So, it seems to me that people are too scared to give an opinion on my political suggestions, with only one comment so far. But that is okay, I have another low-key topic that should be less controvertial and intimidating.
My recent roadtrip gave me the inspiration this week to write about bad drivers. Let's face it, everyone has seen or encountered one. My question is not however about whether or not you have seen them, but more to the point who causes more problems?
"Are timid drivers more dangerous than aggressive drivers?"
First things first. I have been taught by a very intelligent person that most arguments occur from misunderstanding people's definitions. So, I will clarify.
Timid: Someone who is slow, nervous, indecisive, over-cautious
Aggressive: Someone who makes quick decisions and is quick to act on them, usually taking advantage of opportunities as they arise
How many times have you been approaching a round-about, checked to make sure that no one is coming, and went to go, when you have had to suddenly brake, because the old woman in the little corolla in front of you is sitting there waiting to see if that car approaching the round-about ten minutes away will be in her way? Or people who suddenly slam on their brakes because a car 6 vehicles ahead started braking. Timid drivers tend to take WAY too long to make a decision on the road, slowing up and aggravating all those around them, and their decision is usually a bad one anyway!
That is not to say that aggressive drivers do not have their flaws. But for the most part, they just want to be on their way. So if you do not get in their way, aggressive drivers are out of your hair and gone. But the timid, slow drivers, who do 50 in an 80 zone, in the right hand lane (left for you Americans), sitting beside a big truck who cannot go any faster... I am beginning to understand why the aggressive drivers are so angry. Timid drivers tend to make normal people act irrationally and even dangerously, just to get away from them. We take risks and get filled with rage by them. How many people have tail-gated (driven RIGHT behind someone else's vehicle, practically touching them - for the International audience) someone because they were driving TOO cautiously?
The fact is, when everyone on the road is driving normal or aggressive, there are not as many accidents as when a timid driver enters the mix. And the sad truth is, we are encouraged to drive over-cautiously, with little to no decision making and we are losing our ability to be good drivers who make good, quick decisions.
Please, let me know your opinion on timid and or aggressive drivers. And please, don't be TIMID, voice your opinion.
-T.J.
O boy I could write a book about this one !!
ReplyDeleteI usually drive about 5000 kms per year & about 1/3 of that on a motorcycle & once or twice a year a few hundred ks in a truck. Before I became a dottery old pensioner it was quite common to travel these distances in a month, mostly in the city with a few 100km highway trips thrown in for good measure. As a result I have had some experience with the motoring public. Demographically speaking there are certain areas that are more prone to the malaise of timid drivers. Melbourne would have to top the list for this behavior, as they seem to take great delight in dawdling as well.
I do not like overtly aggressive driving or dangerous manoeuvres on public roads but if you watch the traffic carefully you will see that most of that style of driving is greatly exacerbated by these super cautious, frightened, mindless cretins that insist on antagonizing me with their ineptitude !!!!!