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Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I HATE driving on the freeway- ESPECIALLY if it looks like this! I really don't like driving in general, but I have come to find some positives in a decent commute to work. (Mostly that I can get a LOT of audio book reading in, or I can let off some steam by singing along to my favorite songs. I love this day and age of technology that allows one to make a mix CD.) This scene, though, is definitely not my cup of tea.
Throughout the month of June I got lots of practice driving in rush hour conditions on the freeway. Summer school was located in the city as opposed to the suburbs I'm used to. That meant I got to be one of "those people" who headed in to work like ants to a picnic. Ug! Fortunately I know the side streets pretty well so I was able to navigate if the freeway got too backed up.
There were a few things I realized REALLY bothered me about freeway drivers, though:
1. An acceleration ramp is meant for that exact purpose. Seriously. Trying to merge into traffic that is moving at 60 miles per hour is really difficult when the guy in front of you decides he is still only going to drive at 40 mph when he hits the end of the ramp. Pick up the pace!
2. If you don't need your brakes, stay off them! I realize that when traffic slows down there is a lot of stop-and-go. It drives me crazy, though, to be behind someone who is tapping the brakes over and over again, only to find out that the nearest vehicle is six car-lengths ahead. Do people not realize brake lights are a way of letting the driver behind know what is happening? It's like the boy who called wolf over and over again. At some point I am not going to realize you are actually trying to stop or slow down.
3. Freeway driving is fast. If you are afraid of it, stay off the freeway! I HATE freeway driving with a passion, and it scares me. I don't, however, slow down to 20 miles UNDER the speed limit, causing dangerous situations for all around me. If you are not a person who can at least pretend to go with the flow, stay on the side roads. Okay, thank you for listening to my rants about freeway driving. Starting next month I will be driving to and from work every day on the freeway going the opposite direction of heavy traffic, and I am thankful for that. I also get much better scenery, as I will be driving toward the mountains instead of watching the city build up around me. I definitely can't complain about that! |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Freeway Driving
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5 comments:
I think I'll have to come and read this post every time I feel the need to whinge about my hour long commute. Because, while painful it's not on freeways which look like that or withthat much traffic.
Enjoy going in the opposite direction :-)
I will Fi. I've been driving the opposite way of traffic to training, and it's been wonderful. If my drive to work is this nice every day, I'll have it made!
I hear you about the freeways; I don't like driving on them or even being a passenger sometimes! After one harrowing experience when hubby was driving and it seems like we were going to be hit from all the crazy people around us, I said "I'm so glad I work at home."
You are brave for getting out there and driving daily! Glad the commute will be different when school starts!
betty
So sorry!! Geez...
Ah, don't be sorry MA. I don't have to do that anymore, and I did learn a lot in the month I did. It's all good!
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