July 11, 2005
I’m fairly certain Jesus wouldn’t give you the finger
Wade and I have an ongoing debate about whether Oklahomans are or are not the worst drivers in the Continental United States. I say yes; he says that I have said that about every place we have ever lived together, as well as several places we have visited. But he’s wrong. In the five years that we have lived here, I have had SIX experiences where a car, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, was headed RIGHT FOR ME (one of those was actually a guy who was using a highway off-ramp to get on the parkway; another was a driver who intentionally pulled into the oncoming lane so that he could LOOK OVER THE GUARD RAIL at the horrible accident on the same parkway). Now, I’m not going to say that these people are idiots, but COME ON!
But lest you say, as my beloved husband does, ‘It’s a fluke!’, let me tell you my favorite Okie traffic moment. One night recently, during rush hour, I went to run errands in a fairly busy part of town. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, a clunky old car was weaving in and out of the lanes, clearly trying to get somewhere VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. The guy pulled in front of me, cut me off, and gave me the finger. Then he changed lanes again and did the same to the next driver he cut off.
And the best part? Plastered right in the middle of his trunk was a huge WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? bumper sticker.
Amen, brother.
Posted by Susan @ 4:23 pm • Uncategorized
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July 12th, 2005 at 7:47 am, ieatcrayonz Says:
He was definitely just driving through the state, I’m sure.
I actually miss the City’s traffic. I’d say the drivers here are much worse. I’ve only been to a few other large cities in my life (because I am sheltered), and I would say that they are far worse than Oklahoma.
In ascending order for worse drivers:
3. Washington DC
2. Chicago
1. Acapulco (how did I ever survive?)
The WWJD sticker cracks me up. Although I refuse to stick anything to my car (religious and otherwise), I consider myself a Christian. I have the worst road rage and I hate that I’m that way. Mostly I just cuss people that cut me off and drive 20 mph too slow in the fast lane (nothing most would notice), but I do flip the bird every once in awhile. I’ll admit it. I’m not perfect and even borderline immature. Sign me up for Hypocracy 101. I’m there.
Wow, that was great therapy to get that out.
July 12th, 2005 at 9:45 am, Candace Says:
I’m with Crayonz on the Chicago and D.C. traffic/drivers, but I’ve never been to Acapulco, so I can’t verify that.
However, I’ve been to Paris, in a car, and Holy Mother of God, I can’t believe I’m still alive.
July 12th, 2005 at 10:22 am, Susan Says:
Okay, I’ll give you all Chicago–I’ve never actually DRIVEN there, but I’ve ridden with my brother, who lived there for years, and it was pretty damn scary (he liked to announce, ‘That’s why they call them BUMPERS!’ when he was parking).
DC, though, never really bothered me. That’s where I honed my driving-a-stick skills, and learned to parallel park. Nothing more fun than parallel parking a stick shift in Georgetown on a Satuday night!
I hadn’t thought about that in years. Thanks!
July 12th, 2005 at 11:06 am, Anonymous Says:
Try Rome! Nothing is scarier than pulling up to a stoplight, in your lane, and have at least five other cars pull up along either side — and there are only two lanes!
Boston isn’t much better. People will turn left (oncoming traffic) as soon as the light turns green, rather than wait for oncoming traffic to clear. Very scary!
July 12th, 2005 at 1:39 pm, Susan Says:
Oh, BOSTON! God, I totally forgot about Boston. I only drove there once, at night, on my way out to the boonies in New Hampshire. Oh my but those are some bad drivers.
The worst driver in my in-law family is a Catholic priest, so maybe that explains some of Rome?
Yikes.