I hope this will be an ongoing spot here. I have every intention of finding the nutjobs in every city I visit so I can post blogs about them. Just to make the rest of us realize that the entire nation is one big crazy place and that our little holes in the wall might not be so bad.
So here is one from my travels last week:
Location: I-77 Southbound Rest Area in Parkersburg, PA
Date/Time: 7/21/20 8:50pm ish.
Looked up from jotting notes about this particular new blog idea to see a white male standing outside of his vehicle at the end of the ramp leading back to the interstate. Id guess he was in his late 30's wearing light blue denim jean shorts and a neon green t-shirt. His white minivan did not have his hazards on. Nothing looked wrong with his vehicle. He was just parked there and pacing outside of his van. Didnt approach vehicles that were leaving the rest area, passing him within feet, and getting back onto interstate. What he DID do was wait for the big rigs to drive by and pump his fist furiously in the universal sign begging trucks to blow their horns. He did this to every passing truck. Got a good response, too. I watched him for about 10 minutes, periodically making notes about his behavior, then looked up to find he had totally disappeared. Drove off. I still have no clue what the point of it was. If its therapeutic, maybe Ill try it next time I pull off the road.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Road Rules
Another basic entry that I need to just get out of the way.
There are some basic rules of the road that are unwritten but need to be learned by everyone. And Im going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume that they haven't picked up on them and nobody was around to teach them properly.
Rule #1 KEEP RIGHT unless passing. The left lane is to be used as a passing lane. It is also considered the "fast lane", but one should consider the fact that there is ALWAYS someone that wants to go faster. I believe if someone wants to go 90 mph in a 65 zone, let em go. I call them my "decoys".
Rule #2 Keep right unless passing. Ok, so Ive repeated myself. I cannot say how badly this annoys me to be stuck behind someone going only the speed limit and trapping me there. If you cant pass the person on the right with enough speed to be equal to those already traveling in the left lane-then stay put.
Rule #3 Do not tailgate the person in front of you EVEN IF they are in the left lane IF they are not the cause of the jam up. Tailgating me will not make me go any faster because I cannot go any faster due to the idiot in front of me and will just piss me off and make me brake check you. (Road rage part of this blog)
Rule #4 Keep in mind that there are those of us that use the highways as our office building. I dont come to your place of business and jump in front of you at the copier machine or steal your shovels and jackhammers-let me do my job. Let big trucks do theirs as well. Most big rigs will keep left and only pass when they have to. Let them pass. If at night, blink your lights at them to let them know they can get over. They will generally flash theirs back at you in thanks.
Rule #5 The speed limit. Yes, its supposed to be the "limit". A police officer friend of my philosophy professor relayed to us that drivers can get away with 10 mph over the limit on the highway. I use that as my guidepost. And I HAVE passed troopers on the side of the road while going that fast and not been pulled. May have been dumb luck, but the last time I got a ticket was for doing 14 over the speed limit when I wasnt paying attention. If you look around, most people keep it at 10 over as well. If you are going LESS than the speed limit..... well, Id prefer you to not be on the interstate at all.
Rule #6 Turn signals are not optional equipment. Use them.
Rule #7 Dont pass on the right. I will likely floor it to ensure you cant pass me on the right if you had an opportunity to pass on the left. Also, be aware of the car parallel to you that is two lanes over. If you both head to the middle lane at the same time its not a pretty outcome.
Rule #8 Expect karma to be instantaneous as well as the possibility that anything you do can haunt you for miles down the road. Good karma, bad karma- its up to you, really.
Im sure there are tons of things Im forgetting, but I think Ive probably hit enough nerves with this list. Now that Ive said them, I can move on to happier things... like crazy people. :)
There are some basic rules of the road that are unwritten but need to be learned by everyone. And Im going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume that they haven't picked up on them and nobody was around to teach them properly.
