I led into my last post about Oldies from the late 1950s with a reference to people driving faster these days and scaring the wits out of me.
That had been my impression driving various places lately, but last night I saw three prime examples of ridiculous driving. What I saw convinced me what is going on is a definite trend and extremely dangerous.
Not that Kansas City area streets were not dangerous before the Covid-19 virus took hold. They definitely were, but now it’s worse.
I think part of it is that while traffic has picked up the last month or so, the streets, boulevards and highways are carrying less traffic than they did during the old normal. As a result, some people have chosen to regard the streets and highways as their personal raceways.
But back to last night…
Patty and I met a friend, who also lives in Brookside, at Brown & Loe’s, adjacent to the City Market. We had a nice dinner in the restaurant courtyard, from where we could watch people coming and going and moving about. Quite a few young people were in the area, many of them zipping along on rented scooters, others on foot. The first time we noticed a streetcar stopping — signaled by its distinctive bell — we saw that not one person was on the car as it headed east on Third Street. Later, a handful of people boarded at the same stop. In pre-Covid days, the streetcars routinely were at least half full and often near capacity.
About 8:30 we got ready to leave, and our friend suggested we go back to his house. He lives off Holmes, south of Meyer Boulevard, so, driving separately, we decided to take Bruce R. Watkins Drive, i.e., U.S. 71.
I have often taken Watkins Drive when heading south out of downtown or from North Kansas City partly to avoid merging onto southbound I-35 and then having to work over to the far inside lane to get off at either Broadway or Southwest Trafficway.
Bruce R. Watkins Drive
For the most part, I have not had any problems on Watkins or seen much outrageous driving. Last night was different. The first incident that got my attention was two cars speeding by me on the right. I was in the middle lane, going 50 to 55. After they passed, I said to Patty, “I’m moving over so the boys (any others behind) can come on by.”
I was really glad I did that because about a minute later I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw a car approaching at what looked like warp speed. I gripped the wheel tightly and in an instant, whoosh!, the newer-model, dark car flew by, two lanes out. It must have been going 90. Patty and I gasped. It shook me to the core. We watched as the car disappeared from view but saw that there was some traffic up ahead.
“I wonder if he was able to slow down in time,” I said.
“I’m sure he did,” Patty said, hopefully.
Unnerved, we decided to get off at the next exit, Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Swope Parkway. The next bit of excitement wasn’t long in coming. After turning right and heading west on Swope, we approached The Paseo. As I entered the intersection with a green light, crossing the northbound lanes, an older, brown car with one hub missing came careening through the intersection heading south. It blew through the light at about 45 miles an hour.
It was not a close call for us because the intersection is very wide and we saw the car in plenty of time.
But still…If we’d arrived a couple of seconds earlier, it could have been dicey.
Finally, as we were heading south on Oak, we approached a four-way stop at, I believe, 57th Street. From the west, a car came along and drove straight through the intersection without slowing. Again, it wasn’t a close call, but it left Patty and me shaking our heads.
We were glad to arrive safely at our friend’s house. I told him about our somewhat harrowing drive and asked him if he had taken 71 highway.
“I came up Oak,” he said.
Wise choice. And I can tell you this: From downtown or the City Market area, I will be avoiding Watkins Drive/U.S. 71 for a long time to come.
**
I’ve always told Brooks and Charlie, now in their early 30s, to always look both ways before going through any intersection where they have the green light or the right of way, even if cars approaching from the other direction have a red light or stop sign. Never assume, I’ve told them, other drivers are going to yield just because they’re supposed to.
Readers, I urge you to do the same. These are crazy days in many ways, and we’ve got to take every possible precaution to protect ourselves.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Glad you’re safe. Many drivers are speeding. They believe it’s great fun and the police have other priorities.
I think that’s a good point about drivers thinking police are off their usual routines, too, and paying less attention to traffic violations.
I sound like an old fogey but, I swear, it’s a wonder more people aren’t killed on the roads. Red-light running is my biggest fear. And, yes, with fewer cars on the road the insanity level has gone up.
