Whenever I take the dogs a walk to Loynton Moss, I have to drive along about a half mile of A road. This is the meeting point of so many differences in our society. No matter how I try to speed up my little Yaris to a reasonable speed (and attempt to get off the road before being a nuisance), I invariably end up with someone (is it always a BMW?) right on my tail. This part of the road involves a series of S bends, and double lines down the middle, so why they want to rub my bottom with their noses I don't quite understand.
Now is this BMW meeting Yaris?
Old man meeting young?
Country versus town?
Dogs versus iPods?
Are they irritated all day like me over this trivial meeting? Or is it forgotten in the next hold up just round the corner?
The answer of course is simple.
I could stick to my country lanes and walk somewhere else.
They could get up a bit earlier and then drive with more consideration
I suspect the real solution is far more complex.
And a lot of it has to do with how we view cars and car users.
2 comments:
It is often said that in the UK we make a fuss over driving. In the US they can take a long drive without much worry. What I discovered when I drove in Australia, particularly down from Brisbane to Sydney, was how easy it is to drive when there is no one else around.
I remember my commutes to Leicester, where I would often be overtaken recklessly only to find the car just ahead of me when we hit the first set of lights.
I like to blame Nigel Mansell, when trying to overtake he was always weaving around and thrashing his engine, before pulling up with mechanical failure. Meanwhile Senna and Prost would gently wait and then execute a smooth, effortless overtaking manoeuvre.
On the other hand, how frustrating to know there is empty road ahead if only I could get past this car, and that car and ...
I would like to point out to both of you that there is no problem here other than in the environment of your own, eminently flexible minds. Let go of the grooves and venture into fresh untrammeled territory next time a BMW or anything else rubs your asses! I usually find these words resolve most problems:
If something can be done,
Why worry?
If nothing can be done,
Why worry?
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