2 of 34

Write now Article Tools

"What did you do at school today?"

"In P.E. we practiced bouncing basketballs. In Math we counted nickels and dimes and quarters. And I got to draw-"

The conversation ends abruptly when the van slows down without warning. It seems that the driver approaching the intersection from the connecting road is in a hurry. It is up to us to make way for him or risk being involved in an accident with our two children.

The approaching driver (we'll call him "Rush") speeds up to get to the Stop sign, zips past the sign and through the intersection without ever slowing down and, because our brakes work properly, completes his turn into our lane and hustles down the road to his intended destination.

In what has become a habit while riding in the passenger seat, I lean forward to look in the rear view mirror and see what is behind us. Once again, there are no vehicles in sight. Nothing but a paved road in a small Midwestern town.

So why was Rush in such a hurry? As soon as we made our turn, he could have made his and the "excitement" would have been eliminated. Was he late for work? Were his brakes not working? Was someone chasing him?

This scenario is often played out the same way, but it never makes any sense. It is, by far, the most frustrating of the many poor driving behaviors on rural roads - forget the cell phones and the vehicles traveling below the speed limit. It leaves drivers talking to themselves and others in the vehicle.

There is one that stands out among highways drivers as well. For miles there are signs posted to warn drivers of a "One Lane Road Ahead". That leads most drivers to move into the correct lane to prepare for the change. Even those fine drivers who don't read road signs can see the big flashing arrows and/or all the other vehicles moving into the same lane.

All seems to be going well as we approach the point where the concrete divider covers up one (or three) of the lanes. Traffic is moving very slowly and almost coming to a complete stop - well, most of it is anyway.

Even with all the warnings and the fact that traffic is backed up for a great distance, there are still cars and trucks zooming through the lane that is "closed". Apparently the drivers of these vehicles read "One Space Ahead For You" on the orange signs. As they get close to the divider, they gradually move over toward the proper lane, expecting one of the drivers who has been waiting in line for several minutes to make room for them. The "law-abiders" would love to put all their frustration on the gas pedal at once and just smash into their arrogant, impatient counterparts. But because they are unable to do it, their personality changes and they start screaming at their windshield and using sign language.

These days the "Rules of the Road" mean something different for each individual behind the wheel. Those rules are constantly changing, depending on what the driver wants or needs at a given moment, and it is up to all the other drivers to figure out those rules immediately and follow them - or else they could be in for a crash course in "Road Rage".

Learn more about this author, Ryan Gray.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Driver safety: Bad habits?
We want to hear your view. Write now!