oy est way t Cen neeveeteranscccesevensreercses aces signals IT’S amazing the amount of crap on television. However, every once in a while a little gem of actually- useful information can be found on the boob tube, For example, I was watch- ing a segment about the laws of probability on Discovery Canada'on the Discovery channel. The odds, they say, of being killed in a car crash in Canada are about 9,000- to-ones “They went on to say that the primary cause of death among men-under 40 is the fatal vehicular collision. ?'m not surprised but I am dis- gusted. This is no lightening strike phenomena; cars are a human made convenience and they are killing us. I surfed the channels for a bit and stopped at a CNN segment on freeway shoot- ings. Taking the heart wrenching perspective of the victims’ families, the report included a few “experts” that beseeched drivers out there to lighten up. Yes, traffic jams are frus- trating. Yes, you’re late for an appointment. Yes, there are boneheads out there who can’t find it in there hearts to let you merge in spite of the fact that they’re crawling along at a snails pace with an hour-and-a-half of the same ahead of them. The advice CNN had for frustrated drivers was so sim- ple — almost childish if not childlike — that fm sur- prised they bothered to air it at all. They said “relax.” One expert opined that drivers out there are “living in quiet desperation,” and that shooting was the next logical step for anvane careening over the edge of sanity. The families of the victims found no logic at all. 1 was hoping to come up with some pearl of wisdom to convince the world that there is a better way, CNN beat me to it and while keep: ing it simple, they kepr it an the mark. When someone cuts you offand/or flips you the bird - While you're driving, don’t take it persénally. Heck, they don’t even know you. They don’t knew thar they just enraged an otherwise peace-loving per- son with a really cute puppy at home. Furthermore, don’t make it personal. For all you know, that fellow that just cut you offis actually in the midst of an ugly divorce and is just luoking for a tight (and in Los Angeles, perhaps a gun- fight). On the other hand, per- haps he just made an honest error, which he instantly regretted, and assumed you were unimpressed so he gave you the finger just in case you were about to do the sarne. Call it beating you to the finger. We're different people behind the wheel. We are, after all, puny lit- tle people commanding big huge death machines, This goes to the head. Some dri- vers are daunted by this awe- some power and drive in an exceptionally timid manner. Other drivers —- normally timid, thoughtful people -- become road warriors encased in a cyborg: like automobile chassis. * Some drivers are arrogant boncheads in real life and the safety-cage of a car just makes them mare so. Oh well. Another phenomena tat CNS inentioned was the fact that drivers today no longer feel the need to follow the law because disobedience is so much more the norm. This is both true and pathet- ic. Worse still is the fact that drivers tend to make up their own rules, citing “logic” instead of precedent. A friend of mine related a recent cab ride tale. It seems his driver nearly side-swiped a car while attempting a lane change on the Second Narrows Bridge. Confidently, the driver both patted him- self on the back and reas- sured my friend by explain- ing that the other driver was/would have been totally at fault because he was in the left lane. Huh? There is no left and right rules for lane changing. Unfortunately, this “instant expert” mentality is indica- tive of today’s driver. True and pathetic. When I was learning to drive my dad always taught me to assume that everyone out there is an idiot and that their sole purpose in life is to crash into me ({’m para- phrasing). As the years go by this assumption is becoming tess figurative and more liter- al. So in the end there is not Evropean styling, Japanese quality & Suzuki prices oniy ras per month You. can pay more, you just con't get more. $ SUS UIs Based on 36 mo. lease with $1525 down, plus (axas, $705 freight A PO! and Ist mo. secunty. TF $40,039 meray} beerreemensenremenenereers All you have to do is drive one. [Worth Vancouver Suzuki | COMPLETE $83-2088 1695 Marine Dr. H. Wan. } beat odds? Rel much to say except “relay,” Be a competent, calm cyborg. TF someone cuts you off, assume they had a good reason (try to fool yourself” into believing that, at least). Remember also that it is far better to have a bonehead out in tront of you where you can keep an eye on hin or her, than behind vou. Nine thousand-to-one are not good odds when the “one” means one less living, breathing puppy owner, Be safe, =e eee Road Conditions 525-499 BC Ferries * schedule 277-0277 * general inquiries 659-1211 B.C. Transit 521-0400 West Van Blue Bus AirCare Hotline 888-7777 te pbs is ALE A n unexpected iltness or accident in the U.S. can costa fortune. And often, B.C. Medical covers less than 1K) of the bill. Before you teave B.C., protect yourself with BCAA's Out-of-Province Medical Insurance. One phone call, and you're fully covered, for a whole year... world wide. 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