Red Light, Green Light

We've all been there.  Stopped at a traffic light, waiting for the light to change.  For a moment we do something else.  Before cell phones, we might change the cassette or look at a map; now it's checking email and Facebook. Sometimes in the very moment that we look away the light changes.  That moment varies depending upon who you are.

If you are the driver in the first vehicle you are blissfully unaware that you have missed the signal to go.  You go about your business and you unwittingly cause any number of people behind you to wait.  Your comfort level is about to change. You will either realize your own error as you finally look up and see the light or you will be startled and redirected by the blaring horn behind you.

Now let's go back to that moment before the light has changed and switch places.  You are the driver in the other car.  They say hindsight is 20/20, and the only vision that is clearer than an in-the-car backseat driver is the car-behind-you backseat driver.  Even if you just spent five minutes on the phone or checking texts while driving, the moment that driver in front of you turns his attention from the light, you are all over that.

He needs to pay attention.
The light could change at any time.
I hope whatever he is doing is more important than my time and safety.

And then the light changes.
You start the countdown.

If you live in New York, you're already honking.  But honkers really lose the enjoyment of the show.  The honk brings the predictable angry response.  You called out the driver in front of you and in front of all of his peers.  That is embarrassing.  And when we are embarrassed, we misbehave to overshadow that feeling.  Hence, the predictable swearing, flipping off and exaggerated gestures indicating, "Who do you think you are?"

In a more rural setting, you might just wait to find out how long it is really going to take for that driver to pay attention.  You like sitting in that judgment seat.  Watching and waiting.  Waiting for the moron to wake up.  Seriously, "How do these people even get a driver license?"

You already know what is about to happen.  The driver is going to look up.  He is going to see the light.  But the next move is the best.  Seeing the green light, the driver will not immediately start to go.

No.

First the driver will look in the side-view mirror to see if anyone is behind him.  The shame reflex always comes first.  We always look in the side mirror.  The rear-view mirror is too obvious.  And if you played your cards right, you were looking right in the side mirror when he looked back.

You still called him out.

You know it and he knows it.

There’s nothing he can do but go.

Today, I was the driver in the second car. Tomorrow?