Driving to Portland always proves to be a stressful experience. It makes me realize how many people should not be driving. Simply put: Oregonians, you are bad drivers. Not all of you, of course. There have been several occasions where people have given me a friendly wave to signal that I can pull ahead of them. Or a thank-you wave when I let them in. The number of these polite occurrences is fairly small, though.
I have been driving for seven years and consider myself a fairly good driver. I have a clean driving record, minus when I got pulled over the very first week of receiving my license. The officer told me that I was driving recklessly and I politely argued that I had to turn in order to make it to the DQ. So be it if the car I “cut” in front of had to tap his brakes a little. I believe he was being dramatic and just wanted to get me into trouble. You live and learn, I guess.
Today I’m usually a cautious driver, aware of my surroundings and am constantly checking my mirrors. I try to avoid talking on my cell phone and, if I must, I turn the speakerphone on. I keep both hands on the wheel, none of that “look I can steer with my knees just fine, relax.” And I keep a nice cushion of space from the car in front of me.
I’ve been to different countries and different states where, for the most part, people obey traffic signs. They understand that the left lane on the freeway is for passing only. The autobahn in Germany works like a well-oiled machine: two lanes of traffic that flow smoothly unless you’re near a city during rush-hour. You better not be dawdling along in that left lane. Drivers will flash their brights at you as they are approaching at 200 kph, so you want to get over real quick. California drivers can be aggressive, but at least they pay attention. They have some idea of what they are doing. But I swear, I come back to Oregon from a trip and the drivers are worse.
Hopefully you fall into the category of courteous Oregon drivers who are polite and patient and pay attention. But if you’re not, listen up. Again, the left lane on the freeway is for passing only. Do not proceed to hum along in the left lane, going 60 miles per hour while there are two empty lanes next to you. Get over.
Last Sunday I was behind a woman driving a blue minivan who would not move over. She was going under the speed limit, and I had about 10 cars behind me wondering why I wasn’t flashing my brights at her or riding her ass. I try to avoid doing this, so I was hopeful she would get the clue and switch lanes. She didn’t, and I passed her on the right. As I drove by her, I signaled she should, you know, get over. She still didn’t.
It’s also annoying when people don’t use their blinkers. I’ll be driving along and all of the sudden the car in front of me makes a sudden, unexpected turn. No warning, nothing. All you see is the brake lights. Use your blinker people, especially in a town like Eugene where there are so many bikers out and about.
Slow people on the road aren’t the only ones who annoy me. Fast, impatient drivers who have no consideration for the speed limit and pass you at flying speeds have me wishing they will get pulled over and slapped with a fat ticket. Do they think I don’t wish I could drive faster as well? A speed-limit of 65 mph is laughable in other countries. I believe that it’s a money-market in
Oregon. It’s not for our safety; the government keeps the speed limit low because they know people will not obey it.
Unfortunately, it’s the law, so you should be following it. Not to say I go exactly 65 mph on the freeway because I don’t. Ten miles over the speed limited is pushing it, but that seems to be a comfortable and safe speed.
There are other everyday occurrences that have me wondering what on earth people are thinking when they are driving, if they are at all. People who take 10 tries to back out of a parking space, people who look like they are half-asleep, about to fall forward on the steering wheel or people who cut you off and then proceed to make an abrupt turn a moment later.
I’ve heard it said from friends that Oregonians are the worst drivers, and I agree. There’s a mentality here that is unmatched anywhere else I have been. Either drivers are floating along in their cars with no idea what’s going on around them (like when an ambulance suddenly “appears” behind them and their faces twist in sheer terror) or they are rude and aggressive to all those around them.
I say slow down (or speed up if you’re one of those sluggish drivers), pay attention and let someone out in front of you today. They probably won’t acknowledge your kind gesture – that’s wishful thinking – but at least you’ll know you did a nice thing.
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