The Stoplight I'll Never Forget

How many times have you heard someone use the phrase, "My life flashed before my eyes."

Add me to that group.

My life flashed before my eyes at a stoplight on Spartanburg's west side recently.

I had done yard work for a friend and was swinging by the dry cleaners before heading home for lunch. I was sitting in the front of the line at the traffic light on Oak Grove Road at Reidville Road.

The light in my direction turned from red to green.

For some reason, probably Divine Intervention, I did not pull immediately into the intersection.

One one-thousand, two one-thousand.

I hesitated just long enough for a gold-brownish pickup truck to suddenly appear from my left and run the red light on Reidville Road. The driver never stopped, just kept barreling along. I'm not sure he ever saw me, just like he apparently never saw the yellow warning light or the red light in his direction.

Yes, I had one of those "could have been me, thank you God" moments.

Even prior to that day, I've noticed more and more drivers running red lights, flat-out driving through them.

I also see drivers now running stop signs and making right-angle turns into traffic without slowing down.

The dangers of driving are increasing as motorists become more distracted by food, drinks, ipods, cell phones, conversations, satellite radios, DVDs, even applying makeup (unbelievable!) as they drive.

And traffic lights are where this gumbo of danger reaches a boil.

Drivers who run traffic lights are classified as aggressive drivers. Please read the following information I got from the web site of the AAA Carolina Motor Club:

"Aggressive driving is a form of reckless driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that aggressive drivers cause 2/3rds of all fatal crashes and are responsible for nearly 35% of all crashes.

What Causes Aggressive Driving

Crowded roads
Being in a hurry
Road work
Stress from other areas of life
Dangerous driving attitudes
Selfishness

Help prevent aggressive driving

Report incidents of aggressive driving to the Police
Set an example for younger passengers

How To Avoid Becoming An Aggressive Driver

Plan ahead
Obey the speed limit
Identify alternative routes
Just be late
Be a courteous and patient driver

How to protect yourself from aggressive drivers

Get out of the way and let an aggressive driver pass
Don't challenge them."

Let's all slow down and enjoy life a little more. Chilling out for a couple of minutes at a traffic light is no big deal in the grand scheme of things.