Last week, I was surfing the Internet when I came across an interesting statistic. "The American commuter spends 38 hours a year stuck in traffic." (From The Atlantic). With all the time that we spend in our cars, we each develop a personality on the road. This got me thinking about driving, but more specifically, the different types of drivers. The following is a list of the different personalities you will see on the road.
The "Cautious" Driver.
This personality on the road is dedicated to my mother. I feel like it is safe to say that most moms follow the same protocol as my mom does while driving. Approaching a stoplight, my mom will hit the breaks unnecessarily hard while extending her full arm across my chest in an instinctive act of motherly protection. Equipped with nervous turns and lane changes, this person is not a bad driver in any way, they are just safe, and they care about the people around them.
The Distracted Driver.
You know that you are riding with the distracted driver when you have to remind them to accelerate at every green light, usually because they are too busy fiddling with the radio, their phone, or something else that usually should never be out while behind the wheel. The distracted driver amazes you with doing activities behind the wheel that you never thought possible.
The "Always in a Hurry" Driver.
This driver paves the road with hostility everywhere they go. Constantly trying to pass everyone on the Interstate, and riding up dangerously close to the bumper of those they can not pass. This driver is the one most to use their horn, as they do so well. Although passing everyone they can, it seems as if you always end up passing them at some later time.
The "Too Safe" Driver.
When it comes to our safety while driving, there really is no such thing as being too safe. But, I have been passenger to some who are pushing the line of safety extremely. They consistently go five miles per hour below the speed limit, while they make up some excuse about their car not being aerodynamic enough or something stupid like that. They take the rules of the road to another level, and can quickly turn into the backseat driver.
The Driver That is Too Comfortable.
Similar in nature to the distracted driver, this driver is unsafe, however is not distracted by technology. This driver acts as if they are not behind the wheel but simply posted up on their couch at home. Taking sharp turns, jerking the wheel at times, and going too fast at times. They are too comfortable on the road. I have to admit, I am this driver in some ways.
The Road Rage Driver.
It wouldn't be a list about the types of drivers without talking about road rage. I have always thought that road rage was an interesting phenomenon. Sometimes it is the sweetest people you know that get the most angry behind the wheel. We have all said things while behind the wheel that are out of character. There is just something about driving that brings the demons out of us.
The Backseat Driver.
I am going to come right out and say that I hate the backseat driver. I have already been through drivers education once, not to mention a STOP class here and there. Needless to say, I know the rules of the road, please don't try to convince me of anything more.
