Bad Drivers
Monday, 28 June 2010 19:50 | Written by Administrator | 
Recently my friend Angie expressed her displeasure with BMW drivers. She wanted to find one of the stickers that depicts the cartoon character Calvin urinating on a BMW logo. To her credit she didn't accuse all BMW drivers as being "turdfaces" and she apologized before hand to any of her friends that happen to own a BMW.
I own a few BMWs, and I really didn't take offense at her remarks, because I understand her complaint fully. She lives in a large town (I will never be able to call it a city), and they sell a bunch of BMWs there. The ratio is actually pretty high because BMW is considered a status symbol. Sort of a "Look at me, I'm successful" kind of thing.
I have a problem with people that buy cars because of the status level they represent. Personally I can see no reason for anyone that lives in a city to own, or drive an Escalade, Hummer, or Excursion. I'm not a spotted owl loving, tree hugging hippie environmentalist, I simply see no reason for anyone that doesn't ever leave the road to own an SUV. There are many station wagons on the market that can haul a large number of kids and groceries, so the soccer moms need to think before they retaliate against my remarks.
When driving, I'm paranoid. I know where every other car is around me, and I keep a watchful eye on them to make sure they don't do something stupid. Unfortunately, I also seem to be something of an idiot magnet. Drivers, who aren't paying attention, will pull out in front of me. They'll turn from the wrong lane or drift into my lane and it is only through a high degree of diligence that I avoid these idiots.
For example, in the last month I have been nearly rear-ended three times. Not those kind of incidents where they stopped a little to close to me, but the tire smoking brake locking kind of panic stop.
People do not pay attention. They're inconsiderate, and rude. My wife is fond of asking me if I would utter the string of epithets to the other driver's face, if given the chance. Honestly I probably wouldn't. But that begs the question, do these brain dead drivers push a shopping cart the same way? Do they meander from isle to isle, side swiping other carts and cutting people off?
Chances are, they do not. Many of them are just not paying attention, or are distracted by something else like a cell phone or running late for an appointment.
I don't think I should have to offer them any more consideration than they have shown me. It's usually just a matter of time, before they cause an accident, or crash themselves. A few years ago, in Lexington I was witness to an accident where a guy driving an Escalade, ran a red light and plowed into the side of a Pontiac Bonneville. The driver of the SUV, was on the phone and not paying attention, as well as speeding. When he emerged from the SUV he was still on the cell phone. Unfortunately the 24 year old female passenger in the Bonneville was killed on impact.
Personally, I wanted to leap from my car, and shoot him dead on the spot. I'm not sure of the outcome of that case, but I made a point of including the fact that he stayed on the phone during the entire accident, in my statement to the police. I'm not a big eye-for-an-eye person, and I do believe accidents happen that are unavoidable either through inexperience, or malfunction. But an accident that is caused by someone who is distracted, or simply not paying attention is fairly unforgivable.
People need to pay attention when driving, and I don't think it would hurt if everyone was a little paranoid behind the wheel.
Driving shouldn't be a chore, but I think more people need to stop letting their mind wander and pay attention even during their mind numbing commute.
If you ask people if they are a good driver, 90% will say yes. If that was the case, why are there so many accidents?
I own a few BMWs, and I really didn't take offense at her remarks, because I understand her complaint fully. She lives in a large town (I will never be able to call it a city), and they sell a bunch of BMWs there. The ratio is actually pretty high because BMW is considered a status symbol. Sort of a "Look at me, I'm successful" kind of thing.
I have a problem with people that buy cars because of the status level they represent. Personally I can see no reason for anyone that lives in a city to own, or drive an Escalade, Hummer, or Excursion. I'm not a spotted owl loving, tree hugging hippie environmentalist, I simply see no reason for anyone that doesn't ever leave the road to own an SUV. There are many station wagons on the market that can haul a large number of kids and groceries, so the soccer moms need to think before they retaliate against my remarks.
When driving, I'm paranoid. I know where every other car is around me, and I keep a watchful eye on them to make sure they don't do something stupid. Unfortunately, I also seem to be something of an idiot magnet. Drivers, who aren't paying attention, will pull out in front of me. They'll turn from the wrong lane or drift into my lane and it is only through a high degree of diligence that I avoid these idiots.
For example, in the last month I have been nearly rear-ended three times. Not those kind of incidents where they stopped a little to close to me, but the tire smoking brake locking kind of panic stop.
People do not pay attention. They're inconsiderate, and rude. My wife is fond of asking me if I would utter the string of epithets to the other driver's face, if given the chance. Honestly I probably wouldn't. But that begs the question, do these brain dead drivers push a shopping cart the same way? Do they meander from isle to isle, side swiping other carts and cutting people off?
Chances are, they do not. Many of them are just not paying attention, or are distracted by something else like a cell phone or running late for an appointment.
I don't think I should have to offer them any more consideration than they have shown me. It's usually just a matter of time, before they cause an accident, or crash themselves. A few years ago, in Lexington I was witness to an accident where a guy driving an Escalade, ran a red light and plowed into the side of a Pontiac Bonneville. The driver of the SUV, was on the phone and not paying attention, as well as speeding. When he emerged from the SUV he was still on the cell phone. Unfortunately the 24 year old female passenger in the Bonneville was killed on impact.
Personally, I wanted to leap from my car, and shoot him dead on the spot. I'm not sure of the outcome of that case, but I made a point of including the fact that he stayed on the phone during the entire accident, in my statement to the police. I'm not a big eye-for-an-eye person, and I do believe accidents happen that are unavoidable either through inexperience, or malfunction. But an accident that is caused by someone who is distracted, or simply not paying attention is fairly unforgivable.
People need to pay attention when driving, and I don't think it would hurt if everyone was a little paranoid behind the wheel.
Driving shouldn't be a chore, but I think more people need to stop letting their mind wander and pay attention even during their mind numbing commute.
If you ask people if they are a good driver, 90% will say yes. If that was the case, why are there so many accidents?
Last Updated (Monday, 28 June 2010 19:58)