The holiday traffic is upon us, and it's not pretty. I have occasionally seen ultra-polite holiday drivers _ easily identified with antlers on the car windows or a wreath on the grill _ letting people into traffic and even giving up parking spaces at the mall, just to be nice. And isn't that what this season is supposed to be about?
Now picture this: what if everyone living in your hometown decided to drive nice? Would that not make your life better? I live in a community of generally polite people, but many still fail to signal their turns, or they drive a bit too fast, and they're sometimes just pain rude. It's not like downtown, but it's getting a little more crowded, and speeding or cutting people off will not get you there significantly sooner.
A number of years ago in Los Angeles, we did a test to see how fast you could get to downtown if you drove as fast as you could, ran yellow lights, and basically stayed legal while racing into the city center. When compared to a driver who, from the same starting point, did not exceed the speed limit, stopped at every light, and didn't rush (or stress), the arrival time for the speedster was only six minutes earlier, and LA ain't no small town. So, I ask you, is it really worth the energy of driving to any destination like you are trying to win first place at the Indy 500?
Just imagine what it would be like if the norm were that everybody drove as politely as they could. How many minutes or hours would you avoid being stressed out? Let's say you drive an hour a day _ every week you would have an additional five stress-free hours. Yes, you would still be behind the wheel, but it won't be a Death Race.
Now let's think this out a little further. One nearby community (Calabasas) is now smoke-free everywhere. And it is nicer there now. What if your community decided to initiate a Drive Nice campaign? Start it in the high schools where the kids are taking their drivers education classes, and then expand it to the rest of the community. Once the younger generation gets it, the kids will influence their parents and there will be much less hostility, all around.
There are also people who are unwell and who take out their pent-up aggressions on the road, and that is a very bad thing, no matter what. I have seen parents who drive this way with their kids in the car, and they are not only putting their children in danger but are teaching them that this is normal, and the kids will emulate it.
If you are with an angry driver, you can ask him or her to calm down. Honestly, if I don't like the way someone is driving when I'm a passenger, I ask them to stop, and I call an Uber. Seriously, I've done it several times in just the past few years. Also, it's never a good idea to get in the car with anyone who is impaired behind the wheel. I lost my brother and a couple of dear friends to a drunk driver, and I never let anyone I know take the wheel unless they are sober.
When you're the driver, it can be very helpful to ask your passengers if they are feeling comfortable with your driving. You may not like the answer, but it could save the lives of those you care for and those whom you have never met. It will also let you have a stress-free trip to The Nutcracker, and you'll enjoy the show much more.
