Driving

I've been doing WAY too much driving lately. I have had quite a few work meetings this summer and I have much that I've been wanting to do in Madison. Consequently, I've been driving back and forth quite a bit. All too soon, I know that I will be restricted to home during the work week so I am taking advantage of my freedom. A few months ago, I decided that when I was driving I would no longer listen to the radio nor music nor audiobooks nor podcasts. I decided I want to be alone with my thoughts. Most recently, my thoughts have been occupied with driving itself. I have many pet peeves about driving. In the city, my biggest gripe comes with four-way stop intersections. Either people try to take someone else's turn or people are not paying attention, trying to direct who should go next instead of just letting the rules decide. In reality, this is all rather petty. On the highway, there are much bigger and far more dangerous issues. Here are the three that frighten me the most:

1) Distracted driving. People on devices is prevalent, and not just with young people. It is very obvious when people are driving at inconsistent speeds or drifting left and right that they are doing something else. Some people don't realize that commanding a two-ton vehicle down a highway at 70 mph requires, and deserves, their full attention. The daughter of a friend of mine was recently killed when another driver crossed the centerline. The young man who caused the accident was also killed, with his phone in his hand. Using any kind of device while driving has to stop! You may think that somehow you are different and you can handle it. You can't. Do you really want to risk your life and the life of someone else to find out?

2) Traveling too fast for conditions. Speed limits are posted for optimal conditions. When it is foggy, raining, snowing, or whatever other conditions throw a wrinkle in the drive, motorists need to slow down. One's own visibility and reaction time are reduced, as are all of the other drivers on the road.

3) Tailgating drivers. When drivers are so close to the back bumper it is dangerous and unnerving. I will usually slow down so that the motorist can pass or in some cases, I will pull over or turn off the road to remove myself from the dangerous situation. Since we are in the height of construction season in Wisconsin, there are orange barrels everywhere. Often, when the traffic is reduced to one lane, the speed limit is lowered to 55 mph. I respect that limit, although I will go a little faster if it isn't an active work zone. Often there are reasons for the lowered speed. Sometimes the new pattern requires a different traffic merging plan or lane switches or uneven surfaces. I leave a very safe following distance with the car in front of me. Invariably, I have someone on my bumper. What they fail to realize is that even if they got past me, they could still only go as fast as the person in front of me. Their dangerous driving doesn't result in them getting anywhere any faster.

I've been driving for forty years and I have never had a ticket nor an accident, knock on wood. When I was in high school, we had drivers education and had simulators that gave us a chance to practice dangerous scenarios. I credit this will helping me to learn to be a defensive driver. I still recall one situation where I was driving on the highway with a curve approaching and I was expected to notice off to the left of the highway there was a cloud of dust that indicated a dump truck was leaving a quarry and that I should slow down. I also remember the rule to always leave yourself an out if something unexpected happens. There are a few things that I think every new driver should have to go through: 1) When I was 17 I was selected for Badger Boys State. (I probably would have preferred Badger Girls!) We met on the campus of Ripon College and one thing I remember is touring the Rippin' Good Cookie factory. After the tour, we got to put all of the cookies we wanted into our hats to take with us. Adolescent boys don't care that cookies would be touching a hat or that said hat would

then end up back on the head! The other thing I remember is that the Dane County Coroner came to talk with us about what a coronor does. He brought a slide show. A graphic slide show. In addition to photos of people who drank themselves to death, were photos of accidents. The one that still haunts me is of someone who thought he could beat a train to the crossing. Half of him and half of his car were several hundred feet from the rest of him. We came away from that presentation rather shocked. I likened it to a Scared Straight program on the value of life.

2) Youtube has videos of dash cams from cars and trucks. Sadly, there are many of them and they show the mistakes that people make while driving. They are frightening to watch. However, one can see what not to do; one can see what a safe following distance looks like; one can see how long it takes a truck to stop and just what the weight of a truck can do to a car. As part of getting a license or perhaps renewing a license, I think people should have to watch some select episodes.

3) As a bicyclist, I think motorists need better instruction on what the laws are. Many people seem to know and give at least three feet when passing. Too many do not. I understand not all bikers follow the rules of the road, but they should. If they don't, they should be held accountable. However, motorists need to realize how vulnerable bikers are and treat them with more respect and care. Slow down until it is safe to pass. Honestly, it won't slow down your commute by more than a few seconds and certainly a life is worth more than that. While I have always enjoyed driving, it is stressing me out more of late. My brain has taken to counting things to help deal with this anxiety. On my last trip home I counted 247 barrels in one construction zone. I then did a prime factorization and realized it is 13 times 19. Another time I saw three signs together: Hwy 151, speed limit 55 and another speed limit 55 all together. I added that to 261 and figured out it was 3 squared times 29. Numbers, for me, are beautiful and orderly. Driving is not. Rather than counting things, I should reduce my anxiety by driving less.

I feel much safer on a bike. I can see, hear and smell things much more keenly. I know when a car is approaching from behind. I can see in my bike mirror when a vehicle has moved over so I know that they see me. I need to get back to biking more and driving less. Just recently, I discovered that from the front door of my condo in Madison, I can bike 50.2 miles to the border of Illinois, completely on bike trails! And, once there, I can bike on the Jane Addams bike trail south into Illinois. I plan to do this in the near future to give me incentive to change my ways. Please be safe from all of the unsafe drivers out there. Make a commitment not to be one of the unsafe drivers.