May 25, 2006

What Kind of Driver are You?

Suppose you’re driving down the freeway at a nice easy pace when suddenly a chorus of brake lights begin flashing in front of you. You soon realize that right lane is ending a mile or two up the road and cars are merging from three lanes down to two lanes. What do you do?

Do you jump in the lane that’s ending and zoom on down, getting as far as you possible can before merging back into traffic. Or do you stay where you are and wait your turn?

It used to make me crazy when people attempted to get as far as possible in a dying lane, but I think commuting for two hours a day is wearing down my driving manners. I occasionally find myself being that jerk who rushes to the head of the line. Mostly, I’m still polite. I don’t nose up to the car in front of me as to prevent another car from merging. I wave when someone lets me merge. I don’t honk and flash my lights at the idiot driving too slow in the left lane. I don’t give an evil stare when I pass them. I don’t pass anybody on the shoulder. I don’t wave a pistol at anyone…

...but sometimes I want to.