Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Drivers in New Orleans take all traffic laws under advisement.

I recently drove a little in the French Quarter in New Orleans. You only drive a little in the French Quarter as you park and spend the day walking about the little streets. You only need to drive a few minutes in the old section of New Orleans before you notice something about how the natives drive:

They take all traffic laws under advisement.

I was sitting behind a bus in a right turn lane. People drove past me in the left lane (there is no left lane – it is the lane for oncoming traffic) and turn right in front of us. They didn’t want to wait for the bus to load and unload passengers.

People parked their cars next to the NO PARKING signs.

People parked their cars next to the NO PARKING, LOADING AND UNLOADING ONLY signs.

Observations:

• No one obeyed the traffic laws
• No law enforcement authorities seemed to mind
• There were no traffic accidents

Perhaps the rest of the United States is a bit too concerned about these traffic laws.