Aggressive drivers zoning out

It’s nice that police are cracking down on aggressive drivers, but they’re looking for them in the wrong place. It’s not the road that’s the problem — it’s the parking lots lining the road that teem with aggression. 

Take Woodholme Festival, just outside 695. Among the shops there is a Starbucks. I imagine some drivers have just loaded up on caffeine or are in desperate need of it, and that’s why many are in a hurry. They pull out of spaces without looking, speed through the lot, even honk at pedestrians who are in their way. I actually saw this happen recently. The pedestrian responded with some aggression of his own … a one-finger salute.

Then there’s the lot at Reisterstown Road and Mount Wilson Lane. With Panera here, don’t expect good spaces around lunchtime. If you do find one, be careful. I pulled into a spot once, and within moments, some guy tapped on my window. He was upset. He had planned to park in my space, although he didn’t have his blinker on. I pointed out another space close by. He didn’t want that one. He wanted mine. I gave it to him. After all, with that kind of behavior, who knows what else he might have done?

At 140 and Owings Mills Boulevard is a big shopping center with lots of stores — and tons of traffic. Getting into the flow is so tough, you had better channel some aggression of your own.

Here’s a big cause of driver aggression: spacelets. These are supposed to be parking spaces, and even resemble them, but they’re about 25 percent smaller than a regular space. So, you can get your car in, but can barely squeeze your butt out of the car. Before you know it, even the nicest people turn aggressive, and don’t give a hoot if they ding your door.    

The bottom line? If you drive down Reisterstown Road, fear not. You’re in an Aggressive Driving Enforcement Zone. But pull into a parking lot, and I’m afraid you’re on your own.