Thoughtless Drivers

I consider myself to be a pretty tame driver. I'm cautious (sometimes maybe more than I need to be), I respect speed limits (90% of the time), and I rarely use my horn because I try to give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. When I'm stuck behind a slow driver, I let it remind myself to slow down and relax--wherever I'm going will still be there a minute later. Besides, especially in winter weather, I'm often that too-slow driver, so I figure it's only fair not to get mad when it happens to me. When someone cuts me off, I try to remind myself that they are perhaps rushing to an emergency, and I would be driving like that as well in their situation. When someone doesn't use a blinker, I remind myself that perhaps they are attempting to use it, but it is broken. I went an entire summer being "that" driver because we knew it was an electrical issue and needed to save money up to pay for it. 


But when people are driving in the right lane and get stopped at a red-light when they are NOT making a right-hand turn--man, that drives me crazy! Especially when they are driving in the right-hand lane for no reason at all. I have watched people drive in the right-hand lane for MILES before making a right-hand turn, and holding up turning traffic behind them at many a stoplight along the way. I understand that traffic sometimes get congested during "rush hour" and people may be afraid of not being able to make a lane change, but really people? It's Sioux Falls. Traffic isn't THAT bad. And you are doing more of a disservice by backing up cars behind you who are trying to get off the "busy" road anyway. And what about when there are no other people on the road? C'mon people! If you are coming up to a red light and you aren't making a right-hand turn, move into the left lane so the people behind you can get on their way! Right turns on red are allowed for a reason--they help keep traffic flowing!


Now, I'm not claiming that I'm perfect, and I occasionally find that I've spaced off and am holding up people--but I have honestly made a right-hand turn at a light that I wasn't planning on turning at because cars were backing up behind me that needed to turn. No joke. Now if only other drivers would return the favor....especially when it's 8:15 at night and I'm heading home for the first time since 7:30 that morning....and there are no other cars on the road.....and all I need to do is make a Right. Hand. TURN!