Bad Driver

I have now been driving for almost 14 years. (Having just worked out this figure made all the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.) In that time I've yet to be the cause of an accident, though I have been hit a couple of times. So when someone asks me "Are you a good driver?" I generally say, "Yes. I think so."

Over the last few weeks I've been wondering if this track record was just due to pure luck and not my superlative powers of vehicular agility and wheel control. I think I might be a bad driver. This is not a realization anyone wants to come to on their own. I've always just dismissed my driving mistakes by stating that I was an aggressive driver sometimes and just needed to relax.

There are only so many mistakes you can make in a ten minute trip when this excuse no longer works. After the twenty-seventh time with nearly eight minutes ahead of you, it's time to really stop and take a second look at your driving.

"Maybe I'm part of the problem. Is it possible that maybe I'm the reason many people don't like to drive on the state highways anymore? Maybe tailgating semi trucks, passing on one lane roads and running over old people in the crosswalks is not permitted in the driver handbook? Maybe I should slow down to only twenty miles over the speed limit."

If after this look you come to the conclusion that yes, I'm a bad driver, what can you do? There are many steps that you can take to curb your dire driving tendencies.

First you can drive slower. You can be a more defensive driver and be more aware. Additionally you can start to be more courteous to other drivers on the road. You know, you are not the only driver on the road.

If you're like me, and after reading that, your stomached turned, then just forget the whole thing. If it turns out the only way to solve the problem is to be a slower nicer sissy driver, than it's just not worth your time. Who wants to be late anyway?