Conference quark::human_relations-v1

    I think this is another example of "de-personalization" in society.
    
    A common attitude is that people aren't people you can relate to,
    they're obstructions you must overcome. I see a lot of this in the
    'breakdown' of manners and what used to be common courtesy. 
    
    I'm guilty of it myself. Lately I find myself getting VERY irritated
    at drivers ahead of me who are going the speed limit, but not as
    fast as I want to. Slow checkout clerks in stores drive me up the
    wall, etc.
    
    Now, not all these cases are or can be life-threatening, but I have
    discovered the I feel the same basic way about them--irritated and
    angry and hostile. 
    
    I have tried very much to pay more attention to my driving habits and
    to correct them. But, I think a lot of people have the attitude
    that since the other person is *obviously* being the a**hole, then
    what ever happens is the other person's fault. This makes anyone
    with that type of chip on their shoulder, more agressive and less
    aware of the potential consequences of their own behaviour.
    
    Tamzen
    

    
    
    	"Ever notice that anyone who drives faster than you is a manic
    and anyone who drives slower than you is a idiot?"
    
    				George Carlin
    
    							mike

    I don't know what goes thru those people's minds.  But I do know
    
    what goes thru mine.  my heart leaps into my throat and my mind
    goes numb.  Like yesterday I was pulling into work and just making
    the crest of the hill, this woman swings her car right towards me.
    I swung the other way, otherwise there would have been an accident.
    It scared the h*&^ out of me.  Then she started laughing as if it
    were a big joke.  I don't understand.  And that is not the first
    close call in the Digital parking lot!!!  I for one would rather
    do the speed limit and pay attention so I get there in one piece.

    One thing never fails with me is when I'm approaching a side street
    and there is a car waiting to pull out of the side street.  Nine
    times out of ten, that person will pull out in front of me, forcing
    me to break.  After this happens, I always look in the rear view
    and there are never any cars behind me.
    
    This poses the question:
    
       Do people like flirting with disaster or death, or are they
       really that ignorant?
    
    Shawn

    It's amazing how traffic can bring many people to the verge of
    committing murder.  When I lived in California, I would become
    so angry with traffic and people whom I considered to be very
    rude.  I just couldn't understand how people could act like 
    that.  There was even one time that a man ran into the back of
    my car as we were going, stopping, going, stopping...up to the
    traffic light before turning right -- and he didn't even get
    out of his car to see what had happened!  I got out, saw that
    my car was okay (even though it was a hard hit) and then I
    walked over to his window and told him he was damn lucky there
    wasn't any damage.  He didn't seem to care...but I think he
    felt terribly stupid and was simply continuing to act terribly 
    stupid.  Then I let it ruin my whole day.

    I think people do stupid things when driving for many, very
    human and innocent reasons, such as:

    - Their mind is somewhere else, perhaps very worried or upset
      about something and they just aren't paying attention.  Most
      of us have been there too.

    - They're angry at the world.  Crazy driving could be an act of
      defiance or revenge...their attempt to strike back out at the
      world (which they think is hurting them).  Most of us have 
      been there too.

    - They are confused or scared of road markings...and panicing to
      hurry and do the right thing causes worse problems.  I've been
      there too.

    I consider myself to be a good and polite driver (usually).  I let 
    people in front of me if there's an infinite line of cars coming 
    behind me.  I wave if someone shows me a courtesy.  I try to treat 
    other people the way I want them to treat me...and most importantly, 
    I think, is that I try to remember that they're human, like me, and
    that I've made those same mistakes and been annoyed by how angry
    other driver's got at me.

    My suggestion for driver's who consider this to be a problem
    would be that they take some deep breaths, be very cautious, and
    try not to add to all the anger and upset, or let it ruin your day.

    I've fantasized about the effect on a tail-gater if I were to 
    stop my car, get out and roll out a red carpet, and wave the
    person to go right around me as I show great enthusiasm for them 
    continuing to hurry on their way!  But, I'm satisfied to let them 
    by me, with a smile.  (Maybe they'll think about that reaction
    someday.)  I've been in a hurry before too.

