My Uber driver talked me out of honking at slowpokes

I was stuck behind this guy doing 25 in a 45 on Old Georgetown Road last week and getting ready to lay on the horn. The driver, this older guy named Frank, said most people driving slow are either lost or scared, and honking just rattles them more. He told me about the time his grandma stalled on a hill and a trucker leaned on the horn so bad she cried, and that hit different. Has anyone else had a passenger change how you react behind the wheel?

2 comments

2 Comments

keithbutler26d ago

Does Frank do standup comedy on the side, because that story hit me right in the feels? I had a similar thing happen once when my girlfriend's mom was driving us and some guy lost it on her for creeping through an intersection. Really makes you stop and think before you lay on that horn.

mila40526d ago

Really makes you stop and think before you lay on that horn" is exactly it, @keithbutler. I've noticed this pattern where people treat every inconvenience like a personal attack, not just in traffic but at the grocery store or on the sidewalk. Like someone blocking the aisle with their cart, you feel that urge to sigh loud or make a comment, but they're probably just overwhelmed or distracted. Frank's grandma story is a good reminder that we don't know what's going on in someone else's moment, and a little patience can go a long way. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that taking a breath before reacting usually makes the rest of my day go smoother too.