Red Eye.
I am sure you are getting the point very clear by now. It is a fun ride, can be dangerous as hell but under common sense, extreme awareness of surroudings and pretending you are INVISABLE TO OTHERS you will have a greater chance of surviving the rush!! Pretend you are just a 4 wheel motorcycle and you will be better off. I have 30 thousand miles on my car and only a few times did things get 'hairy'....but when they do get hairy, they are REALLY hairy! Here is what I do and I take it out every weekend for at least a 4 hour tour up or down the Cali coast....(a notably unsafe place for the most, partly due to just BAD drivers)
I have a game I play...always thinking I am going to need a quick response to some knee jerk situation and to always look for a way out just in case it does happen. I also make sure that when driving I keep myself out of a compromising location say....between two cars where I have no out or being next to some 18 wheeler who just might not know I am there. Further, I take the time of day pretty serious and I know that when driving the coast route during peak times I stay in center lane... NOT right lane where at any time someone chooses to slam on brakes to get that very desired 'parking' spot they have been 'hawking' like a hawk looking for a meal. Usually I don't go out in midday unless a special desire to travel....as it's the time of day the most 'aggroodd' (agitated) people are on the road. Remember, there are 'drivers' and there are 'people who drive'. Big difference! One pays respect to road rules and etiquet while the other just uses the car as a means to 'move' somewhere else. One loves the feeling of the driving experience, appreciates the machinery he is in and it's power and grace while the other considers the car as a tool, hates to clean it and only gets it serviced when it konks out and he has no choice.
We are happy to be the 'drivers' as we hate accidents, loath crummy and inconsiderate drivers, and will always wave at those who appreciate what WE appreciate. 'They' are just obstacles on the road that happen to be moving and weaving and more or less.......accidents waiting to happen! We are the ones who help 'them' miss that fender bender that is just seconds away had we not seen 'them' textiing to whoever! We are also blessed with one last weapon for our survival......pure power/speed!! When all else fails we can get the heck out of the mess by pressing the go pedal and circumventing the whole damn thing!!
Red man......drive safe, have a good one and remember the words of Hal C...that shiny key is the beginning of a great time!!
fred z
