Okay, so it's not the next day. But anyway, it seems like the next day because of the holidays and .... oh, never mind. Here it is:
When driving on the surface streets (not the freeway) an approaching a traffic signal that is changing from green to yellow (presumably then to red), you should:
A. Speed up, close your eyes and hope you can get through the light that was green when you saw it last, unscathed.
B. Maintain your speed and wait until you reach the light, that is now yellowish-red, and slam on your brakes to prevent running a red light. (Oops, was that care behind you too close, anticipating that you were going to run the light?)
C. Slow down and prepare to stop for the changing light, glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure that the car behind you is slowing down (proactive).
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Hands-Free Phones The Rumor
Rumor has it, as of January 1st, 2008, the only cell phone use that is legal in Las Vegas is the hands-free cell phone use.
Rumors are interesting, they often sound like and look like fact; sometimes they are not fact, they are wishful thinking. Like the law prevening cell phone use while driving, is wishful thinking, at least in Nevada. In the State of Nevada (Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah) localities are prohibited from banning cell phone use. As of this writing, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (http://www.iihs.org/laws/ cellphonelaws.aspx) there are no laws in Nevada for restricting cell phone use.
Should there be? Well, that's a horse of a different color (not wearing a NHP uniform). It seems pretty obvious to me that drivers who are on their cell phones drive slower, (maybe a good thing), have slower response times (definitely a bad thing), are distracted from their main task (driving) and could use a swift kick in the, well, you know.
Stay off your cell phone while you are driving. Even if it's not illegal in Nevada, yet, with the mass of traffic in Las Vegas, keep your wits about you, keep a reasonable distance between you and the car in front of you (how fast do you really think you can stop if he/she stops quickly), and save the cell phone calls for later. You don't really want to know how convenient the cell phone can be following an accident, do you?
Rumors are interesting, they often sound like and look like fact; sometimes they are not fact, they are wishful thinking. Like the law prevening cell phone use while driving, is wishful thinking, at least in Nevada. In the State of Nevada (Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah) localities are prohibited from banning cell phone use. As of this writing, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (http://www.iihs.org/laws/ cellphonelaws.aspx) there are no laws in Nevada for restricting cell phone use.
Should there be? Well, that's a horse of a different color (not wearing a NHP uniform). It seems pretty obvious to me that drivers who are on their cell phones drive slower, (maybe a good thing), have slower response times (definitely a bad thing), are distracted from their main task (driving) and could use a swift kick in the, well, you know.
Stay off your cell phone while you are driving. Even if it's not illegal in Nevada, yet, with the mass of traffic in Las Vegas, keep your wits about you, keep a reasonable distance between you and the car in front of you (how fast do you really think you can stop if he/she stops quickly), and save the cell phone calls for later. You don't really want to know how convenient the cell phone can be following an accident, do you?
The Rest of the Story
So, we left our heroine sadly recounting her tale of her unsuccessful attempt to fight an unfair traffic violation.
She morosely returns to court to change her plea to guilty, her finances in shreds due to the happy holiday season.
The judge stares at her in surprise, "Why are you back?"
"I'm changing my plea to 'guilty'".
He looks confused, "Why? Are you guilty?"
"No," she answered slowly, "but I can't afford the bail, the ticket was cheaper."
"So," he questions further, "you'll pay the ticket because you don't have the money for the bail?"
"Yes," she quietly responds.
"And so," he continues, "if I reduce the bail to say, $220, you won't change your plea? Can you afford that? Can you pay that, say, by the first of January?"
"Yes," she answered softly, "I can afford that, and I can pay it by then."
"Okay," he pounds his gavel, "pay the bail by the first of January and make an appointment with the District Attorney." A small passes his lips and then he snaps, "Next!"
The bail is paid, the appointment is made. What faces our plucky heroine next?
She morosely returns to court to change her plea to guilty, her finances in shreds due to the happy holiday season.
The judge stares at her in surprise, "Why are you back?"
"I'm changing my plea to 'guilty'".
He looks confused, "Why? Are you guilty?"
"No," she answered slowly, "but I can't afford the bail, the ticket was cheaper."
"So," he questions further, "you'll pay the ticket because you don't have the money for the bail?"
"Yes," she quietly responds.
"And so," he continues, "if I reduce the bail to say, $220, you won't change your plea? Can you afford that? Can you pay that, say, by the first of January?"
"Yes," she answered softly, "I can afford that, and I can pay it by then."
"Okay," he pounds his gavel, "pay the bail by the first of January and make an appointment with the District Attorney." A small passes his lips and then he snaps, "Next!"
The bail is paid, the appointment is made. What faces our plucky heroine next?
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