Driving is a privilege, not a right – Guest Post

May 15, 2009 by admncc

Here at The Constant Complainer, in addition to my own posts, readers can submit Guest Posts on topics they would like to complain about.  William Gatherer submitted the below-Guest Post.  His complaint is cell phone use while driving.  Enjoy and without further adieu, here’s William.

Each one of us has had to take a driver’s safety course.  I remember it as if it was yesterday.  I had many hours logged in books, as well as “driving time.”  Growing up on a farm, I probably started driving at around 12, and finally got the license at 16.  I understand that operating a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility, and I applaud all that can do it safely.  CC, I also applaud you on your post of giving up texting while driving.  This leads me to the point of this story.

I was headed home from work the other day, on Clemens Center Parkway (Named for Samuel Clemens).  For those of you not familiar it is a 4 lane 2 way road with a concrete divider in the middle.  At each intersection there are clearly posted “No U-Turn” signs.  These are fairly easy to recognize as there is an upside-down “U” surrounded by the red circle and slash.

As I was approaching an intersection, I was nearly broadsided by an oncoming blue mini-van making an illegal u-turn.  She was busy talking on the phone, and apparently waiting for me to go by was going to slow her down from reaching her destination.  So she cut me off while making this u-turn.  I must have worn a look of concern and anger on my face as I locked up my brakes.  As she pulled away, still talking on her phone and staring at me like it was my fault, I noticed the Superman sticker on the back window.  It actually said “SUPER BITCH.” Perhaps this is my first case of truth in advertising.

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Comments

  1. Tristan says:

    Yet I’ve heard our generation is not selfish…

  2. Sugar says:

    William, that really sucks. Some people just don’t learn until it’s too late.

    If you really wanted to be a “SUPER-ER BITCH”, you should have called the highway patrol and said there was a drunk driver on the highway and given the van’s description. That would have at least maybe gotten you a little satisfaction, lol.

  3. Marissa says:

    Yep – all the elements are there for justifiable homicide: talking on cell, disregarding posted sign, cutting off someone who grew up on a farm, giving an innocent farmboy the stink-eye, and then down-playing the fact the she was actually an Ultimate C**t, and not just a Super Bitch.

    (I love this site; I get to rant about stuff that didn’t happen to me!) 😀

  4. Dan says:

    Marissa, I love the phrase “stink-eye” so I was cracking up when reading your comment. Lol. Awesome. You rock! William. You should have flipped the bird at a minimum. Funny post.

  5. And you wonder why there is so much road rage!

  6. NeoConDon says:

    This could very well be one of the many that don’t take driver’s training courses. In Ohio, you do not need a course if you’re over the age of 18. It is required for those who are 16 and 17 years old.

    But, one thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older, if there is a “no U-Turn” sign, or a “no turn on red” sign, it is usually there for a pretty good reason.

  7. dani says:

    YOU WON YOU WON YOU WON !!!!!!!!!!!
    Congrats on the eff you award !!!

  8. My favorite part about the story is when he says its was the first time he saw truth in advertising.
    Bumper stickers crack me up. I particularly like the one that says, “If you can read this, you are driving too close”

  9. You know what I don’t understand? Most cell phones now a days come with ear pieces. Okay its not wireless, its like headphones and a mic…not attractive but way more safe…. And most phones have speaker phone. Why not use those options?

    They now give tickets in Montreal for driving and talking on the cell phone…well not talking but for having the phone in your hand (texting, picking up to dial, talking on it..) I hate being in the car alone so I’m always on the telephone but I use bluetooth and have the sound come from my radio speakers or I use speaker phone.

    People are stupid.

  10. NeoConDon says:

    Jenny Georgio…

    There are communist places here in greater Cleveland where it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving…so Montreal is not the only communist part of North America.

  11. When something like this happens to me I get a jolt. It isn’t until the driver is long gone before I’m telling myself, “Damn, perfect honking, flipping off, yelling opportunity!” But, usually, I’m more worried about navigating my kids and I out of harm’s way.

    I don’t know what your response could have been, she was Super Bitch, after all. She might have bitched you to death there on the highway and then were would you be? Lying on the side of the road, twitching from a bitch slap, that’s where 🙂

  12. When someone cuts me off I personally like to get behind them and just lay on my horn. Like literally drive two or three minutes behind them and have my horn blaring at the same time.

    OOOOORRRRR (and this is the road ragey side of me) quickly get in the other lane, cut off the driver that cut me off and slam on my brakes. It scares the crap out of them and sort of wakes them up from doing stupid shit like that again.

  13. william gatherer says:

    In NY State it is also illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving… however I see Staties doing the same thing as well, so I see it is an enforcement issue.

    Who knows, perhaps she had an emergency… or maybe it was a sale at the Walmart. I hope for her sake it was something serious, for if it wasn’t, it very well could have been.

    I think on my motorcycle, I will start carrying BB’s to drop for those who tailgate… that should back them off.. but then again, someone could get hurt.. so I guess my road rage will have to wait..

  14. Extreme John says:

    @Sugar haha I LOVE that idea!

    I honestly didn’t think I was going to get through the story without having a fit, the many crazy things I see on the roads here in Florida have just scarred me for life.

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