The drivers have never been worse in New Orleans. There was a period of time when everyone was really nice and patient. That is no longer the case.

I encounter someone driving the wrong way down a one-way street almost every day. Every time, without fail, I flash my lights and/or honk at them. When I pass, I roll down my window to tell them that they are driving the wrong way down a one-way street. That is what I’d like someone to do for me so that I don’t do that and cause an accident. Most people refuse to roll their window down and stop for a second, instead choosing to scowl, flick me off, or yell obscenities at me. If they do stop and listen, the say, “Okay.” and then continue driving without paying attention. There is a really good reason why so many streets are one-way in New Orleans – they are too narrow for more than one direction.

Others have decided that it’s okay to ignore stop signs and red lights. This doesn’t happen nearly as often as the one-way violators, but it’s still absolutely disgusting. Wonder of wonders, I have seen more accidents in the last month on my commute to and from work than I’ve seen previously in a year.

The city keeps telling us that they have more than enough officers out in the city, but no car has been pulled over for speeding, running lights, stop signs, etc in the 5 months since Katrina. Sadly, so many people have no morals or sense of humanity that they will break every rule because they think that it doesn’t apply to them. I sometimes think the world is not worth saving because these people exist.

I’ve always felt that traffic laws mean the most not when the roads are crowded and you can see cars all around you, but when you don’t know anyone is around. That is when you might become complacent and not see someone who would be helped in seeing a blinker, etc. Though most people will paint me, rightly, as a goody two-shoes.

Maybe its related to the definition of a truly kind person doing great things when no one is watching and there is no recognition. I wish I were that person. I wish everyone was like that. Instead I pay some of the highest car insurance prices for being an excellent driver that gets to watch assholes drive everyday.