Historically bad driving – Triple Play

I thought I’d start out with some historically bad examples of bad driving I’ve seen.

For reference, I live and drive very near a classic Northeast strip mall/commercial district.  3 lanes in each direction, lots of traffic lights and pretty clearly indicated turn lanes with left turn arrows.

Fairly often you’ll see someone trying to make a left turn or U-turn at an intersection clearly marked as ‘No Turn’s or with a no left turn arrow.  This is typically someone who wants to get into a store or plaza and can’t find the correct entrance, so they figure just crossing through any old direction will get the job done.

One day while driving through this area while the lights were miraculously green, I spotted a white SUV in the left lane at a ‘No Turns’ intersection, not moving.   Since there was no left turn lane, that meant he was sitting at a dead stop in the left hand/fast lane – mistake one.  Then he proceeded to make a left hand turn – mistake two, and now a traffic violation.  He then proceeded to enter the EXIT ONLY/One way exit of a plaza!  Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t just short exit, it actually has 2 lanes and curbs along both, so he was clearly stuck going the wrong way for well over 100′.  Violation/massive error #3, the triple play!   Luckily no one was injured during this incident.

Why do this?  Why turn where it says no turn, drive where it says One Way, and sit in the left hand lane exposed to being rear-ended by anyone not paying attention?   Maybe he missed the only plaza entrance in that direction and didn’t want to turn around?   That’s just foolish.  Keep going, turn around and use a far less risky (and legal) way of getting to that dollar store!

Later I’ll update with another historical bad driving incident.