There is no explanation I can think of which would explain why motorists are so lethargic when presented with a green light. The light changes signaling the waiting traffic to continue on its way but nothing happen. Finally cars start to roll forward but can't go too far because while we were sitting there, waiting for some people to get their heads out of the clouds, the light turns back to red! I don't expect drivers to focus their eyes only on the traffic light but when we get the signal to go, that's what I want to do.....go! My other pet peeve is the baby steps cars take during the red light, creeping forward as if we're all going to get some place. I can't rationalize this either and can only assume people don't like the color green.
Think about it....the only time green is popular is on St. Patrick's Day. Trees are green but people chop them down and burn them. Recently ketchup was being sold as a green condiment but that didn't last. Money is considered the root of all evil and our currency is green. Many TV villains are green such as Snidely Whiplash, the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz, the Gorn, the Medusa, the Green Goblin, the Rancor Monster, Bowser of Super Mario Bros. fame, the Grinch and little green men from Mars besides a host of others. Obviously there is some campaign, premeditated or otherwise, against most things green, traffic lights in particular!
It's been my observation that red lights are very popular! I've been cut off by a vehicle running a red light, pedestrians often cross the street on a red light, instead of doing so when my light isn't green, traffic cops have interrupted my travel during a green signal and have waived me through when I should be stopped at a red light. Someone once beeped their horn at me, prompting me to move my car forward even though we were in a line of cars behind a red light.
What will it take for drivers and pedestrians to change their negative perception of the color green? It's too bad Disney doesn't put out a Jiminy Cricket's Guide to Green Do's and Don'ts. If there was such a guide, I'm willing to bet that there would be almost an instantaneous switch to common sense. Couldn't you just picture it? Freely driving through a green light? Giving the brake pedal a breather? Stopping only for red lights? But this is next to impossible and it's more likely that people in the future will drive the same way they do now. This is no different than our three decade attempt to begin using alternative fuels instead of foreign oil but hey, one rant at a time!
To a motorist's credit, there are a number of distractions when sitting in traffic. My favorites are the people who sell little knickknacks or want to wash your windows for two dollars. Please, that's what a gas station is for. The drivers who stop to chat with somebody they know tick me off too; pull over and talk or call them later but don't hold me prisoner as if I'm not in the car behind you.
Usually there aren't enough signs on the road to point you in the right direction or they're missing or cars simply need to slow down to read them which culminates in gridlock. Putting excuses aside, driving should be a safer, more enjoyable necessity, minus the senseless interruptions. Eventually, the love of the red light will fade and time spent going to point A to point B may improve but there are a few ways to keep your cool when green means slow. Surfing the radio dial, using curse words that begin with a designated letter to describe your driving experience, imagining you're somewhere more pleasant, squeezing a bean bag, putting the car into park, playing the out of state license game, taking a deep breath and counting to ten should help those who, along with me, can't explain the snail mentality that overtakes the consciousness of almost everyone sitting behind the steering wheel of a car.