    Jerri

    Confessions time!
    Sometimes when someone tailgates me and flashes their lights (throwing
    my shadow across my eyeglasses so that I can't even see the road
    ahead!) when I am in the fast line, doing the speed limit (I very
    seldom drive faster than that), and passing slower cars, if I think
    they are being particularly stupid, instead of pulling into the
    slow lane for a while to let Mr./Ms.HOt-Stuff pass me, I will pull
    even with a car in the slow lane and just sit there, doing 55...
    
    Mean, I'll admit, but I DO do it (sometimes).
    
    Usually I would pull over, on the theory that the Hot-Stuff person
    just might have a legitimate reason to be in a hurry (pregnant
    passenger about to give birth, or something), but I do NOT pull
    over if I am already going as fast or faster than I should be and
    they act unpleasant enough.

    It's so easy to get caught up in your own anxiety and forget everyone
    elses lives.  I think that is a big part of the "driving dilemma."
    
    But as to sheer recklessness, I think it is caused in some degree
    by the above-mentioned anxiety, and by mistakes, but also by ignorance:
     if more people realized what incredible damage/pain/disablement
    even a minor accident can cause themselves or others, I think driving
    styles would radically change.  It only takes 2 seconds to get slammed;
    it can take a lifetime to mend.
    
    I have seen injured (as a hospital medical technician), so I know.
    And boy, does it effect my driving style.
    
    F = MA         
    
    MM

RE: .6 by CADSYS::RICHARDSON

>    Sometimes when someone tailgates me and flashes their lights 
>    ... if I think they are being particularly stupid, instead of
>    pulling into the slow lane ... I will pull even with a car in
>    the slow lane and just sit there, doing 55...
    
I am filled with admiration for you. Attaboy! show these
'particularly stupid' people who have the gall to try and pass you!
Who the hell do they think they are (trying to get where they are 
going without securing your approval first)?

Of course, your behavior may cause more accidents and grief than
any speeding or reckless driving! Of course, your behavior could
actually be the motivating force behind other people's reckless
driving! Of course, someone (who is no doubt particularly stupid)
may even feel that your driving ***IS*** reckless! But, who cares?
The main thing is, you showed them! 


>    Mean, I'll admit ...

How gracious of you.

    
>    Usually I would pull over, on the theory that the Hot-Stuff person
>    just might have a legitimate reason to be in a hurry (pregnant
>    passenger about to give birth, or something).

So good to know a superior person like yourself has volunteered to
sit in judgment to decide whether someone else being in a hurry is
justified. 


>    ... but I do NOT pull over if ... they act unpleasant enough.

By flashing their light, I presume. Would you please suggest another
way they can let you know you're in their way? 

To summarize, I would like to express my admiration --nay,
reverence-- for you once again. I wish we had a few more 'drivers'
like you. The problem is, we have many.

-- Ron
Who-will-never-again-flash-his-lights-to-ask-for-the-right-of-way.

    because .0 thru .n
    
    people are bloody stupid idiots 
    always have been always will be

    
    	re .9 -
    
    	NO, people are not stupid idiots, they are just selfish and
    lazy and, "Its not *their* problem"...
    
    	Who do you know, when driving, is just as aware of whats going
    on behind the car as in the scene in front?
    
    	Who do you know, when driving, will actually take a different
    "tack" so as to not plug up the road for everyone_else?
    
    	Who do you know, when driving, puts their full concentration
    to the matter and plans what their doing for 2, maybe 3 "moves"
    in advance?
    
    	*I* admit that I *wont* pull over from the fast lane - as long
    as I'm still going by cars to my right. I *still* wont pull over
    if its obvious to me that I'm going to simply be "boxed in" by the
    car wanting to pass, who somehow suddenly decides that (s)he's gonna
    take "sweet time" now that I've pulled over.
    
