A little common sense, that’s all I ask.
For some, sensible driving comes naturally. But for others I’m convinced that it’s rocket science, a fundamental paradox, a clueless enigma. For whatever reason, plenty of people just don’t get it.
Maybe it’s because I feel like I commute more than John Madden, but I’ve driven a lot lately. Now, I’m no Caltrans official but I’ve driven in Los Angeles and Oakland and over most of the state of California, and let me tell you there are some bad drivers out there.
They not only baffle and infuriate logical human beings; they endanger roadways and cause traffic that has plagued drivers for about a century. According to my experience on the road here are a few classic maneuvers and characteristics that we’ve all seen and that drive us loony:
The slow poke. These are the people that think that a nice Sunday drive should be the everyday norm. Or they don’t have a driver’s license. Perhaps they get paid by the hour. The bottom line is that they get in the way, especially if you’re late to class or trying to get home from work.
Moving road blocks. These guys are similar to the slow pokes, but these are the ones that don’t get out of the way, especially on curvy roads in the mountains or in the fast lane on the freeway. Apparently they don’t have any idea of what a turnoff or the slow lane is.
Bad parkers. Now these people grind my gears. Why on God’s green earth would you park two feet from the driver’s side door of my car? Now, I know that I’m a toothpick of a man, but that doesn’t mean that I enjoy the acrobatic act of getting into my vehicle when you do that. Expect to get some scratch marks from my door.
And if you think you’re cool enough to take up two parking spaces, just remember that whatever goes around comes around buddy.
Road rage. We’ve all been cut off or nearly side-swiped before. Some of us tend to react as if that’s equivalent to being spat on or having our dog kicked. Take a chill pill and show some maturity! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, road rage is a misdemeanor and in some cases a felony. So, unless you want to serve time or pay a fat fine, just stop your childish tantrums behind the wheel.
Rubber necking. Have you ever slowed down to see the aftermath of a wreck? If so, then you’re guilty of rubber necking! If the roadway is clear and the authorities have arrived, don’t slow the rest of us down, keep going! I know you’ve seen accidents before. It’s not an uncommon occurrence. There’s no reason to gape and stare, just move it along.
Speed demons. Now, I understand that at times we can be in a hurry. But there are some people out there who think that they have a future in NASCAR. Constant speeding not only increases your chances of getting a ticket or causing an accident, it means worse gas mileage. That’s actually why speed limits were made in the first place: to save gasoline. So, if you want more cash from your gas, keep the pedal off the metal.
Lack of blinker. This, to me, is ridiculous. All you have to do is move a lever that’s four inches from your left hand! Is it honestly that hard? A lot of confusion can be solved by doing something so simple.
Drunk drivers. Now, this is the no-brainer. Every 15 minutes somewhere in the U.S. someone dies of an alcohol-related car accident. Drunk driving kills, literally. Need I say more?
For the past couple of years, I had the fortune of living in Mexico. It was there that I noticed that there aren’t very many accidents. Even though most roads were small and badly paved, driving laws were at times disobeyed and speeding was a common occurrence, everyone who drove was very conscious of those around them. And that alone saved us all a bunch of trouble.
Most, if not all of these problems come from not being aware or even caring about others. It’s all about “me”. This unfortunate thought process causes a world of hurt, and they could be mostly stopped by courtesy and consideration.
So, let’s use some common sense and exercise some common courtesy on the roadway. You’ll be surprised at how it really can improve your driving experience and make it better for the rest of us too.
