Sign of the Times

     

    Anyone who lives in Maryland knows how horrific traffic can get around the DMV. We have some of the nation's most aggressive and ignorant drivers, and rush hour on some of our major highways can often cause traffic delays that last for several hours. 

    Interstate 95 (I-95) is one such highway that I travel nearly everyday. A major north-south interstate highway on the East Coast, it runs as far north as Maine and as far south as Miami, Florida. I'd argue however, that the stretch of 95 that runs through Central Maryland is the worst, most congested stretch of this highway. 

    There are four lanes running north, parallel to four lanes running south, and during rush hour, or God forbid if there is an accident, these four lanes feel like one narrow lane that every car and tractor-trailer is trying to squeeze through. Surely there's nothing that could possibly make rush hour on I-95 in Maryland worse, right? 

    Wrong. Lately a small collection of attention seekers have taken it upon themselves to make signs and advertise their views along some of the roads that pass over I-95. Gorman Road is one such overpass, where these "protesters" gather to show off their handiwork. As this stretch of the highway is approaching 495 and ultimately Washington D.C., it is viewed by these individuals as an ideal location for political messages.

    These poster boards started off with messages such as, "Federal Workers- You're in Our Prayers" and have since gotten more political with signs reading, "Defend Democracy" and "Fire Elon!" I'll admit that I have no issue with any of these aforementioned statements and I'm always in favor of upholding the 1st amendment. That said, there's a time and a place and the time is not during rush hour and the place is certainly not overlooking this stretch of 95.

    Traffic has been backing up lately at these spots, as drivers slow down to gawk at the spectacle overhead, or even worse to take pictures or videos with their cellphones while driving. These poster board patriots are doing nothing but making an already bad traffic situation even worse. They're up there dancing and blowing bubbles, reveling in the attention they perceive themselves to be receiving. Have these people never heard of social media? 

I know that these individuals are making traffic worse because the lanes open wide up as soon as I clear the Gorman Road overpass. Recent signs have read, "No King" and "Hug a Canadian." Well I have a message of my own; "Thanks for the traffic!" I've yelled lately as I pass underneath the attention seekers. There are more productive and safer ways to get your message out there. Please leave I-95 to the motorists and keep your political agenda off of our public highways!