An upsetting morning with rude drivers

O.K. I need to vent. This morning I was getting ready to make a left turn across a busy intersection. I had a green light but not a green turn arrow, so I paused to see if anything was coming. The van in back of me rear-ended my car. I stopped to check damage and get insurance info. We were still in the left turn lane but not blocking the intersection. Damage appeared minimal but the young man who hit me did not speak english well and would not give his name or any information ( tho he did say he was sorry), so I had to write down his license plate number. Meanwhile, other drivers were honking horns, etc. I got back in the car, waited for the next green light, and drove to a parking spot so I could look at my car. It was alright, just a little scratch on the bumper. So, I decided to leave the car parked since I'd already put money in the meter and take a little walk because it was nice out. I was walking downtown in an area where there is a lot of construction. Streets were congested and temporary crosswalks had been painted on them because sidewalks were closed. As I was walking in one cross walk an older man nearly ran over me. I guess he didn't see me. He yelled at me, "Bright Move, Lady! " I walked over to his window, pointed at the crosswalk, which his car was half in to and said," You'd be in a world of hurt, sir, if you'd hit me. This is a crosswalk! " I decided to drive slowly home and stay there. What gets me is that I wasn't doing anything wrong and yet I was the one being honked at and yelled at! I am not blind nor particularly slow or disabled. I am a 54 year old woman and I feel discriminated against. I don't think my husband would have been treated like that. I think because of my age and sex these men tried to ignore me and intimidate me. What do you think?

Well I am glad you stood up to the old fart that almost hit you!!!

The first person may not have been here legally or may not have had insurance, if required in NM. (Not that there is any excuse for either, but he may have had that reason to try to prevent you from trying to call the police.)

The second person was just a jerk. Many drivers don't understand the law of crosswalks in their area, even when signs are posted, or they aren't paying any attention to where they are marked on the road. I've seen people honk and drive around school buses unloading little kids in a crosswalk.

Thanks for your comments. It just got to me having one after another. Andiandi, I agree that the young man probably was afraid he would get in trouble. I never did call the police or suggest that I might. What bothered me more was the people laying on their horns and being so annoyed that traffic was stopped for a few minutes because of an accident. I was undoubtedly lucky that no one ran over me then! I, too, have seen drivers try to pass school buses letting kids off. Amazing. Feeling better since I did some "garden therapy" this afternoon.

You are welcome! Wish I could get some garden therapy! :)

I know how you feel as this am when I stopped for a school bus w/red flashing lights, the car behind me who was already almost on top of me tried to pull around and pass me til he saw I had stopped for the bus...

I think it is national bad drivers day!!!!
Well, my oldest son just called and he was with his GF and her family and were hit by a drunk driver! She took out the side of their SUV and both tires! They are all ok, just shaken up. They fear the old lady has no insurance, so they will probably be stuck with the bill. Good thing he is a body mechanic!! He actually teaches at a Technical School, so he might as well take it and let the students repair it.

Bad drivers abound in Salt Lake City. I, too, am aghast at the rudeness of people. They blame you for their troubles. "Get out of the way because I'm late getting home!!!" That's the attitude around here. I've driven in other states and am always surprised when I get home and people are so rude! They cut in front of you with no signal just so they can turn at the next driveway. That's just the tip of the iceburg. You all have been there and know what I mean.

Rude drivers are getting more aggressive too. I remember in the days following nine eleven how people seemed to have a reality check and drivers were suddenly polite and careful. Gradually it seems to have gotten even worse than before. I only have a 20 mile drive to work and almost every day encounter some idiot...not necessarily bothering me, but dangerous just the same.

wow, Misty. I'm glad your son and all are o.k. Good thing leap year is just every 4 years. Maybe that was the problem. Seriously, where I live the drivers are generally awful. I think the bad driving has gotten more aggressive over the last few years.

Thanks, they are all doing fine today. SUV is a mess, though. So true about leap year being only once every four years!