My experience as a walker (I no longer have a car, nor do I want one) is bifurcated these pandemic days. One routine is from Westport Road near the library to the fountain (OK, I’ve complained about that twice) in Mill Creek Park. Even with the lights, 43d at Broadway (just north of St Luke’s) is more perilous now, but also other drivers are noticeably more cautious and considerate. I try not to think about their likely political preferences.
Good to hear I’m not alone in my assessment — and not just paranoid.
You haven’t seen anything yet. (De-fund )
I don’t think we’re going to see defunding of KCPD, Cecil. But I am concerned that it might be a long, long time before police get back to normal traffic patrols. In the meantime, when I say, “Stay safe,” I mean more than maintain social distancing!
This is a choice of the patrol division commander. I live near Missouri 152. Several days a month (especially when getting near the end of the month), you hear near constant sirens of KCMO police making traffic stops for speeding. They have both patrol cars and officers on motorcycles doing it. Add in the Missouri Highway Patrol (which could do U.S. 71) and the Platte County Sheriff, there are routinely a bundle of traffic stops for speeding. The number of Kansas drivers racing to the airport make it easy for them.
Same is true for I-29 where it splits to I-635.
I wish KCPD would put that much focus on the area south of the river. Most of Rick Smith’s support is based north of the river, and he’s sure intent on keeping that group happy.
Jim, all this reminds me of the tag line, or whatever the heck they call it, from an old song (since you’ve been taking us down memory lane musically speaking here lately) that I haven’t heard in a while: “Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop drivin’ that Hot – Rod – Lincoln!”
In any event, I’m glad you and Patty survived last night so that you can continue with your writing. PTL!
Good Oldies linkage, Rick!
Use your “substitute teacher” memory file to figure out what is going on. These are the current behaviors of some of your former students…you remember them? The ones that “respected” your authority, helped you maintain classroom order, and diligently followed your directions in order to promote the Greatergood. Same demographic as our protester friends…the ones that dress in black. It’s payback time, old man. (Blackboard Jungle)
People still street race? To my eternal (in hindsight) shame, I did a bunch of that myself back in the day.
And by back in the day, I mean when when gas was 30 cents per gallon, with my ’72 Sport Satellite, 383 hemi MOPAR engine, glass-packed mufflers, and no discernable common sense between the ears of the teen driver(s) as that rocket would race (whomever/whatever) from 110th & Blue Ridge down to 95th street/Bannister.
And, yes, we would occasionally get nailed by Grandview or KC PDs.
It was dangerous and stupid then, just as it is today.
But the social context was vastly different back then…
There was a young woman killed several weeks ago at 43rd and Main. She was crossing the street, and it was around 2am I believe. She was hit by a car that was participating in some kind of street race…on Main Street, just north of the Plaza. I don’t think we had street races on Main Street pre-COVID, but I hear them now!
I read about that case, Kate, and I figured the killer was really flying, but I didn’t know (and it wasn’t reported) that he/she was involved in a street race.
Staying off of 71 is a starting point but doesn’t guarantee you won’t be killed somewhere else — anywhere else, even on Main Street — in these throwback Wild West days.
KCUR had a story a few weeks ago about the number of motor vehicle fatalities being way, way up from last year. There are some bad, reckless drivers out there and innocent people are getting killed because of them. This Fast and Furious mentality has got to stop.
Not a lot of really excessive speeding on Main. But both Main Street (Plaza to Crown Center) and Troost (anywhere south of 27th) are popular with the motorcyclists who gather in a pack of anywhere from about 4 to 20 and ride together. A couple will “guard” the group and the others do wheelies for blocks on end. Both streets are nice and straight. They are a pain – especially if the come up on you from the back.
And I do see KCPD radar along Watkins regularly, usually from Linwood to 55th St. But usually during the day and not at night.
That’s what I’ve taught my kids, don’t trust the other driver to do the right thing – be ready for them not to, and then you are fine if they do things right.