    	I play Three moves ahead...
    
    	Joe Jas
    

    Hey folks, c'mon--
    
    Some people are trying to admit that they are wrong from time to
    time--that's the first step in trying to fix it.  We've ALL been
    stupid, mean, vengeful, arrogant, selfish, and rude on the road,
    *once or twice*.  I know I have;  I'm embarrassed that I let myself
    get that out of control.
    
    Now that I've read these entries, it'll make me think a little.
    Next time I endanger someone's life on the road by "trying to teach
    them a lesson in highway manners", it could be one of you.  And
    now that I *know* you;  I'd hate to be that rude to a friend.
    
    Trying to change,
    
    Jane

    RE .0 -> .n  
    
    I live in Belgium, and work in the south of Germany.  This means I have
    one hell of a commute (weekly only thank heaven)  I drive 500 miles
    each way each weekend. 
    
    There are no speed restrictions in Germany on most of the autobaan
    (=highway=motorway=autostrade=etc.,etc.)  People drive fast - by that I
    mean 150 - 180 miles per hour! Other people get out of their way, very
    few have accidents, and almost everyone is polite and curteous and does
    the right thing. People also anticipate the actions of others on the
    road.
    
    In America its "55 and stay alive" which makes people say things like
    "If I do 55 and someone wants to pass, tough luck" and so on, which
    makes other drivers annoyed and do stupid things. Also driving
    (relatively) slowly, people don't put as much concentration or effort
    into driving as they should, so when something happens that requires
    though and/or quick action then they are unprepared
    
    Summary: 
    
    I don't think its as much the fault of the persons as the rules.
    
    Andy.                                                     
    

    Gasp, took my breath away.
    
    150-180 Mph?  do you mean Kph?
    
    Last time I drove in France, the limit on the (deserted) highways
    was 140 kph -- fast by US standards, but there were so few other
    cars...  On the other hand, with my children and my parents in the
    car, I did occasionally flinch when I thought "what if a tire blows..."
    (But the car was only 3 months old, so I wasn't really too worried
    about that sort of thing.  Still...)
    
    	Penelope

    I mean MILES PER HOUR!
    
    My Audi Quattro top speed is 240 kph thats 150 MPH
    
    Most Porsches here (with no strangulation gear on the engine) will
    do  240 - 260 kph thats 150 - 162.5 MPH  (911 that is)
    
    The new 928 S4 and the new 911 Turbo Targa do 280 kph thats 175 MPH

    and if you wanna go "fast" the odd Ferrari or Lambo. will do 300 kph
    thats 187.5 MPH.
    
    THAT should take your breath away!
    
    Andy.
    
    (And I STILL think that here they drive better than it sounds and
    I hear that they drive in the US 8-) 8-)  )
    

    well...
    
    as to Boston Divers... I still think they are some of the "best"
    I have seen... they have to be, to be still alive! 
    (comparison: NYC, Phili, back-woods folk, CT, NJ...)
    
    and I am a Boston Driver...
    sorry if I offended you....
    
    dana

    Boston drivers arent GOOD drivers they are lucky drivers.
    A very wide difference in facts that gives the same result only
    by accident.
    A good driver wouldent get out of a parking lot without waiting
    for an hour because they wouldent cut someone off. A requirement
    to get anywhere.
    
    -jerry
    

    RE: .16
    
    Hi Dana,
    
    Don't worry, if you drive that fast you don't get offended easily!
    no offence was taken, I was just making a point about the vast
    differences in speed that occur between German Autobaans and US
    Highways!
    
    Drive safely,
    
    Andy.
    
    PS: If you want to see how to do it, the Monaco Grande Prix is 
        on soon!

