I just got back from a trip to the dentist. It’s not the most fun trip a person can take, but sometimes, it’s necessary! Half of my face has no feeling, if that is any indication of how I might be feeling today post-dental work.
I have driven all over the USA. I have driven in 48 states! And I have seen some things, let me tell you.
In the USA, one thing that drives me bonkers (and it happens more here, in Wichita, Kansas, than anywhere else I have driven) is when a person is going several miles under the speed limit. And then the painted lines indicate that you can pass them. Or maybe there is a dedicated passing lane.
So you, as a driver who would like to go the speed limit (you know, like 65 in a 65 zone) who is following someone going closer to 60 in a 65 zone, you get in to the lane where you can pass said slow driver.
And said slow driver speeds up. To 80. They REFUSE to let a person pass. So, okay, let’s just get behind them, then, because I don’t want to go so much over the speed limit and get unfairly ticketed because someone else is an irritating driver.
And once you’re behind them, they go 60 miles per hour in the 65 zone.
WHAT THE HECK, PEOPLE?
Does this drive you bonkers? I swear that it happens to me every single time I drive in south-central Kansas for any distance longer than 8 miles.
It drives me completely BONKERS.
You know what would fix this?
If people would just choose what speed they want to go:
You want to go 67 in a 65 zone? Go for it!
You want to go 45 in a 65 zone? Maybe you’re a tractor, and we will understand
You want to go 70 in a 65 zone? That’s fine too. Whatever floats your boat.
Pick your speed, and set the cruise control!
That’s right, it’s a simple button somewhere probably near your steering wheel. Pick a speed and stay there.
Doing this not only is courteous to people who want to follow or pass, but it also can save you from speeding tickets. Seriously.
That cruise-control button is not just for long road trips when you’re on I-70 driving through 7 states in a day.
My own cruise control struggles to set anything under 31 miles per hour. Today, I swore I got it to set at 30 mph in a small town whose roads are 30 mph. But then it wouldn’t work the second time I did this. It’s super irritating to have to continually look at my speed limit when I am trying to go 30 mph through a town. I would like to set it & not have to continually babysit my speedometer.
So - spread the word - tell everyone: Use your cruise control ! Please !
I use my cruise control to keep my speed at the speed limit.
Today, as I was doing just that in a 30(!) when a pick-up truck blew past me going - what felt like - 100 mph. My car shook as he flew past me in the turning lane that was ending. It was a miracle that he missed both me and the car in front of me as he disappeared around the next turn.
I wonder where he was going to in such a hurry - and I hope there were no kids on the street by the school just down the road.
Some drivers just suck!