I ask a little favor, multiplied by 3, from drivers everywhere....

[pinkertd]

Are you impatient with other drivers?

Do you find yourself getting impatient with other drivers? Maybe they are a little slower driving than you? Maybe they take longer to make a turn than you do? Maybe they don't whip themelves into a parking space but do it slower and more carefully? Do you get angry when you drive behind someone doing only the speed limit and you want to go faster but can't legally pass them? Do you get upset at a driver who gets in the wrong lane first and then has to switch lanes? Do you take chances you know you shouldn't running those yellow traffic lights? Do you ever pull out in front of a driver when you really shouldn't but gun your car and go anyway cause you're in a hurry?

Today my just turned 17 year-old triplet sons got their driver's licenses. I have to let three of them out onto the roads and highways at one time. That's a BIG deal, three all at the same time. They know the rules. They know how to drive. But they'll be a little slower than you at first, and a little more cautious.

So far in life, they have defied the odds.....born after 15 years of childlessness. Born 11 weeks too soon at 2 lbs. One with a serious internal congenital birth defect. Struggled for months in the hospital to live. They've caught up physically (tallest is 6'1"), and academically (all entering their junior high school year). I asked them for promises to be careful always, to slow down a bit more on our many deer overrun roads, and to try to watch out for other drivers who aren't obeying the rules or driving carefully, or doing the unexpected.

Next time there's a "slow poke" in front of you, maybe it's one of my sons. I ask other drivers to please be patient on the road with them and don't take chances with their lives or with yours. Speed, impatience and carelessness kill innocent people every day. This favor is not really just for me but for moms and dads from everywhere with young drivers. And thanks!

[judgemax]

oh dear! I don't envy you right now! I couldn't imagine three at once!

( P.S. Its encouraging to hear about your preemies, ..my son was a micro as well, 122 days in the hospital, ..and was 1lb 13 oz at birth..I know the struggles, but could not imagine having three in at once! )

[WaywardSon]

I certainly appreciate and understand your point of view. The world in which we live, however, is a pretty tough place and unfortunately "looking out for number one" has become much too common place. Your story got through to me and I will do my share the next time a "slow poke" pulls out in front of me; I just hope a few more can join in.

[Hooked Newbie]

Bravo to you and your Sons. I will admit that this post made me feel a bit guilty and I will remember it tomorrow on the road. Thanks!

[abcdefghi]

I understand your point, but having been a 17 year old son with a driving license, I know that all the promises in the world go out the window once the testosterone starts flowing (and I bet every guy on here will agree with me). While there are a huge number of bad drivers on the road, its statistically proven that young males are most at risk due to the risks that they take and how impatient they are.

Make sure that they know that when they are behind a slow driver that they are as patient and careful as you are asking the rest of us to be.

[snoopy65]

The thing for all of us to remember is: The place we are going will still be there even if it takes us a few minutes longer to reach, but a life we make take by being in a hurry will never come back.

[Dangerdoll]

great post!

[msjinkzd]

congrats to you and your sons! I will definately take this post to heart.

[DominionDesign]

I understand your point, but having been a 17 year old son with a driving license, I know that all the promises in the world go out the window once the testosterone starts flowing (and I bet every guy on here will agree with me). While there are a huge number of bad drivers on the road, its statistically proven that young males are most at risk due to the risks that they take and how impatient they are.

Make sure that they know that when they are behind a slow driver that they are as patient and careful as you are asking the rest of us to be.

I was once a 17 year old with a license, although that was quite awhile ago, and understand what you are saying about the testosterone thing. However having a daughter who is 16 and driving now makes me look at things much differently. I cant imagine 3 at once. Pinkertd, you and your sons will be in my prayers. On a side note I grew up in NY where my best friends dad was a NYC cop. When we were old enough to drive he would get out his pictures, he was in a first response unit for accidents, and make us look at all the carnage that impatience, drinking, distraction, etc causes. I cant say I always drive perfectly because of that but it made an impact.

[kamikaze_fish]

Sorry to be the debbie downer but as long as that slow cautious person isn't in the far left lane on a 3 lane highway, I do respect them and give them their space. But unfortunately that's rarely the case.

I'm excited that your sons are doing great and beat the odds, especially with having 3 of them. That's really cool! I am listening to what you have to say and can respect that and will, especially with cars that say "student driver" be a little more cautious and patient with them.

[abcdefghi]

I was once a 17 year old with a license, although that was quite awhile ago, and understand what you are saying about the testosterone thing. However having a daughter who is 16 and driving now makes me look at things much differently. I cant imagine 3 at once. Pinkertd, you and your sons will be in my prayers. On a side note I grew up in NY where my best friends dad was a NYC cop. When we were old enough to drive he would get out his pictures, he was in a first response unit for accidents, and make us look at all the carnage that impatience, drinking, distraction, etc causes. I cant say I always drive perfectly because of that but it made an impact.

