Post by Glencairn on Aug 29, 2015 2:18:20 GMT -6
We had an incident about two weeks ago. Quin is 15 and just got her learners permit in the middle of July and has just started driver's ed and is doing her practice behind the wheel hours with us before she can ever even get into the driver's ed car and needs 20 hours for that. So, we were headed over to the in-laws house for a cook out and it is about an hour away, so a good time for Quin to get some driving time in. It is almost all back country roads with just one spot that is a little busier, but not so busy that I wasn't comfortable letting Quin drive through it and it is only a stretch of about 2 miles.
At one point on the drive over, we get to a 4-way stop intersection where we need to turn left and Quin pulls up, stops, and is waiting her turn, it was a sharp corner, so she pulled through a little slower than an experienced driver might and the car behind us was a little top down convertible. Instead of waiting their turn (and it wasn't, they didn't have the right of way at this point) they rip out into the intersection behind her (keep in mind that she was driving my jeep and it could have EASILY made this little convertible a very nice hood ornament if desired) and raced over into oncoming traffic's lane to pass and whip back over in front of her, cutting her off and slammed on the brakes. Quin also hit the brakes and avoided hitting them, but only just barely.
As this is happening, the couple in the little car, both of whom were in their mid 60's or so, are screaming profanities at the top of their lungs and waving their middle fingers like they were on fire and were desperate to put them out. Since the turn comes to an immediate stop light at the next intersection - a stretch of maybe 50 feet - and the light was red, they had to stop and wait anyway. The whole time, they continued screaming and flipping us off. The light finally turned green and they just sat there in front of us, looking back yelling. Quin was terrified and I was in the passenger seat next to her. I finally just ran my thumb along my neck in the universal signal for "go ahead, get outta your car, I will mess you up" and then waved them off. They eventually started to go and spent the whole time they were in front of us driving slow and then slamming on their brakes over and over.
We came to the spot where the road widened into 2 lanes in each direction and it was directly in front of the very visibly labeled police station for that town, so I pointed at it and told Quin to put on the blinker like we were going to turn (there weren't any other cars near us to confuse by signaling and not turning) and they accelerated and vanished. I was fully prepared to stop and go into the police station, though, because I have some friends who are cops in that town, they just weren't on duty at the time.
All of that because my kid, who is learning how to drive safely - and doing a damn good job at it, too - pulled into an intersection with a red light 50 feet away too slowly to satisfy them. The temptation to get out of the car and defend my child's driving was nearly painful. It would have been FAR funnier, though, if they had come up (and it looked like they were getting ready to, the guy in the passenger seat cracked his door open) and seen Russ in the back seat. He would have gotten out then and he is huge and scary looking.
People like that make me wish that I could wave a magic wand and cause stupidity to be painful! Especially since after that incident, Quin has been much more hesitant and worried to practice driving.
Take care,
Cindi
At one point on the drive over, we get to a 4-way stop intersection where we need to turn left and Quin pulls up, stops, and is waiting her turn, it was a sharp corner, so she pulled through a little slower than an experienced driver might and the car behind us was a little top down convertible. Instead of waiting their turn (and it wasn't, they didn't have the right of way at this point) they rip out into the intersection behind her (keep in mind that she was driving my jeep and it could have EASILY made this little convertible a very nice hood ornament if desired) and raced over into oncoming traffic's lane to pass and whip back over in front of her, cutting her off and slammed on the brakes. Quin also hit the brakes and avoided hitting them, but only just barely.
As this is happening, the couple in the little car, both of whom were in their mid 60's or so, are screaming profanities at the top of their lungs and waving their middle fingers like they were on fire and were desperate to put them out. Since the turn comes to an immediate stop light at the next intersection - a stretch of maybe 50 feet - and the light was red, they had to stop and wait anyway. The whole time, they continued screaming and flipping us off. The light finally turned green and they just sat there in front of us, looking back yelling. Quin was terrified and I was in the passenger seat next to her. I finally just ran my thumb along my neck in the universal signal for "go ahead, get outta your car, I will mess you up" and then waved them off. They eventually started to go and spent the whole time they were in front of us driving slow and then slamming on their brakes over and over.
We came to the spot where the road widened into 2 lanes in each direction and it was directly in front of the very visibly labeled police station for that town, so I pointed at it and told Quin to put on the blinker like we were going to turn (there weren't any other cars near us to confuse by signaling and not turning) and they accelerated and vanished. I was fully prepared to stop and go into the police station, though, because I have some friends who are cops in that town, they just weren't on duty at the time.
All of that because my kid, who is learning how to drive safely - and doing a damn good job at it, too - pulled into an intersection with a red light 50 feet away too slowly to satisfy them. The temptation to get out of the car and defend my child's driving was nearly painful. It would have been FAR funnier, though, if they had come up (and it looked like they were getting ready to, the guy in the passenger seat cracked his door open) and seen Russ in the back seat. He would have gotten out then and he is huge and scary looking.
People like that make me wish that I could wave a magic wand and cause stupidity to be painful! Especially since after that incident, Quin has been much more hesitant and worried to practice driving.
Take care,
Cindi
