What would you do?
So here’s the scenario:
I’m driving along down a fairly narrow and windy country road with my children, going at or a little above the speed limit (and right at my comfortable speed on this road) when someone in a red pick-up zooms up behind me and proceeds to ride my tail, honking occasionally and trying to pass over the double-yellow when even the slightest opportunity presents itself.
Should I:
a) slow down and try to find a place to pull over (which are not particularly common, and have little to no warning of their presence) but also risking enraging him further by the decrease in speed
b) Speed up and probably still not get out of this person’s way to the extent that would get him off my tail, and also cause me to drive at a speed beyond what I felt comfortable doing
c) Continue on, and hope he doesn’t try to do anything stupider than what he is already doing
d) Something else
I picked c), which gained me quite a bit of honking and also some profanity when I was able to make my turn. But it seems like a lose-lose situation, no matter what. I did find praying for him quite helpful for me though - praying that he wouldn’t try to pass us and have an accident right in front of us, praying that he wouldn’t hurt anyone else with his reckless driving - which at least helped me keep calm. I really hate situations like this though!!
Emily on 10 Jul 2008 at 1:59 pm #
Yuck, I hate drivers like that. I generally just try to get out of their way as soon as possible, but if I can’t, I can’t, and I just drive safely and hope for no crashes. Sounds like you did the best you could.
allegra on 11 Jul 2008 at 5:06 am #
I send you my sympathy. That guy should move to D.C.; he would fit right in.
Sarah Marie on 12 Jul 2008 at 5:01 pm #
Oh dear, I hate situations like that! Here in the Boston area I get honked at for NOT running red lights.
amber on 12 Jul 2008 at 10:04 pm #
Allegra and Sarah, you’re both making me glad I don’t live in a major urban area!
Meg on 29 Jul 2008 at 4:09 pm #
We were just in Yosemite and on the way to Mariposa Grove my sister was getting car sick already and people wanted us to speed up. I ended up finding a turn out because it was an hour drive and I couldn’t take the stress.
I sympathize. I didn’t pray though, I just stressed. Your way is better.
Meg
amber on 30 Jul 2008 at 7:46 am #
Oh yikes, that’s no fun! If it had been that long of a drive I would have tried to find a place to pull out too. I’m glad I didn’t have the additional pressure of a car sick person - that would have stressed me out!