Those of us who drive on metropolitan roads (especially Sydney) would be familiar with the congestion and the stress associated. I see little point in rushing just to be caught up in the next queue of cars stuck at the lights or whatever. So I have adopted a mindset of accepting the situation, driving more 'gently', and be generous to other drivers. Just trying to spread a bit of calm around. Occasionally I get a tailgater hurrying me to the next set of lights because they can't see beyond one car ahead. What is your mindset when you're behind the wheel? Do you go with the flow or try to get ahead of the crowd? Has it been worth it or has it costed you in some way (e.g. time, insults, fines, accidents, stress)?
What Is Your Mindset Behind The Wheel
skimp on 30/05/2018 - 21:19
Comments
+1 for mouth breather. So so true…
My mindset is, what ever the speed i am currently doing, it is faster and more convenient than walking so there is no need to speed/be pushy.
I assume everyone else is a moron, has kept me alive on my motorcycle (just one broken wrist)
Exactly the mindset you need when riding, never trust anyone else to keep you safe.
Sure, if you're in congestion there's nothing you can do.
I take solace in thinking the other people in their cars are feeling the same frustration.
There's really no point in tailgating or driving aggressively. Best to be safe and predictable for other drivers.It's true even if you rush you end up in the same set of red lights. When that happens for me I justify it by thinking it's the prospect and feeling of being earlier that counts.
What is my mindset behind the wheel?
Well I've been only driving for a month, but I like to try to get ahead of the pack if possible.
Often people will be driving 10km below the speed limit. It's just instinct for me to try and rush through.
I won't break the law or obstruct anyone, but given the opportunity I will try to reach the speed limit even when other people aren't close to it. That's just me.Sometimes I'll see people pass me going over the speed limit. I wouldn't do that, they're crazy.
You’ll grow out of the rush mentality. It doesn’t get you anything but frustration.
You’ll grow out of the rush mentality.
Takes a while.
The 'young and stupid' phase is supposed to be over by around age 25. I think 35 might be a better number these days.
We await the thread from Sage "So who is at fault here…". Shouldn't be long.
I think 35 might be a better number these days.
…and then there's some people that never grow up.
never grow up.
Reminds me of this bloke: https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/alleged-street-racer-to…
C'mon dude, pushing 40 and still wearing that jacket? (Maybe he was wearing it ironically. Maybe he's a bogan.) Should be out of jail by now.
Assume that everybody is distracted and isn't aware of my presence.
Don't get pushed around but don't get too caught up with proper morons, its easier to just twist the wrist and leave them behind.
That someone will hit my car; VERY wary of lane drifters …
I drive in peak hour almost every day. I've learned to appreciate the drive, as sometimes it's the only time in a day I'll get to listen to some music, have a think about life and just be with myself.
Do you go with the flow or try to get ahead of the crowd? Has it been worth it or has it costed you in some way (e.g. time, insults, fines, accidents, stress)?
Within reason, I always try to be as zippy as I can. Whilst I don't get annoyed at people on the road (no point really), I do believe that if everyone woke up a little bit, reacted a bit faster, pushed the throttle a bit harder when leaving the lights, closed their gaps…etc. that we would have less congestion.
All too often, I'm at a set of lights (usually right turn), the light turns green and it takes ages for everyone to take off. What could have easily been 10 cars going through usually results in around 7 cars going through. So in that sense, if everyone woke up a little bit and were more alert to getting going, we'd clear up the queue much quicker.
I guess the potential cost in the case of closing the gaps is more rear-ending accidents between cars? (not you, generally speaking)
I'm not saying that people should "close gaps", but rather, they should "pay attention" so that it doesn't take them 3 seconds after the car in front has gone for them to even start rolling. I would say that paying attention would both help them get off their marks more efficiently and also reduce the risk of rear-ending.
This exactly.
I normally drive against the traffic but find I am generally held up getting twice as many redlights due to slow/unaware drivers in front of me. As soon as you overtake one slow driver you get stuck behind another, or a tram or bus or cyclist.
To those that say you just get to another set of lights, it ends up being multiple due to the people preventing you from making a green light
"I am the Nightrider. I'm a fuel injected suicide machine. "
My mindset is that most other road users are either on drugs, on their phone, think that they are way more important than what they really are or got their license out of a Weet-Bix box.
Got mine from Cheerios, they're much more colourful.
race time.
.
I have never really been one to complain about the traffic here because if you've been to Asia it doesn't really compare. It once took me 3 hours to travel 20kms in Manila.
"Charge 'em and they scatter."
That was Tolkien's policy. I've never read a Tolkien book or seen a Tolkien movie but I did read his biography many years ago and I always remember that quote.
Come to the Gold Coast, OP. Have a crack at the local bogans, they know how to drive. ;)
Best driver I've ever encountered was a Jamaican taxi driver in Sydney.
Had his reggae playing, nice and calm, the idiots didn't bother him, whatever dudes, "It's a nice day ain't it?"
GET OUTTA MY WAY!
So far I am surprised by the blame people put on other drivers. Are we not the 'other' driver sometimes? Maybe that is the mindset of intolerance, which costs our society dearly.
That everyone else on the road is a mouthbreather who is texting/instagramming behind the wheel, fails to understand basic right-of-way concepts and doesn't know where the indicator is located on their vehicle.
It's proved highly effective at narrowly avoiding several otherwise certain collisions.