Non-photos and stupidity

[altivo]

Well, I spent some time today taking blurry photos of where the foxes were just before I pressed the shutter. No actual foxes appear in any of them, though I myself was treated to several fine views of mom and baby. They are still hanging around that old pile of logs in the woodlot.

Also was treated to a fine demonstration of stupidity in action. There is road work going on at a bridge over the Kishwaukee River just north of Marengo on route 23. This is the third time in four years that they've torn that bridge up, so something is very wrong with the way the repairs are being managed, but that's another issue. Both lanes of traffic are presently diverted onto one shoulder, with a work zone speed limit posted, no passing, double yellow striping, etc. On the approach to that spot, a kid in a maroon mustang started tailgating me. No doubt he didn't like the fact that I was observing the posted speed limit of 50 mph. Just as I entered the work zone, which is posted at 45 mph, he went roaring around me, violating the speed limit, the work zone regulation, the double yellow line, and the no passing signs so he could take off at about 70 mph.

Half a mile farther north is the intersection with River Rd., which is one of the county's most dangerous corners with many deaths blamed on it. There's a visibility issue, caused by a steep and high hill north of the intersection; and that's compounded with the tendency for people to travel at 65 mph or more on 23, even though the posted limits there are 50 and the intersection is marked by flashing yellow lights. Traffic on 23 is not required to stop, and usually doesn't even slow down. Cars coming south at high speed will crest that hill and suddenly see that the intersection is blocked for whatever reason, but they can't stop in time.

The maroon mustang, if he was involved, was merely a cause and not directly affected. But when I reached the corner, a black mustang was nose first into the ditch with smoke coming out from under the hood. People who had stopped on the shoulder were helping another teen or twenty something kid to stand since he obviously had a sprained or broken ankle. Another vehicle was sitting in the middle of the intersection with major damage to its front end. Both damaged cars were pointing north by then, so the exact details were unclear. Since there were many people there (no police had yet arrived) and I wasn't a witness, I turned onto River Rd. and continued on my way home. I'm willing to bet, though, that the black mustang was also travelling at excessive speed and lost control trying to avoid a collision. Oh, and said black mustang was still on temporary plates, which means less than 30 days since purchase.

The roads in this rural area are not built for this sort of behavior. They have no shoulders, and are very narrow. They curve a lot, and we have a fair number of hills that obstruct visibility. In spite of all that, many drivers persist in ignoring speed limits, no passing zones, and just plain common sense in order to drive as fast as they like. We live close enough to that bad intersection that we regularly see the medical evacuation helicopters passing overhead carrying yet another victim away.

It's a wonder that humans have managed to survive so long. I can only put it up to incredible lack of self control when it comes to reproduction, so that there are always plenty more where the ultimate casualties came from.

Comments

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Chicago has tried it on some neighborhood streets that are, in theory, low traffic. It's a disaster. Where I went to college we had them all over campus. They seemed to work, but it was mostly because there was very little vehicle traffic other than the campus bus service. They do slow down at least some of the wild drivers, but only if they can see it coming and are sober enough to care.