Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive drivers, ‘texting’ cyclists compete for road space

The road safety culture in Japanifik is poor. The drivers and cyclists are invariably in contention for the small space available. Most of the roads are barley wider than the width of a single car but are used by cars, motorbikes, bikes and pedestrians (there are no sidewalks) in both directions.

If you ride a bike, or walk home,  it is nothing short of a miracle to return safely without being run over by a speeding car.

But not everyone is so fortunate, every time. There are always a few people, mostly high school students, who run out of luck and miracles. The ambulance sirens are a familiar sound in our area both in the morning and early afternoon, which coincide with the school opening and closing times.

I had vowed with myself the next time I see an aggressive driver causing an accident, injuring another motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian, I would drag him/her out of their vehicle and wring their ears.

I didn’t have to wait long. There was a spectacular accident  a few days ago, as my 4-year-old son, ‘L,’ and I were waiting for the pedestrian crossing light to turn green.

A Honda Life driving at about twice the speed limit, on a very busy road, clipped the back of stationery car, turned  sideways into the air and fell over on the driver’s side with a mighty bang as it skidded a short distance.

The car looked as if it was about to explode. I rushed toward it (after finding a safe spot for my son and making sure he wouldn’t follow me to the middle of road) to drag the driver and its passenger out, however, not to kick their butts, so to speak, but to save their lives. Fortunately no one was injured.

I helped the occupants, a couple in their late 40s to early 50s, climb out of the car; they gingerly walked away without so much as looking at me, let alone saying thanks!

Never mind, I thought, at least no one was injured, and anyway the shock of the accident must have made them forget their manners!

Related Links:

• What’s Up at the Expensive Private High School on the Hill?
• Failing to Prevent Premeditated Murder
• Violating the Speed Limit