    
�    < Note 301.19 by TONTO::EARLY "Bob_the_hiker" >
�                      -< Good does not equal courteous. >-

�  re: Note 301.17
   
�  ...driver. Large cities (pick any of them); the person who is COURTEOUS
�    enough to let all go ahead who are less courteos is in for avery
�    long wait. It is the "Good" driver who picks their 'opportunity'
�    to go ahead, and lets someone else take there 'turn' at being courteous
�    (whether they want to or not).

	So, by your reasoning, my girlfriend and I were almost killed
    	 this morning by a "Good" driver.  Imagine if you will; it's
    	 about 7:15 am, and raining.  Traffic on I-75 south is
    	 averaging 0-15mph, in all 4 lanes.  Our lane picks up again
    	 to about 20 mph.  I let a little room between myself and the
    	 car ahead of me, about 1 car length, maybe less.
    
    	All of a sudden, this T-Bird in the lane on my right, blinks
    	 her signal twice, then she's moving in front of me.  She cut
    	 so close in front of me that I thought she might have twisted
    	 one of my fog lights.  I blew my horn at her, and she just
    	 looked up and waved as if to say "I'm ok, see??"!  Remember,
    	 it's been raining very hard, and is just now slacking off.
    	 Also, *all 4 lanes* are moving at just about the same speed.
    	 
	Just why did she *have* to change lanes?  All the lanes con-
    	 tinued at approx. the same speed for the next 10 miles.  She
    	 never did get more than half a dozen car lengths ahead of me.
    	 Would you still classify her as a "Good" driver because she
    	 "picked her opportunity" and forced me to be "Courteous"???

    
    
    					-Rich
    

>    I classify myself as being a very GOOD driver, 

    Out of curiosity, when was the last time you met anyone who accepted
    that (s)he was NOT a good driver?
    
    - Vikas

    Me. I'm not a good driver. I'm a better driver than I was, but I'm
    still not great. I'm too blind.
    
    	Jon 

    Well, I'm a good driver! One of the best!  Years of experience
    on the treacherous highways of California, and some backup training
    on sideroads in Mexico!!
    
    The other?  Pretty good there too!!  ;-)
    
    

    re .21  I'll take that challenge !   I'm a lousy driver.
    Too fast, I drink, No Patience. So GET OUTTA DA WAY !

    re .*
    
    The Me Generation, behind the wheel ....

    
�    < Note 301.25 by TONTO::EARLY "Bob_the_hiker" >
�                   -< "Courtesy knows no city to call home" >-

�    re: .20
�    Traffic was moving at 15 " ... FIFTEEN MILES PER HOUR ... " and
�    you were ALMOST KILLED ? ? ? ? ?

    	Ok, so it was a slight exaggeration on my part.  I guess at
    	 the time I was still pretty upset by it.
    
�        I did have the opportunity to drive "around Atlanta" fairly recently
�    (May 1st); and I agree - The people there are less courteous than
�    the Boston drivers; at least on the interstate the goes arounf the
�    city. I couldn't but help notice all the tire marks on the "Jersey
�    Barriers" where so many cars were "apparently" forced off the road
�    by the other "not-so-courteous" drivers.

	I have to drive these roads everyday, both in the morning and
    	 in the evening.  I have seen numerous chain-reaction accidents
    	 occur from people driving in the manner that she was.
    
    	This morning on the way in, we passed an accident that apparently
    	 was caused by something similar.  Two cars were involved, one
    	 had the right front corner smashed in, and the other had the
    	 left rear smashed.  The police were on the scene already, and
    	 luckily it appeared that there were no injuries.
    
    	I guess the reason that this bothers me so much is that we see
    	 and hear this *virtually every morning and evening*!  If people
    	 wouldn't be in such a hurry to change lanes, get wherever,
    	 etc., it wouldn't be so bad.  A little common sense could avoid
    	 most of these accidents.
    
    	If someone signals that they want to change lanes, I'm more
    	 than happy to let them in in front of me.  But the constant
    	 changing lanes to get 1 car length ahead is ridiculous!  I
    	 like to leave a safe distance between me and the car ahead,
    	 but that's virtually impossible because of the lane changers.
    	 Can you explain why they _must_ change lanes every time there's
    	 a one car length break in traffic??
    
