Cruisers: Sunday Cruisers and the Big House

Not that I am a speeder, but I am going to be the speeder’s advocate today. Why do people who drive 20 mile per hour pull out from a side street, road, alley, or parking lot into high volume traffic?  Should these people be charged, convicted, and hurled to the big house? Maybe this is a bit extreme, but it is something to brood on. Nevertheless, I call them Sunday cruisers. I do not understand why these cruisers make irrational judgments, especially when the lives of others are at stake. I know I am probably speaking of someone’s grandmother and grandfather, mother and father, or aunt and uncle who are considered the Sunday cruiser. After all, my father is the Sunday cruiser and my mother is the speed demon (Go mom!).

I am not sure if the big house is the answer; I am sure it is not, but I had a crazy driving episode recently that forced me to ponder with the idea.

 I consider myself a cautious and defensive driver; after all, I am constantly maneuvering through the rural roads, highways, and interstates of the Carolinas. So using caution is a must because it helps me counteract unwise drivers, oh! I mean Sunday cruisers.

This past Sunday, I was driving 55miles per hour in a 55miles per hour zone through miles of greenery and earth when suddenly out of a diminutive, warped side street a car slowly entered my path. It was a dark gray Lincoln Continental with shiny rims and lightly tinted windows. The thoughtless driver was completely stopped at the narrow side street. When I was at least 20 feet from passing the narrow road, the cruiser pulled out. Swiftly, I slammed on the brake pedal and swirled to the left of the road. Luckily for both cars, the ‘coast was clear.’ I  could tell the driver saw me because the nose of my car was almost in the back seat of his. I was fuming. At first chance, I passed the unhurried dark gray machine.

 This situation could have turned out disastrous if I had not been driving defensively. Even if people make eye contact with one another, never assume that the other sees. Knowing the environment and situation are a plus when driving. Perhaps the big house is not the answer, but entertaining the thought is consoling.

I wanted to share my angry driving story. Care to share: what is your driving story?

Note to self: Never assume that a driver sees you.