Oh I understand completely, I have 2 sons (ok they are nowhere near driving age) but I find myself driving a lot differently now than I used to.

I read an article in (I think) Car & Driver a few months ago about the old driving safety videos they used to show and the carnage that was shown to kids in order to shock them into driving carefully. I guess that nowadays it's not PC to show kids that kind of thing, even though from what I can tell it worked.

[abcdefghi]

Sorry to be the debbie downer but as long as that slow cautious person isn't in the far left lane on a 3 lane highway, I do respect them and give them their space. But unfortunately that's rarely the case.


I agree with this, far too many people seem to think the far left lane is a regular driving lane and not an overtaking lane. The person driving faster then usually has to decide whether to risk undertaking them (at which point they suddenly decide to move over without checking mirrors), or sit behind them for miles and miles until the exit they want comes up and they move over.

Seriously though OP, I hope your boys are safe out on the roads. They are a dangerous place, and it only takes a second for someone to jump a light (I see this everyday) or tailgate someone (also see this everyday) and cause a wreck.

[Radar]

Nice post,Thanks for sharing,everyone needs a little reminder sometimes.I remember when my kids started driving I would be on pins and needles till they got back.

[FISHSHROD]

There are to many impatient drivers on the road. I made a thread a while back similar to this thread called "SPEED RACERS" :)
I can't even drive 5 over the speed limit without being passed by EVERYONE only to see them at the next light . I'm talking back streets. I need to be doing 10 over and usually most people need to pass at that speed also:confused: You can save gas if you slowerdownalittle :)I also don't think people know that you are suppose to stop at STOP signs and RED lights before you make your turn :confused: People drive through them like they are not even there:eek: OK , I'LL STOP.

[WaywardSon]

I tried it today - I have a little more feedback: Stay out of the left-hand lane except to pass. That means, dilrods, pass and then get back in and let the next one pass. It's a simple concept to keep traffic (and life) flowing along better! Sorry, a bit of a rant there!

[d_thomas_cg]

If they are anything like i was when i first got my license, any vehicle which they get behind the wheel of will automatically turn into a formula one race car, and will be driven like a car of that caliber should, lol. So lets just hope they arent anything like me and my friends were at that age...

[PuppyFluffer]

Good post!

Please make sure your boys know never to leave the road to avoid hitting an animal. It sucks to hit a deer. I usually get one a year. We are seriously infested with them here and while I am very vigilant about them, they often run out and it can be unavoidable to miss them.

So many people leave the roadway to avoid an animal and run into trees, telephone poles or they overcorrect trying to get back on the road and end up in the oncoming lane and possibly hitting another vehicle head on.

Never leave the road to avoid an animal! It's far safer to just hit it. It sucks for the animal and your car but your own safety is more important than either of those things.

[pinkertd]

With the fast impatient pace we keep today, especially in the northeast part of the country, defensive driving is something you need to do every time you take the car out. I wish they would teach a defensive driving course in high school. Kids especially think they are invincible and that nothing bad can happen to them. We lose a local kid to traffic tragedy every now and then and that seems to have more impact on the teen drivers than anything else. I drive I80 east towards New York 100 miles roundtrip every day to get to work, the average speed when there's no traffic problem or sun glare is 80 mph. People do insane things sometimes. And there's been so many deaths on that stretch of road it's really scary. And nothing irks the drivers more than to have a slow driver in the far left lane, I know! And yes, because we seem to be overrun in our county with deer, I have told the boys over and over again....hit the deer!!! Trees don't move, they kill! There are far too many trees in our area with "memorials" on them.

[J double R]

And yes, because we seem to be overrun in our county with deer, I have told the boys over and over again....hit the deer!!! Trees don't move, they kill! There are far too many trees in our area with "memorials" on them.

agreed!

[janewalsh11]

Congrats to you and your sons,can't begin to imagine what you went through.Although i live in UK it's still the same all the young lads get their licences and become boy racers,seems like something they have to do. I have 3 sons but none of them chose to drive at 17,only one drives and he passed his test 2 yrs ago,he has a son so has never been a boy racer thank fully. My youngest son is 16 ,not sure how keen he is to learn to drive at the moment,so who knows he may become one of them but ,i hope not.

I always give learner drivers time and space ,we were all there once. I admit i do get impatient at times,when people don't indicate or they cut me up.On the whole i stay fairly calm especially as road rage is more coomon these days
Just hope everyone can stay safe .