Some Drivers are Dense, Others Just Plain Dangerous

I had to chuckle a bit at the lady driver at a stoplight next to me. While everybody else stopped before the crosswalk, she had solidly placed her Yukon in the middle of the crosswalk as she waited for the light to change. My chuckling turned to wariness as the light turned. We proceeded together through the intersection and I realized that she was intently busy with a cell phone at her ear. I sort of sped up to get past and away from her. A mile away was the next stoplight and wouldn't you know it, we both ended up first in line at the next red light, the Yukon to my right. She was still talking on her phone. Well at least she stopped before the crosswalk this time. Sort of....... As we waited for the light to change, she inched forward a foot or two at a time, numerous times until, again, the Yukon was well into the crosswalk. This time I thought maybe I should be crabby and motion for her to hang up the phone, but a good opportunity didn't present itself. She probably wouldn't have seen me anyway. We have a new law in Kansas, taking effect January 1, that outlaws texting while driving. But the new law doesn't outlaw talking so we riders still have that hazard to look out for. Luckily, this driver wasn't appearing to be real dangerous to others, just a bit 'dense'. The light changed again, I took out in front of her again, and once again, a mile away at the next stoplight, we both ended up first in line waiting on the red light. Some things in life are certain and never change, the Yukon was still at my right and the driver was still talking on the phone. She had stopped again just before the crosswalk, but proceeded again to get antsy and inch forward into the crosswalk. Is there no justice in the world? Shouldn't I go over to her vehicle, tap on the window and express in colorful terms (remembering Monty Python) that I wanted to fart in her general direction in retaliation for her driving technique. Dense! I proceeded on after that, she turned off somewhere and I didn't see her again. Here's hoping she got safely to where she was going. I was glad to be out of her range and was enjoying the ride, still using my usual caution, but not having to worry about that Yukon anymore. Then sort of suddenly a white Lexus appeared in my right side mirror. I glanced again a second later and he was much closer this time, right on my ass, just a few feet behind me to my right and attempting to pass me through essentially what were unused parking spaces on my right. I was in the right lane, traveling at approximately the proper speed limit, and real surprised to see this idiot doing what he was doing. I guess he was late and really needed to get to the next intersection so he could make a right turn. I must have forgotten that I owed him that favor (Prick!). Well the better part of safety ruled over anger and surprise. I moved left into the lane next to me, let him go by, and after he did I saluted his amazing driving technique with a very demonstrative one finger gesture. He glanced back, saw my finger, and hopefully got the point. I was thrilled to see that he had to stop at a red light only a block away. I hope he was late as hell to work that day! Some dense, some dangerous. Riders be aware.