I don’t know what it is, but driving seems to bring out the worst in people.
As I sat in the passenger seat, I once witnessed what had to happen The The worst of the worst in terms of the ability to control one’s emotions, that is, not to let the situation or one’s own emotions overwhelm one while behind the wheel. It was the epitome of lack of it.
The following happened.
So, I and one other person are in a vehicle in the slow lane of a California highway.
In the passing lane, to our left, comes this couple in a compact car. Behind them was a semi-truck, you know, one of those that have a GVWR of 80,000 pounds when fully loaded and probably going 60 miles an hour. Instead of the driver of the compact car passing us and then moving into the slow lane to make room for the truck to pass, what does the car driver do? He slams on the brakes, probably thinking that this action will make the truck driver in the truck coming toward them slow down. Sorry. Guess again.
Not only did this not work, but it had the opposite effect: escalating and worsening the situation.
When the driver of the small car finally gave way and got out of the way of the truck, the truck accelerated and forced the car and all of the occupants of the crashed vehicle off the road! All of this happened right before our eyes.
We braked, of course, not knowing what would happen next, when the driver of the small car lost control. So much so that the car literally swerved sideways and drove perpendicular to the roadway just a few meters in front of us. The small car ended up in the median and the driver seemed to be doing his best to avoid an accident, which he miraculously managed.
At this point, the truck driver and the truck were already well ahead. In my opinion, the incident was as bad as a hit and run.
The first question is: What was the driver of compact thinking?!
And besides, there was no reason for the truck driver’s counter-offensive, literally running the couple completely off the road. Did he think it was a robocar with no people in it?! Or maybe he just didn’t care at that point. If he wasn’t an independent driver and the big truck wasn’t the owner, I could easily imagine this guy being fired and/or put in jail.
Other road users and their passengers could also have been directly affected. Fortunately, this was not the case for anyone.
There were the highway patrol officers who actually caught up with the violating truck driver, because when we finally caught up with him, we saw the truck pull over to the side of the road. If there is a more poignant example of such a stupid display of blatant disregard for human life and/or property than that of the truck driver, or just a downright stupid display – period – then I certainly can’t think of one, except perhaps the action first initiated by the driver of the small car, which to me was just crazy!
I suspect, however, that the driver of the small car, after changing his clothes, will do the same thing while he is still driving.
This is an experience I certainly don’t want to repeat. And with a bit of luck, it won’t happen.
And Murphy is absolutely right in this case: Whatever may go wrong will. And, did!
Be careful out there!
