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Where I live the population has exploded and people have become very competitive in their driving habits.
I have always assumed that most people are courteous and just the fringe are rude, reckless drivers, but it turns out that is not the case. I found out by joining a FB group that discussed road conditions on this particularly awful road we share . . . I found out that a good portion of people actually feel it is okay to tailgate - that they have to "teach people lessons" if the people are in their way! This is crazy to me, but it is the culture now.
The people who commute have a truly miserable commute so they do not tolerate any slowpokes - and that includes people going the speed limit. They say the speed limit is just a suggestion . . . so for careful drivers, you will not be given any latitude and will be expected to drive like an Indy500 racer.
I know there are some diehards who will drive until the keys have to be pried out of their cold hands, but I am curious when people stop going to relatives on holidays if it's more than 1/2 hour away, say, or if they would be returning home at night.
I have just stared to think about this. It just seems really stressful to me to drive on the freeway at night with really competitive drivers.
How is it for you?
I am not joining my family for Thanksgiving this year and a big reason is the stress around driving.
We drive across the country but prefer to drive during the day. That is why they make motels.
I miss driving. But first I had problems from illness which made my vision cloudy. I ended up having Lasik and it brightened up much better, but there were lines and shadows (not uncommon with lasik.) But I could drive okay. I just tried not to at night.
Then the sharpness of vision was compromised a bit, and the lights glared. I tried not to drive at night, and no freeways since the glare was too much. I kept it to short trips. Then the cloudy got a lot worse and was identified as cataracs. The surgery also replaced the old lens, and I have really great vision. Problem is, the pupil got nicked in one eye. It doesn't contract. Night driving was out as lights looked like bright spot lights. I gave up trying to drive.
I moved out here to this small town with friends who had a car so it wasn't a problem, but they moved. My last 'ride' has now moved. There's no transportation. I get rides from a few people, but mostly stay home. But... its getting old. I'd like to go somewhere myself. I have started to think somewhere else, less far right, with the entertainment I like and transportation to places would be better. But then those places will be much more expensive.
You don't understand how much driving matters when you can't safely anymore.
Who are you to define "long distance?" You have no idea where I live or what the road conditions are. It turns out that I live in a place with very treacherous roads - so THE particular half-hour drive is "long" in the sense that you have to be braced for accidents every second . . .
Secondly, I clarified that where I was going is actually one hour away . . . so it includes the treacherous half-hour drive, plus freeway driving amongst very competitive drivers. What that means is people who tailgate you when you are driving the speed limit - in the "slow lane." So it is not fun.
And again, you should brush up on eye aging - it is very common as people age to develop cataracts - and lights become blinding (I have been told) . . . other people never had good night vision and aging does not improve it.
But then you are one of those who is in denial about aging.
Maybe you should reread your post and "do a mental analysis . . . and think about it."
Quote:
Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness
Where I live the population has exploded and people have become very competitive in their driving habits.
I have always assumed that most people are courteous and just the fringe are rude, reckless drivers, but it turns out that is not the case. I found out by joining a FB group that discussed road conditions on this particularly awful road we share . . . I found out that a good portion of people actually feel it is okay to tailgate - that they have to "teach people lessons" if the people are in their way! This is crazy to me, but it is the culture now.
The people who commute have a truly miserable commute so they do not tolerate any slowpokes - and that includes people going the speed limit. They say the speed limit is just a suggestion . . . so for careful drivers, you will not be given any latitude and will be expected to drive like an Indy500 racer.
Wow!
Escort is in his mid 70s. Most people in that age bracket don’t have the old person mindset you seem to possess. Nor have they lost the ability to drive more than an hour. Do you realize the number of people in their 70s who RV-drive 1000s of miles. Sorry if your life is over, but don’t hate on us folks who think young and don’t live in a place where drivers are mean or are perceived as mean. Gosh where do you live? Escort lives in LA. There is no meaner place than that..
Yes I am being harsh, but your post towards Escort deserves it!
Go back and read this thread. Nine out of ten people reported similar mindsets.
You are ageist to insult me about my mindset. You have no idea what my life is like or what my challenges are.