    	Sorry if I sound like I have a chip on my shoulder.  I guess
    	 maybe I do; I like my car and my life, and I'd like to keep
    	 them both safe and in 1 piece, thank you.
    

    					-Rich

For all you that claim to be "good" drivers, I claim you are not
good, if you do things like the following:

o	When pulling out of side street to turn into mainstream,
	you pull up too fast, or a bit too far, thus making drivers
	in mainstream NERVOUS.

o	Following too close to other cars so that, although you
	stop in time when they do, cars behind you sometimes *almost*
	hit you and often screech.

My point is, our HUMAN RELATIONS with other drivers is very important.

Never having an accident does not make you a good driver !  To be a good
driver, you also have to make other people feel comfortable around you,
including your passengers, occupants of other cars, and pedestrians.

As for whether you are really "good in bed", the test is not how
you are with a newfound flame.

The test is, what's it like with you and your partner after, say, several
years of sleeping together.  How goes the sex life with that person now?
That's the test!

/Eric

    
    The last word on this subject has been delivered by Dave Barry.
    Let me call particular attention to notes 35 and 261.  KP<7> gets
    you there...
    
    DFW

    	I always wonder what is going on in the other persons head
    while he/she is driving!
    
    	A really bad pet peeve of mine is this; I happen to get over
    into the "HIGH SPEED" lane, and go about 10 miles above the speed
    limit, mainly because I'm scared S***less that some a%%hole will
    blink their lights on and off in back of me to speed up!!
    
    	Does driving 80-90 miles per hour in the "high speed" lane
    enhance a persons sense of danger? Why do people treat this lane
    any differently than any other???
    
    Linda
    

    re -.1
    
      Unfortunately you never know whether the person behind you has
    a legitimate reason for wanting to go faster in the high speed lane
    (medical emergency, etc.) ... you have to assume that he/she does
    ....
    
    When one takes part in the Wonderful World of Driving, one would
    like to think that fellow drivers are going to be considerate ...
    in my opinion, when you're piloting many pounds of steel and glass
    at 50/60/whatever MPH, that is a NECESSITY ... but alas, for some
    people the wonderful world consists of their cars and their bodies
    alone ....

        There's no reason to be afraid that someone is going to blink
        their lights at you. The photons are low enough energy as to do
        little or no harm, and it is generally not too hard to pull over
        into a slower lane to let the person pass, which is all that
        they are probably asking.
        
        JimB. 

	re: .-1 
    
    		Most of the time, someone else is right to my
    	right-hand side when I want to move over into one of
    	the middle lanes, but I just wait and then go over.
    	I realize there are some people out there who do have
    	a good reason why they go faster in that lane, but some
    	other's I've seen perpetually drive in that lane at ex-
    	cessive speeds. I've seen a couple of really bad accidents
    	in the high speed lane, especially around the Haverhill -
    	Lawrence, Mass area. The last one I saw, they carted the
    	driver away in an ambulance - I dont know how badly he
    	was hurt. I make it a point never to stay in that lane,
    	always to use it to pass someone else.

    re: flashing lights to pass -- 
    
    I had a rather interesting experience with this last week . . . I was
    driving south on DW Highway in Nashua, where it's two lanes each way
    and a 35 mph speed limit through a semi-residential part of town.  I
    was driving at the speed limit (I always do -- quaint belief on my part
    that traffic rules were created for the safety of all, not to harrass
    drivers) in the RIGHT-hand lane.  Not much traffic going my way, a
    couple of cars ahead but nobody in the left lane.  It was raining so
    neither visibility nor road condition was very good. 
    
    Suddenly a car going very fast for conditions (nearly highway speed)
    pulled up behind me, hit his brakes, honked his horn, and started
    flashing his lights at me!  Remember I am IN the right lane already 
    and there is NO traffic in the fast lane. 
    
