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The highways become race tracks
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
July 27, 2005
I drive 40 miles one-way to get to work every day. I then turn around and drive 40 miles back home. I enjoy driving. It relaxes me, and it gives me time to think. It's a pleasure. Most of the time.
I will never claim to be the best driver in the world. I know I drive too fast, I make mistakes, and I do get distracted behind the wheel. I've totalled one truck due to not being able to regain control in a spin on wet roads, and I refuse to even attempt driving in icey weather. I can be aggressive in my technique, and I can be laid back. I make my mistakes.
However, in that, I do try to drive defensively. I try to remain aware of those around me. If someone behind me wants around, I'll move to the shoulder to let them pass. I'd rather have them around and long gone than stuck to my bumper. Besides, they may have somewhere far more important to be.
I generally hug the outside line to give on-coming traffic a cushion, especially when a car is passing another one that is on the shoulder of the highway. When someone lets me pass, I try to remember to acknowledge my appreciation.
I don't like being in someone's blind spot, nor do I like someone in mine. I don't like being left on the shoulder of the road when I let someone pass, therefore I try to get around as quickly as possible so they can get back on the highway.
I've been in many states, and I've come to the conclusion that driving on Texas roads is like playing Russian Roulette. The difference in driving styles is so dramatic that even as you cross that line between Texas and any of its surrounding states. It's as if hitting that line is a starting point. Speeds rise, chances taken become more dramatic, and blood pressure elevates.
On a drive to work last week, I had an incident that left me shaking out of fear as well as frustration. I will never understand the logic of the woman in her maroon sedan.
As I left Cameron to head to Marlin, I ended up at the end of a line of three cars. Needing to get to work, I itched to get around the vehicles in front of me that were staunchly sitting at a lower speed.
The truck in front of me eventually let me pass him, as oncoming traffic was regular and intervals not long enough to get around. I sped up to get behind the maroon car in hopes that the driver might do the same, but also in preparation to pass. One on-coming car stood between me and my ability to pass on a long straight-away.
I watched as the woman started crossing the yellow line to make it clear she had no intentions of letting me pass. Undeterred, I stood my ground until she started hitting her breaks!
Now, only once before have I had the problem of someone “brake-checking” me with the obvious hope of my rear-ending them. That time had shaken me to the point I wouldn't drive for the rest of the day. This time, I was irritated.
To pull that stunt to her degree is dangerous. Tap the break to show you don't like how close a person is gets the message across. But to slam the breaks that hard is just dangerous, considering there is a third vehicle behind me and an oncoming car.
By this time, I had my blinker on to pass already, and I was holding on the the steering wheel with both hands in a tight grip hoping to not lose control as I tried not to hit her mid-break-slam.
The on-coming car passes, and I pull out to go around.
They speed up! I eyed the road in front of me, and I saw a car waiting to pull out. I hoped they weren't planning to pull out and come towards us. I continued to pass, and she continued to speed up. The car on the side of the road pulled out in my direction. Luckily, they saw the situation and pull to the shoulder. Undetered by the new conditions ahead of us, the woman continued to speed up as I'm passing.
I knew I had two options, continue passing, or see if I can get back behind her. However, all I wanted was to no longer be behind her and dealing with her erratic driving style. So I continued passing.
As I was side-by-side, I glance at the car's driver and see I'm passing a woman in her, I'd estimate, late-30s with a smug look on her face. Going faster than I'm really comfortable with, I'm irritated and getting scared.
Thankfully, she either backed off or my truck gave one last push, because I was finally around her. As my truck slowed, I was shaking almost uncontrollably. I glanced in my rear-view mirror, and noticed the truck that had let me pass was now attempting to pass the car as well. (Brave soul!)
I shook my head in wonder. The logic of refusing to let someone pass. Was she hoping she'd “save me” by refusing to let me go faster than what she felt I needed to go? Was she on a power trip knowing she had people held up someone that needed/wanted to go quicker? Did she not realize that in some cities, a stunt like that would end up in road rage and shots being fired?
Be aware of those around you. Thank heavens the car that pulled out was aware and gave room, though they shouldn't have had to. There had originally been plenty of room for me to get around the car before we got near that road. Yet the woman sped up, and I was having to fight to get around.
I'm not the greatest driver in the world. I'm sure I've angered my share of fellow drivers, and I'm sure it'll happen again. But it's never intentional as this woman had done. She clearly had it in her head that her crossing the yellow line, slamming her breaks, and then speeding up while being passed was the right thing to do.
To the woman in the maroon sedan, I'm sorry if my wanting to get around you upset you. I'm sorry that I came up behind you closer than you were comfortable with. I'm sorry I had the audacity to actually want to pass you.
However, be careful in pulling stunts as you did. You're going to get someone killed...
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
July 27, 2005
I drive 40 miles one-way to get to work every day. I then turn around and drive 40 miles back home. I enjoy driving. It relaxes me, and it gives me time to think. It's a pleasure. Most of the time.
