THE Star-Bulletin features section is asking readers to identify the most annoying driving habit in Hawaii, with the results to be compiled and published in a July 21 article. Thus far, the feedback from our chat room discussion on bad motoring skills, not surprisingly, shows a lot of impatience and road rage out there. One less aggressive
driver on the roadNote our June 29 story, "Those #@*!#! other drivers!," which shared an early sampling of responses on irksome navigating traits. Out of the 16 local folks quoted, eight of them cited the specific exasperation of vehicles moving at or below the speed limit in the fast lane of the freeway.
"SLOW POKES to the right lane, please," implored Mona of Waianae.
"The sign 'Slower Traffic Keep Right' means exactly that, so why do slow drivers continue to block traffic in the middle or left lanes of the freeway?" Clyde of Mililani asked rhetorically.
"People driving the speed limit in the far left lane on any of Oahu's highways -- especially on H-3, Pali and Likelike -- is by far the most annoying and dangerous practice on our roadways," opined Matthew of Kailua.
Mona, Clyde, Matthew: Chill. I used to be like you. When I was younger, I had little patience for four-wheeled turtles who got in my way. In fact, I had little tolerance for anyone who didn't acknowledge my self-anointment as queen of the asphalt jungle.
Once, I almost got into a fight over a stupid parking space.
I had been circling the private lot on Piikoi for a good five minutes, although it seemed more like 50. Finally, a car began pulling out, so on went my signal light. Then, from the opposite direction, came a usurper coveting the same spot. "That's mine," his hand motion was saying.
No way, buster. Vigorously, I shook my head and eased my vehicle forward to park. So did he. Neither of us would budge.
That did it. I flung open my car door, ran up to his window and exclaimed, "That's my space! I was waiting for it!" The guy begged to differ and said that, since he was closer, it was rightly his.
Suddenly, all those years of watching "Gomer Pyle, USMC," helped me do my very best impression of a bellowing Sergeant Carter. "You move that car right now!," I ordered like a drill sergeant, as a small crowd started gathering. "Move it! Move it! MOVE IT!"
I don't know if he backed away from horror or respect, but my rival sped out of that lot in a hurry. Triumphantly, I claimed my prize and gloated over victory.
Later, though, when friends and family heard what I had done, they scolded me for accelerating the confrontation. They pointed out the potential danger of my bravado. No sense getting hurt or killed over a parking space. No sense getting hurt or killed over a mode of transportation, period.
WHICH is why I have seriously lightened up while traveling the literal roadway of life. In fact, I avoid crowded venues like Ala Moana Beach Park or Waikiki on the Fourth of July, because the jockeying will be fierce. While driving to any destination, I always think, "Well, if I can't find parking, I'll just leave," because then it's always a pleasant surprise to snag a spot and "no beeg ting" if I don't.
And if I ever want to debate the finer points of vehicular etiquette with a fellow motorist, never again will I do my impersonation of Sergeant Carter. Instead, I'll do my impression of a human being and, if I may say so, a quite reasonable one at that.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
DianeChang@aol.com, or by fax at 523-7863.