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Re: Road Rage

To: "roadster list" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Road Rage
From: Ronnie Day <rday@airmail.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 22:56:00 -0500
>The bottom line is:  no one knows what is on the mind of the person that is
>in a hurry.

snip

>the fact is that he has his right to use the roads as he sees fit.

I was gonna stay out of this thread, but I've got to say that I disagree 
strongly with this last statement. No one has a inherent right to use to 
drive. It's a privilege that should be more dependent on sharing the 
roads with others in a safe, sane, manner. Roaring up behind some at a 
high closure rate, flashing lights and setting on the horn is reckless 
and immature. People who refuse to operate their cars in a safe manner do 
not have the right to endanger the safety of others. If they want to kill 
themselves, there are plenty of very lonely roads in NW Neveda.

Average speeds on the freeways here in the D/FW area are approaching 80 
mph. You can be going close to that in the left (#1/fast) lane and still 
have fools come roaring up behind you and going ballistic, even if 
there's no way you can pull over to let them by. I was recently driving 
about 75 mph in the #2 lane with both the #1 and #3 lanes empty for at 
least a couple of hundred yards when this idiot in a pickup came flying 
up behind me, sat a couple of feet off my bumper for a couple of seconds 
and finally went around me, honking and flipping me off. Maybe I'm dense, 
but I fail to see where I was at fault.

One of the biggest reasons I hate commuting, other than shear traffic 
volume, is that too many folks give driving minimum priority after 
talking on the phone, eating, shaving, applying makeup, or anything else 
they have feel they need to do. Driving is a dynamic, interactive 
activity.

Bottom line, it is not my job to stay out of everyone elses way while 
they behave in any manner they see fit. It is my job, and in my best 
interest, to be aware of the changing environment as I drive.

FWIW, Ron

________________
Ronnie Day
rday@airmail.net
Dallas/Ft. Worth
'71 510 2-dr (Prepared class autocrosser)
'73 510 2-dr (Street Toy)


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