We watched "Transporter 2" last weekend, and, as we do after every impossible action driving movie with cartoon physics, we talked about our own driving habits. I am constantly surprised at how many intelligent people fail to share my unshakeable belief: every other person on the road is purposely out to kill you.
Well, maybe not every person. I'm pretty sure the Road Ranger folks don't want to make any more work for themselves, and there are probably a few new drivers who haven't checked their glove compartments yet for my dossier and their nefarious orders.
But there's simply no other excuse for why my whole entire car seems to be invisible and tractor trailers race each other for the chance to cut me off. Maniacs ride my bumper and playfully nudge me towards the bridge railing. People race their engines at stoplights, anxious for their chance to T-bone me. Even squirrels wait motionless for hours before they leap out to make me swerve.
It wasn't always like this. When I got my first car I didn't drive defensively. Or offensively, or in any manner that indicated I was aware of exterior stimuli whatsoever.
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Sorry for the delay, been fighting with the FOX music site to buy the Firefly soundtrack this morning...
[ September 21, 2005, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I generally aim for Teres' attitude as well. But sometimes it's hard . . . Yesterday I had to brake hard when I should've been making a left turn (the light was changing to red) because some driver going way too fast couldn't/wouldn't stop when she should have. She gave a courtesy wave and she zipped by. Lady, I'm not trying to do you a favor, I just don't want you to smash into my car!
My general theory is that most other drivers are friendly, but it's the occasional idiot or malicious moron you have to watch out for (and every once in a while I catch myself being one of the idiots. )
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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That was a really good one, Chris. I won't quote specific parts since I laughed too many times. Thanks. Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Ooh, I like this. I'll start using that whenever I'm going the speed limit and everyone else is passing me...
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote: Instead I treated my car as an auxiliary bedroom. I had my music, I had books stashed here and there, I had food and drink and usually at least two of my friends with me at all times.
At least two friends with you at all times? And this was how you treated your bedroom, too? Wow, Chris, we had no idea you were that kind of guy!
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Good article, Chris. One editorial nitpick: in the third-to-last paragraph, it should be "adopt this mental viewpoint," not "adapt."
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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People here drive like that all the time. It's one of the first things I noticed when I moved here. Every car stops for every person at every crosswalk, and cars are always stopping to wave bikes or other cars out at corners and lots, stop sign or no. It doesn't seem to be defensiveness though, just simple politeness. And you know, I can now understand why Ontario won't let East Coasters trade in their licenses for Ontario ones without taking the Ontario test when they move. They would never last a second trying to get around in Toronto driving the way they do here.
I really like living in a town that's not in a perpetual hurry. Posts: 624 | Registered: Mar 2005
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