The Highway of Life
For the most part, I drive the speed limit. Okay, okay within 5 mph of the speed limit anyway. I was thrilled when the speed limit on Alabama interstate highways was raised to 70 mph a few years back because I had always found that pace to be a comfortable cruising speed. Add to that the 5 mph cushion that most cops will allow as a margin of error, and I never really felt the need to go much faster, especially with young drivers and drivers-to-be scrutinizing my every move from the backseat.
But yesterday while driving back from Orange Beach, it was brought home to me anew just how slowly I drive compared to my peers. On the way down during Thursday’s bad weather, most everyone exercised appropriate caution and slowed down for the dangerous conditions. But yesterday with a nearly cloudless sky and dry pavement the whole way, Interstate 65 suddenly resembled the backstretch at Talledega.
With the cruise set at 75 mph, I often would move into the passing lane, seemingly with plenty of time to spare, to move around a slower vehicle. Invariably, before I could complete the maneuver, I would be overtaken by a driver doing 85-90 mph who would then ride my bumper, sometimes with lights flashing annoyingly, until I moved back in the right lane.
Now the way I see it, I have two options here: a) I could move very quickly and apologetically back into the right lane, or b) I could take my good sweet time and wait several seconds and then very sloooowly move over, tipping my hat to the Dale Jr wannabe who seems so eager to swap a little paint with my ’98 Toyota minivan. Care to guess which option I exercised?
For me, it’s simply a matter of exerting a little bit of control over a life that is notoriously “nasty, brutish and short.” Who knows? Maybe the other drivers will even take the time to reconsider their actions and slow down enough to take in the scenery and smell the roses.
Heh.
So, when you’re traveling the highway of life, what do you do under those circumstances? Or, pray tell, are you the Dale Jr. wannabe with visions of checkered flags dancing in his head?
23 Comments
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Terri
Rubbin’ is racin’, Dude!
On I-65, I run way too fast and on the highway of life, I don’t stop to enjoy the scenery… I run way too fast. My mother stays on me about this, too. I’ll slow down for a while today and see how I do.
Jeff Slater
So, I’m not the only one who moves over ever…so…slowly to get out of the way of those who insist on driving offensively? Of course, the best thing is to see them pulled over by the State Police a few miles down the road. But I’ve only seen that a couple of times.
I have no problem moving over for faster-moving vehicles — that’s common courtesy, and I appreciate it when other drivers do that for me. But the jerks who get up on my bumper and flash their lights….. they’re going to have to wait a little bit for me to get out of their way.
reJoyce
Jeff’s answer could be pasted in here and be mine.
Ed
I think there is a fine line there because you don’t want to invoke an incident of road rage on the part of the other driver. It’s simply not worth it. Some of those folks absolutely don’t care what you think and how you drive, then they let you know it.
Mike the Eyeguy
Terri–I thought that was you in that black, F-150. 🙂
Jeff and reJoyce–the Alabama Highway Patrol never seems to be in the right place at the right time. But yes, it’s hard not to gloat a little on those rare occasions when they are.
Mike the Eyeguy
Ed–good point. I wonder what percentage of those folks are packing a piece? Probably a lot.
Brady
I’m telling you, get out of my way when I flash those brights at you. That IS being curteous. You think that’s annoying? Wait till I pull back in front of you and hit my brakes. And just try to get back around me…
The other day, the head of radars in our Canton was clocked at over 160 mph. He said he was just checking out the radars. The patrol cops didn’t buy it…
Mike the Eyeguy
Wow, Brady. Driving in Switzerland apparently makes I-65 look like a kiddie ride.
Did you bring that European style over to the states during sabbatical last summer? 🙂
Stoogelover
I am guilty of slowly moving over to the jerk. I’ve also been the jerk, w/ the flashing lights. Most of the time I try to be courteous in that driving in Los Angeles, courtesy can be a life saver … literally.
Mike the Eyeguy
I don’t mind at all getting over and letting the Dale Jr. wannabe by. The difference for me is whether he shows some patience and waits an appropriate distance behind me while I complete my passing while going 5mph over the speed limit (and hey, I’ll even speed up a little), or whether he tries to run me off the road.
Hal
I used to do the Dale, Jr. thing. Especially after I moved back here from living in Germany and driving on the Autobahn so many years. However, since I, too, now have “young drivers and drivers-to-be scrutinizing my every move from the backseat” I take it a little easier.
I agree with your last comment. My decision is usually based upon whether or not the driver behind me is being courteous. If so, I will usually return the favor and move over more quickly.
Mike the Eyeguy
There’s something about those German roads and German cars. Sometimes my little Audi goes faster than it should. I’ve been meaning to take it into the dealer to have that looked at.
bpb
I only get really upset when the driver is in the left-hand (passing) lane and going UNDER the speed limit. And oh, I get really upset then. I drive I65/I565 Monday – Friday and I usually set my cruise control on 78. It does irritate me when I’m obviously passing someone and someone gets on my tail in bumper to bumper traffic. I don’t know where they think we can go.
Mike the Eyeguy
If I65 is Talledega, then I565 is Daytona. Come 5:30pm headed west, completely insane.
Terri
Well, a judge once told me that you don’t get back in front of the slow person and slam on your brakes… you turn on the windshield washers and blow water all over them… I’m just sayin’.
Mike the Eyeguy
That’s a good one. I’m filing that one away for future use.
Jeff Slater
My wife does the washer fluid thing. Our minivan has a rear wiper/washer, so it is very effective.
Mike the Eyeguy
Bond. James Bond.
KS
You Huntsvillians have no idea about bad driving. I remember feeling like I was speeding in H-town while checking that I was only doing 72. Try Montgomery I go about 10 over just not to get run over.
Mike the Eyeguy
Well, my post was pertaining to my drive from Orange Beach to Huntsville which would of course include Montgomery.
KS
So you would know about it then. Another reason I miss Huntsville…
Matt Dabbs
I-65 between Birmingham and Huntsville is a crazy place to drive. I always dreaded that stretch when I was first learning how to drive.
Mike the Eyeguy
I think a lot of it comes from the independent gene which seems to express itself in most Southerners.
“Hell no, I ain’t a’brakin’!”