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Bo Bennett

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The Trademark Massachusetts Driving Move

Monday, May 28th 2007 @ 1:35 PM (not yet rated)    post viewed 614 times

I have been a Massachusetts resident for over 12 years now.  But we Sudbury residents are not the "typical" Massachusetts resident for two reasons: 1) we don't have the accent and 2) most of us refuse to adopt the increasingly popular driving technique known as the, "if I want to take a left then I will pull out in the middle of the road while inconveniencing dozens, perhaps hundreds of others, until the lane I am pulling into opens up" technique.  Let me illustrate...

car.jpgThe red car holds the practitioner of this technique.  As you can see, this driver is blocking the traffic so numerous drivers are forced to stop.  The schedules of all these drivers and passengers are delayed because of the impatience of one driver.

Practitioners of this technique have argued that it is a necessary move, especially in Massachusetts, where most Dunkin Donuts somehow tend to be on side of the road that requires drivers to take a left out of the parking lot.  Even I have waited a very long time to take a left hoping to see that magical break in the traffic, only to be honked at by the driver behind me for not exercising my state given right to perform this infamous move.  As tempted as I was, I could not bring myself to do it.

In doing some research, I have found that Massachusetts drivers are not alone with this technique.  It is also practiced in London, England, where the technique has a slightly different name... the "if I want to take a left then I will pull out in the middle of the road whilst inconveniencing dozens, perhaps hundreds of others, until the lane I am pulling into opens up" technique.  Coincidently, people from London also have a funny accent.

Will we all soon be forced to perform this move?  Will waiting a bit longer for a break in traffic take over as the default behavior of drivers?  Do we just give up and take a right, then pull a u-ee somewhere down the road?  Unclear the future is.  Clouded by the dark side it has become.  Your comments and suggestions welcome.

Comments
dneale said on Friday, June 22nd 2007 @ 1:27 PM:

Hi Bo - Born & bred in Massachusetts (to some north of us that may make me a bit of a "Mass-hole" SO BE IT!) I thought that edging one's car out into traffic was a perfectly acceptable way to join the flow, sort of like introducing yourself to a group of strangers? No? I'm stunned and saddened, but old habits die hard (-:

I did it today coming out of Mill Village as a matter of fact - woops!

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Bo Bennett
Group Administrator
Bo said on Friday, June 22nd 2007 @ 1:33 PM:

That was you???

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Kimberly Bennett
Sudbury Parent
Kim said on Friday, June 22nd 2007 @ 2:24 PM:

Oh Doreen!

I love your positive rationale to the traffic maneuver: "introducing yourself to a group of strangers" - "Hi, I'm Doreen, thanks for 'letting' me in"

Just tell me you know the difference between Yield and Merge....Smile

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