    I was too astonished to figure out what he wanted, but after a block
    or so of frantic flashing he gunned himself past me, then pulled
    back into the right lane, making sure to cut me off when he did,
    glaring back over his shoulder at me.
    
    I'm still trying to figure this one out. Had this guy been driving
    so long in Boston that he's forgotten how to pass on the left??????
    
    --bonnie

    Perhaps he was British, Irish or Japanese (or from one of the other
    places where they drive on the left)?
    
    I always thought that passing on the right is illegal in NH (but not
    Mass).
    
    My only reaction had this guy pulled up behind me would have been to
    check if I had my lights on, or had inadvertently left my direction
    indicator on (a persistent left turn signal might make the guy nervous
    about passing you on the left in case you pulled to the left and hit
    him).
    
    Anyway the international sign for "I am faster and wish to pass" is
    headlights on high beam: flashing means the same as beeping the horn,
    namely: "please notice that I am here". (except in some parts of America
    were both of them mean "Hello I haven't seen you in a while please wave
    at me") [ :-) ... having been driving in America for a few years I recently
    had my car inspected and decided to check the systems before I took
    it in, and during that check I beeped the horn for the first
    time since I got the car - when I get into an emergency I prefer to
    use both hands to control the car, rather than taking one off the wheel
    to beep the horn...)                 
    
    /. Ian .\
    
    

    A phrase I remember, probably from Denise McCluggage's column in
    the Sunday globe:
    
    The horn should not be used as a substitute for the brakes, but
    it's okay to use one's horn rather than get involved in a collision.
    
    Dave

    I was passed today on the way to work by a guy in a new 300zx that
    should have been run off the road. This guy was going about 85
    when he came up next to me in bumper-bumper traffic/driving rain
    and almost killed us both by trying to slip into the space between
    me and the guy in front. The guy in front braked at about the same
    time as this happened and the guy swerved back out into the right
    lane sped ahead and cut this guy off. Now there wasent anywhere
    for him to go so back across two lanes into a loading ramp 
    (complete with merging cars[which he dident care about]) and
    passed about six cars in the breakdown lane. All of this in less
    than 1/3 mile!
    I always knew there was a reason i dident carry a gun or bag of
    nails in the car 'cause I'da used it on this A$$ asap!
    
    As soon I got to my desk i called the state patrol and reported
    the car/location/license plate #/direction as a drunk driver!
    The person at the state patrol said they would look for the car
    and THEY WOULD pull them over to check if they should see it.
    The plates were denver plates(you can tell by the letter code)
    so this guy probably got pulled over about half way home.
    
    SWEET revenge or least I feel like I got some anyway. 
    
    -jerry
    
    P.S. If he was drunk they will have alot of fun with him
    before they really make life bad. Colorado has NICE laws around
    that type of thing.
    

    add a**hole to obnoxious and what do you get???
    Me and my SO were driving pleasant old rust-bucket into cambridge...off
    of Pike onto Memorial Drive, and were in the proper lane to go
    straight. Jerk from right-turn-only lane cuts us off just as the
    light turns yellow - moves in front of us as his lane disappears
    into curb, nearly causing us to hit him.  We are noticeably upset.  
    		We pass him at the next light
    and give him the universal sign for "we are not amused" (aka middle
    finger).  He pulls over in front of us immediately - cutting us
    off and forcing us to stop - no warning.  man in jogging suit gets
    out of old station wagon (with other dents testifying to his driving
    prowess) and asks if we want to eat those fingers...as he knows
    karate and although he is wearing a blue jogging suit and has no
    shoes on, and could still rapidly yield us much pain.  We explain
    why we are upset.  He does not get back to his car.  Not wishing
    to cause an incident, and still stopping traffic, we attempt to
    placate him "live and let live" I say.  He drives off.  Cuts off
    several other drivers within the next few blocks for no apparent
    reason.  This kind of activity can kill.
    
