Monday, July 21, 2008

What is up with people?

Twice this past week, I've driven to downtown Detroit to go out for dinner. I'm two for two with road closure of a major artery into the city. There isn't any warning. It's four lanes and then no lanes and one is forced into exiting the freeway-with thousands of others and all at the same time. The first time, roads were closed for placing barrels which are used to decorate the landscape (I never see road crews out.) Tonight's closure appeared to be for a very serious accident.


The problem with this type of traffic jam is that people seem to lose their manners, if they even had them to begin with, turning this mess into a free for all. There were people jumping lines, racing up the shoulders and forcing their cars ahead of other, more patient drivers. I swear, it was like a demolition derby. I was also in close confines with a person who abhors traffic jams and takes them all as personal affronts. I heard more swear words tonight than I think I've heard this entire year. After what seemed like forever, we finally got creative and got off the freeway by driving up the on ramp. We'd still be in traffic if we hadn't gotten creative and done our share of partaking in the melee. By this time, it had taken us 1 hour to negotiate a quarter of a mile.


When we left the restaurant, the southbound portion of that road was still closed and backed up for miles. Now, more than 4 hours after this accident, shouldn't they have closed the whole damn road down? Maybe it's a Detroit thang.

10 comments:

Mrs. G. said...

Isn't it sad when people in cars make you nervous-I avoid eye contact and never flip the bird. I fear shot guns.

Rudee said...

With those self preservation skills, you could drive in Detroit.

laurie said...

oh god i hate freeway driving. doug keeps telling me it's safer than other driving and i think statistically that's true. but it also raises people's anger level much more quickly, and people get so frustrated....

i'd rather hoe-de-do down the back roads. sometimes the time difference isn't all that great, and the stress level is way lower

Rositta said...

It's not just Detroit Rudee, it happens here too. Two weeks ago an irate driver cut in front of a vehicle and hit the brakes and then took off. The car behind tried to avoid hitting him, lost control, his the guardrail, flipped four times and died. They closed that freeway for 7 hours and they got the guy that took off. Road rage is a terrible and sometimes deadly thing...ciao

JS said...

I love I75 too. The construction in the detroit area is nuts and even worse in the city. I feel your pain. Try coding in that mess. JS

PS. I linked your blog from mine. Hope you don't mind.

Rudee said...

Laurie-if I'd been using my ESP, I'd have used a hoe-de-do route. I need to sync my Tom Tom to real time road conditions.

Rudee said...

OMG Rositta, that is horrible...

Rudee said...

j.s.-Ah, I've given up my ACLS days (but I'm current just in case I have a change of heart.)

I don't mind the link.

Brenda said...

Driving is stressful. Beam me up Scotty. That would be better. Transporters would be good.

Rudee said...

I agree Brenda.