And NoVA wonders why I hesitate when the light turns green; (rant) (Alexandria: high school, live)

[The Dissenter]

Northern Virginians, this will be a great argument for waiting a couple of seconds after the light turns green to go.

This morning i went out to get some breakfast and fill up my car. I stop at the light on at S Whiting St to turn left on Stevenson Ave. An Alexandria Sheriff's deputy pulls up behind me. My light turns green, I wait a couple of seconds to go when out of nowhere a blue Chevy sedan blows through the red light on Stevenson. Thanks be to God, the deputy behind me turns on his siren and lights and goes after the OBVIOUS red light runner.

If I went right when the green light flashed, I probably would probably have been T-boned in my left door and be on my way to the ER now. I got a red light ticket a couple of years ago and had to go to drivers ed. My teacher there said it aint a bad idea to wait a couple of seconds and look left and right when a light turns green. Thankfully, I followed that advice today and saved a lot to pain to myself and my wallet.

If you Northern Virginians, want to get mad because i wait two seconds to go after the light is green, go to with yourselves. With the reckless drivers here, I'll take this precaution because i cant afford an accident.

[ajzjmsmom]

This isn't only in NOVA, as a habit both hubby and I wait a few seconds before going when the light turns green since you never know.

We both also wait and make sure the person with their turn signal on really turns, so I am with you if people want to get mad because I don't go as soon as the light turns green, oh well. Glad to hear you are okay and not on the way to the ER.

[Ashburnite]

Agreed. And don't forget what your mother taught you when walking: look both ways before crossing the street. This can save your life when driving, too. Sure, you have the green light, but who knows what some idiot going the other way might do. I've seen it.

[nwc07]

This happened almost daily when I lived in New Mexico. (red light runners) I have always paused when turning left myself. Overall I find drivers here much LESS aggressive than in other parts of the US.

Glad you are OK!

[Margery]

I always do the same, look both ways before going on green. Too many drivers think "green means go, yellow means go like hell to beat the light".

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by nwc07

This happened almost daily when I lived in New Mexico. (red light runners) I have always paused when turning left myself. Overall I find drivers here much LESS aggressive than in other parts of the US.

Glad you are OK!

Oh the New Mexico drivers. They are either driving to fast or the old folks driving to slow.

[Charles22]

That's one reason why I hate backseat drivers who always say, "it's green", like I can't see all the other cars around me go when the light changes.

[musincy]

I had a friend in high school who didn't pause when his light turned green, and someone ran the red. My friend was in a coma for weeks and still isn't the same almost 10 years later. Since then, I always pause when a light turns green, and I'm glad you did too.

[Legs1357]

I've had a close call like that as well but at that point I was not in the habit of pausing. Something that day though told me not to go and I just didn't, I have no idea why, and sure enough somebody blew through the light at 50+ mph. Glad you're okay.

[pcc09]

I had a friend in Reston get t-boned by a guy running a red. My friend actually had a green as she was approaching the intersection, so she wasn't even starting from a stop. The guy who hit her just barrelled through his red light and smack into the side of her. She and her husband soon sold their cars and moved to NYC. I think she is still pretty uncomfortable just riding in a car and generally avoids it.