Go already

So the other day, I was at a stoplight that turned into a flashing yellow arrow. If you've never heard of a flashing yellow arrow, it simply means that you can turn once the oncoming traffic has cleared.

So, I am waiting for the oncoming traffic to clear before I make my left-hand turn. And the guy behind me, driving a convertible SUV, honks. What is that about? My first response is, “Thank you, you idiot, but I think I will wait until it is clear, so that I don't get creamed when I pull out.”

Yes, I suppose there's a good chance he had no idea what the light was communicating or that he had no idea that there was still oncoming traffic. But then that makes me think, should he be driving at all, if he can’t look around for two seconds before he assumes that I am the problem?

So anyway, once I do turn and he follows me, he proceeds to change lanes at the speed of light. I guess my lane was so slow, that he couldn't stand to be in it for a split second longer. He probably didn’t want to be associated with me, by lane choice.

Of course, after he changed lanes he quickly saw that we were all in the same boat. And that his new lane was just as slow. But like all of us have done, he couldn't accept his fate and he had to attempt to pick the best lane and get in front. So he changed back into my lane.

Picking the right lane is a skill that very few of us have figured out. Truth is, the only lane that will get you anywhere is the one you are in. But this doesn't keep our brains from thinking, the only lane that is moving is the one you are not in.

So, the man in the convertible SUV did get in front and he did get to the next red light before me, by a whole three cars. But I didn't have to risk my life to get there. And I didn’t have to look like an idiot in the process either. Well, I suppose that I did look like an idiot to “convertible SUV man” but not looking like an idiot in the eyes of an idiot is an impossible feat.

Maybe next time, I'll try the old trick of, sticking my hand out the window and waving them around. They can go in front and clear the traffic for me so, I can make my left-hand turn in peace. Do you think it will work?