As more and more vehicles hit
the streets in my little suburb, people seem to drive angrier and angrier. I
admit to sometimes becoming frustrated to the point of snapping. I’m happy to
say no accidents have thus far resulted for me on either side.
It’s a bloody miracle.
I am getting so tired of
commuters cutting me off because I don’t know a lane ends ahead. Do they really
think I’m being malicious or believe they’ll reach their destination that much
sooner?
Some find their final destination every single day. I
believe more deaths (or at least fender benders) result from anger than
drunkenness, though driving intoxicated is a terrible idea.
On my way home from the gym minutes
ago some dude risked both our safety and vehicles over my judgment call. Let me
be clear. He had plenty of time to slow down for one more car as I merged into
slower traffic ahead of him.
He raced around me and,
instead of continuing on his angry way, cut me off with inches to spare. To be
honest, I flipped him the middle finger to express my displeasure. The dude did
the same. How original.
So I blew him a kiss before
taking my turn off that hellish route.
That sort of encounter always
unsettles me, more than it should. Before reaching home I wondered if I could make
two signs for that sort of incident, one in reverse for jerks like him.
It could read, “Have a better
one” or maybe “Sorry you’re having a bad day.” There’s no doubt everyone has a
rough day now and then that shortens his or her fuse.
But taking time to read might
cause an accident my blessed reflexes and distrust of other drivers thus far
keep avoiding.
Maybe I could draw a big red
heart. Or a broken black one.
Then again, some of these
hateful acting people might run me off the road and beat me to death. I wish I was joking.
 |
| J-Pop Artist Gackt - His Art is Only Rivaled by his Intellect aka A Pretty Man and His Pup (I feel better now) |
Hubby and I watched in horror last weekend when a semi and a box truck were raging on Interstate 5. We were all trying to get out of the way. Luckily all turned out well, but we were right in the mix. We had nothing to do with why they were so angry. So yes we've noticed angrier drivers too.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and weekend, Darla. ♥
I'm so glad you're okay! That's terrifying. Be well, my dear.
DeleteOnce upon a time, I was driving home, and the car behind me was not happy with how slow I was going. Now, I wasn't going an unreasonable speed for the road we were on. And as he tailed me more and more, I... slowed down. Sorry, couldn't help it.
ReplyDeleteSo, finally, this guy passes me. Fine. Only, he gets right in front of me, and he slows down to a crawl. I mean, deliberately, just to tick me off. I found the pettiness funny.
Other drivers, amirite?
I've been in that situation. In my tiny corner of the world, at least face to face interaction is usually civil. I should be grateful for that. :) Glad that situation didn't turn dangerous for you. Be well!
DeleteYeah, best not to engage with them. Not even with a gesture. Too many stories of how that triggers worse problems.
ReplyDeleteI relate to your experience. Either there is plenty of room and they speed up to show us there wasn't! Or, they cut in front of us, when there is no one behind us and they could have waited a few seconds!
Yesterday I saw a man back up a bit to turn into a parking lot, so he could race through it out the other side to avoid the stop light. Jerk.
When cars behind me want to go faster, and it's not in town of course, I pull over and let them by. I actually drive the speed limit!
Unfortunately, Darla, the law was probably on the man's side, if he had to slow down to let you in. I know it would have been easy, fast, no biggie, but he was a jerk. At least where I've lived, you can't make another driver slow down. I remember that specifically on tests about turning left, and not making the oncoming car slow. Glad you're okay, other than riled up! There'll always be the idiots behind the wheel. Keep safe (and eyes off those construction workers!).
Interesting what people will do to save a few seconds. Drivers pull in front of me to the point I have to slam on the brakes on a regular basis. ~sigh~ Just one more frustration that makes me want to stay home. Oh, I'm delighted you remembered my story about that oblivious guy distracting me! Thank you for the kind advice and the grin.
DeleteI just nearly hit a bicyclist who came tearing around a corner, ignoring his stop sign at a four-way intersection near my house! Grrr... bicyclists around here are very vocal about "share the road" yet so many don't stop at stop signs, and ride across when the light's red (if you are walking your bike you can use a crosswalk, riding means you obey the auto laws - at least here). Then he was riding in front of us, in the middle of the road. I took an early turn to get away! I like bikes, bike riding can be fun, but we have a lot that act entitled. (That's usually a complaint for Ashland!)
DeleteI feel for you, my dear. I once encountered a guy riding his bike on the sidewalk, the wrong way on a one way street. I'd looked to the right for pedestrians, but he flew into me from out of nowhere, basically slamming into my hood. Now I look left and right so many times my head's going to pop off. Heh... Stay safe!
DeleteI like that idea of a breathalizer for road rage. I drive like an old lady so I get flipped off and beeped at a lot. I prefer that to a speeding ticket. :)
ReplyDeleteI try to keep it to three miles over the speed limit. In an odd twist, I was ruminating over this incident while entering my neighborhood and found my speed had crept up. Wouldn't you know a patrol car drove past right at that moment (to be honest, the reason I looked at my speedometer)? Lucky for me, I didn't get a ticket. But I wish he'd been nearby when I left an hour before because two cars flew around a curve so fast I feared they would lose control and hit me. I practically pulled over. Drive safe!
DeleteI was apparently driving too slow on Seven Mile Lane the other day. Although I was going the speed limit. So the eager to die driver behind me in the huge pickup decided to pass me on the bridge over I5, which goes up, and you can't see who might be coming before it goes down. I am happy to be alive today. These sorts of jerks I tell myself, to keep my bp down, are late to work or something. My middle finger locks now and then, doc says arthritis. I just smile because I know its from over use. Stay safe, Darla, better to not engage people on the freeways who have anger issues, I've found. You can certainly end up at your own final destination that way, lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are okay. Good grief. Be well!
ReplyDeleteOh no....I learned to let things go and not let a lot of things bother me BUT when I get into the car, behind that steering wheel all hell breaks loose! I get so TICKED OFF at other drivers. Most of them seem to see me and say, "there she is, do something to piss her off"... and I have to tell you that it don't take much. As for lane endings, I try to understand but those that travel that section of road everyday knows that it ends but you can tell as they RUSH up there that they are just trying to jump ahead...I just either close off that lane with my car or don't let them in! Yep, told you, I get ill. However, in traffic, if someone needs to merge cause they did not rush up there, I let them over. If someone needs out of a parking lot onto a busy road, I let them. BUT they better show me a thank you with a wave! HAHA...and to tell you the truth, I am better than I used to be. My kids used to beg me to stop cause they said someone was going to shoot me! I have stories!!! haha
ReplyDeleteI'm truly surprised! Glad you never got driven off the road or anything. ~hugs~ My husband gets upset at me for honking my horn. Heh... Be well!
DeleteEarly in the morning, before the roads are busy, some motorists at traffic intersections in India tend not to wait for the green signal if the roads are clear.
ReplyDeleteOnce when I was at one such signal early morning, I preferred to wait for the traffic light to turn green. But the car behind me wanted me to move on and was honking. I stood my ground. And when the light turned green, I moved, and I gave way for the car behind to over take me.
Not happy that I waited for the green signal, the motorist, as he overtook me, got his car close to mine giving a mighty scare, and slowed down in front.
Luckily he then sped away, but I realised how impatient people can be when they are behind the wheel.
I'm so glad that situation didn't turn uglier! ~nods~ Be safe.
DeleteYour post really resonates for me. I get road rage, in my head. And, sometimes I really wish the police would give tickets to those who are zooming around me at 80 when the limit is 45. :)
ReplyDelete