You know “those drivers” who drive outside the lanes during the first snow storm of the season because they can’t see the painted lines on the road? Recently, I was accused of being one of “those drivers.”
One dark, snowy Saturday night I pulled out of the Shopko parking lot onto South Avenue. As I drove forward in the left turning lane, I was surprised to roll up beside my husband’s Tahoe, situated three vehicles back from the red light at the intersection.
Not until I saw Larry’s wide-eyed look of astonishment did I realize the left turning lane wasn’t where I thought it should have been. Ignoring his exasperation, I shot him my best “I am so glad to see you” smile, hoping I could appeal to his natural instinct to rescue his damsel in distress.
After a few close calls with on-coming traffic, the light turned green and Larry motioned for me to cut in front of him. Arriving home, I avoided a “Lecture from Larry” when I winked at him and said, “Thanks for giving me cuts to get in line!”
He chuckled and told me that he had noticed headlights approaching in his driver’s side-mirror. He first thought,”Doesn’t this idiot know that they are driving on the wrong side of the street?” A startling realization quickly followed, “OH! It’s MY wife!”
Winter weather conditions increase the hazards of driving, provoke angst and amplify agitation. You can protect yourself from distress, relieve tension and extend your tolerance by adopting a humorous perspective when driving.
Here are five suggestions to respond with a humorous approach towards “those drivers:”
1. Make a comment to yourself, opposite your true feelings. Examples: Nice. Impressive! Interesting.
2. Smile. Then take pleasure in knowing that they will be wondering if they know you.
3. Pretend that you personally know them. Or remind yourself that “those drivers” are someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, wife, husband, etc.
4. Imagine their reaction if your true thoughts were displayed across your fore-head.
5. Refrain from losing your temper by visualizing that a video of your outrage could show up on YouTube.
No one is exempt from making an occasional mistake while driving. Knowing my husband the way I do, he expected me to acknowledge that I had messed up. So I said, “Honey … I’ll admit that it is possible that I got confused and drove on the wrong side of the street, if you’ll admit that you derived great pleasure in rescuing me.