I will never claim to be the best driver in the world. I know I drive too fast, I make mistakes, and I do get distracted behind the wheel. I've totalled one truck due to not being able to regain control in a spin on wet roads, and I refuse to even attempt driving in icey weather. I can be aggressive in my technique, and I can be laid back. I make my mistakes.
However, in that, I do try to drive defensively. I try to remain aware of those around me. If someone behind me wants around, I'll move to the shoulder to let them pass. I'd rather have them around and long gone than stuck to my bumper. Besides, they may have somewhere far more important to be.
I generally hug the outside line to give on-coming traffic a cushion, especially when a car is passing another one that is on the shoulder of the highway. When someone lets me pass, I try to remember to acknowledge my appreciation.
I don't like being in someone's blind spot, nor do I like someone in mine. I don't like being left on the shoulder of the road when I let someone pass, therefore I try to get around as quickly as possible so they can get back on the highway.
I've been in many states, and I've come to the conclusion that driving on Texas roads is like playing Russian Roulette. The difference in driving styles is so dramatic that even as you cross that line between Texas and any of its surrounding states. It's as if hitting that line is a starting point. Speeds rise, chances taken become more dramatic, and blood pressure elevates.
On a drive to work last week, I had an incident that left me shaking out of fear as well as frustration. I will never understand the logic of the woman in her maroon sedan.
As I left Cameron to head to Marlin, I ended up at the end of a line of three cars. Needing to get to work, I itched to get around the vehicles in front of me that were staunchly sitting at a lower speed.
The truck in front of me eventually let me pass him, as oncoming traffic was regular and intervals not long enough to get around. I sped up to get behind the maroon car in hopes that the driver might do the same, but also in preparation to pass. One on-coming car stood between me and my ability to pass on a long straight-away.
I watched as the woman started crossing the yellow line to make it clear she had no intentions of letting me pass. Undeterred, I stood my ground until she started hitting her breaks!
Now, only once before have I had the problem of someone “brake-checking” me with the obvious hope of my rear-ending them. That time had shaken me to the point I wouldn't drive for the rest of the day. This time, I was irritated.
To pull that stunt to her degree is dangerous. Tap the break to show you don't like how close a person is gets the message across. But to slam the breaks that hard is just dangerous, considering there is a third vehicle behind me and an oncoming car.
By this time, I had my blinker on to pass already, and I was holding on the the steering wheel with both hands in a tight grip hoping to not lose control as I tried not to hit her mid-break-slam.
The on-coming car passes, and I pull out to go around.
They speed up! I eyed the road in front of me, and I saw a car waiting to pull out. I hoped they weren't planning to pull out and come towards us. I continued to pass, and she continued to speed up. The car on the side of the road pulled out in my direction. Luckily, they saw the situation and pull to the shoulder. Undetered by the new conditions ahead of us, the woman continued to speed up as I'm passing.
I knew I had two options, continue passing, or see if I can get back behind her. However, all I wanted was to no longer be behind her and dealing with her erratic driving style. So I continued passing.
As I was side-by-side, I glance at the car's driver and see I'm passing a woman in her, I'd estimate, late-30s with a smug look on her face. Going faster than I'm really comfortable with, I'm irritated and getting scared.
Thankfully, she either backed off or my truck gave one last push, because I was finally around her. As my truck slowed, I was shaking almost uncontrollably. I glanced in my rear-view mirror, and noticed the truck that had let me pass was now attempting to pass the car as well. (Brave soul!)
I shook my head in wonder. The logic of refusing to let someone pass. Was she hoping she'd “save me” by refusing to let me go faster than what she felt I needed to go? Was she on a power trip knowing she had people held up someone that needed/wanted to go quicker? Did she not realize that in some cities, a stunt like that would end up in road rage and shots being fired?
Be aware of those around you. Thank heavens the car that pulled out was aware and gave room, though they shouldn't have had to. There had originally been plenty of room for me to get around the car before we got near that road. Yet the woman sped up, and I was having to fight to get around.
I'm not the greatest driver in the world. I'm sure I've angered my share of fellow drivers, and I'm sure it'll happen again. But it's never intentional as this woman had done. She clearly had it in her head that her crossing the yellow line, slamming her breaks, and then speeding up while being passed was the right thing to do.
To the woman in the maroon sedan, I'm sorry if my wanting to get around you upset you. I'm sorry that I came up behind you closer than you were comfortable with. I'm sorry I had the audacity to actually want to pass you.
However, be careful in pulling stunts as you did. You're going to get someone killed...
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-27 10:47 am (UTC)*ahem*
I've never come across so many like her as the last two weekends I drove to Austin... coming home is *never* a problem, but going west on 21... Lord have mercy.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-27 10:53 am (UTC)people are nuts
no subject
Date: 2005-07-27 10:59 am (UTC)