Report finds MA Roadways Dangerous (mayor, emergency, police)

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by msRB311

People are getting pretty upset about Mayor Wu's accident:

https://tbdailynews.com/mayor-michel...e-from-report/

Certainly raises questions. She's talked about how she's all about the environment, using public transportation, bikes...but there she is in a police vehicle being chaufferred with the lights on. It's been admitted that it wasn't an emergency. It's understandable to not want to wait in traffic and if you can get around it, ok...but all her talk of public transit and biking is making her look pretty foolish right now. I guess it's only when she feels like it and otherwise she'll use her political presence to get to the office quickly even if it means smashing into someone else.

It's a security issue. She is the Mayor of Boston.

BUT...there doesn't seem to be a legit reason for the lights being on.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by redplum33

It's a security issue. She is the Mayor of Boston.

BUT...there doesn't seem to be a legit reason for the lights being on.

It seems hypocritical of her to be all about public transport and bike riding while commuting via cop car with the lights on. Nevermind smashing into a civilian while doing it.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by msRB311

It seems hypocritical of her to be all about public transport and bike riding while commuting via cop car with the lights on. Nevermind smashing into a civilian while doing it.

It does appear to be an abuse of power (the lights on for apparently no reason other than to get through traffic quicker), but I don't think it's reasonable to expect the Mayor of Boston to ride a bike or use public transportation.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by redplum33

It does appear to be an abuse of power (the lights on for apparently no reason other than to get through traffic quicker), but I don't think it's reasonable to expect the Mayor of Boston to ride a bike or use public transportation.

Then she shouldn't expect everyone else to. Fix the T. Not everyone can or wants to bike

[bostongymjunkie]

There are times when activation of the emergency lights would be appropriate in transporting the Mayor during emergencies. This doesn't appear to be one of them. She reportedly was going to the BPL. Her driver also should have made sure all traffic was stopped or stopping before going through the light. Id like to know if she told her detail to put a rush on it because she was late or something. That would not be good and would put pressure on the detail to use the lights.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I just looked at the video again. The driver did appear to be going fast but also the lights on the cop car seem to be in the back so I'm not sure how obvious they were.

Lights are generally on the front, sides and rear. The question is was the siren on and why didn't the driver make sure the next lane traffic could see them before pulling out. If the siren was activated I would say both parties are partially to blame because it's clear she wasn't slowing down.

[Outer_Bluegrass]

In addition to reckless driving habits and poor road conditions, the likelihood of striking a deer or another large animal on MA roadways is much higher than in other states, since most of MA is heavily forested.

[BostonMike7]

Or turtles. Or turkeys. Or just about anything else.

I'd say I'm forced to stop once a week for wildlife. Just this weekend, a huge snapping turtle was crossing the road around a blind bend. I came to a stop for it in time, but was nervously eyeing my rearview because if someone came around the bend at 40MPH like most people seem to do on residential roads, they would have hit me. I ended up driving around the turtle.

I would have moved it...but those suckers are too aggressive and i didn't have my leather gloves with me.

Turkeys and Geese are the most common animal i have to stop for.

[msRB311]

I stopped for a chipmunk and a rabbit this week. It breaks my heart to see animals dead on the side of the highway. I've seen way too many deer, coyote and turkeys lying there...the worst was what i assume was a coyote pup. Sad.

[newenglandgal123]

I stopped for 5 wild turkeys that were crossing the road last fall and apparently there was some tailgating going on behind me because the 2nd car in line behind me crashed into the lady directly behind me. Luckily she must have had an auto brake feature as I didn't get rear ended! That's one good way to teach folks it never pays to tailgate. I felt good knowing I saved wildlife and some folks hopefully learned a lesson!