Do Us All a Favor and Slow Down.

I used to drive all the time, a lot of it on the highway, and I've always had something of a lead foot. I was often frustrated when cars going slower than I would insist on staying in the left lane, slowing down me, most importantly, but also the overall flow of traffic. I would drive too close (at least for my own comfort) in an attempt to encourage them to switch lanes or when I had the chance I would speed by them on the right.

I don't know if its because I been driving less lately or because I'm becoming more relaxed the older I get, but on my last few road trips I've noticed that while I still have a lead foot, I’m the least of the crazy, speedy drivers on the road. With these folks on the road, I’m beginning to think driving on the highway is more dangerous than I had thought.

Whereas I would tail drivers when they were just in my way, with plenty of room on the road, not moving over simply because they were unaware they were holding other cars back (or so I assumed), drivers nowadays seem to be frustrated by driving conditions that cause everyone to drive slower. Trying to get around them doesn't actually work, but it does make the traffic conditions riskier.

Like when there's a line of cars in the left lane that is slowed down by some car in the front who should really move over. The line of cars is effectively waiting, but Mr. Impatient will speed into the right lane, drive all the way to the tail of the first car and then squeeze back into the left lane. This lane change happens with not nearly enough room and at way too fast a speed for the left lane traffic.

Or when there's heavy traffic on the road in both lanes. Realistically we're all going slower than we would like, but Mr. Speedy is so close I can't even see the grill on his car. If I have to make any kind of speed reduction there will be no way he can react fast enough to avoid rear ending me.

And for what? Moving forward three cars or saving ten minutes of travel time isn't worth the dangerous conditions being creating on the road. If you want to drive fast, find a country road or drive when there’s no traffic. If you're on the road with the masses, do us all a favor and slow down.