Of Driving Rain and Driving Habits


Last week I had occasion to drive to Alberton.  I used the highways because, although it may not be the most direct route, it is certainly the most sensible.  (‘k, you can stop laughing now – I can be sensible if I try!)

On the day of my big Alberton adventure Gauteng saw rain of Biblical proportions accompanied by wind gusting up to 65km/h.  Driving rain and gusting wind saw my little Dragon wafting all over the road (as only a Beetle can) to the extent that 80km/h was the absolute maximum I was able to travel at without taking off and flying through the rain clouds.

And I became exasperated at the folk that leapt into my following distance.  Only someone with the brain capacity of a gnat would do something so completely stupid.  Surely, if I leave a gap between myself and the vehicle in front of me, it’s because I know my car and how long it takes to stop ... in the rain ... ?!?!?

But of all the peculiar habits I saw the Gauteng road-users displaying – and there were many – one particular incident stands out as the most amazing.  I was already on my way home from work and the rain had started to clear a little but the roads were still very water-logged.

Driving along a relatively narrow, oak-tree-lined street, I suddenly became aware of a luminous yellow jelly bean (along the lines of a Cheri or a baby Chev) wandering across the centre line and driving straight at my Dragon.  Panic!  Would I rather connect head on with a 15m oak or a teeny car?  If I drove up the next driveway I may be able to get out of the way before our cars collided?!?!?!

I then noticed that the jelly bean was gradually slowing down (it wasn’t going too quickly to start off with) and I became aware of a line of very frustrated cars behind said jelly bean.  “Sjoe!”, thought I “At least it isn’t going to be a very bad bang.”  By now I had stopped and I was frantically flashing my lights in an effort to get the driver’s attention.

By now she (yes, I could just make out a young female behind the wheel wearing a wild, deer-in-the-headlights expression) had manoeuvred her vehicle almost completely into the lane of oncoming traffic ... aka me!  And just as the rapidly aging line of cars behind her attempted to pass her vehicle on the left had side she suddenly, without warning or indicator, turned into a driveway on her left.

I have three observations: 1. She should not be driving ...... at all ...... ever! 2. Clearly a Code 10 doesn’t prepare one for Code 08 driving ability. 3. She shouldn’t be allowed to reproduce.

Happy Day! :-)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Folk Around Us

I’m a blatant voyeur.   I can sit/stand for hours in a public place just watching people.   I frequent the social networks and, of course, Blogland just to get a tiny glimpse into people’s lives.   People fascinate me and I love to see what makes them tick and try and understand what type of people they are.   A bit unfair of me, I know, as I personally abhor it when anyone tries to categorise me into any type of social “box”.   But some folks are just so predictable and easy to square away into a certain character. Now that I travel a little further to work than before I get to peek at my fellow drivers. There’s the captain of the glee-club. She looks like an overenthusiastic puppy and happily waves everyone into the lane in front of her.   It’s a surprise she ever gets where she’s going.   Her car is full of all the appropriate charity stickers and she smiles, cries and laughs out loud at whatever is happening on the radio and is perfectly happy in her little bubble. The
Read more

My Name is Lynda and I'm a Pi Mom

Hello, my name is Lynda and I’m a Pi Mom. What is a Pi Mom, you ask?   Well, I went from being a full-time Mom to an obsolete Mom in 3.14159265 seconds when my Jerry and her person, Keegan moved to another province ±1,400km away.   I’d like to think I gave her the guidance and courage to spread her wings and fly, I just didn’t realise how successful she’d be and how little she’d need me.   The abruptness sent me reeling. I can remember, while growing up, hearing adults mentioning the words “empty nest”.   There wasn’t much talk about it, no details or advice, but usually it would be said with a sadistic, wry smile or just as a matter of fact, almost as though it was taboo to discuss or speak about it. So when my nest became “empty” it was a swift and painful slap in the chops and, because nobody discusses it, I found myself floundering in deep water without the knowhow of how to swim out.   Nobody warned me about the pain, the loneliness, the guilt and the feelings of worthlessne
Read more

To Have or Not to Have ..........

Once again I have been confronted with the question: one child or many?   Every day I drive past a grossly overweight woman sitting in the shade of a tree with her baby and toddler whilst her other three raggedy children (somewhere between the ages of 5 and 12) stand in the blazing sun at a robot, begging.   And I’ve tried to involve Child Welfare but their hands are tied and there is nothing they can do about this blatant child labour. But be that as it may I still ponder the question: one child or many?   Séan and I made the decision when I was still pregnant with Jerry that we wouldn’t have more children and if I was able to go back I would make the same decision again in a heartbeat.   There is absolutely no way that we would be in a position to pay double the school fees that we are now paying and that’s just the tip of the iceberg: there are still clothes, uniforms, food, extramural activities, entertainment etc.   The thought of all these things times two or times three m
Read more