I was impressed by the Duck Xing sign, which I saw on the street in Santa Clara. When I practiced with my instructor, I saw the ducks a few times around DMV area and in some apartments area. Actually, when I saw the sign, I became skeptical. "This one is similar to Ped Xing. Does it mean I have to yield for the ducks? Are you serious? Why ducks? No way! I thought it was a joke or this sign must be used to show for the kids like an imitation for a duck lesson and there would be a kid garden somewhere near here so that we could show them this strange sign ". I think.
Firstly, I was wondering whose those ducks belong too. Secondly, I felt weird because when the thing, I mean animal like a duck became on the sign on the street, that must be something serious. There's no any kid garden in the area either, and the Duck Xing sign is still there.
Back to the day I joined the road test. When the examiner told me "turn right" in a corner after driving around about 15 minutes, I couldn't believe that I saw some ducks on the right side walk.
Oh my God, I understood why they put the Duck Xing sign in the area. There always a chance those ducks walking around the street in this area, and those drivers like me have to be pay attention because I'm quite sure nobody of us wants to hit a duck in particular or any animal on the street in general.
I told my instructor about those ducks when he took me home. We had been driving around that area a couple times, but we hadn't actually seen any ducks on the street or I mean I real one.
Below was the conversation between me and my instructor:
Vy: Teacher, when I was riding, I saw some ducks on the street.
Instructor: Oh, really. Good. Did you avoid them?
Vy: Yes, I did. But honestly, I didn't know what to do at that time.
Instructor: Then how could you avoid them?
Vy: Well, actually, one came first on the street, and one followed. Suddenly, they changed their mind and went back. So I didn't hit them. I admitted I didn't know what to do in that situation if the duck didn't return and keep crossing on the other side of the road, I would be in a trouble because that road was quite narrow, and I didn't know what to do at that time. I couldn't stop suddenly.
Instructor: Use your horn to scare them. They will come back.
Right! How come I didn't even think of that - I wonder. Next time, if I have ever driven on the street and seen the duck walking on the street, I will do that. Absolutely!
Here is wiki definition about Duck Xing sign:
"... A duck crossing is either a designated place for ducks to cross a road or an informal route based on the creatures' instincts. Despite ducks being as aware of their surroundings and possible dangers as most birds are, they still get involved in accidents. The increasing number of fatalities on the roads led to concern within local towns and communities, a solution was made to both slow traffic down and end deaths of ducks...."