Sorry if your condition is subpar. But you basically attacked Escort for being healthy and capable. Not nice. And while your thread attracted like minded and situational persons, you have to realize most people who are in the age range of Escort are healthy and capable.
As a retired Social Worker I dealt with many people disabled people in their 60s and 80s. None of them begrudged the healthy. And they were a minority in their age group. Call this 67 year old guy ageist.. Sorry it doesn’t work. In the real world 80% of people in their 70s have few limitations.
With that said, my sympathies to those who can no longer drive at too young of an age.
Who are you to define "long distance?" You have no idea where I live or what the road conditions are. It turns out that I live in a place with very treacherous roads - so THE particular half-hour drive is "long" in the sense that you have to be braced for accidents every second . . .
Secondly, I clarified that where I was going is actually one hour away . . . so it includes the treacherous half-hour drive, plus freeway driving amongst very competitive drivers. What that means is people who tailgate you when you are driving the speed limit - in the "slow lane." So it is not fun.
And again, you should brush up on eye aging - it is very common as people age to develop cataracts - and lights become blinding (I have been told) . . . other people never had good night vision and aging does not improve it.
But then you are one of those who is in denial about aging.
Maybe you should reread your post and "do a mental analysis . . . and think about it."
Please describe the roads which you define as "treacherous", then we may come to a better understanding of what you are talking about. If you mean curvy, mountain roads, those are the most fun to drive on. Or perhaps you mean something else.
I am a very analytical type, so I have already done the analysis, thank you very much. I have taught bicycle safety in public schools and have read various analyses, by professionals, of traffic maneuvers as they relate to safety. Also, I have had the advantage of a day's instructional class on a race track (on motorcycles).
Instead of snide put-downs, how about a specific rebuttal of my comments about the nature of freeway driving? You know, people can tailgate you on surface streets just as easily as on the freeway. There was a reason I was so specific - it was in the hope of getting people to think about things. Thinking as opposed to emoting.
I drive 3 1/2 hours several times a year to see one set of relatives and for the last ten years have driven 10 hours/500 miles at Christmas to see the other relatives in Texas. I could easily fly rather than taking the longer trip but I wanted to maintain my driving skills so that I can take long road trips and visit National Parks in retirement – I have several trips scheduled for next year. Fortunately traffic is not very heavy on my holiday travels. The worst traffic was coming back one year from Texas on the interstate when there were many semi trucks - I was 8 hours into the drive and tired and their lights started to bother me so much that I thought about stopping at a hotel. I'm only 62 but my night vision is not that good; however, I have always enjoyed driving at night so am not ready to give it up yet - I love the darkness all around and the illuminated road unfolding in front of me and find it very peaceful.
I’ll be driving & I hate it. I’m 49 & will be driving just one hour away to my sisters in Denver.
I am a cautious driver & I strive to be courteous but I don’t understand the competitiveness between other drivers. I have 2 options for routes: The first is faster. Too fast. If you go 75mph you get passed like you are standing still.
Thing is; I grew up here. I have spent years of holidays on this highway passing horrible, fatal accidents. Others may not realize that in one area, the elevation changes by 3000 ft from the north, within 2 miles. You will drive through a treacherous area that qualifies as an actual “vortex” of weather phenomena which leads straight to a 20 mile stretch of roadway designated by the Colorado Dept of Transportation, as having one of the highest incidence of fatalities due to wildlife migration in the state.
People just don’t give respect where it’s due when it comes to this road. There is even a thread about it here on the Colorado forum titled “That 18 mile stretch of I25 ...”
Option #2: A winding 2 lane highway through rolling hills & a Jurassic-looking state park of ravines & cliffs. Overheard it called “Bloody 83/85” due to head-on collisions, by a couple of sheriff deputies years ago & have never forgotten it. It also, demands the driver pass through the “vortex”. Just with less visibility & lighting.
Thanks to these drives I now know what “White Knucles” looks like ... I think my hands stay in steering-wheel shaped clutch for hours after I get home.
Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 22 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
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We gave up traveling for a holiday years ago, the aggravation of travel during these times ruined any pleasure in being together with family. As my kids got older and my parents aged they would fly down for Thanksgiving week traveling here on Monday and returning Friday so they avoided the problems with the airport/limo. An added bonus was my kids weren't dying of boredom at their house.
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