Yep, it’s that time again and this time it’s about my favorite topic… Driving!
First off, lets start with the basics. I consider myself to be a fairly good driver. Agressive, yes. But good anyway. I’ve never caused any accidents, have avoided numerous people who have tried to hit me (having a small car like I used to and driving on the interstate lends to people NEVER seeing you and trying to pull into the space you’re occupying… SCARY!), and have not had any driving violations for 5 years (I have had two tickets since then, but both were due to my registration being expired so… not driving issues).
I have hit one car once and unfortunately it was parked. In my defense, it was a dark night, black car and I was in a bad mood and NOT paying attention. So pretty much, it was COMPLETELY my fault, I admit that, but it was also an isolated incident that had never occured before and has not since.
Ok, with that out of the way, here’s what my major problem with many drivers (especially older ones…). I HATE it when they drive on the fast lane, otherwise known as the left lane. If they’re making a turn in the next 1/4 mile, ok… I can understand. Or of course, if you’re passing people, then by all means drive in the left lane. But for goodness sake, do NOT drive the same speed as the people in the lane next to you. ESPECIALLY if you’re driving at or under the speed limit. (oh yeah, that’s another thing I should have said up top. I do speed… but still I don’t get tickets for it so I guess it’s OK 
This behavior is what causes people to get mad and start doing the whole finger-flipping, getting out of the car to pummel you kind of thing. NO, it’s not your fault they’re hot-heads (for the record, I don’t get mad like that, I just get annoyed and wait until I can get around while calling you nice names… :-)), but if you’re driving badly, then you’re certainly not helping the situation.
I was in Colorado a while ago and found out that they passed a law in Denver area that basically states that you can’t drive in the left lane. It’s reserved for passing ONLY. No ifs, ands or buts. I LOVE this law and I wish it would be passed everywhere else. Because that’s the point of multiple lanes. Letting the faster traffic move along faster than the slower traffic. Not so that the slower traffic can take both lanes and block everybody else up!!
So yeah, that’s my rant for today. If you’re one of those “bad” drivers, please think about it this way… If you were behind two people going under the speed limit next to eachother and couldn’t get past, what would you be thinking? Well, that’s what the people behind you are thinking about you… Just remember that!
Matt M | 24-Nov-06 at 5:22 pm | Permalink
I like the driving laws in Germany.
There, you have two types of roads, controlled speed and uncontrolled speed. A lot of people refer to this as the Autobahn but essentially that’s just the word for highway and as such there are Autobahns connecting just about every neighboring town.
When you get on the freeway you must stay in the right lane unless you are passing, and even then you must still allow traffic to pass you in the left lane. If you are in the left lane and a car comes up behind you you must pull into the right lane and allow that car to pass. Most drivers are kind and will flash their high-beams at you in advance to warn you that they are coming up fast and you need to get over. Now on the uncontrolled speed zones you have signs which normally designate speed that are round and white with a black number in the middle, but in the no-speed-limit zones you will find signs with three diagonal lines and no number. Travel at the highest safe speed you can mangage in these zones. It’s lots of fun. I didn’t get to drive on these roads very often but I can remember taking my in-laws’ Volvo v70 turbo diesel in the fast lane at about 240 Km/h which is about 150 Miles an hour.