Rule #1 KEEP RIGHT unless passing. The left lane is to be used as a passing lane. It is also considered the "fast lane", but one should consider the fact that there is ALWAYS someone that wants to go faster. I believe if someone wants to go 90 mph in a 65 zone, let em go. I call them my "decoys".
Rule #2 Keep right unless passing. Ok, so Ive repeated myself. I cannot say how badly this annoys me to be stuck behind someone going only the speed limit and trapping me there. If you cant pass the person on the right with enough speed to be equal to those already traveling in the left lane-then stay put.
Rule #3 Do not tailgate the person in front of you EVEN IF they are in the left lane IF they are not the cause of the jam up. Tailgating me will not make me go any faster because I cannot go any faster due to the idiot in front of me and will just piss me off and make me brake check you. (Road rage part of this blog)
Rule #4 Keep in mind that there are those of us that use the highways as our office building. I dont come to your place of business and jump in front of you at the copier machine or steal your shovels and jackhammers-let me do my job. Let big trucks do theirs as well. Most big rigs will keep left and only pass when they have to. Let them pass. If at night, blink your lights at them to let them know they can get over. They will generally flash theirs back at you in thanks.
Rule #5 The speed limit. Yes, its supposed to be the "limit". A police officer friend of my philosophy professor relayed to us that drivers can get away with 10 mph over the limit on the highway. I use that as my guidepost. And I HAVE passed troopers on the side of the road while going that fast and not been pulled. May have been dumb luck, but the last time I got a ticket was for doing 14 over the speed limit when I wasnt paying attention. If you look around, most people keep it at 10 over as well. If you are going LESS than the speed limit..... well, Id prefer you to not be on the interstate at all.
Rule #6 Turn signals are not optional equipment. Use them.
Rule #7 Dont pass on the right. I will likely floor it to ensure you cant pass me on the right if you had an opportunity to pass on the left. Also, be aware of the car parallel to you that is two lanes over. If you both head to the middle lane at the same time its not a pretty outcome.
Rule #8 Expect karma to be instantaneous as well as the possibility that anything you do can haunt you for miles down the road. Good karma, bad karma- its up to you, really.
Im sure there are tons of things Im forgetting, but I think Ive probably hit enough nerves with this list. Now that Ive said them, I can move on to happier things... like crazy people. :)
What its all about
What I will be doing here:
Raging about other drivers, pet peeves, and general miscellaneous things yet to be determined.
Raving about quick detour drives and scenic locations that are worth getting off the interstate for. With pictures.
Revealing the philosophy of drivers, me, and maybe even the country as a whole as I drive through random cities throughout the US.
I will probably be way too wordy, slightly sarcastic, and incredibly analytical.
I pass through quickly, but I see and examine quite a bit while there. Unless Ive been on the road for a couple of days in a row, then I just want a nice truck stop and some peace.
I hope to also post some tips, information, and ideas that will be good for everyone everywhere.
And Im highly suggestible, so feel free to tell me where to go. Maybe I should rephrase that? :)
Welcome to anyone who finds me and sticks around to read. I dont expect alot, but a place to jot some thoughts down and maybe get some like minds to discuss them with. Thanks for stopping by!
Raging about other drivers, pet peeves, and general miscellaneous things yet to be determined.
Raving about quick detour drives and scenic locations that are worth getting off the interstate for. With pictures.
Revealing the philosophy of drivers, me, and maybe even the country as a whole as I drive through random cities throughout the US.
I will probably be way too wordy, slightly sarcastic, and incredibly analytical.
I pass through quickly, but I see and examine quite a bit while there. Unless Ive been on the road for a couple of days in a row, then I just want a nice truck stop and some peace.
I hope to also post some tips, information, and ideas that will be good for everyone everywhere.
And Im highly suggestible, so feel free to tell me where to go. Maybe I should rephrase that? :)
Welcome to anyone who finds me and sticks around to read. I dont expect alot, but a place to jot some thoughts down and maybe get some like minds to discuss them with. Thanks for stopping by!
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