Bad Driving or Just Lost?

If there’s one thing on a lot of people’s pet peeve list it would be bad drivers. Sure they are dangerous and can potentially cause accidents, but most people just experience extreme frustration and angst. But you ever stopped to think why a person may suck so bad at driving?

When I see a car that is driving really slow and sort of all over the road, I start to get the rage. WFT??!?? I’m late and I’m pissed and it’s the fault of the person in front of me. Well not really, but that’s how I feel. Then just as I pass the person, I get ready to flip the bird, ; oh, it’s an old lady. Well now I understand. Poor lady probably worries if every day is going to be her last. She doesn’t need me flicking her off and acting like the young always in a rush never experiencing life jerk that I am. So I move on to the next victim.

Experiences like that got me thinking. What if you could tell right away why a driver was sucking all over the road? What if there was some message or sign a person could have on their car as to why so much suck was pouring out of their car? For example, you know that school buses suck. Not only do they drive slow but they stop like every nine feet and they have their own freaking stop sign. I need my own stop sign. But that’s not the point. The point is, you see a bus and you automatically know that you’re going to be a bit delayed and although it won’t be the most pleasurable experience, you don’t get frustrated.

I think there would be a lot less road rage if we could somehow convey why we are driving so bad. For example if you were driving and someone said to you, “I’m driving really slow because I’m looking for a parking spot.” You might think to yourself, “oh, well then that’s why you keep putting your break on.”

See there? Didn’t that feel good. You know they aren’t deliberately trying to piss you off, they’re just trying to park. You can relate to that right? So let them park. Or what if someone was driving along and they say to you, “I’m completely lost and looking for a road.” You’d probably say, “well shit, what road are you looking for? I might be able to help.” What a great response that was. This doesn’t sound anything like road rage, and that’s my point. All you need is some basic information as to why a person is sucking all over the road and your perspective and ultimately your blood pressure changes.

Now there will be times when a person says, “I have no excuse, flip me off and honk.” Then you let them have it. But how often do you really think this happens? Most people have legitimate reasons and many are the same reasons you use when you’re sucking all over the road. Oh yes, whether you want to admit it or not, you suck at driving from time to time. Don’t believe me, ask your mother or spouse. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Told you.

So how are we going to fix this. We know that most road rage comes from misunderstandings. People are sucking all over the road for legitimate reasons and once you know them you may empathize, but even more you may actually offer to help. So how are we going to get these messages across to other drivers?

Enter the electronic see-through message board. These are very similar to the see-through decals you see on the sides of city buses and the back window of the cab of some pickup trucks. If that idea works with a painted image, why can’t it work with small lights?

So you put that puppy in your back window and you now have the power to type any message you want to your fellow commuters. Take for example, “I’m sorry, I’m lost.” That would be a nice message to write. Or how about “I’m looking for parking.” See? Now you know that they aren’t sucking, they’re searching. It all makes sense now and you don’t feel like taking a tire iron to anyone’s head. The world is right again.

Unfortunately I don’t sell these, nor do I know where to get them. But if you read this and can make them, then let me know. Because I’m going to be that guy who uses his to piss others off instead of writing whatever boring messages you people are going to write.

“I’m looking for parking.”…”Well I”m trying to get home, so park somewhere else, ASS.”