Mention 'Impaired Drivers' and folks think of alcohol. Rarely, someone might consider some other intoxicating drug of choice. Almost never will people think of drivers who are just naturally impaired by their condition, or by their personality.
Impairment comes in many, many forms. Old age brings it's issues, but so does being young and inexperienced. Cell phone addiction? Certainly. What about someone who cares so little about others, they drive their vehicle as if they are in sole ownership of the roads? Yes.... and we see such people every day.
Impairment manifests is many, many ways. Some are not the traditional ones we automatically link to a 'drunk driver', yet they reveal an impaired driver none the less.
- Weaving within... or outside... the lane? Yup, a classic.
- Slowing down or speeding up without any visible reason? Of course, when done repeatedly.
- Misjudging distance, and crowding other vehicles... another classic.
What about that driver who goes 25mph in a 35mph zone, regardless of how many people stack up behind them... only to reach a 25 mph zone and immediately accelerate to 35mph... no matter how many people they have to tailgate to do it.
Impairment: Asshole.
A favorite impaired driver: The person who runs consistently 15 mph under the speed limit, until reaching a section of road where they can be passed. There, they step on the gas til they are once again in a section where they can force drivers to line up behind them at 15 under the limit.
Impairment: Asshole.
A style of impairment I see almost daily; That guy coming on the highway at 20mph under prevailing traffic, who proceeds to dive sideways across all the lanes to establish himself in the passing lane... at 20 mph under prevailing traffic speed. That truck which almost jackknifed to avoid him.... went un-noticed.
Impairment: Raging asshole.
How about that driver who makes a right turn... from the far left lane, sans turn signal. Just a SWoooshh...... and they are sideways across the road, with everyone else slamming on their brakes.
Impairment: You guessed it.... another raging asshole.
That motorcycle rider who feels content to do sweet twisty roads at 30 over, leaving themselves unable to hold their lane around corners. What a thrill they have seeing opposing cars drivers hit the bank while trying to avoid killing them.
Impairment: Surprise.... AssHole.
That construction truck hauling an equipment trailer which boasts an unused broom in a rack, and 400 pounds of dirt and rocks blowing off into traffic, shattering windshields and causing drivers to swerve into other lanes.
Impairment: Oh Yeah.... big time asshole.
All of these, and more, do I see every single week on my daily drive to work and back home.
Why does road rage exist? I theorize it's because drivers are constantly assaulted by impaired drivers.... asshole impaired drivers... and nothing can be done about it. The police can't possibly deal with the overwhelming number of loose assholes on our roads, and sometimes folks have their lives risked just one too many times. They snap.
The answer? Hell, I don't know. I just try to make it home each day, praying I reach the house where a soothing glass of self-impairment awaits me.
Oh, that picture of the car which leads off this rant? The driver committed at least four distinct actions on this list, in the space of ten minutes.
Whatcha gonna do?
No comments:
Post a Comment