webster Hotel to the bridge. #4-Putting your turning signal on when a car in front of you is turning even if you have no intention of doing so. #5- stopping in four lane traffic to let someone in oncoming traffic turn in front of you when someone traveling in the same direction as you may not see the turning vehicle and slam right into it.

I hope I have explained these so that others can understand what I am referring too.

Anyone else have any other driving pet peeves?????


Yes. Far and away, people who don't know they have turn signals on their car. I should just know that if you slow down, you're going to turn? And never mind that pesky blinker when you're changing lanes. We can all read your mind.
<---stocking up on 3/4" ball bearings..

Heh. Some of you always have to turn any criticism into a north/south thing. Typical-but since ya brought it up-here's the difference:

Northern drivers are flippin' maniacs. PRECISION maniacs. They're used to going to war every morning/evening commute. The roadsides are littered with wreckage and parts from battles past. They fight to the death. If you see one comin' at ya-rest assured- he/she MEANS it. Everybody moves with purpose-right or wrong.

Southern drivers, at least from what I've observed, are either impatient AND distracted so they don't do anything right, or they're just bumbling down the road like a chimp with Down's syndrome.... NO, they DIDN'T see you wanting to merge. Cellphone use is legal here. It's a wonder any of them make it where they're going alive. I saw an Asian guy standing on the side of the road yesterday jibbering on his phone. Just below him in the ditch was his upside-down pickup. He looked a lil' shook up-but he fo' sho' salvaged his dang phone, I tell ya whut. Big Grin (Asian Southerner? Wow. Double whammy when it comes to driving.)

There. Now I think I've managed to offend just about everybody.

That is all. Smiler
quote:
#4-Putting your turning signal on when a car in front of you is turning even if you have no intention of doing so.


There's actually a point to this one. If you're on a two-lane highway where the center line is dashed so passing is allowed, and the car in front of you is slowing down to make a left turn, putting on your left blinker as well will let the car behind you know that you're not just a slow driver and he shouldn't pull into the left lane to pass you. That's the only situation where it makes any sense to do this, and I don't think it's such a bad idea.
quote:
Originally posted by TheMeInTeam:
quote:
#4-Putting your turning signal on when a car in front of you is turning even if you have no intention of doing so.


There's actually a point to this one. If you're on a two-lane highway where the center line is dashed so passing is allowed, and the car in front of you is slowing down to make a left turn, putting on your left blinker as well will let the car behind you know that you're not just a slow driver and he shouldn't pull into the left lane to pass you. That's the only situation where it makes any sense to do this, and I don't think it's such a bad idea.


If I am not mistaken, I believe it is law that you have your turn signal on if the vehicle in front of you has intentions of turning. What upsets me is when I am behind a car slowing down and stopping in the road without notifying me the one in front of them has their left turn signal on.

#4 complaint from Katgirl shows we all have our own ignorant understanding of the law!
I suppose a lot of these laws may be State laws- (IE- #4) Where I grew up and learned to drive, this was not acceptable. I never even saw it anywhere else I have driven to question it. It was never covered in drivers ed or any drivers license test I ever took, and I have driven and tested in 4 states over the past 30 years. I am not the only one thinking it is odd as I have heard this complaint from both locals and outsiders. However, the MeinTeam response does make sense if you are in a passing zone, I just have never had the kahunas to pass 2 cars at once.

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