Alright, that's it, I've had it. The last three days on Rte. 22 have been horrendous. I just don't get it.
HOW DO PEOPLE BECOME SUCH BAD DRIVERS?!?
I think it's simply a lack of effort. I see people chatting on cell phones, playing with their radios, doing their hair, looking at the scenery, etc. while NOT paying attention to what their own car is doing let alone the cars of other people. Some days I really don't have the patience to confront people for their egregiously dangerous habits but the last three days I have taken the initiative to do so and, quite frankly, I think I've changed the perspectives of 2-3 drivers (at least for a short time).
Okay, sure, there really are bad drivers that try to drive well, they are just inept. These people are frustrating but I applaud the effort. MOST of the time, however, its people that just think they can do anything behind the wheel with little consequence. Maybe its just a disassociation from the outside world in their little cocoon, I don't really get it so I have a hard time even hypothesizing. It just seems as though bad drivers are generally oblivious to their surroundings and to what their driving is doing to other people. There's a very simple maxim that I live by when I get behind the wheel: Drive first, everything else second. It's really that simple.
Also, it is my firm belief that the US Government implemented the wondrous infrastructure of roads, highways, interstates, etc. that we have today for with the intent of helping EVERYONE, not just you, get from point A to point B with as little trouble as possible. Keep this in mind when you hold up traffic by double parking or you create a 5 mile backup as you cruise at 10 mph looking for your turn. It is your civic duty to be as efficient as possible (even if that means pausing for a second to let someone else go ahead so that the 10 cars behind him can continue on ... it's the good of the MANY that's important) so that it all works seamlessly to provide smooth commutes for everyone.
I can't really BLAME these bad drivers for anything other than taking advantage of a comfortable situation. It's Psychology 101. No negative reinforcement for driving poorly is the perfect way to make people think that what they're doing is okay. There are a handful of state-enforced penalties for speeding, DUI, running stop signs and the like but one "catch-all" that doesn't receive enough attention is "reckless" driving. I'd LOVE to see someone cited for slamming on the breaks on the highway just to read a sign that they should have been reading for the last mile. That's reckless officer, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'd LOVE to see someone pulled over for not using his turn signal OR for braking to a crawl and THEN putting on his turn signal. (It frustrates me to no end when someone totally defeats the "signaling" purpose of a turn signal. The idea of the signal is to alert the following driver that he will be braking unexpectedly!) That's reckless officer, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'd love to see a large fine levied against someone trying to make a left across four lanes of traffic when its obvious that he's going to hold up the ten people behind him for at least five minutes until all four lanes are clear. That's RECKLESS officer, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Do the right thing, take a stand, help educate someone on how to "drive" first.
Wow!! If this is not the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is then. You of all people should not complain about reckless driving, I have driven with you many times and you are always following too close to the car in front of you. That's RECKLESS OFFICER DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!
Posted by: dopey 16 at November 12, 2004 11:18 AMYou're a fucking pansy-ass Mike and if you really want to bring it this way, bring it. The distance I have between my car and the car I have in front of me is a function of the car's speed and the speed of my reflexes and decision making. Oh, it's too close for YOU, there's no question. You have the reflexes of a 60 year old (I think we all know of at least ONE prime example). Your mental capacity to make decisions quickly is also on par with senior citizens and catatonics. I seem to recall having to parallel park your SUV on my street in the snow because you couldn't do it. This is yet another example of your incompetence behind the wheel. Understand that YOU can't do the things I do in an automobile but that's YOUR shortcoming, not my recklessness.
NEway, Mike has, again, missed the point of the post and attempted to directly attack me, yawn. The POINT is that people don't pay attention and that they don't seem to understand what their driving does to other people. I might follow closer than people like Mike because, unlike that ADD fucker, I PAY ATTENTION and I'm able to FOCUS on traffic instead of all those distractions mentioned in the original post.
Posted by: languorous at November 12, 2004 12:37 PMYou seem to have quite a bit of pent up anger coming out right now....
I drive in a city where people drive like idiots as well. So many people not from the city, not knowing where they are going or how to get anywhere. Or not knowing have to drive, period. Rather than get frustrated at those drivers, I use my driving time among the reckless as a testament to my own skills behind the wheel. If you are as competent of a driver as you claim to be, what's the big deal?
Posted by: Lori at November 12, 2004 02:38 PMThe anger is only at Mike for missing the point for the umpteenth time, that's all.
As for your driver apathy, okay, fine, simply sit idly by and let people continue on in their ineptitude, right? While I COULD and DO on most occassions, isn't that worse than trying to IMPROVE the situation? I'm looking for a modicum of driving competency and I'll raise my voice get it. You should too. As for your "skill" ... all the skill in the world does you no good when someone else plows into you and you know it. If you really don't see the "big deal" than I question your social responsibility on other matters as well.
Posted by: languorous at November 12, 2004 04:53 PMthere are so many other problems in this world that i have much social responsibilty for. i agree with you that those people should not be on the road, and that they should be "taught a lesson", so to speak. the time and resources needed for such an undertaking are staggering. why don't you start a revolution? get them off the road. you can call it..."Do Something About It!" lots of people will join the cause ;)
Posted by: Lori at November 12, 2004 05:43 PM"Your mental capacity to make decisions quickly is also on par with senior citizens and catatonics."
Can I use this? Cause i really like it.
Posted by: Robb at November 12, 2004 06:34 PMhahaha, you got it.
Posted by: languorous at November 12, 2004 10:36 PMDoes that description extend to Mike's Halo-playing abilities as well?
Posted by: Garrett at November 13, 2004 01:23 PMI must commend Tom for his comments here. While I dont participate in altercations regularly, sometimes it is both neccessary and REQUIRED that I take matters into my own hands. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but when I see one where it is OBVIOUS the driver is not paying attention, or is acting like a prick on purpose, well ladies and gentlemen, that is when I am called into action. The nice thing is, my Avalanche is a BIG, HEAVY vehicle, and normally it makes getting my point across that much easier. When you see someone pull up behind you that is 80% bigger than your vehicle, and looks just short of a tank, it tends to grab ya a little respect. I am also partial to throwing on my black cowboy hat, because that also helps me get my point across. Ask the hispanic guy who jumped the stop sign in front of me, and who refused to look at me when I pulled up next to him :-)
Posted by: Jon at November 13, 2004 01:37 PMWhat it comes down to most of the time is that people are just plain carelss and self-involved. They think directional signals (blinkers)are only useful to avoid getting ticketed; rearview mirrors are for not backing up into a tree. I mean, is there such a thing as the 'passing lane' anymore? I cannot tell you how many morons dilly-dally in the left lane at a leisurely 45MPH in a 65MPH zone. I despise being tailgated, but I realize that obviously someone has the need to go faster than me and I move out of the way... and so I do it to others. If they do not move, then I will just go around them, but way too many people like to play police officer. They think that because they are going the speed limit (which most people DON'T), then they have a right to clog every lane. It's like, if you want to be more effective, move the hell out of the way, and let a cop catch me!
I definitely have no problem letting people know they are pissing me off out on the road... and NOTHING pisses me off more than people who constantly break-- i mean, is there really a need to break on a straight-away when there are NO cars in front of you and you're going 50MPH?
Unfortunately, frequent breakers, nervous drivers, drivers putting their lipstick on in the mirror, etc isnt really against the law and until then, I guess we're all gonna have to deal with morons out on the road.