Vegas Blue: Tips for Avoiding Traffic Collisions in Las Vegas

by John Robert Taylor

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Anxious to be in front of the pack,
a lane expert screeches to a halt near a construction worker
Photo by John Robert Taylor

Traffic is a significant issue in Las Vegas. Other than external issues, like the ones listed in my first article on traffic safety, I believe there are certain individuals likely to cause traffic collisions. I hope this will help you identify and avoid potential problems on the roadway and the individuals that cause them.

The lane expert
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once talked about the lane expert’s lack of rationality, making fun of the way they constantly switch lanes in congested traffic ultimately getting nowhere. I believe this individual causes crashes as well as some of the congestion. A “bottleneck” is one of many times when lane experts will cause problems, making things inconvenient even for themselves. For example, traffic is slow because vehicles are merging at the top of the bottleneck. Most of the vehicles merging up there are driven by lane experts that decided to leave the rest of traffic and sneak in above other cars. They lack the understanding that traffic would move much more smoothly and quickly if so many vehicles were not attempting to merge there. Whether created by construction, freeway ramps, or turning lanes at intersections, bottlenecks are dangerous. The lane expert can also cause crashes by quickly jumping into lanes without giving warning via turn signal.

The cruiser
I am by no means advocating faster drivers or calling slow drivers unsafe. However if you choose to cruise ten miles below the speed limit, travelling in the left lane may not be the best idea. American drivers are trained to view the left lane of a roadway as a “passing” lane or even as the “faster” lane. So when travelling in that lane please understand that you are placing yourself among the fastest drivers on that roadway. Naturally, this can cause problems. If you choose to pass a slower driver on the right side, use caution as they are usually travelling slower based on their ability to maneuver and react. If they are changing lanes in front of you, and you’re travelling at a higher rate of speed, you may be going to fast to react and they may have a hindered ability to react. It’s a recipe for a collision.

Streetwalkers take a casual stroll
in the middle of traffic
Photo by John Robert Taylor

The streetwalker
I know what you’re thinking…”this is nothing more than a jaywalker!” Jaywalkers are still dangerous, but they hurry across the street to take a short cut or catch a bus. Streetwalkers have delusions of invincibility and are simply lazy. They don’t jog or sprint across the street the way a jaywalker does. They cross a lane and then walk vertically along with traffic when a car comes. With a quick look over the shoulder, they then cross another lane taking their time to cross the roadway. They are more of a mega jaywalker, someone that likes to play a human version of a popular arcade game called “Frogger.” The streetwalker is even harder to spot than a jaywalker because they lack the sudden movements that grab your attention. To spot and avoid them be especially cautious when changing lanes.

The speedster
This one is obvious. It is easier to loose control of a vehicle at high speeds and it is difficult to react at high speeds. Combine that with the fact that speeders are harder to spot by other drivers and collisions with them are very likely. Certain traffic rules, like using a turn signal a hundred feet prior to changing lanes, exist to allow reaction time and give drivers a chance to see each other even at high speeds. Implement them to remain safe.

The negligent
Latest statistics claim that negligent drivers are responsible for more roadway fatalities than drunk drivers. The magnitude of this assumption is quite stirring. There are many people living with the fact that texting, speaking on their phone, reading while driving, changing clothing, falling asleep, putting on make up, or reaching for something in the cab of their vehicle changed or extinguished lives forever. Beware of individuals that are dividing their attention on the roadway. As long as their window tint is legal, these individuals are easy to spot. Sometimes they can even be spotted from a distance as they weave within their lane or the vehicle makes “jerking” movements while they reach around for a pen they dropped or the Chap Stick in the glove box.

The aggressor
This driver is nothing more than a bully with a 4000-pound hunk of metal. They follow too closely forcing driver’s to increase speed or quickly change lanes. Speaking of lane changing, they do so very quickly forcing other drivers to stop suddenly. The best way to deal with an aggressive driver is to let them pass or have the lane. You’ll have your revenge when you’re both sitting at the next stoplight and they realize that their erratic driving got them nowhere.

When you see a distraction in the distance
prepare to avoid rubberneckers
Photo by John Robert Taylor

The Rubbernecker
They’ve seen it a million times. The traffic stop. The collision. Yet, they still need to make a sudden stop in front of you just so they can see what’s going on. This causes congestion as well as rear-end crashes. Beware of rubberneckers because they usually stop suddenly because they want to hurry up to the point where they can see and make abrupt stops to get a lengthy view.

I believe that certain types of people contribute to many crashes in the Las Vegas valley and we all have to avoid them to remain safe. I’m sure that these are only a few, so if you have thought of some others please feel free to share.

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