Adjusting to Erie drivers isn't easy

For my 8th birthday, my mom gave me a birthstone pendant necklace. In the turquoise necklace box, there were words that were supposed to describe someone with a December birthday.

Outgoing. Patient. Punctual.

I would label myself as outgoing. Patient, not so much. But the birthstone necklace box was spot on with punctual.

That's me. I'm the person who shows up to parties on time, if not earlier than anticipated.

I leave unnecessarily early for places to plan for travel time when I have to be somewhere. I've learned as I adjust to life in a different place, I need to adapt my travel-time schedule with every city's traffic paces and rhythms.

But I can't figure this out. Erie people who I've met have been incredibly welcoming and very nice. But on the roadways, it's a different story.

A few weeks ago, I was headed to the grocery store. I was attempting to turn left onto Peach Street and as I approached the light, it turned yellow. Instead of going out into the intersection and turning left after the line of cars that were traveling straight passed when the light was red, I chose to stop and wait for the light to turn green again.

I was surprised when there was a loud, drawn-out honk that came from the car behind me.

Honking is so awkward for me. I always find myself forced with the choice of either looking straight ahead and ignoring the fact someone is honking or looking in my mirrors to take a peek at the honker. And if you look, what do you do? Act mad? Smile and wave? This time I looked.

As expected, the honker was not happy with me. He was angrily waving his hands about. I made the left turn as the light turned green, and he got into the right lane and sped around my car.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt. He must have been late to his daughter's dance recital or his son's first T-ball game. Or maybe he just had a bad day.

But I've noticed it happens all the time as I'm driving in the area. It's not just angry or aggressive drivers. It's drivers running red lights when traffic is heavy. It's going 20 mph over the posted speed limit. It just seems like there's some event that everyone knows about but me, and they're all running five minutes late for it.

Sitting in traffic is no fun, and I understand the urgency of quickly reaching your destination. But luck only goes so far. Remember that everyone is trying to get where they're going just as quickly as you are.

I've found being an empathetic driver really helps. When you get angry because someone cuts you off or didn't turn because the light turned yellow, remember these are not just cars. People are operating them. People you work with and live in the same community with.

So please, bear with me as I'm adjusting to Erie traffic. For now, I guess I'll just stick to life in the slow lane.

SARAH STEMEN can be reached at 870-1776. Send e-mail to