Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I've posted here, what with all of
my projects with Carrie Underwood, and stuff like that. But, I can't
help but opine on a couple of "road rage" incidents which have occurred
these past two days.
Yesterday, I was on my way home when I saw a car waiting patiently to
turn left and enter my lane of traffic. They were waiting and waiting
and waiting so I thought I'll just keep cruising along. Dopey me! They
decided to pull in front of me, causing me to slam on my brakes. I
rarely honk my horn since there is really no point anymore. People seem
to give a car horn about as much credence as a car alarm sounding ad
nauseum. So I honked my horn anyway since I was giving in to my baser
instincts to convey my disdain. The other driver immediately put on
their brakes and came to a complete stop, causing me to now steer around
them. I proceeded while muttering under my breath the word "stupid."
So I now continued on my "merry way." Then, two mile later, who drives
up to the side of my car but this very same driver who had been
following me the whole time. Hmmm, I was thinking I was now going to
have to call the police. Is this person challenging me to a duel? I
really don't have time for this type of aberant behavior. He seemed to
be content just to make it known that he dislikes horns, with a passion.
Incident number 2 was this morning. I was now driving to work and the
same situation arose, albeit with a different driver. Truck merges into
my lane and, once again, I need to slam on my brakes. The difference is
this morning, I did not sound my car horn. Fewer potential life threats I
thought. So now I am right upon the tail end of this truck and,
apparently in their mind, I did not offer them enough graciousness with
space for their needs. They also slow down to approximately 5 mph, so I
changed lanes to go around them. I see the light is yellow and I was
thinking, darn it. Oh, well. Then I see them floor it and run the red
light. Question to you all: Is it really that important for this person
to try to impede my progress, and they have to run the red light, merely
to make some misguided point?
Attention drivers: Here is the definition of "right-of-way" as defined
by the city code of Elko, Nevada (per Google search): "Right of way"
means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful
manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under
such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to
danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
The connection I am making, in this context, is what is it about certain
people who feel their needs (their right-of-way) takes precedence over
another's? Everyone cannot simultaneousl have the right of way anymore
than everyone can have their own morality. This is what I have often
referred to as moral relativism. Likewise, this could be seen as
right-of-way relativism. It's something we should all think about, and
maybe we can avoid some accidents while driving ourselves and our loved
ones about town.
