I'm jealous of James Ruppert, and not just because he's got a better collection of mid-1980s rock and pop cassettes than I.
Earlier today he wrote about how he doesn't get riled behind the wheel, but for my sins I occasionally do. And that means James enjoys lower blood pressure and a better quality of life.
What's more frustrating is I know where he's coming from, and how blissful driving can be when you don’t let anything get on your wick.
Actually, most of the time I can calmly cruise, but just occasionally you experience one of those situations where your life, and those of fellow road users, are put in danger by an idiot.
This happened on the eastbound M3 last Friday morning, when a white, 63-plate Mini Paceman attached itself to my rear bumper, so close that I couldn't see the lower grille of the car at all.
This clot – actually it was a clottette – had no comprehension of minimum braking distances, and there's no negotiating with people like that because they will always believe their driving skills defy the laws of physics.
The road was busy, and it was several miles before I could find a safe space to slot back into the lane on the left. Yes, I admit I made my displeasure known as the driver went past – although as James points out in his blog, I should have just let it slide and kept calm.
The Mini driver built speed to what must have been close or even just over a ton, for all of a few seconds before bolting themselves to the rear of the next car up the road. It's as futile as it is dangerous.
In my experience, the incidence of drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel seems to be on the increase, despite the threat of more severe fines.
Has anyone else experienced the situation where the dolt in front is too busy texting to notice the traffic queue is moving or the lights at the junction have changed?
So which camp are you in? Are you a happy subscriber to the James Ruppert Theory of Zen Motoring or are you prone to these occasional blood pressure spikes like I am?
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Well
When I find someone polite, forward thinking and considerate it brightens my day.
That said I do occasionally succomb to the occasional utterance.
Blatant stupidity does cause my better-half to deliver a pretty effective whithering stare which saves me the hassle so I can concentrate on the aftermath.
Zen like...most of the time
I learned self control