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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

YAWN


MPD checking out some problem at Neptune's, in the Triangle last night.
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So-so night. Made money but never really busy.

After clearing a run at The Grand, I was departing on the exit driveway. Just as I approached the public street, some idiot turned off the street and proceeded to enter via the exit drive. I came to a quick stop and waited. He came to a stop facing me. Ah, a "mexican standoff". We finally worked our way past each other, exchanging mutual signs and words of respect.

Everyone drives here just like they do at home. Unfortunately, "home" is everywhere in the world.

I started thinking about all the drivers I have encountered while cabbing.

Our "left of the road" guests tend to have an initial problem on our "right of the road" island. Granted, these folks are tired. Some have been traveling for over 24 hours to get here.

This is most dangerous on the airport road. Two lanes inbound, two lanes outbound, separated by a double yellow line. It is very disconcerting to have them exit the rental agencies, turn onto the outbound lane and then immediately move to the curbside inbound lane. A lane that you currently occupy. Trust me, that strange sound you hear is your seat cover being sucked up your ass.

This happened to me about two weeks ago. I actually had to go halfway over the curb to avoid being hit headon. I could not read the lips nor hear the words spoken but the female passenger's wild gestures and aggitated manner seemed to indicate her dissatisfaction with the male driver's actions. But he was totally "zoned" and oblivious to her. Probably his natural manner.

The biggest problem about driving in a country that drives on the "opposite" side is when an emergency occurs. You instictively turn towards the nearside curb. That instinctive left or right jerk of the wheel will turn a minor incident into a major tragedy when in an "opposite" country.

Some guests here honk their horn when stopping, starting and turning. Probably while backing up also, but I haven't observed that. I wonder where they are from?

I do know that in NYC the horns on taxis are faster than the speed of light. Nanoseconds prior to the light turning "green", the horns behind you start blaring. Amazing. I wonder if the DoD has looked into this. Could also be useful for Homeland Security. ;)

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Later.....

Wil =8^))
"Let's all be carefull out there!"

2 comments:

Dogbait said...

Our first experience of driving "on the wrong side" of the road was Honolulu. Took 5 minutes to feel comfortable and had it down to a fine art 25,000 miles later when we finished in NY. I'd been back home a few days and came out of a car park and drove merrily up the right lane! Fortunately there was little traffic around. Phew!

Shadow said...

I was in NYC about 6 or 7 years ago. I had heard what an awful racket blaring taxi horns made, and had steeled myself for the onslaught to my sensitive "country quiet ears". It actually wasn't as bad as I had been told it would be. After I came home, I was told by another person that the Mayor had said enough was enough and there had been some sort of ordinace passed restricting the use of car horns. The city I cannot stand to drive in is Washington DC! Those people are nuts!!

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