Enough with the tailgating!

Be advised...I'm about to go on a rant. I've had just about enough of the tailgating.

No. Not THAT kind of tailgating.THIS kind...

Every day I get this. Without fail. Note the two empty lanes to the left of the tailgater - in case you are unsure, the tailgater is the silver car behind the blue van. He could move to the left, but is apparently magnetically drawn to the blue van. There's just no reason for this!!

Driving home tonight, I was tailgated by the ugliest car ever made. The Pontiac Aztek. And it was aggressive. If you don't believe me, please see the exhibit to the right...U-G-L-Y...and it ain't got no alibi.

When I was able to move over safely I did. And I expected this guy to just fly by me since he'd been 4.5 inches from my bumper for 10 minutes. But no. He just lolly-gagged his way on by. That is even more annoying than the tailgating!! 

My feeling is, if you're so much more important than me, and in such a huge hurry that you have to ride my bumper for miles, then when I move, you better just leave me in the dust. I can tell you that 9 times of 10, that doesn't happen. It's wrong. SO wrong.

My absolute favorite tailgating moment happens many mornings when I drive to work. A friend and I sometimes carpool, and therefore, as crazy as it sounds, often ride in the carpool lane. I can't even articulate how many times we're tailgated by a NON-carpooler in that lane. I refuse to move for those people. They are illegal in my lane and should not get to just go. Many times they'll jerk around me and whip right back in front, all illegal and annoying. And CHiPs is NEVER around when that happens. You KNOW that if I drove solo in the carpool lane that a ticket would be issued in about 37 seconds.

Side note...that just reminded me of Jason Derulo's Ridin' Solo...okay, back to my rant...

I just really don't get the whole tailgating thing. Do the tailgaters really think they're winning by getting that close to me? Do they think they're intimidating me? Are they really that much more important? Is their car that much cooler? I can tell you that if it's the Pontiac Aztek, the answer to that last one is a resounding NO.

I hope none of you out there are tailgaters. If you are, please enlighten me on why this is such a fun activity...if you dare...

Large White Trucks: My New Nemesis on the Road

I've been commuting for almost a year now. Over a year ago I wrote about my feelings toward Toyotas on the road. I still feel the same, but the Toyotas now have a rival for my anti-affection. They still taunt me on the road, but the vehicle that annoys me now as much, if not more, is the large white truck.

You've all seen them. And if you haven't, take a look at the photo on the left. Large. White. Truck.

These trucks are big. They are work trucks. And apparently, they are 100 times more important than the rest of us on the road. And to prove their importance, they are forced to pull within inches of my bumper when I'm driving to work. With their lights on. Which of course light up my whole car since they are four times as tall as my Honda. And then, when they can't take it anymore, because me going 71 mph in a 65 zone is just not fast enough, they whip around me and glare as they speed by.

Just go then, you freaking large white trucks of annoyance.

This trend seems to be increasing, and I'm seeing more and more of these trucks on the road. It doesn't seem to matter what time I go to work. If it's dark, they're there. Every now and then the large white truck is replaced with a large white van. They're like the younger brother of the large white truck. The one sent when the older brother is just too lazy to get up and go. They're go-getters. And sometimes even more annoying than the trucks themselves.

And oh yeah, they almost all only have one driver yet they are fully entitled to drive in the carpool lane by themselves. Oh that I could have that much entitlement in my life. That must be spectacular.

If any of you drive one of these trucks, please take note. While I'm sure you're a lovely person, you actually aren't more important than the rest of us on the road. We aren't impressed with your, ahem, size.

Thanks so much.