A Little Road Rage

I remember as a child my mother bashing drivers from Iowa, saying they were the worst. The town was a tourist destination in the summer but according to her, Iowans were in town just to make her life miserable.

I've since moved away from there only to experience Iowans in other states. Seriously, they can't all be from Iowa, right?

In Texas, it seemed everyone owned a Suburban. Big huge all-purpose autos that you can't see in front of or to the side of. While two of my daughters were born in Texas, we were never fully considered Texans and therefore never owned an SUV while living there. But Texans didn't just own the big vehicles, they decorated them. Depending on the season, you'll find anything from Christmas wreaths and reindeer antlers on the front to propellers on the hitch. This isn't something I understand, but I feel confident stating it isn't SUV envy.

In Arkansas, another phenomenon emerged: the notion that you must let the car behind you know what the car in front of you is doing. There are a lot of winding roads in Arkansas and you could be in a string of 16 cars headed to who-knows-where when you realize that everyone in front of you has their left blinker on. You wonder what the heck your missing when you realize that only one of the 15 cars in front of you actually turned left.

Now I live in Atlanta. I'm here to tell you Atlantans are the most fearless drivers in the states. Speed limit signs mean nothing to them. They will drive as fast or as slow as they darn well please. These crazy drivers will tailgate within inches of your backseat. They'll swerve across three or four lanes of traffic to get to their exit and not even break a sweat. They think STOP signs are merge signs.

I asked a life-long Georgian about his driving habits - why didn't he use a blinker? Didn't want to wear it out. Why didn't he wear a seatbelt - didn't want the government telling him what to do. Why didn't he come to a complete stop - he checked and he didn't see anyone, so it was okay.
I admit, I've gotten a ticket for not coming to a complete stop. It happened when I was a teenager driving my dad's truck. I slowed way down but it wasn't good enough and I think I had to pay $35 or something. It scarred me for life. I've never not come to a complete stop since then.

I'll also admit that I will make several right turns to avoid making a left turn because I can't stand confrontation of any kind. I don't want someone behind me getting upset because I didn't move fast enough in making that left turn. If I miss a turn or realize I'm going to miss my turn, I don't cut people off because I don't want them to get mad at me.

I'm a blinker freak. Everyone needs to use their blinker. It's just courteous to do so. I use my blinker when turning into my own driveway which is at the end of a cul-de-sac. Unnecessary maybe, but courteous - hell yeah!

And speed limits - yes, I got a ticket for speeding when I was a teenager, too. I've not gotten caught since then but not because I'm anal about speeding but because I'm just extremely good looking (just kidding!). Seriously, I live in Atlanta where most everyone drives fast, I fit right in.

What really, really bothers me is when I allow a certain amount of time to get somewhere and a slow driver gets in front of me and adds minutes to that trip. It drives me crazy. I can't just follow him and enjoy the scenery - well actually I could - when it happens it seems they are driving slow enough I could get out and smell the roses. It seems these slow drivers are on the backroads - on my backroads - and their impeding my progress.

I'm a different person when I'm driving. I must have a split personality as I can go from the complacent obedient person that I am to a raging idiot. I just hope Jesus doesn't come when I'm in my car...