There’s an old saying: “Everyone thinks he’s a good driver.” No doubt, I’m not the best driver in the world, but I do feel very strongly that there’s an unspoken code that is not being followed by most of the people with whom I share the road every day.

Perhaps this series will get me into more trouble than any other part of my blog; so be it. These ideas have to be put out there, if for nothing else, than to start a discussion.

Articles in this series:

How long does it take?

I will never cease to be amazed by how long it takes people to get into a car, get it started, and drive out of a parking space.

I know you saw me as you were getting into your vehicle. I know that you know that I’m waiting for your space. I know you know that there are now two or three other cars waiting behind me who can’t drive past because I am waiting for your space.

So why are you sitting in the car for two, three, four, up to five minutes before driving off?

I’ve seen people put on make up, have conversations on the cell phone, fiddle around with their iPods—you name it. Do they possess such an ego that they feel other people should wait for them?

Tom Vanderbilt, in his excellent book Traffic theorized that people see parking spaces as valuable conquests, and thus are reluctant to give them up, even when they no longer need them. Like a child who isn’t interested in a particular toy until his cousin wishes to play with it, we get possessive about these all-too rare rectangular territories.

Whatever the psychology behind it, people need to start thinking of others more often when they drive.