I have spent a good portion of my life on the highways and the by-ways of the great United States of America, and I have a little insight to share about the people that drive automobiles on the Interstates of our blessed union.
Most of us are crappy drivers. And I say us because I know I have pulled a few questionable moves myself over the years. But…
What about that guy that cuts back into the slow lane only one-car length in front of you after passing; tossing rocks, rubber, or worse back on your windshield when there is nobody behind him pressing the issue. No reason to wreck my ride dude. But at least he used his turn signal?
He obviously has someplace much more important to be than me, but when the turn signal comes on before he even gets past me, I kind of know what is coming.
I kill the cruise control, even brake if I think it may save a life (mine primarily), and make sure that there is nobody else around that could cause any issues. Most cars have three mirrors in them, can you try using just one of them folks?
Then there is “I can’t change my cruise-control setting” guy who will ride your rear bumper for a couple of miles until the 18-wheeler in front of you decides to get off the interstate for a couple of cheeseburgers at the next exit. Speeding up and slowing down is the natural course of events for the average driver, but it does not always work out that way. Nothing is worse than the changing of the speed limit sign that nobody notices. “Braking ahead!!!”
Self-driving cars may be responsible for saving Americans hundreds of thousands of dollars on hearing aids due to the angry shouts of passengers being averted.
Are you the guy that drives 55 in the fast lane regardless of whom else is on the road? Stay home please.
The other pet peeve that I have about driving is that it seems that all of the folks on the road nowadays are so angry and sooooo tough. If I had a nickel for every time that I have been given the “bird” I would have Jeff Bezos type money by now. What makes drivers think that they can get away with being aggressive jerks as they whiz by another human on the road who may have just saved their life by driving slower in front of them? Simmer down Y’all.
The next time that you are fighting the “Interstate Battle” I invite you to look around at the license plates that you encounter and see if the prejudices that I proclaim ring true with you.
California plates are almost guaranteed to be moving in front of you within inches of passing your front bumper, while Utah and Montana motorists will generally give you much more space on the freeway. That is probably because folks from La-La Land are used to bumper-to-bumper traffic, while the wide open spaces up north allow you to move over at a much slower pace.
I have found Oregon drivers to be very considerate, having lived there for several years, but there the state highway signs were the biggest part of the driving problem as I saw it.
Why do they put the exit sign information past the exit? Wait, what; I missed it? That is like your GPS telling you that you should have turned right about a minute ago. “Yeah you heard me.”
I haven’t seen a lot of Arizona plates lately, so I guess they are staying home and enjoying the heat, and Canadian drivers must be driving rentals, because I have rarely seen their plates, but I know that they are out there somewhere.
I encourage everyone taking a road trip in the future to kick back; relax and enjoy the scenery around you as you roll down the road. But always drive defensively. I do.
Contact Charlie Roome at c.roome@winnemuccapublihsing.net.
