The Philosophy of Driving

It doesn't matter what god you worship, what political ideology that you prescribe to, who you love or even what kind of car you drive, one thing that unites everyone across America and possibly around the world is the belief that they are an above-average driver.

I'm not kidding. Even if they say up front that they're a "terrible driver", deep down inside they believe that they know how to properly, and even more than competently operate a motor vehicle. And that's when you should be worried.

For you see, dear reader, I love driving. I love seeing the sights as they whiz past me at 45 to 70 miles an hour. I love seeing large cityscapes sprawl across my line of vision like I'm discovering them for the first time, even if I see it on a daily basis. I love taking in the city lights as I roll down the main street of one of our fine metropolitan areas here in Michigan. I've even found myself going on aimless drives just to see and experience what there is out there. I've said it many times before: I am quite possibly the most comfortable behind the wheel of my car, and I mean it. That's not to say that I'd take the pilot's seat over a comfy bed or living room with a few of my friends, though.

What makes me sad, frustrated, and otherwise disappointed is the ineptitude of certain people out on the road, and I like to refer to these people as "pedestrians behind the wheel", who either slept through driver's training and the extent of their knowledge about cars is limited to "skinny pedal make go, fat one make stop", or are really that stupid. For reference, I give to you, dear reader, the majority of the city of Ann Arbor, especially on game day for U of M.

My view of the average denizen of Ann Arbor is more or less a cynical one: self-important and fearless pedestrians who think that just because they have the right of way gives them the right, nay, entitles them to walk in front of traffic, regardless of the location or, often times, whether or not they are walking into oncoming traffic. I don't give two shits if you got your freakin' bachelor of sciences in communications from the University of Michigan, you don't walk in front of a car. Apparently, they don't teach basic self-preservation at U of M-Ann Arbor.

But the worst thing of all, even going above and beyond the dumbass pedestrians going across the street is when said dumbass pedestrian gets behind the wheel and thinks they can drive based on the fact that they have a license to do so. I could almost feel my blood boil when I tried going through an intersection when some jackass decided to pull out through into the intersection despite the fact that his lane was full. At that point, I was searching my car for things that I had but didn't necessarily need that I'd be willing to part with to get the message across that he messed up one of the most important rules of city driving: if your lane is full, DON'T PULL INTO THE INTERSECTION.

It's not that hard. If I can get even one person, one person to be a little more mindful of their driving habits and think while they're behind the wheel, I will be a lot less aggravated on the road and will enjoy my driving experience a lot more, and you will too. Driving doesn't have to be a chore. It can be a fun, enjoyable experience where you can share music, converse freely, sight see, and relax on those open stretches of the road.

And that's my view.