a sequel to "An Accident Report"

[flyingzonker]

In a earlier post--I believe, due to my just reviving it, it is on the same page as this post will be--I described an accident I had a few months ago while entering a shopping mall near where I live. The result of that accident was a badly sprained ankle that had me on crutches for many weeks. It has been almost three months and I am still limping--a little.


What follows is the body of a letter I sent to the manager of the mall where the accident occurred:
2 months ago I started to pull into the Edgebrook Shopping Mall parking lot traveling west on Highcrest. Just as I came into the entrance some man in a white car darted from the lot into the same entrance with the intention of exiting onto Highcrest. To make matters worse I was on a motor scooter. I had to brake very hard to avoid crashing into this white car. My front wheel froze, the back wheel went out from under my cycle, the bike fell down and slid on the asphalt 5 or 10 feet My ankle got caught under the motor scooter and I was dragged with the skidding machine. I pulled myself free when the skid ended and stood up.I knew at once that I had hurt my ankle--it turned out to be a 3rd degree everted sprain. My only thought was to get the hell out of there and back home and into bed. I asked the guy in the white car, who was standing there with a brain-locked stare on his face, if he would help me lift up my machine. He hoisted it up for me, I mounted, thanked him (believe it or not) and, groaning all the way, rode home, which was only about a mile away. I have been on crutches ever since. Earlier this week I again started into the lot at this entrance--this time I was in my car. As soon as I got my rear tires off Highcrest I found myself being borne down upon by a woman in a SUV. She was using the entrance to exit in the same manner as the white car had done but fortunately she was going a little slower--so was I, this time-- and we were able to squeeze by each other without crashing. As soon as I saw her coming I tried to stop her by waving my hand and shaking my head. She saw me, but gave me a look as if to say, "What the hell is wrong with you?" and continued through the entrance to the street and off on her (air-headed) way. I relate these incidents to point up a fact: The dedicated entrance and exit of the Edgebrook lot need to be more obviously marked. I know you have done your best. I know there is a large arrow on the asphalt pointing out at the exit and another large arrow pointing in at the entrance. I know you have both entrance and exit marked on the street with signs---but your message obviously isn't visible enough to strike home with as many people as it needs to strike home with. PLEASE put up DO NOT ENTER signs, one on the street near the exit and one in the lot near the entrance, so that what happened to me in early Dec will be less likely to recur. These DO NOT ENTER signs are very effective. They do the job like nothing else. Painted arrows are easy to miss. These DO NOT ENTER signs Work. They really save shit from happening. Thanks

I sent this a month ago. The manager immediately replied that he was ordering the signs I had suggested. I was happy and emailed him to that effect together with many thanks. I may, however, have been hasty in this regard: Every time I go by that lot--fairly often--I check for the signs. As of now they have not been placed.

Ah well, so much for public spirit.

[MikeP]

Well I can feel your frustration. Up here in Canada we have people who can can't read. Seems like "exit only" and "no exit" must have some other meaning. Perhaps a picture sign would be better.

[flyingzonker]

Well I can feel your frustration. Up here in Canada we have people who can can't read. Seems like "exit only" and "no exit" must have some other meaning. Perhaps a picture sign would be better.

Yes, and I would be glad to suggest a design for the picture:The muzzle of a 357 Magnum pointing out with the words "MAKE MY DAY" underneath.

[Mel46]

Where I live it isn't that drivers can't read. Many, especially those in a Lexus for some reason, do not feel that they should have to abide by the laws and rules everyone else has to follow. There isn't a day that goes by that there isn't at least one accident in our vicinity. There is a light at the entrance to our subdivision. It is also the light to a large strip-mall. It never ceases to amaze me how many drivers will try to squeeze into the intersection when traffic is backed up because of a red light a block away. It doesn't matter that they are blocking the intersection, or that they have a red light. In fact, there have been times when I would have the green light to come out of my subdivision but before I can do anything a vehicle will dart from across the street to turn left into the crowded intersection, even though they have a RED light. Then, of course, there is the standard practice where a driver, usually in a Lexus, will use the right or left turn lane as their personal straight lane. Unfortunately I am seeing more and more of these bad 'traits' being passed on to the young drivers, who are following the parent's orders and doing the same thing...sometimes with the parent in the car with them!

[gn2]

We have a solution for junction blocking in the UK, its called a yellow box.
Yellow lines are painted across the junction in squares and if you stop on them you get fined.

[iceman]

Many ignore the yellow box - cars, vans and buses in my part of london - doubt anyone is issued with fines as they keep doing it. They used to get fines, but it seems some small crime is now hushed up.

[you you]

Well I can feel your frustration. Up here in Canada we have people who can can't read. Seems like "exit only" and "no exit" must have some other meaning. Perhaps a picture sign would be better.

Yes, and I would be glad to suggest a design for the picture:The muzzle of a 357 Magnum pointing out with the words "MAKE MY DAY" underneath.

Wasn't it supposed to be a 0.44?

[Alibally]

I prefer this to the Dirty Harry clip.

http://youtu.be/1crhwQPKr7w

[flyingzonker]

Well I can feel your frustration. Up here in Canada we have people who can can't read. Seems like "exit only" and "no exit" must have some other meaning. Perhaps a picture sign would be better.

Yes, and I would be glad to suggest a design for the picture:The muzzle of a 357 Magnum pointing out with the words "MAKE MY DAY" underneath.

Wasn't it supposed to be a 0.44?

Yes, a 45 would do nicely.

[honkerman]

Well I can feel your frustration. Up here in Canada we have people who can can't read. Seems like "exit only" and "no exit" must have some other meaning. Perhaps a picture sign would be better.

Yes, and I would be glad to suggest a design for the picture:The muzzle of a 357 Magnum pointing out with the words "MAKE MY DAY" underneath.

Wasn't it supposed to be a 0.44?

Useless movie trivia: Clint Eastwood states that the firearm is a .44 magnum; however, the prop used is indeed a .357 magnum.

[Mel46]

The gun Dirty Harry used was a model M29 Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.44_Magnum