To My Fellow East Coast Commuters:
The next time you get in your car, after you've turned the car on, but while it is still in park, take a good look at your steering mechanism. That's the round wheel-like thing. See it? Good. Now, take another look, see that longish handle sticking out to the side? Yeah?
That stick? It's like magic.
Don't believe me? Push it up. See? See it? There, on your dash. See it blinking? I know! Now push it all the way down. Oh my God, it's blinking on the other side now! Holy shit, right? If you like that, you aren't going to believe this. Get out of the car, no, don't turn it off, just leave it in park and get out for a second. Go around to the front. Check it out, Homey, it's blinking there, too! Now, reach into the car, and push the stick all the way up again. Got it? Good. Now go to the back and see what's changed. It's blinking on the other side! Whoa. Is your mind as blown as mine right now?
"Has that always been there?", you ask. Yes, since around the 1940's, believe it or not. As a matter of fact, it's standard in most cars.
"Well, what's it for?" you say. "Tailgate parties? That's festive!"
And THIS is why I have high blood pressure.
Just use your turn signals, People! I can't read your minds!
Have a nice day.
Chicken out
And yet these people (who live in my fair province, too!) ALL got their drivers' licences somehow (well, except the ones driving without a license, I guess) ... my point is, how do we go from law-abiding, turn-signal-making, non-tailgate-ing, headlight-dimming, speed-limit-observing drivers at 16 years of age to THIS? I would have said, don't get me started, except it was too late :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny-had a feeling it wasn't limited to the West Coast, but I always think of Canada as one of those very courteous places where people wouldn't think of changing lanes without a turn signal. And, sadly, I do not know the answer to your question. I'm just glad that you, me and Doug use our turn signals. At least there are three of us. 4 if you count my step-mom. I'm pretty sure she probably does, too.
DeleteAs a former delivery driver with over a million miles in service behind the wheel of a 20 foot truck (on the West coast, but still) I bow low in respect to this post.
ReplyDelete-Doug in Oakland
Thanks Doug-it's one of those small things that cut down road rage by oh,50%? My road rage, at least. And rage is a strong word. My road rage consists of a jump in blood pressure, a cleansing sigh and a muttered, just barely audible to the naked ear, expletive. Unless they also cut me off.
DeleteIt's best to have an even temper if you drive a truck. I used to try to channel my rage into even more effort toward not harming any of the other motorists with the 19,000+ pounds of mass I was driving around in. Symptoms of said rage did include audible cursing and the chain smoking of Kool 100s...
Delete-Doug in Oakland