Pre-pandemic, I labored in San Francisco and lived throughout the bay. There’s a steep toll to recover from the bridge into SF, nevertheless it’s lowered by about 2/3 or so in case you have 3 or extra folks in your automotive. And also you get to make use of the specific lanes, so that you don’t have to attend within the toll strains like everybody else, and the metering lights prioritize you. Cue informal carpool. If you happen to’re a driver, you go to 1 of some designated spots, choose up just a few passengers, drive quick throughout the bridge, and drop everybody in one other designated spot downtown. If you happen to’re a passenger, you simply present up, get in line, and get in a automotive when it’s your flip. Sounds sketchy as hell, truly works very well. I obtained chauffeured to work in some *very good* vehicles.
If you happen to journey as a passenger lengthy sufficient, there are some vehicles you study to acknowledge and determine to not get into. It’s completely different for everybody. You study which automotive house owners sometimes have again seats coated in canine fur, or which individuals play music you hate, or no matter.
For me, it was a white Honda Match. The primary time I encountered it, I obtained in behind the motive force. A lady, in all probability not more than 5 toes tall, she had the seat all the way in which pushed *again*, the seat again reclined to date that she couldn’t attain the steering wheel. No matter, it’s an extended wait in line. However the Match isn’t an enormous automotive, so she’d taken up all of the leg room within the again seat. After I obtained in behind her, I — additionally not a selected tall individual — was so scrunched up that my knees dug into the again of the drivers’ seat, which she then had the nerve to complain about.
She was additionally consuming a bowl of cereal. An enormous bowl. Ramen sized at the least, white, manufactured from ceramic, stuffed with cereal and milk, steel spoon and all the pieces. Once more, one thing I assumed she’d maintain earlier than setting off to deal with rush hour visitors on the Bay Bridge.
BUT NO.
She put the bowl on her lap, did nothing by any means to the seat place, and proceeded to drive away. Now, I’d stated she couldn’t attain the steering wheel and this was true. So with a view to drive, she used the wheel to drag herself up and she or he clung to it the complete 30 minute drive into town.
At this level, I need to point out that I race vehicles. It feels like I’m being pretentious as hell, and I in all probability am, however the factor is if you learn to drive quick you spend a variety of time speaking about driving posture. To drive a automotive, you need your physique to be as supported as potential, as upright as potential, and doubtless not more than about 12-24 inches from the steering wheel, relying on how lengthy your arms are. Your arms ought to be barely bent and so they shouldn’t be taking any of your weight. There are many causes for all of this however the one related for right this moment’s dialogue is that this places you in the absolute best place to see down the highway so far as potential and spot hazards and keep away from them. By supporting your self along with your seat, you allow your arms free to steer out of the blue and exactly ought to the necessity come up.
Additionally, the Bay Space is floor zero for distracted driving. Assholes texting, watching movies, making video calls, all whereas driving their vehicles at 80 mph.
So: this girl couldn’t see down the highway to anticipate accidents and couldn’t steer out of the way in which to keep away from them. And he or she wasn’t paying consideration.
Additionally, in racing, you safe completely all the pieces within the automotive as a result of in a crash, something not nailed down goes to develop into a missile. Ceramic cereal bowls for example.
The drive objectively nice, however I spent it in bodily ache, making an attempt to maintain my knees out of her again — did I point out I’d had latest knee surgical procedure? I’d had latest knee surgical procedure — and psychological anguish imagining all of the methods I used to be going to finish up useless and coated in froot loops.
It was nice, I stated nothing, no hurt no foul and many others, however I additionally determined it will be finest for each of us if I by no means obtained in that automotive once more, so I didn’t.
