Carl F. Thelin

I WAS A BAD BOY

The highway called Paseo is a 5 mile-long six lane limited access highway with a high concrete median divider. Shortly after I entered it, a police officer “lit me up” to pull me over to the shoulder of eastbound Paseo. After reviewing my driver’s license and insurance papers, he excused me with a warning.

“Wait, are you in a hurry?” I asked.

I told him that I saw his cruiser behind me when I entered the Paseo. Later, being in the center lane, I went to the lane near the median to pass a slower car. Then, thinking that the cop car, still right behind me, wanted to pass me, I swung back to the center lane. As I approached another slower car, with the cruiser still behind me, I went over to the outside lane again to pass. Then I was seeing flashing red and blue lights.

The officer warned me that I should be cited for failure to signal lane changes on Paseo but a warning was enough this time. I told the young officer that I am a retired professional investigator of auto accidents with over 20 years experience and was qualified in courts all around the country as an expert in auto safety.

So – my crime was changing lanes without using the turn signals. “Did I cut off anybody? Did I get too close to anybody?” No.

“Look, I never signal to change lanes unless someone is riding in the blind spot and won’t move ahead or drop back.  Otherwise, it is my responsibility to maneuver smoothly without disturbing any body. Don’t you hate it when someone passes you after dark, then signals ‘right’ and pulls in close ahead of you? If his turn signals are yellow (most are today) that bright flashing light doesn’t help your night vision, does it?” He agreed.

Then, as we parted, I asked the officer if he read the Tuesday / Thursday column called Road Warrior. Yes. I said I submitted stories under the name Crasher-Carl and that he might read about this. I did and I haven’t been arrested – yet.