|
|
||||||||||||
|
Objects in Front of you are Closer Than They Appear Every day of my life is filled with run-ins with idiot drivers. A voyage so routine as a trip to the convenience store only 2 miles down the road can be turned into a test of my ability to control myself. Not flipping out becomes very difficult. If you share in my pain, stand fast, for revenge will come. Mine came just this past weekend on my way to visit an old roommate on the seacoast. I had just turned off from the highway (Interstate 89 to be specific) and I was heading up a hill that is two lanes. Like most of the roads in our state, two-laned hills such as this are one of the few chances that you have to pass the slow-moving drivers in the right lane. I
proceeded to move into the passing lane and had just downshifted to third
when I A few moments later as I was reaching the top of the hill I noticed afore-mentioned Tercel coming up behind me. At this time I was moving at a pretty good clip, 65 MPH or so, which means he was giving his Tercel all it had. Since I was approaching a red light and would have to stop soon anyways, I decided to move to the right lane and let him go by. At this time I was getting close to the stopped vehicles in front of me, so I began to brake myself to a stop. The Tercel, however, saw this is moment of weakness on my part. He had me right where he wanted me. As the Tercel proceeded to pass me on the left I saw the driver look over at me with a very satisfied look. He had won. The Tercel had prevailed. As he was glancing over at me I proceeded to point to the stopped cars that were about 25 feet in front of him. By the time he looked over to see what I was pointing at it was too late. The damp roads gave him no chance of stopping in time. His brakes locked up, he slid 20 or so feet, and POP! He smacked into the car in front of him which in turn smacked the car in front of it. A beautiful symphony of dominoes. As my light turned green I reflected upon what had just happened. I then spent the next 40 minutes of my trip laughing to myself. Green Tercel, I hope that you read this. And congratulations on your "victory." You sure showed me. |
|||||||||||
noticed a Toyota Tercel
coming up on the right. Apparently he was hoping to do the old
"pass on the right and cut you off technique" that has become oh
so popular in recent years. I, however, was in the proper passing
lane, so I showed him no mercy. He had to slow down and became stuck
behind a truck full of chicken coops. I can imagine that he wasn't
happy, but he shouldn't have tried to pass me on the right.