:: Driving me Crazy... ::

:: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 ::

I must be getting used to it - either that or more people have heard about this than I thought. Nobody cut me up. Nobody got in the way without a clearly valid reason to do so. Nobody sat on the exhaust pipe, or trundled into a high-speed traffic stream. I don't even remember seeing anyone talking on a hand-held phone.

Did I miss something?

Since there's nothing amusing I can tell you about, I'd like to express what might be an unpopular opinion. We all hate it, we've all seen it and been caught up in the effects, and we've all wished at one point or another that it was illegal. But when one truck overtakes another at 0.5mph speed difference, what the driver is doing is what they are paid to do. Get the goods from one place to another as quickly as possible, within the rules. Usually. I know it can foul up your journey, and with the competitive attitude of most drivers if you're in the wrong place it can cost you up to a minute or two because you can't get out into the outside lane. But in the end, it costs you a minute or two. These drivers are out there all day, every day, putting up with all the things I complain about and having to think further ahead because of the sheer mass they're moving. So give them a break, alright? They're highly trained, highly skilled and already looking out for you.
:: Gary 20.8.02 [+] ::
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I hear the UK Government is considering banning all mobile phones in the car. Maybe somebody's reading after all; but I think this might be going too far. If you're alone in a car, and it breaks down, you're vulnerable. Being able to lock the doors and call from inside would certainly make many people feel a bit more secure. And to be fair, I once used a phone without a hands-free kit while stuck in stationary traffic to tell the boss I was going to be late. As a result, the jam caused no stress, and no trouble. There are benefits to phones in cars, provided they're used responsibly. Here's a thought- build them into the car, and make them only operate if the handbrake is on... By accident I found a guide to three (American) types of Mobile Phone Drivers. Check this out. The post you're looking for is at the bottom.

Oh, and I saw our heroine from Friday again last night. The Clio was still travelling at 45mph on a 70mph road, with two lanes of traffic trying to get by.
:: Gary 20.8.02 [+] ::
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