    Also - my sister told me of an incident she recently saw.  Apparently
    an accident - two cars - fault was obvious in this case - due to
    negligence and failure to obey some standard laws I guess.  As she
    approached, in very slow traffic, she saw several EMT's working
    frantically over a stretcher - IV's, syringes, walkie-talkies, etc.
     10 minutes later - as she passes them - she hears the cries of
    a baby.  Makes me want to cry just thinking about it.
    
    Please - drive carefully.  No small saving of time is worth taking
    a life.  It's amazing how often I have to remind myself on our
    highways/byways that it's not worth dying to defend the right of
    way.  
    
    -Jody
    

    The discussion on police may not continue here. If you wish you
    may move it to BETHE::SOAPBOX, where such exchange of opinions is
    more appropriate.
    
    Tamzen, with moderator hat on

    
    No, THIS belongs in CARBUFFS and i'm moving it there.

    
    No id do not read that mag., or the Boston Globe. I drive an RX-7
    and go VERY fast often flashing people. Have many tickets and warnings.
    I just guess I'm one of those who has always been in the fast lane.

    This note is re-opened for discussion. excluding the last 10 notes
    or so on the various failings of police and drivers.
    
    Please refer to the original discussions and the base note.
    
    Tamzen

    I wasn't going to re-enter this discussion after the toasting I
    got originally for saying that I drive the speed limit and don't
    pull over into traffic that is going slower than I am to get out
    of the way of speed-demons who want to go faster than me - unless
    I am feeling generous, and there is enough room in the slow lane,
    and it is not going a WHOLE lot slower than I am....etc. (Wel,,
    maybe I can see your point in flaming me.)  However, the discussion
    after than reminded me of a couple of funny stories (up until we
    started talking about state cops as Nazis, etc. -- my mother calls
    them "flat-bottoms", but then she calls other cops "flat-foots"
    -- a real vintage expression).  I was driving home down a narrow,
    winding two-lane road one night, and someone in a terrible hurry
    came up behind me, screeching brakes, etc.  I didn't pull over because
    for oone thing there was no place to go except into a ditch (no
    breakdown lane) and for another I didn't see why I should.  Eventually
    speedy and I came to a red light.  I stopped, and so did he (thank
    goodness).   Speedy turned out to be an irate, drunken older man.
     He got out of his car and came and banged on my window (I was alone
    at the time).  Like a fool I opened it.  He started to swear at
    me, the crazy woman driver who wouldn't pull into the ditch to let
    me by...  Menawhile, the light changed, so I rolled up the window,
    put my car in gear, and drove off, leaving Speedy standing in the
    middle of the intersection by himself, still swearing (no one hit
    him, since there were no other cars on the raod - it was late at
    night).  A couple of weeks ago on the same strethc of road someone
    did basically the same thing, and actually eventually did pass me
    (almost hitting a car coming around the corner in the other direction),
    and then started preparing to do the same to the car in front of
    me (there was a fair amount fo traffic - I was on my way TO folk
    dancing rather than home FROM, so it was around 8 or so).  A police
    car appaeared out of a side road, and pulled SPeedy #2 over!
    (I don't think it was the saem Speedy - they are pretty common in
    Massachusetts.)  I thought this was pretty good stuff, considering
    how many people he had almost collided with in that short an amount
    of time.
    
    I saw another driver (on route 2 near the 495 intersection) pass
    several cares, including me, in a "dare-devil" manner and then flip
    his jeep over, landing it on the opposite side of the road (that
    stretch of rte. 2 is 4 lanes, divided by a small median strip).
     Since Speedy #3 wasn't wearning a seat belt, he landed on the
    pavement, a long ways from where the jeep landed.  I stopped, as
    did the car in front of me (the one that had been behind him), and
    verified that Speedy was breathing.  The jeep was still running,
    but with a broken axle - we didn't attempt to shut it off.  Leaving
    the other driver to watch Speedy and make sure no one ran him over,
    I drove off to find a tow truck operator and a cop.
    
