The Expressway is For Cars

            Anyone standing and watching the cars zip by on the I-75 and looking for a means to get across or down that particular stretch of road often thinks it safer to take a street astride the speedway and keep their lives intact, yet some people view it as just another road, taking their chances against the fast moving traffic, and being the subject to tickets and fines from local police for their efforts, yet for as many walkers and bikers we see there on a weekly basis, we rarely see mobility scooters as the travel method of choice.

            Yet, that was the scene last week on this stretch of highway as a 76 year old lady decided that taking the safe route was for chumps, and proceeded to take the onramp from her grocery trip and head into traffic without a care in the world. This of course caught the attention of those in actual vehicles on the road, prompting more than a few calls to the local police. Eventually the fuzz caught up with the elderly daredevil and proceeded to give her a much safer ride home, in the police car.

            She was let off with a warning, and attempts were made to have her see the error in her judgement, yet if it will have any effect, not many know. She did manage to make it a full mile at the slightly above snail’s pace that the scooter can muster, maybe next time she’ll try to see if she can make the entire journey. And though this can be a funny story both to hear and to report, it shouldn’t be taken as one to copy, for even though this one had a happy, and humorous ending, not all do.

            There have been more than our share of fatalities on this stretch of road, both to those within vehicles, and those without, and taking your chances in fast moving traffic is an unnecessary risk. When looking for a quicker means of travel across the distances, you have many options, the Q-Line, Uber, or simply taking a side street. All it takes is one drivers absence of judgement and your life is forfeit for your decision. It’s always the best practice to follow the rules of the road, as they are in place for a reason, whether we always agree with them or not.
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            Perhaps Granny’s speed demon days are over, perhaps she got the thrill of the chase and will find new and inventive ways to get home, but regardless of how the story ends, we all hope that it’s one of relative safety, and not erroneous judgement that unnecessarily puts her own and others’ lives at risk. Leave the freeway for the vehicles, and keep your wits about you when making your way home, all it takes is a moment to change the course of your life, or end it, and shaving those precious few minutes off your commute isn’t worth it.