You’re Right, You Almost Running Into Me Head-On Was MY Fault

If you're like me, nothing gets your blood boiling faster than when you're minding your own business, not doing anything wrong, and yet you get blamed for something.

I had just finished running a rare 3-miles Monday morning, and was on my way out of the parking ramp next to the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center in downtown Rochester. Seeing as the ramps downtown are usually narrow and crowded, I was driving slowly, and staying on my side of the lane of traffic as I followed the arrows that led me to the exit.

That's when a woman in a black station wagon came careening around the corner like it was turn three at Talladega Speedway under a green flag and almost ran right into me. I slammed on the brakes as she layed on the horn, and glared at me as if I was some complete moron who was in her way. She quickly sped off again, probably to smack into anyone who, God forbid, happened to be in the same ramp she was in at the same time.

Now, I'm the first to admit I'm often times running late, and have sometimes become impatient with really slow drivers. You know, the ones who are going about 40 mph along Highway-52, when the speed limit is actually posted at 60. So I get that she was most likely in a hurry. But even when I'm in a hurry, I don't drive in the wrong lane at a really high rate of speed, and, if I should run into someone (figuratively, that is), I certainly don't lay on the horn and then give them the 'ol stinkeye, as if it's their fault. Come on, man!

This seems to most often happen in parking lots and ramps, where the right-of-way is sometimes a bit confusing. I get that. But a good rule of thumb is to keep to the right (unless you're reading this in Europe or Australia)-- or if you want to encroach on both lanes of traffic, then don't be surprised if their's another car in the other lane. Oh wait. I've just been handed a piece of paper-- I guess she does own the road (or, in this case, ramp)!

Do you have any traffic horror stories?