ON DRIVING...

Driving is a privilege. It is not a right.

For the most part I think people take driving for granted.

I took a very long road trip this weekend.

I drove from Northern Vermont to New York City and then to Riverhead, Long Island.

The worst part of the entire trip was on 495 from New York City to Riverhead.

I might as well have been driving for Nascar because that is what it felt like.

Trucks were tailgating me at 70 in the right lane.

People were trying to pass me on the insides of the exits as I observed the speed limit.

I kept asking myself what is the rush here, where is the fire?

They are driving 2 tons of steel filled with gasoline at 70 mph with no space to stop if there were a collision.. Why don't they slow down? What is the urgency to speed into a moving traffic jam? Cars in such a hurry that they closely collided as they blindly changed lanes.. Why don't they slow down?

It was a scary experience and it is hard to believe that people drive that insane route on a daily basis at that speed!! Why don't they slow down?

Something needs to be done. People should drive the speed limit and they don't. There is a reason for the speed limit and that needs to be enforced. I will be happy when the Google cars come out and humans are no longer driving like maniacs.

Until then, Long Island should consider a mono rail right down the middle of 495 for all of their commuters. The air would be cleaner, the people would be less stressed and the roads would not be as crowded. And a large Easy Pass fee could be charged to the car drivers to pay for the new trains..🐞