Taking a careful law-abiding trip down memory lane
Lesley Becker, a graphic designer for the Globe, was accustomed to the peaceful roads of the Midwest. Though she came to Boston years ago, she never could comprehend such local quirks as the “Boston Left” or who has the right of way at intersections. If only someone would educate readers about how they were supposed to drive, she said.
I accepted the assignment wholeheartedly, agreeing with Lesley on the numerous faults of other Boston drivers. Some people can be so inconsiderate on the roads. If I could teach people to drive half as well as I did, what a valuable public service that would be.
Of course, my ego has taken a beating ever since.
Researching various traffic laws and interviewing numerous experts and police officers, I realized just how much I didn’t know about proper driving.
There was the time I tried to save a metered parking spot for a friend by blocking it with my body. “You can get run over that way,” Somerville Police Chief Robert Bradley told me.
And the time I hopped out of my car at a red light, leaving the engine running, to mail a letter.
“Shame, shame, shame on you,” said Boston Police Officer Sharon Dottin. “You could have gotten hit. Your car could have gotten stolen . . . If I were the officer, I would have towed you.”
The list of my driving gaffes - and the questions that you have asked - goes on.
While I can’t repeat all the ground we’ve covered, a brief summary seems appropriate this week. Hopefully, you’ve gotten as much of an education as I have.
Tags: becker, boston drivers, boston police officer, brief summary, ego, faults, gaffes, graphic designer, intersections, lesley, memory lane, midwest, police chief, police officers, pot, quirks, red light, robert bradley, shame shame shame, traffic laws, Trip, trip down
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Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 11:59 pm under