Can we restore driving as a privilege?

To simplify things, let’s use the term “driving” and “riding” (a motorcycle) the same. I love driving! However, I need to be more specific. I love driving on a racetrack. I very much dislike driving on the streets. Just ask my wife. Driving on the track is a “get-to”, where driving on the streets is a “have-to”. As I, and those of us continually learning, working and refining our driving get better; it seems as though the average Joe or Joanna is getting worse. But maybe that appearance of getting worse is an actuality. Have our standards for driving dropped?

I understand that not everyone has an interest in refining their driving. Just as long as they get from point A to B with as few accidents/tickets as possible. What a minute, do the police still hand out tickets anymore? Seems like there is so much money to be made out there. That’s one way of raising the standards of people’s driving.

I saw an old lady texting while driving on the freeway last week! I would’ve thought she came from the era of “knowing better”.

Things that grind my gears:

• One hand on top of the steering wheel; or even two. Both are the same. Abrupt steering. How much wheel rotation do you need at speeds higher than a parking lot.

• There seems to be a growing trend when turning left at a light to cross the yellow line of the road you are turning onto if there is no vehicle in that lane or turn lane. What kind of habit are you building?

• This one really gets me, handicap people driving with their handicap placard hanging from the mirror while driving??? You’re already handicapped. Why are you going to handicap yourself even further?

• Tesla Drivers. All that technology, how are you some of the worst drivers? Don’t you have radar that shows cars you can’t physically see?

• People can’t stay between the lines. This happens everywhere, all the time. And you already know what they are looking at…

• Remember that old joke about “BMW drivers and turn signals”? Well, it now applies to all makes of cars. If you are too lazy to put on your turn signal (simple task), what are you going to do when a moderate level task arises?

My driving is not perfect, and has room for improvement, I just got into an accident last year. All it takes is two people not paying attention. What’s the number one rule in life? Pay Attention!

In other news…

Here is a video on my new personal best at The Ridge: