Wednesday 5 June 2013

I'm Getting Tired of This!

We were honked at on the way to school again today by a Taxi driver - a professional driver who one would think should know the rules better than most. We were honked at for taking a central position in a lane that was too narrow to share, which is perfectly legal. The most common problems I see on the road relate to the following:

Many motorists are unaware of...

Maryland Transportation Code § 21-1205. Riding on roadways or on highway.
(a)  Riding to right side of roadway.- Each person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter at a speed less than the speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing on a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe, except when: 
(6) Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motor scooter and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

Maryland Transportation Code § 21-1209. Throwing object at bicycle, motor scooter, or EPAMD.
(a)  Drivers to exercise due care.- Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the driver of a vehicle shall: 
(2) When overtaking a bicycle, an EPAMD, or a motor scooter, pass safely at a distance of not less than 3 feet.

Maryland Transportation Code § 22-401. Horns and warning devices.
(b)  When to be used.- The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible warning with his horn, but may not otherwise use the horn when on a highway.

There was no necessity for the taxi driver to use the horn. Nothing bad was happening, UNTIL HE HONKED, at which point I was startled and swerved. The horn caused the danger.

Since this has been an almost daily occurrence over the last few weeks, I made a sign the other day with quotes from the Maryland Driver's Manual:


Showed the sign to the guy today, told him he was supposed to know this stuff. It didn't make any difference. He was using a cellphone to film me as if I were the one breaking the rules! I'm really getting sick of this.

2 comments:

  1. I did look online as soon as I got home. I sent messages explaining the issue to the taxi company and to the local government taxicab hotline. Unfortunately I didn't have the presence of mind to take down the cab number, but the company sent a response saying that they will try to figure out who it was and if they find out he will be retrained.

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  2. I sometimes get honked for riding in the centre of the lane. I usually manage to ignore the driver and just remind myself that the driver has honked because he has seen me - and is not therefore a threat to my safety. I am more worried about any cars that haven't seen me and haven't honked.

    If I feel like being interactive, I sometimes smile, wave, and put my hand to my ear so as to indicate that I will give him a call later.

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