    Please don't drive like Speedy!  Any of the three of them!  You
    could be killed very dead that way!  Or I could!  

    Maybe more than irresponsibility does, Bob.
    
    					wa alejkum a'salemu,
    					=maggie

    
    re: .0
    
    Of course, since the man was elderly, it is entirely possible he
    was unaware of all else except the fact that he "thought" he was
    driving at a reasonable speed, and was completely oblivious to
    what was behind him, or to the side of him, aware of only what was
    in front of him.  Of course, he could have been fully aware, a
    reagular tail-gater hater, who despised speed at the same time.
    "If" he were fully aware (let's suppose), then the probable attitudes
    could have went like this:
    
    Old man - "Tailgate all you want, risk life and limb to get past
    me, but I ain't speedin' up or pullin' over.
    
    Driver about to pass - "$#@%!!!&##$@ old $$#@!!! slow $$#@%%!$!!!
    These double yellow lines don't mean sh*t to me jack!"
    
    Driver in opposite lane as he spies passing driver in his lane -
    "C'mon chicken sh*t! Back off! Back off!  Don't take me on!  You'll
    lose! Ya ain't man enough!"
    
    Hence, probably why noone reacted as you would have expected.
    Everyones got the stubborn macho attitue.  But then again, the passing
    driver could have panicked, and panick possibly narrowed his
    perspective to one substantial objective albeit unreasonable, and
    that would have been to hurry and finish his passing manuever in
    order to save his life.  Oncoming driver was probably frozen with
    apprehension and couldn't get mind/body coordination into motion.
    And if the old man had been unaware up to this point, he would
    certainly have been aware of the incoming missile off his left side
    from out of nowhere.  Did you see brake lights on his car when the
    passing car sliced in front of him?
    
    Sherman
    

    What we're all talking about here is courtesy.  I've found it's
    a rare virtue here in the east.  I find it more as I go west.
    I was born here - and had to learn my manners elsewhere.  It's
    a real shame that folks here don't learn courtesy or teach it to
    their kids.  Keeps the blood pressure lower for both you and those
    you interact with.

    I define courtesy as having consideration for other folks.  Regarding
    them - being conscious of them as humans - giving them a break when
    you can - redirecting anger into helpfulness - giving folks a hand
    when they need it.  I'm not 100% on doing this, but I don't expect
    anyone else to be either.  What worries me is that I see so many
    people who aren't even aware that they should try to do this, even
    for their own families or friends.  And they end up so angry, and
    create anger and frustration wherever they go.  And I used to be
    much that way.
    
    If we all practice courtesy in our driving and in our other human
    relations, most or all of our problems will be avoided.  You can
    list almost all of our problems with other humans under the heading
    of Discourtesy, whether it's driving problems, folks' kids destroying
    your property, people hurting other people physically or mentally
    - it's all a facet of disregard for other people.

    Regarding the topic at hand, it's not just discourteous but CRIMINAL
    to endanger someone else's life on the road unless you simply cannot
    avoid it.  It should be (and is out west) an arrestable offense
    to drive unpredictably - zooming and weaving, or changing speeds
    randomly, or being unaware of the drivers around you.  And both
    the impatient zoomers and the obnoxious lane-hogs would be arrested
    in some states.  Both of them cause accidents.
    
    --Louise

    I know this note is set /NOWRITE, but I though I'd add this as
    something to think about.
    
    An item in yesterday's Boston Globe told of a 24-year-old man who
    was shot and killed while riding as a passenger in a car.  Two shots
    were fired at him by a person in another car who apparently
    was upset that he had not been allowed to pass.  The man's 3-year-old
    son and his girlfriend (who was driving, I guess) were not hurt.
    This was in California (where I'm told everyone is so "laid back".)
    
    Is it worth it?
    				Steve