Here’s the continuation of the things you need to know before driving around the Campbellsville and adjacent rural areas.
Driving Hints, Tips and Pet Peeves.
Red means…..
Another dangerous area when driving on our roads is any where you may find a stop sign. Be it a four way intersection or side road, you need to pay attention to approaching traffic.
Stop signs are barely even considered suggestions. It is common practice for drivers approaching a two or four way stop, to determine which vehicle will reach the stop sign first. If the opposing vehicle feels that they will reach the intersection first, they will (maybe) tap their breaks and then blow on through the intersection. After all, why waste that 7 seconds to slow and then stop at the stop sign, when you can just cut right through all those driving laws by realizing you’re going to reach the intersection first and thus, would be the first to drive through the intersection anyway?
Related to stop signs: whether it is from a side road where there is a stop sign, or even their own personal driveway, you WILL find yourself in the situation where another vehicle either rolls through a stop sign, or pulls out in front of you.
Most county roads are marked at 55mph, yet drivers will pull out in front of you and then proceed to drive at 20-35mph for 500 yards-1.5miles while talking on the phone, adjusting their radio, or frankly, it takes them that long before realizing that they ARE in a vehicle driving. If you see a vehicle stopped at a side street waiting to pull out, NO MATTER how small the space between you and they, expect them to pull out in front of you. Doubly so if there is no vehicles within sight behind you.
Real Life Example: I was approaching my neighborhood heading west on US-68. Coming east on 68 was one of the many log mill trucks loaded down with a full load. Not only was this truck doing approximately 55mph, but it was also on a downhill slope in the rain. 120 yards in front of this semi truck a little ol’ man in a buick decided to pull out and begin his journey to the grocery store, or perhaps the post office. What followed was a classic scene of truck tires smoking under brakes, a look of disbelief on the truck drivers face—and calm serenity and blissful ignorance on the part of the buick driver.
Driving Tip:
It is illegal for vehicles to pass other vehicles in the emergency lane. Which means it happens all the time. So be mindful when turning left where there is no turn lane, you may lose your right side view mirror, and some paint.
Not as frequent, but it happens enough that you need to be mindful: before turning left, check your side view mirror to ensure that no one is barreling down attempting to pass not only you, but the three cars slowing behind you—which is why they probably didn’t see your turn signal.
Pet Peeve:
Only one state, Nevada, specifically allows the lead or escort vehicle in a funeral procession to go through a red light. Five states, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, and North Dakota, grant funeral processions the right-of-way at intersections without regard to any traffic control signal. In these states, the escort vehicle driver can direct the procession to proceed through an intersection or make any necessary movements despite any traffic control signals. These laws imply that the lead funeral escort vehicle can disregard a red traffic signal.
Other vehicles cannot drive between, interfere with, or pass the procession unless directed by a police officer (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 189. 378).
For anyone driving in Taylor County, what you may notice is there is no mention of the requirement to slow and stop, only partially pulling off to the side of the road (county or city road) for an oncoming funeral procession.
SO QUIT STOPPING YOUR VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD whenever a funeral is in the opposing lane. You are blocking traffic unnecessarily and ILLEGALLY. So, if you wish to “respect the dead” as so many of you have mentioned, that is perfectly within your prerogative. Just do the rest of us a favor and pull completely off into the emergency lane or join the procession, so that those of us still amongst the living can go on with our lives.
Besides, did you ever stop to think that maybe the person you’re showing “respect” to was a mean ol’ son of a bitch? I mean, what if he cheated on his taxes, or foreclosed on a sweet little grandmother Christmas Eve because she was a little overdue on the mortgage?
again, feel free to add your comments, or share your own driving story. I hope to put up a post with a half dozen of the best reader submitted stories!
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