Recently, a college student was shot and killed in Cobb County in a physical altercation stemming from a road rage incident. The poor victim, Kim Kilgore, was only 22 years old. Obviously, driving is dangerous enough. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. But nowadays, if the act of driving itself doesn’t kill you, another driver will.
Of course road rage is nothing new because bad driving is nothing new; it just varies by region. To date, I’ve lived in five different major metropolitan areas and each one offered a unique example in dysfunctional motor vehicle operation. In metro New Orleans, land of no-fault insurance, drivers don’t like to stop at red lights and the law permits open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of the car. In metro Los Angeles, the population of nearly four million all have cars and all like to drive on the freeway together all day long. In metro San Francisco, toll booths, random radio DJ publicity stunts and street racers all contribute to traffic woes. In Las Vegas, no one ever seems to be sober behind the wheel because alcohol is served 24 hours a day. And then there’s Atlanta.
My metro Atlanta driving experiences constantly make me want to give myself an emergency lobotomy. Atlanta drivers tailgate, hate to use their turn signals, never quite know how to merge, often stop in the middle of traffic or at green lights, make left turns from far right lanes, can not operate a cell phone and drive simultaneously, and often have no idea where they are going. My personal favorite is when a driver stops and backs up his/her car on the freeway because he/she has missed an exit. It’s enough to make anyone lose it, but it’s never enough to actually take a life. To avoid losing precious cool points and/or blood on the road, I strongly suggest the following tactics.
Schedule wisely. Gone are the days of 15 minute treks across metro Atlanta. Drivers should allot a minimum of 45 minutes to get to any destination or appointment beyond a five-mile travel distance. Period. If running late, just call or text ahead. Most folks are very understanding because Atlanta traffic is Atlanta traffic.
Learn alternate routes. Atlanta’s lack of a grid system is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the streets and their schizophrenic street-naming conventions are confusing as hell. On the other hand, Atlanta’s maze of traffic always offers at least two ways to get to almost any destination. I’m such a mack on these streets that I can cross five counties without touching a highway. Plus, the scenery is pretty sweet.
Use technology. We live in an age where some face-to-face meetings are unnecessary. We can easily connect with each other for educational and business meetings (and save on gas and emissions) with tools like free conference call services, Skype and Facetime. Besides, who wouldn’t want to sit through a meeting in pajama bottoms and Marvin the Martian slippers?
Keep a cool head. Of course this is easier said than done, but not impossible. Life is short and there are too many cool parties to attend to have a nervous breakdown on account of Atlanta drivers. It costs nothing to let someone in traffic, or patiently wait for Granny to tremble around a corner in that boat she’s driving. Plus, getting from point A to point B in one piece is a reward within itself.
Remember safety is paramount. Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege. Responsible behavior behind the wheel spares lives, avoids fines and punishment, and saves on insurance to boot.