| ROAD RAGE (are you guilty of this?) |
| When you're out driving, are you conscientious? Are you fully aware that once you drive off your own property, you are sharing the roadways with others? Does this little fact of life sit well with you? Or is every other driver on the road "in your way?" Your competition to reach some imaginary finish line? When other drivers make an error (which everyone does at one time or another), do you shrug it off, or do you lose your temper? Do you speed up and tailgate the other vehicle, aiming to teach the driver a lesson for cutting you off or whatever his crime of the moment happened to be? Does this sound like you? If so, PAY ATTENTION! This may be one of the most important things you ever read. First of all, I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but YOU DO NOT OWN THE ROAD. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and part of earning that privilege involves sharing the streets and highways with others. Sure, at times it's no fun, but that's life. Secondly, what are you trying to prove by such a childish exhibition? What are you accomplishing besides making an ass of yourself? You're acting like a baby in diapers. "Waaahhhhh ... that guy cut me off! He can't do that! THIS IS MY LANE!!!" Oh, boo-hoo. Spare me. If this is the most you ever have to worry about, you're pretty damned lucky. Third, there's a name for this behavior. It's called road rage. And it is EXTREMELY illegal. It has (unfortunately) become so prevalent in our society that law enforcement officials are now trained to spot the signs of aggressiveness behind the wheel and take appropriate action, which means at the very least a ticket which you may not be able to afford either financially or in terms of points. Or, at worst, arrest. Maybe even conviction for attempted murder or even murder! Yes, it has happened! YOU'LL SPEND 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN JAIL BECAUSE SOMEBODY INADVERTENTLY CUT YOU OFF. Brilliant! Are you combative when you drive? If so, it only takes a few small steps to get from mere anger to physical assault, and then you're in trouble. If the other person is hurt, you're in more trouble. If the other person is hurt seriously, you're in deeper trouble. If the other person is hurt fatally, your life as you know it is over, too. And don't say it can't happen to you. It certainly can, if you act like an infant when you drive. Dissuaded yet? Or are these words making absolutely no impression? Well, if they didn't convince you, maybe this will ... NEXT TIME IT COULD BE YOU WHO GETS THE WORST OF IT! CONCLUSION |