Open Letter to Drivers

Dear Sir-who-honked-his-horn-at-me-while-waving-wildly-this-morning,

While I’m sure you are probably cranky this morning because you haven’t yet had your coffee, there is no need for such drama at 8:01am on a busy highway in downtown T.O. I was merging on to the highway, and was halfway past you car when you decided you wanted to get into my lane. (Note to readers: my lane lead to an off-ramp that is about 100m past the on-ramp I used.) I cannot see your blinker when I’m that far past you. So after I noticed you starting to creep over into my lane while I passed you, I sped up to get away from you. I did not want you to hit me. There was no need to lean on the horn after you whipped into the lane behind me. There was no need for you to gesticulate like that at me while you drove, because at this point you were already behind me. I am not a mind-reader. I did not know you wanted into my lane when I got on the highway because your blinker was not on. This on/off ramp is a dicey one to navigate, and as I do it every morning, I am familiar with the tricks used by other drivers, and I offer you these suggestions for next time:

1. Drink a coffee before you get into the car (if that’s what makes you cranky).
2. Try not to fight with your significant other/family/whatever before you get into the car. They are no longer with you so you shouldn’t direct your rage at other drivers who have no idea what you’re pissed about.
3. Turn your blinker on right when you see the beginning of the on/off ramp so that drivers coming on will know you want to get over right away.
4. Learn the rules of the highway: In this situation, I had the right of way. My only obligation was to let you in when it was save to do so, which again, in this case, was after I had passed you. Trying to bully me out of the lane wasn’t nice, nor was it legal.
5. Try to drive more defensively rather than offensively (in both the aggressive sense and the “you have offended others” sense.)

Sincerely,

LoonieGirl