Member-only story
Having written How to Drive, 1 some time back, I had to cogitate and ruminate on how to follow that lesson with something of substance. Quickly abandoning that stray thought, I now think the question is less about how, what and when, and more about why.
Why do some people drive like utter lunatics?
To Surpass
The Italian verb, sorpassare, translates to English as both to overtake in a car, and to prove oneself better than someone else. To pass someone while driving is to win a competition, and to be superior. Bad drivers often show this mindset, and it is often a cause of anger to the drivers who are losing the fight without even entering the battle. The driver who changes lanes ten times without signaling, cuts in front of numerous cars, and arrives triumphantly at the red light ahead of everyone else is clearly the winner, right? Well, yes, of course, but what does he or she win? Macho shithead of the block? Just stop.
Driving is not a competition. The goal is not to get there ahead of everyone else, but to cooperate with other drivers in the interest of avoiding collisions, tickets, and being shot at by other pissed off motorists. We have a common interest in keeping our cars and our bodies safe, and driving is risky enough…
