Ok, this rant is actually carried over from my friend Kelley’s blog. She mentioned that people in Houston seem to have forgotten how 4-way stops work since there is no power in many areas still. (Side note: I’m glad she is ok, and that she doesn’t seem to have suffered too badly from the storm…).
So I started ranting on her blog about how other drivers are really pissing me off.
First some back story…
When Isobel was born, well, actually a few months before, we decided that we really should break down and get a car. I’d been putting it off forever. I’m a public transit kind of guy. I can’t stand stop & go traffic, and can’t abide paying so much for gas, when there is a perfectly usable (albeit, late & slow) bus to take. Sure the transit system could REALLY use improvement, but that is another rant.
Now however, we were having a daughter, and with all the travelling we’d be doing with her, and her entourage (diaper bags, strollers, toys, etc) taking the bus or cabs would really, really suck ass.
So I found a guy who was recommended by a friend who helps first time car buyers find what they need. I know nothing about cars (except push peddle, make go). So he really helped us find a car… Nice little 2003 Nissan Sentra. Not awesome, but it gets the job done.
So, since then I’ve had to deal with driving around almost every weekend, especially since we are/were looking at getting a house (we are delaying a year to build up a larger down payment). Now, Nova Scotia isn’t historically known for asshole drivers. In fact, generally, our drivers a pretty good. But as the saying goes, it only takes one fuck-nut to ruin it for everyone, and there seem to be more and more fuck-nuts every day.
Tail Gaiters…
I can’t even count the number of times in the last 6 months that I have been tailgated while driving the speed limit, not 5 km/h below it, but at it or even slightly above it. These dicks seem to think I’m going too slow for them, forget the big fucking sign in my back window saying “Baby on Board”, forget the empty lane beside me, no, they need to tailgate my ass to show their displeasure of me DRIVING THE FUCKING SPEED LIMIT!
I swear, sometimes I wish Isobel and Rhonda weren’t in the car so I could tap the break and laugh as they cry about having to pay for not only the repairs to their $60k+ SUV, but also to my POS Nissan Sentra. Insurance companies and the law don’t take kindly to tailgaters, a good driver should always put enough distance between themselves and the car ahead to be able to stop in time. Increase that distance in poor weather, and at higher speeds.
When these dicks actually do pass me they like to honk their horn, scowl or give me the finger. FUCK YOU. I can guarantee that will happen on the Circumferential Highway in Dartmouth, it is like it is the HRM’s Autobahn, everyone who seems to be one it (well, a good 75%) seem to have no idea that it is 80km/h.
On Blinkers & Lane Changing…
It really isn’t hard, no really, if you are changing lanes or turning a corner, use you fucking blinker. Not just as you do it either, give the person behind you warning that you are about to cut them off, cause god (or the flying spaghetti monster) knows you can’t actually be bothered to check to see if someone is there or not… And just because it is obvious that you are taking a turn (you are in the turning lane) doesn’t mean you don’t have to signal. The people across from you can’t see the fucking turning lane arrows!
Speeding…
Yes, I know, you are very busy, your time is precious, your poor baby $100k SUV doesn’t like being in the rain, but there are other people on the road, and no matter how much you wish we weren’t, you still can’t go any faster than the person ahead of you (re: tailgaters"), no really, it actually IS impossible. Oh, and swerving in and out of traffic is a sure way to fuck your SUV up, and kill a few kids while your at it.
If you do need to speed, at least have respect for the other drivers on the road, sure, go fast, kill yourself if that’s what you really want, but do so in a way that you don’t kill me or my family. If there are 3 lanes, then speed in the one furthest from the rest of the drivers on the road.
Better yet, save yourself some money and slow the fuck down!!! The difference between 90km/h and 120km/h (or 20km/hr slower that you usual speed) is something like a savings of 30% fuel. So instead of costing $350 to go 500kms, it’ll only cost that tank of yours (tank as in the beast of an SUV) $245.
Miscellaneous…
Other notes… Look before you change lanes, to be sure that there isn’t actually somewhere there… not in your blind spot even, but right beside you, in plain sight, honking at you, Jerk.
Get off the fucking cell phone! There is a law now that forbids you from using it whilst driving! Its not a suggestion, and holding your hand over it so no one notices, or leaning your head against the window next to your seat belt is FUCKING OBVIOUS! GROW THE FUCK UP! There are countless studies showing that cell phone usage causes the accident rate to go up substantially! FYI: A recent study showed texting while driving was more dangerous than driving while under the influence of Pot.
Ok.. I’m done for now.. Thin I’ll submit this to The Coast to see if they’ll print it… They print expletives all the times, So hopefully this isn’t too crude for them.