Driving Miss Crazy

Passing a car is a simple thing really.

The first rule is to make sure that you actually want to go faster than they are currently going.

Secondly, make sure that you are going to be on the same road for awhile. There's nothing worse than passing someone only to slow down and make a turn shortly after passing them.

Third, make sure they don't have a rebel flag in the window.

Now for the passing part:

Give a signal to alert other drivers that you are changing lanes.

Accelerate aggressively until you are clear of the car you are passing.

Maintain your acceleration as you give your signal to let the driver know you are going to be moving back into their lane.

Once you've passed them, make sure you actually are driving faster than they were driving before you decided to pass them.

Simple enough, isn't it?

I've discovered, however, that I enjoy driving more when I don't pass anyone. If I drive behind the slowest car in the slowest lane and never attempt to pass, I feel a sense of calm and relaxation.

I give plenty of room between my car and the one in front of me so that I rarely have to touch my brakes. If I see a red light in the distance, I gradually slow down to a snail's pace until the light turns green.

Cars behind me seem irritated and pull out and pass me so that they can race to the next red light. This doesn't bother me anymore. They aren't really irritated at all. They actually enjoy passing people. It makes them feel a sense of accomplishment. They showed me.

Road rage is really the releasing of pent-up anger and aggression from other areas of your life. You can't speak your mind in life and hold back until you step into your car. In an automobile, there is a sense of anonymity that allows you to release your ire towards faceless victims that you personify as the evil in your life. It is completely natural and I've found that I'd rather be the victim than the assailant.