Thoughts about bad holiday drivers

December 26, 2011

Thoughts about bad holiday drivers

If you must have your pet in the car, use a system that makes it safe for everyone. This system is sold by Volvo.

There are a few things that happen around the holiday driving time that just infuriate the hell out of me. One of them is rude driving behavior, which just seems to increase despite tidings of comfort and joy. The other is bad driving behavior--which happens all the time.

Of course, I'm qualified to determine what qualifies as each, and I think you are, too.

This year when I personally experienced an offending, behaving-badly driver, I made a conscious decision to take a deep breath with the goal of lowering my blood pressure and my boiling point. It's a kind of personal release valve that has worked for me before.

In the past, a Tourette-like outburst would fill the car, especially when an oblivious driver would pull a dangerous and half-assed stunt--yeah, I'm talking about you, pal, in the mall parking lot. (He was the tool who slid into the parking spot I was diligently--and properly--signaling to get into.) But this year, I cooled myself down, so its level of danger decreased significantly.

Still, 'tis the season for giving, and I almost gave him a size-12 boot. . . . I didn't, and I found a better parking space closer to the door, anyway. See, I was rewarded for my composure: Karma. At least that's what I tell myself.

Then there are the dangerous drivers whose behavior is near felonious, yet they don't know what their actions (read stupidity) can cause. We are not talking about a common lethal activity like driving while intoxicated. That is truly stupid.

I speak particularly to the man or woman who clutches a cute and cuddly little ball of fluffy family pet on his or her lap while behind the wheel at speed. People want to take their cat or dog for a ride but do not realize the danger into which they put themselves and their animal.

Don't believe me? If you've a lap dog--say it's only five or eight pounds--what happens if you must stop suddenly and your critter is not properly tethered? For an answer, go put a Shake Weight on your rear package shelf or up on your dash for real giggles, take it to 55 mph and slam on the brakes to experience the ensuing bedlam.

How fair is it that you have little Spot on your lap and--bam!--the car in front of you stops suddenly and you rear end them and . . . oh, my: The exploding airbag that saved your life just made Spot a stain.

Rest in peace, dear family friend, we knew you well.

Make a resolution to not be either of those drivers this year. And be sure to share with those you do see who insist on putting a cat or dog on their laps while driving that they are exposing pets to a horrific death beyond Hollywood's most gruesome imagination. That might make them think twice.

Dutch Mandel

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