Do you drive for everybody on the road or do drivers have to drive for you?

I expect 98% of the motoring public to do something really stupid, so I am always on guard, and you know what?? They have never let me down.

I know, right? My husband and I were at an intersection right at a curve. We were in the right hand lane, and the road curved to the right. Light turned green, we started our curve…and the truck beside us just kept the curve up until he was in our lane! Almost hit us!
I said, “Yeah, I saw that coming!”
Rick said, “What?”
I said, “That seems to happen all the time in situations like this. They take it as some sort of cosmic message to change lanes or something.”
Considering he’s been driving a few years longer than me, it’s really disappointing at the things he doesn’t anticipate.

About the time driving becomes a big dick contest, you increase your risk of getting killed.
The best approach to driving is to assume that everybody else is either stupid, drunk, or trying to compensate for their inadequacies by being road bullies.
The physical laws of momentum are not sensitive to your emotional reactions to assholes.
What I would truly love is if road conflicts would be suspended and settled on the berm.
But until then, I choose to be defensive.

I generally drive for myself; not in a selfish way, but in an, “I don’t want to die but nobody else will watch out for me” sort of way. Part of it has to do with the fact that my vehicle of choice is about half a ton lighter than most cars on the road and lacks things like airbags, crash cage, or side impact beams that modern cars have. I already know first-hand how I compare to the other cars on the road.

Also, the more I hear about Rick, the more I wonder about him.

I’m a defensive driver so I drive for everybody on the road.

The former. I don’t want to make the same mistake some accident victims made: disrespect of everyone and only want to be the first. I find out that many accidents occur because the victims don’t bother to let others go first.

Beside, that’s another random kindness I give everyday.

Many years ago I had this discussion with the neighbor kid Daniel, who was about to turn sixteen and get his license (he wasn’t a very good driver). He caught me outside while I was washing my car.

Daniel: Hey – you ever get into accidents when you were a kid?

Wilcox: Huh – plenty.

Daniel: Yeah, but it wasn’t like the problem I have, right?

Wilcox: Why? Accidents accidents. Same same.

Daniel: Yeah, but you knew how to drive.

Wilcox: Someone always know more.

Daniel: You mean there were times when you were scared to get in to an accident?

Wilcox: Always scare. Wilcox hate accidents.

Daniel: Yeah, but you like driving.

Wilcox: So?

Daniel: So, driving is being in accidents. You train because of the chance of having an accident.

Wilcox: That what you think?

Daniel: [pondering] No.

Wilcox: Then why train?

Daniel: [thinks] So I won’t have to accident.

Wilcox: [laughs] Wilcox have hope for you.

the kid did a kick ass job spiffing up our deck and privacy fence that summer as well.

Like @jerv, I drive in a self—preservationist—ish way. No tailgating. Lone wolf on highways. I do as much as I can to keep as much distance from myself and other vehicles as possible. Being the 8th car in a 13 car string on a 2-lane highway drives me to distraction so badly that I’ll pull over for an unneeded bathroom break, just to avoid it.

Back in the day, putting over 100,000 miles on a motorcycle made me a much safer driver on 4 wheels.

Regardless of what I’m driving, I’m always looking out for the asshole who’s going to run into me. I rarely have a close call, but when I do, it’s usually because I let my guard down.

My dad and my drivers ed teacher drummed defensive driving into me. I also drive a lot, and I live in an area filled with freeways, so I have to drive deliberately and carefully. I also know that a lot of people didn’t learn to drive defensively and they don’t give a crap about anyone but themselves. Other people don’t even think about driving defensively or any other way, because they’re too busy talking on the phone or texting. So I have to drive for them, others and myself, to try to make sure we all get home safely.

I drive just like you.