Road Rage

 

Road rage is all over the news lately. Some seemingly minor incident escalates to the point of bloodshed. What is this all about? What causes people to freak out and attack someone. I think it's because some people just don't understand basic courtesy on the road. They think it is up to them to decide how everyone else is going to drive, and all they do is cause problems.

Here is my take on this. Tell me if this has ever happened to you. I'm driving along a multi lane highway, in the left lane, at the speed I am comfortable at, usually 5 or 10 miles an hour above the posted speed limit. (It should be noted that I have done this many times, and driven by police cruisers with their radar on, and never been pulled over, so I do not consider this excessive speed.) I only drive in the left lane if I am passing traffic (that's why it's called the PASSING LANE). I gradually gain on a car, in the left lane, going just at the speed limit or just below, not PASSING ANYONE, JUST ROLLING ALONG IN THE PASSING LANE. Keeping some distance between myself and the slower car, I flash my high beams (long known universally as the "move over and let me by" signal). Now, what do you suppose should happen? All this person needs to do is pull over, let me by, and then pull back out. No problem, no hassles, see you later. But do you know what 1 out of every 10 or so idiots does? They hit their brakes!

Honestly, I can't for the life of me imagine what these people think they are doing. Are you one of these people? Do you realize how dangerous this is? Once on 495, a woman did this to me, and I had to cut into the middle lane, barely missing a car that was next to me, to avoid rear ending her. I can't imagine what she was thinking. This has happened to me too many times to count. I now stay well back when I flash my headlights.

The other type of idiotic behavior I have seen is, instead of hitting their brakes, people slow down! This happens more often than people hitting their brakes. How stupid is this?

Here is a clue for the clueless: THE LEFT LANE IS ONLY FOR PASSING. SOME STATES, LIKE MAINE, ACTUALLY POST THIS, THE REST ASSUME YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THIS. IF YOU ARE NOT PASSING CARS, GET OUT OF THE LEFT LANE!! If you are in the left lane, and someone pulls up behind you and flashes their headlights at you, just change lanes and let them by, then go back to doing whatever it is you were doing.

It's not worth busting someone's balls because you think you are right. You could end up in the hospital, or dead. Be courteous!! If someone is driving faster than you are, just let them by and let the cops worry about it. Don't be stupid.

 

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