Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride

I am not alone in this. My grandfather, a granite man from St. Cloud, MN, had a biblical saying carved in granite that I saw every time I entered their lake cottage. It said what is often called the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Luke 6:31. Christian or not, I think we could all heed that message as we trundle through our daily lives. And yes, I have been described by some as a curmudgeon!

I am particularly reminded of this as I drive daily along Annapolis Road (Maryland Route 175) through Odenton. There was a time not so long ago that I casually glanced down at my speedometer and realized that I was travelling at 60 mph.  Whew! That is a solid 20 miles over the speed limit. My excuse? I was simply traveling with the flow of traffic. A few days later, I was nearly rear-ended as I quickly stopped for a traffic light at the 175/Maryland Route 32 intersection. The truck, which was travelling way too closely and way too fast, had to quickly swerve onto the right shoulder to avoid hitting me.

Yesterday there was an accident very near that same location. I came by sometime later, but there was still a heavily damaged car there waiting to be towed away. Based upon the significant damage to the front end, it was obvious that the driver was going well above the posted 40 mph speed limit. This is a town, our city, yet cars regularly travel at excessive, freeway speeds. I have been guilty. Have you?

It is not merely speed that is dangerous and downright rude. Most recently, I tried to turn into the new 7-Eleven near the Odenton traffic circle. While traveling in the right lane I had several cars in the left lane start inching—and in one case blatantly straddling the lanes—to impede my lane. Their purpose, apparently, was to ensure that I did not attempt to merge ahead of them into the circle.

I regularly see in Odenton drivers following too close (tailgating), cutting off drivers when changing lanes, failing to signal turns or lane changes, failing to grant rights-of-way, zooming through yellow (and even red) lights, and of course, driving while on the phone or texting. Don’t even get me started on that “only in Maryland” practice of Have I been guilty of these things?  Yes, though I can honestly say that it is rare.

So, why are we acting so aggressively?  I actually think that it has gotten worse in the five years I’ve lived here. Are we all late for meetings, to pick up our kids, or transporting an ill relative to the hospital? Or is it that we just have to get home in time to catch the latest Jersey Shore episode?  Perhaps in some cases, but I doubt it. Rather, I think that we’ve all been programmed to transition quickly to the “next thing,” whatever that may be. Driving, for some reason, cannot be an activity. Instead, it has become a chore. Yes, gas prices have changed some things, but I remember things such as going for a Sunday afternoon drive. Heck, I remember just getting my license and couldn’t wait to drive—anytime and anywhere.

Most of us have a great music system in cars nowadays. Others love talk radio.  And cars are certainly more comfortable than my Ford Pinto. We have heated, fully adjustable seats, air conditioning, GPS devices so we don’t get lost, entertainment consoles for our kids. Cannot we all just kick back and enjoy the ride?