|
|  |
|
Legal Needs
| [This Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts] | | Topics |
|
|
| |
| Sep 13, 2008 4:16 pm |
|
re: re: re: re: The legalities of road blocks |
Marielena Alvarez
| |
It sounds like you have as many problems with roads, construction, sobriety check points and lousy drivers as we do here in the United States.
We have an expression here "Driving while Asian" and does not refer to people from southeast Asia, rather further east, as is China, Korea, etc. They seem to drive without using their side or rearview mirrors and only stare ahead at oncoming traffic, seemingly unaware of traffic beside and behind them.
We were sidswiped by a car driven by a woman from a northern state, while we were on our way home from dinner with friends, the lady never even stopped! Days later my husband was T-boned (hit in the side of the car by the front end of another) by an Asian lady, at slow speeds, while he was leaving the office, fortunately, her insurance company payed for the damage. The timing of this was perfect, as she hit his car at the same place as the sideswiper, who never paid for her crime or repair to our car. Another time we were sideswiped by an older man, who said "I did not see you" a clear admission of guilt. Sometimes the elderly do not have as quick a reaction time as younger drivers, and need to be vision and agility checked on a regular basis (once they reach a certain age) to assure they can see and drive well enough to be on the road. We have a lot of bad drivers, road rage, etc. and we are just as bothered by it as you are. Even good drivers are involved in traffic accidents and we witness much unsafe driving in our area. I let Andy do the driving, I am afraid to even drive in this populous area. My husband is going to court later this month in a case we witnessed, while on our way home. We called in the driver and stopped and talked to the people he hit (likely driving drunk), and sped away before anyone could get his information.
We have a problem with drunk drivers too, especially among the young people and there is also a problem with driving while talking on a cell phone with only one hand on the wheel. It is difficult to do two things at once, you are distracted and should pull over or call them back, instead of taking the call. Some people even text message while driving!
Here we have something known as driver etiquette, some people do not understand it and it is not taught in the driver's education courses. Courtesy on the road is a thing of the past, since few observe it and that needs to change too.
Better driver education and driver reeducation of anyone gets a traffice violation ticket and anyone who learned to drive in a foreign country who wants to drive here is one way to fix it. Prom night, when the young people are drinking (legal drinking age here is 21) and partying, is a deadly time of year. There are also police sobriety check points during holiday and prom season, to keep the drunk ones off the roads, as well as stiffer fines and loss of license for infractions.
In the nation's Capitol, there is a law against using a cell phone that is not hands free. There are seatbelt laws for drivers and passengers and a helmet law for motorcycle drivers and passenders (but not in all states). Posted speed limit signs and speed cameras to catch speeders are helping in some areas. We have problems with fatalities from people crossing the street, especially among our immigrant population that does not read/undertand English, and we are trying to get the word out to people in these communities about how to use the crosswalks and how to safely cross the street.
Here in my area, we have people that use bikes (allowed to take them on our buses and subway systems) and a great public transportation system that cuts down on the amount of cars on the street. Although I had a coworker who was badly hurt (broken collarbone), while trying to avoid being hit by a car, while commuting by bike. There are few bike lanes and many people are not on the lookout for cyclists.
Certain days of the week have lighter traffic, because many employers allow their staff to "work from home" one day a week, which is a big help.
Do you have similar laws in India?Private Reply to Marielena Alvarez (new win) |
|
| |
|
