Watching the Drivers

When I changed jobs, moving from marketing into program management, I also changed buildings, moving from building 42 across the street to building 41. I traded my view of Mt. Baker for a view of the building 41 parking garage. Of course, I have decided to make the best of it. In this particular case, I get a great view of the comings and goings of all our divisional general managers and consequently have a good idea what kind of hours they work.

I also get to see how people drive. You see, there's a crosswalk from the parking garage across to building 41 with a very large Stop sign posted at it. Having been both a pedestrian and driver at that Stop sign, I can attest to the fact that it is a) very noticable (it's the only color for 100 feet) and b) much needed (there's no way to see a pedestrian coming out of the garage thanks to the walls and hedges). Yet fully half of the drivers who come to the Stop sign don't stop. One just came up the street at about 40MPH, slowed to about 15MPH and blasted through the crosswalk. (The Microsoft shuttle drivers are meticulous about stopping, by the way.)

So I amuse myself with the fantasy of writing down license plate numbers.