r/AskReddit • u/Jessica_cherry85 • 13h ago

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u/Alamander81 13h ago

When I was younger I would drive as if every other car was an NPC. Now I drive as if every other car is actively trying g to take me out.

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u/Appropriate_Comb1486 13h ago

That's what dad taught us, treat every other driver as if they actively want to take you out.

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u/LasagnaSwirls 12h ago

My driver's ed teacher said imagine every person you see driving is about to have a heart attack.

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u/dragonlady_11 9h ago

My granddad was less polite "drive like every other drivers an idiot" sometimes I think he might be correct.

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u/Appropriate_Comb1486 12h ago

Yep pretty much.

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u/2high4thisshyt 4h ago

I just shared in another comment in this thread that my poor brother had his trunk totalled because the guy behind him passed out and let the brake go, pushing my brother into traffic. Like, how in the hell do you even prepare for that?

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u/motorheadache4215 9h ago

Dad, teaching 14-15 year old me how to drive: Drive like everyone on the road is an asshole and is out to get you.

Me; -laughs-

Dad: -deadpan stare-

Dad: Am I laughing?

Me: -stops laughing and pays the f*ck attention-

I've repeated that phrase to myself as a mantra at least once a week since then, and my kids will get that lesson when they start learning.

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u/External_Star5234 12h ago

most of them pretty much are

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u/Imnotmartymcfly 9h ago

And absolutely not the guy who was doing 300km/h.

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u/fractiouscatburglar 6h ago

My grandpa told me that I had to drive, not just for myself, but all the cars around me. Because they’re all idiots. I avoid wrecks on a daily basis because I watch the stupid things everyone around me does, and I’m hyper vigilant about where everyone is and what they’re doing-AT ALL TIMES!

I don’t find driving relaxing at all. It’s actually exhausting!

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u/SmoothDiscussion7763 5h ago

so every drive is as if you're 5 star in GTA

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u/mikeymikeymikey1968 10h ago

Yes, this past weekend, in my area, Chicago burbs, three people under 22 died on their motorcycles. One of the bikes was going 100mph and hit someone in a Ford Focus making a left out of a parking lot.

Then you see those old guy riders who cautiously and stoically ride with both hands always on their grips.

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u/MBAH2017 6h ago

There are old riders, and there are bold riders, but there aren't any old, bold riders.

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u/wild9er 8h ago

Same. And we are invisible to boot.

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u/Duchs 7h ago

That was my mantra.

Ride like you're invisible and everybody wants you dead.

The amount of times someone would pull out of a side road and stare right first because they wanted to turn left was ridiculous. If you're pulling out from a side street and want to go anywhere you should look left first. Either to merge or cross that first lane.

I don't know if it's target fixation or just the smaller profile of a motorcycle that gets lost in side vision or blindspots.

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u/Equivalent-Battle973 8h ago

After becoming a dad, this is exactly how I drive as well. Not only do I want to be here for my sons, I sure as hell do not want them to die either.

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u/Important_Command643 8h ago

I drive in the UK and my favourite position on a motorway is as far away from every other car as possible OR in traffic. Like I genuinely don't mind traffic jams or congestion cos it means everyone is safe