The Safe Driver

This risky driving got them nowhere

Experts say that patience is a virtue. I think we’ve all heard that. Ask many people what virtue means, and they may not answer you. To keep it short, it means to maintain high moral standards. While driving, are you patient enough to maintain high moral standards? Is it one of your positive driving traits?

Recently, I came across a driver who wasn’t so patient. I was turning left from the inside lane of two turning lanes. A driver behind decided late they wanted to switch to the left lane but was very close to the rear of my vehicle. So close that they may scrape into the rear of my car. I moved forward slightly to help them change safely. I never thought much of that move until after they made the turn.

Once we both turned, they immediately cut off a driver while changing lanes back to their original lane to the right. The driver they cut off had to brake to avoid a collision or a close call. After that, they proceeded to move into a designated right-turning lane. They also cut off another driver as they braked to avoid a close call or a collision.

Considering I was turning right, I followed them into that right-turning lane. This is where it got a little interesting. A driver ahead of them was blocking the right-turning lane as they were leaving a gas station. The traffic light ahead of me was red, so the driver was not moving. The impatient driver that had cut off two drivers and came close to hitting the rear of my vehicle, all within 60 seconds, decided to cut through the gas station. I watched them while I was waiting and shook my head.

I waited until the blocking vehicle moved as I continued to the intersection to make my turn. After turning, I proceeded toward another red traffic light, and would you believe the impatient driver was stopped ahead of me? I would. Being aggressive and impatient got them nowhere. Well, they did move one vehicle ahead of where they started. So, congratulations to that driver for saving 2 or 3 seconds in their commute while risking damage to their vehicle and three others, not including what they may have done at the gas station.

If you really want to save time, I have a few safer options you can attempt. Leave sooner is the first and the best option. This will allow you more time to reach your destination without feeling you’ll be late. If possible, change the route you take to one less busy. Use Google Maps or other helpful apps that let you know when traffic is slower in certain areas. There seems to be a feeling of accomplishment for some drivers that if they can keep moving at a reasonable speed, they’ll get there on time.

Oh, and stop checking the time. That only adds to your impatience. You can only travel as fast as the traffic ahead in your lane, so tailgating and cutting off other drivers doesn’t work. Just ask this driver. I wonder if they knew what a waste of effort they just did. Probably not.