SPASTIC DRIVERS

I have already shared my thoughts about distracted drivers (see May). I am totally against it, regardless of the circumstances. No cell phones, Ipods or knitting. Just drive! Now my beef is about spastic distracted drivers.

You can spot one with as little as a glance in the rear view mirror. On the way home the other night, I observed a perfect example. The man had a stressed expression on his face as he waited at the red light. He was agitated as he talked on his cell phone, gesturing wildly. Sure enough, when the light turned green, he floored it, and zig-zagged through traffic on his way to somewhere really important. It was obvious that driving for him was secondary to everything else going on in his life. He whizzed past me on the interstate, still talking on his phone. As he drove with one hand, he quickly changed several lanes and then disappeared, speeding well above the speed limit. He was a distracted spastic driver, endangering everyone on the highway.

Last night it was a well tuned Honda Civic zipping by me. The thunder of his car’s stereo could be heard and felt even at highway speed. He was sitting low and dancing to his tunes. The music was primary, the driving secondary. He passed several cars, crossed several lanes at speeds well above the posted limit, then he quickly cut in front of a car and decelerated rapidly to exit at the next ramp. First music, then driving. Dangerous!

There is an intersection that I cross on the way home every night. During rush hour, the right hand lane is congested with drivers lined up at the traffic light waiting to access the ramp to the interstate. Impatient, spastic drivers choose the left lane to save time. There is at least one for every cycle of the traffic light. When the light turns green, they cut across traffic into the right lane at the last minute to make the ramp. Those left behind slam on their brakes, or blow their horns. Accidents frequently follow. Another spastic driver, preoccupied with everything else but driving. Dangerous, spastic drivers!

Driving a vehicle is not playing a video game. It is serious business that requires 100% of the driver’s attention. Lives are at stake, not to mention expensive repairs. Encourage your friends and relatives to put the phones down, lower the stereo, and obey the traffic laws. With a little common sense and courtesy, we can all be happier and safer drivers. Save the spastic driving for XBOX 360.