Upon my return to the United States I wondered if I would still be able to hit the horn when I really needed to, and thanks to those here in Southern California who clearly do not know red means stop, I now know I am able.
My most recent use of the horn to alert another driver of her potential to create hate and discontent was accidental. I advanced up a hill in the center lane on our way to the grocery store. My daughter sat beside me. Both the right and left lanes were packed, and moving at about 45 mph. The car in front of me was moving so slowly the dead lice were falling off of it. Too, its brake lights came on repeatedly for no apparent reason. I couldn’t see the top of the driver’s head. I told my daughter it was probably a little old lady and held my discontent in check accordingly.
The left lane opened up with no other cars behind, and I took it. As we passed the slow car, my daughter looked at the driver and announced, “She’s not old; she’s reading a book!”
I slowed to let her ahead of me. Per my habit, I went to hit the steering wheel. My hand slipped and hit the horn instead. At the same time I noticed a large rock in the right-hand part of my lane, and slowed a bit more to safely get around it –- and it's a good thing I did because my honk sent the reading driver into a panic and into my lane. Her left front wheel hit the rock, which was big enough to cause her car to heave a bit and land with a thud.
Her book took flight within the car and she slammed on the brakes. Anticipating this, I already had my hazard lights on for any traffic that might have come up behind me. Even at a distance I could feel the driver’s panic as she looked around and regained a sense of where she was and what was going on around her.
She took a slow left onto a side street and parked. I came up behind her, got out, and approached her car. I gently knocked on the window. A 30-something woman was sitting behind the wheel. I asked her if she was all right. Her voice trembled. “I have no idea what just happened.” I said, “I think that’s because you thought you were at the library.”
Article comments
1 - Condor
Spot on.
I drive a lot. It’s part of my work. Most of it is interstate. Cell phones are a problem for drivers; I see it everyday. I also see the two-handed talkers (steering with the knee I presume). I see the make-up applicators, two handed with the mirror adjusted for a detailed look at the eyeliner. I see the carloads of socializing peers, music loud, laughing, dodging through traffic, tailgating, and distracted soccer moms on the cell phone. All of them multi-tasking and really not paying rapt attention nor practicing any sort of reliable situational awareness. It’s scary. I quit riding motorcycles (old BMW’s) after 42 years because of all the inattention that was passing me by, like I was standing still. Do I talk on the phone when driving. Yes, but never for more than a minute or two and only very occasionally. And, yes it does distract me. A few miles may pass me by and I don’t really recall what just transpired. Part of it is fatigue, but I would venture to say that distraction is the detraction from what I should be doing… and that is. Paying attention to driving at speed, without causing any harm, or damage to other motorists, or myself. BTW, wear your seatbelts dummies!
2 - Ruvy
A lot of the locals here use a speakerphone in the car to argue over the price of some item or try to cut some kind of deal (Israelis are always trying to cut some kind of deal, somehow, but I digress), but a lot don't. I tramped a ride home with a guy who spent the whole trip on the cell phone trying to set up some kind of party for selling stuff.
Don't ask me about the Nimrods who would clog up the drive-thru at BK while chatting on the phone.
I'm just grateful I don't drive. All of the worst in my nature would come out on the road here.
3 - Scot
Diane,
"She's not old; she's reading a book!" You have really touched on a subject that most anyone driving today can relate to. Here in Houston, people not only read while driving, they also text message, change clothes, and eat an entire spread of food from the passenger seat. Since moving here a few years ago from Maine, I've seen more rear ends than I have in the last thirty five years of driving.
Of course when people are not mindful of driving, rather erratic behavior becomes commonplace. "I'm in the far left hand lane of the freeway, but I just remembered I need to take that exit." Not a problem. Just zip four lanes to the right in front of oncoming traffic and squeeze by the crash barrier. When people get rear ended here, they call it "getting blue toothed."
Scot
4 - Joanne Huspek
Oh, this hits home. I try not to do anything in my car but drive. Oh, I should take that back. I'm trying to learn Japanese in my car. Damn it.