Sunday, July 25, 2010

Road Rage vs. Road Royalty

Every once in a while, the news media will throw us a story of some idiot who actually kills someone in a fit of "Road Rage". I for one, am not immune to this syndrome, and at times would like to throttle some idiot that defies all the rules of being considerate of others. These people, I have dubbed to be "Road Royalty". They believe that the Streets, Roads and Highways are there for their personal use, and to Hell with 'everyone else' that has the audacity to use them.
Have you ever been on a divided highway and you come upon a long line of cars, backed up in the left lane ("The Passing Lane") because there is a car in each lane, driving at less than the speed limit, and one would not pass the other ??? The perfect example of Road Royalty. These people would not pull over if there was a near death patient in an Ambulance behind them. They don't have to.... They have a destination that over rides any other objective of others on their highway. Road Royalty don't seem to realize that those two or three mirrors in front of and to the sides, are to make you aware of what is behind you. If another vehicle should pull up behind you, it's not because they want to get a better look at your ride, it is because they would like to drive a little faster than you, and it would be nice if you would just pull into the right lane, and let them be on their way. It's not your responsiblity to assure that everyone should drive under the speed limit. When you find yourself looking down a completely open highway, with a view for as far as your eyes can see, you may want to take a peek in one of your mirrors and notice that long line of cars and trucks behind you, pull over and set them free. What harm could that do ???
After the media advertised that SUV's are safer to drive than lower riding cars, SUV and large truck sales went through the roof. First of all, have you ever noticed that the bigger the truck or SUV, the smaller the driver. It a power symbol for these people. They drive around in their living rooms, playing with their "control panel", driving down the middle of two lanes, because they can't stay in one lane, and could care less about exhibiting common courtesy to anyone. If you attempt to pass them, they speed up so they can be in front. I believe that if they could, these people would drive sideways and take over three lanes of highway, not just two.
AND OMG !!!! The worse thing that could come along is Cell Phones, followed by Texting. Now they can drive around in their living rooms, talking and texting to all their BFF's. They already are unable to do ONE THING at a time (like driving a car) now they have yet another toy to distract them. One more reason to be oblivious to what is going on around them. One time, I had a lady, driving 40mph, come off an entrance ramp and cross three lanes of 55mph traffic and didn't even bother to use her directional lights. After I dodged a few cars that were slamming on their brakes and taking evasive actions, I see as I pass her that she had a cell phone in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other and I could see smoke coming up from the cigarette that she had in the ashtray. No hands on the steering wheel. I was so thankful that she had applied her makeup before she got on the expressway.

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