Rant: Are some drivers deaf or just jerks?

[FastCarFan]

Good question, but no, it did not look like he was on the phone.

Someone said I need a better horn. That's interesting because I have considered putting air horns on the car (like I have on a couple of other cars I have owned).

I am not sure if it would have helped, but it sure wouldn't hurt.

By the way, I think my 911 has a pretty good horn.

[ChrisBennet]

I hope I don't come off sounding like a jerk (and I really don't want to) but do you suppose you might be able to modify your driving to avoid the situations that require the use of your horn?

I'm not saying you would do this but I'm sure you've seen drivers that when they think you are going to start to merge - they speed up to block you. And if you merge anyway, they honk their horn. Who's the jerk then?

I took a trip couple of months ago, drove across country and back with a friend and I don't remember using my horn even once. You look way ahead and anticipate as best you can, the actions of others. Brakes last longer too.

-Chris

[FastCarFan]

Chris -- I hear what you are saying, but I really don't think that is the problem.

In yesterday's example, it was a 4-lane road (2 lanes each direction), with virtually no traffic except me & the other car. I was traveling about 5-10 mph faster than he was.

As I was passing him in the left lane, about when my front bumper was even with his rear wheel, he decided to change lanes. Without signaling & without looking.

I immediately honked & he continued with his lane change -- no reaction whatsoever. If I had not braked hard, he would have hit me.

I don't think it was my problem. Heck, I was probably only going about 5 mph over the speed limit.

[genrex]

The other driver could have a psychological or psychiatric problem, either short-term or long-term, causing him to act impulsively and irrationally at the moment you tried to pass him. Maybe he's an alcoholic with anger issues, and just got fired from his job. Maybe he just got screwed in divorce court. Maybe he's on a psychotropic med that isn't working properly. Maybe he wanted to be first in line, to have that feeling of having the open road in front of him (all too common these days). There's all kinds of people on the roads..

[Noah930]

Had the exact same situation happen to me about 2 weeks ago on the highway. I think people have just become indifferent. They just don't care. And no, I didn't do the prickish maneuver you described, ChrisBennet. Next time it happens, I'm calling 911 and reporting a possible drunk. After all, why else would someone drive like that? Of course, that's not so easy to do when I'm on the motorcycle...

[wcc]

It's possible he was deaf. My Mother in Law is deaf and she drives.

[Jim727]

Grandpa's Advice

Verse 1
I remember Sunday drivin’ in my Grandpa’s car
Old songs on the radio; the smell of his cigar
Everybody d’ honk at him because he’d drive so slow
He’d just laugh and tell me, “Kid, here’s something you should know”

Chorus 1
They’re all jerks,
When you’re out here on your own
Just assume that everybody else is half-asleep or stoned
They’re all jerks,
And not a one knows how to drive
So you gotta pay attention to make it home alive
I’ll give you my philosophy, I guarantee it works
Repeat it after me, kid,
They’re all jerks.

Verse 2
He said, “They’ll let any fool with money buy himself a car
And you can get a license here, however dumb you are
Oh they all turn into hotrods when they slide behind the wheel
When you get old enough to drive, remember here’s the deal:”
Repeat Chorus 1

Verse 3
Twenty-five years later, I’ve got children of my own
And I do all the driving between school and work and home
Sometimes on the weekends we head out for the beach
Now with the kids strapped in the backseat now it’s my turn to teach
So everytime I’m cut off by some wise-guy in a truck
Or some hero in a sportscar whose gotta push his luck
I don’t get scared or angry, I just sing this little song
It always cheers me up to hear my children sing along

Chorus 2
They’re all jerks
When you’re out here on your own
Just assume that everybody else is drunk or on the phone
They’re all jerks,
Not a one knows how to drive
So you gotta pay attention to make it home alive
I’ll give you my philosophy, I guarantee it works
Repeat it after me, kids,
They’re all jerks
I said Repeat it after me, kids,
They’re all jerks