Thursday, April 12, 2007

For The Record

At around 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning, two vehicles on Wednesday morning engaged in what was to become a case of road rage. A late model Chrysler Sebring convertible and a green Chevy pickup truck engaged in one act after another of cutting each other off on Interstate 270 around Interstate 85 South of Frederick, Maryland. The last time, the Chrysler Sebring went off the road and hit a concrete median, killing both passengers.

The death was the first attributed to road rage in this area. This area has become more and more over crowded with insufficient infrastructure. People are moving farther away from work, commuting longer distances, driving in more congestion, and we are tolerating each other less and less.

People needing to commute from downtown Washington to the Gaithersburg area consistently run into problems coming to the Beltway from Canal Road. Once getting onto the Beltway, traffic moves at 60 - 65 miles per hour and those getting onto the Beltway are not permitted to change lanes to exit on the left side to gain entry to Interstate 270 heading to Gaithersburg and points North. In other words, traffic is moving at 60 - 65 mph bumper to bumper, and one day, there will be a chain reaction accident where a huge number of cars pile into each other because a car tire blew out and the cars behind it were following too closely, and couldn't stop.

I no longer book appointments that cause me to travel at Rush Hour. Any Rush Hour.

This is not the only place in the DC Metropolitan area where these conditions exist, daily.

To the best of my knowledge, as of this writing, the driver of the green Chevy pickup truck has not been found, yet.

This kind of crap has got to stop, overcrowding or otherwise.

12 comments:

Claudia said...

I don't miss that traffic at all. Now, I get mildly annoyed when when it takes me more than 15 minutes to get home from school...and then I remember the DC beltway and relax. Things could be so much worse.

Glamourpuss said...

people + cars = stupidity.

We feel invincible in our motorcars for some reason. In truth, we are more vulnerable than ever.

Puss

Lee said...

I heard that story yesterday and was absolutely horrified. Road rage is so singularly bizarre to me. I can't imagine getting that mad at someone for poor driving...I really can't. What's wrong with these people? If someone can reach a murderous rage bc someone cut them off in traffic, how could they possibly handle the trials and tribulations of having bosses, coworkers, wives, exhusbands, children, inlaws, etc?!

Plus I take the bus and read my book.

The CEO said...

All day yesterday, people were phoning in stories of 'road rage'. One told of driving on I-395 in VA near the Pentagon, when someone cut her off, and pulled a gun and pointed it at her. My wife and I were attacked on Rt. 7 at Tyson's Corner not far from Clyde's Restaurant at a red light by a guy getting out of his car and accosting us with a tire iron. We still have no idea why. There are times I wonder if this is some strange Malthusian means of thinning the herd.

Itsnopicknick said...

We have serious road rage here too. I hate driving in traffic and i'm a prime example of someone who can't hack it....so i too stay off the roads when they're at their busiest if I can possible help it. or I put the music up and beebop and keep my cool as much as possible.!

mist1 said...

I had to be somewhere this morning. Somewhere outside of my home. I was shocked. What the hell is everyone doing in the mornings?

M@ said...

The sad thing is that the two passengers were described as a couple.

I'm assuming the man was driving and he killed his wife.

Wicked H said...

I think it's time to whip out the nerve gas cannisters and load them up with Prozac.

It is a very sad state of affairs.

Pickled Olives said...

Tragic. I've seen tons of it though. I was even in a cab when the driver started hitting into another cab. He then cocked his gun. My friend and I told him we could get out there, that was fine.

I have no solution for road rage. Maybe everyone should get stoned before entering a car. I know the couple times I tried it (years ago) I couldn't drive more than 30 mph without thinking I was going waaaayyyy too fast.

The CEO said...

Everybody must get stoned.

Claudia said...

CEO...can I just drink instead? A nice glass of vino??

The CEO said...

We do not condone drinking and driving. Hire Matt instead. For a sensual woman like you, he'll be happy to help out for free.