It must be understood that I am a GOOD driver, while anyone of whose driving I disapprove is understood to be a BAD driver.
Given these boundaries, see if you've noticed the same sort of things I have.
Today, I'm going to discuss the way people pass other cars.
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Stay right: Pass left |
You may have noticed that not every driver follows these guidelines. Those who do are henceforth to be known as Polite Passers.
I've categorized a number of people I consider to be unsafe, impolite or otherwise unkempt in the passing lane.
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Upset Driver |
Maybe worse than the Divide and Conquer Passers are the Blitzkrieg Passers. (Although the technique is not wrong in itself, it's the speed at which it's done to which I object.) These folks attack a line of cars like it's their job, once again zooming up on the rearmost car, but then, maybe signaling and maybe not, zipping into the left lane for a long, fast run past all other cars in the right lane until there are no more. This is even more nerve-wracking on a two-lane highway, as these nuts cut it to the last second, making oncoming cars consider diving for the right side ditch to avoid a head-on collision. The Blitzkrieg Passer is going to defeat the enemy decisively, all at once, in one attack. This driver usually cruises along at around 20 mph above the speed limit. The best thing that can be said for him is he'll soon be gone.
Perhaps worse than the Blitzkrieg Passer is the FAIL Passer. This fellow just has to pass. If you're in the left lane attempting to do a bit of Blitzkrieg passing (at legal speeds, of course, because you're a responsible driver and everyone else is inexplicably moving at snail speed) he'll come up on your butt and let you know he wants you to MOVE -- NOW!
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Advice Mallard says, "Get over and let them pass!" |
Better pass him, too, or he'll do it all again.
The final category of passer I've noticed is the Sudden Surpriser. This guy is going along innocently in the right lane, and somebody decides to pass him, when -- SURPRISE! He darts out in front of them with inches to spare, causing a long line of red brake lights to appear as he soars into the left lane and down the road, blithely ignoring the angry honks and gestures in his wake. These passers are the worst. You don't see them coming. They could be literally anybody -- the cop in front of you; the semi truck tooling up the hill; the little old lady you saw last week in church.
You must suspect everyone in the right lane of being a potential Sudden Surprise Passer.
It's enough to make us Polite Passers stay home.
Pass this on to your friends. The life you save could be mine.
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The Life You Save Could Be Mine! |
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