Driving Force

I have a theory about people and driving.  I am convinced that most people are secretly terrified of driving.  They don’t feel confident about their abilities and they greatly fear the other driver.  The reason I feel this way is because of the way people drive.  If you really look at other drivers behind the wheel you can see what I mean. 

You have your young drivers – those who have recently gotten their license.  They think they know everything about the road but know nothing.  They tear around as if they are the only ones on the road and God forbid you if you get in their way.  Then you have your middle age drivers who treat everyone else as if you have no right to be on the road at the same time they are.  They cut in front of you, don’t use their turn signals, and then give you the finger if they do something wrong.  Then you have your old aged drivers who have been driving for decades.  They don’t give a shit about anyone else and will drive in the passing lane 20 miles under the speed limit and dare you to do something. 

Each one of these people despite their seemingly bold actions, are afraid that they have no ultimate control of a 4,000 pound machine that could go awry at any moment.  They could lose control of the wheel, forget to turn where they should, or have someone else plow into them in a moment’s notice.  So in their defense they drive as if the car is driving them around and don’t pay any attention to the car’s demands of their attention.  Why else would they text, eat, shave, apply makeup, or read the paper while driving down the road.  They are afraid if they actually pay attention they might actually be in control of something.