I am not a huge fan of driving in big cities.
I am not scared of it, I am just annoyed.
I hate it when people rush from one red light to another.
What’s the point?
Why are you slamming on the gas pedal to race to the next blocked red-light-infested intersection?
I hate it when people expect you to go 10 km/h over the speed limit on any highway or they get mad and honk, swerve in front of you cutting you off for those 2 precious seconds extra on the road…
….and end up in front of you waiting a red light intersection off a ramp that you were both going for anyway.
It’s just an extra minute or two.
Why would you cut me off for no reason if you are going to take the same ramp?
If there wasn’t so much traffic, and there were only a couple of cars on the road, I can go up to 20 km/h over the speed limit.
However, when I am driving in town, on a highway I am not familiar with, using a GPS, with a LOT of cars around me, I am not about to go 20 km/h above the limit.
A lot of time is spent stopping and starting or slowing down for people who keep swerving in and out of traffic trying to get ahead by an extra car or two.
JUST CHILL OUT.
If we could all drive carefully, and not have to slam on the brakes, or watch out for some idiot who thinks he can get ahead of the traffic by switching lanes every 2 seconds but still ending up in the same place as he was in before (in front of me)… we’d save a lot of hassle on the road, and have less accidents.
I was once told by a very wise Brit:
The way you drive, is an extension of your personality.
Couldn’t have said it better.
If you drive like a stressed out maniac, you are a stressed out maniac, and it’s not good for your blood pressure.
You can’t control the situation you are in. If it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic, just turn on some music and take the time to think about other things, perhaps other problems you are trying to work out.
I find that driving in small-to-medium cities is a lot more relaxing.
Less high strung, less rushed and the way it should be on the road. I don’t even get mad if I have to follow a cow or a tractor. I just switch out of the lane to get in front safely, the moment I can.
It’s just an extra 10 minutes. It’s not worth your life or anyone else’s.
I just don’t want to be someone who says after the accident, or after hurting/killing someone:
If only I had(‘nt).
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Excellent question. I always feel like I don’t have enough time and I hate it. Even when I try to find some balance in life I feel like I am not getting enough done. When it comes to driving I am the same way. I don’t getting speeding tickets mind you but I am aggressive. Thanks for the reminder that I need to slow down.
I used to hate driving because I always thought it was a waste of time. But then I started listening to finance podcasts on my drives to work and my perspective took a 180 degree flip.
Listening to these podcasts not only improves my mental game, but it also takes my focus away from being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Probably improves my health too.
I agree, but I will also admit that for me, the behavior of people driving around me can definitely make mine much worse. Driving in Chicago, for instance, I’m a much bigger jerk than in San Diego, because everyone in Chicago is trying to cut in front of you, etc as you described above. SD? Not so much. Everyone is much more relaxed, so I chill out a bit.
Couldn’t agree more. I always seem to get the prat who is up my bumper, then furiously veers out, overtakes … and takes the next turning off the road. 0_o Seriously!? You can’t ease off the speed and just take the turn after I’ve passed it? What benefit is there to overtake and pull off almost immediatley? I’ve even had someone do that to me walking on the pavement – marched speedily past me, then cut directly across me to walk up his driveway! Nearly bashed into me. What on earth is the hurry!?!?
Ugh, I agree. In Michigan, I mostly drove in smaller/medium cities, and it wasn’t so bad (though there are always crazies out there!), but now I live in a big city, and the driving is nuts. I also don’t like it when people are driving below the speed limit (unless the weather is bad), but people who are weaving in and out of lanes and speeding like maniacs make me so nervous. I’ve seen accidents on the highway, and it’s not pretty…
I absolutely agree. I will never understand why someone would want to risk their life or the lives of their passengers, not to mention the lives of strangers in other vehicles. It’s all ego and lack of common sense and self-control. And then I’m always thinking, “What good is that few seconds of rushing around going to do you if you get into an accident?” Then you just got cost a bunch of time if you wreck your car. Now you’re tied up at the accident scene, waiting for the exchange of info, the police, the tow truck, getting reimbursed, getting your car repaired (and it will never be the same after an accident).
What bugs me more than anything are tailgaters. How dangerous and stupid is that? And the worst is when you’re on an empty road and you’re the only two cars and they still have to be up your #!*
I have no problem with slow drivers if someone is unfamiliar with the area or older. Just slow down yourself. It’s a good lesson. Relax. There’s always going to be a turn you’re going to make up ahead or another lane to get into.
I’m the type of person I always give myself plenty of time to get somewhere. I prefer being early. It takes a lot of stress out of life.
This is something my BF and I argue about all the time. I can’t understand why people cut me off just to stop at the same light.
Interestingly enough, my BF is a very calm person, but drives like a maniac. I’m a stressed out maniac, but drive like an old grandma 🙂
I hate people who speed like that. But I also equally hate people who go to slow. If you are unfamiliar with a road, please don’t got 10km/h BELOW the speed limit. It makes the locals angry and you and turns them into those speeders.
Loved the last line. I work with many people who were injured in car accidents, and in many circumstances, these accidents are caused by carelessness or rushing. The implications are huge for these injured folks. If everyone slowed down and was more cautious, we’d all be safer and happier for it.
Fully agree with you here! The whole east coast is like this. They are always in a rush. It’s like they want to rush life by. Just leave early people instead of rushing.
I’m sure the rushing is a sense of having deadlines to meet or places to be, perhaps a sense of wasting time in the car, hurrying to something more fun. I’m not sure I agree about the driving and the personality…Bill’s a really nice man except for behind the wheel he has no patience. I just fasten my seatbelt and close my eyes. Fortunately when I’m driving and he’s the passenger he is good about keeping his mouth shut just because I don’t do things the way he would. When others don’t drive like I think they should I try to remember that I’m only responsible for the car I’m currently driving; much as I think I’d like to, I can’t drive their cars for them at the same time.