Driving is Scary

What is wrong with people? I am attempting to impart some wisdom about conservative driving to my fifteen year old son as he drives with his permit. Unfortunately each day we see examples of people driving crazily.

I try to drive correctly, I let people in. I do not race in and out of stoplights. And yet some days I feel lucky to be alive. About a week ago I pulled out past a snowbank ( after the April fools storm ) to see if any cars were coming. A car was, and they honked loudly, which is fine as I did not want to pull in front of them. But they flipped me off as they went by. Why? Are we so on edge that we instantly think to do that.

Sometimes when someone does something improper around me my son will say hit the horn. I always tell him no. Once the act is committed hitting the horn does no good. If the horn will alert somebody to danger then use it but as a weapon for expressing anger no...give people the courtesy you would like. Sometimes the horn could jump someone, such as an older person.

Friday evening my wife and I were merging onto the highway. I hate merging as people are insane but I was merging and had plenty of time, there were cars coming in both lanes but I merged and was up to the speed limit ( this was a merge location where you cannot be up to full speed immediately as you have to slow virtually at the end before you can see) and what do I see? But the car in the right lane behind me decides he does not want to slow to the speed limit but decides to crowd around me while the car on his left is on his left. In short we went three wide as I moved over seeing him come. If I had not I do not know what would have happened.

I tell my son that the difference between 55 and 65 in an hour on an average trip is negligible. Speed kills but impatience kills more. Be late. Be alive.

But most of all I tell my children in all things Be Nice. That lesson does not change when you get behind the wheel. Just be nice.