I live near a horrible intersection in Pleasanton. Being in the hub of activity is convenient. I have a Safeway, and all the schools my kids have gone to or will go to within walking distance from my humble abode. Walking is the key. Driving is the problem. Access to 680 is one way, and 580 is the other. Lots of reasons to be at that intersection. Lots of traffic. This satellite picture was obviously not taken during a commute time.
In fact the traffic here is so bad that it was an issue in the past election. The Stoneridge Drive Extension, which is planned and funded in the Pleasanton General Plan, was meant to relieve much of this congestion, but has been blocked by certain groups here. Coincidence or not, all of the candidates for Pleasanton office who supported the Stoneridge Drive Extension were elected. Those who opposed were not. I digress.
In the center of this image you will see a car with a white roof. That is the exit to the Safeway/Walgreens parking lot. Valley is the avenue oriented from left to right. The woman in the black Mercedes was making a left out of that parking lot onto Valley. I was traveling in the far right lane, she looked at me, but thought I had made a right into the driveway past her. As I approched, I watched her face gaze out past me to the other lanes to see if her left hand turn was clear. She continued with the gazing as she crawled out of the driveway and into my front bumper. Crunch.
