Road Warriors
Driving in England during lockdown, felt a lot like driving in parts of Botswana.
The roads are wider here and there are no elephants, giraffes, or other wild animals, but until about a few weeks ago, there was a very pleasant similarity. The roads were calmer; so much so that at times I slipped into the same peaceful state I often experience driving north from Francistown when I don’t feel the urge to be anywhere else.
Most businesses were closed during lockdown so there were fewer cars on the road, and the drivers didn’t seem to be in a hurry, so I could relax and move along at a comfortable pace. I even had time to identify birds of prey and notice the beauty of landscapes I’d driven through many times before but not seen because I had to watch other cars.
During the past couple of weeks, however, things have sped back to pre-lockdown conditions and the predators have returned. You might think that would make the roads more like ones in Botswana, but it hasn’t because I’m not talking about big cats or hyenas.
I’m talking human predators. Drivers who hunt down vehicles, race past when they can and then immediately set their sights on their next conquest. I can cope with that when the traffic is light, but when it is heavy, their impatience often makes me angry. The road warriors often get so close that their faces fill my rearview mirror and it feels like they are inside the car.
Anyway, I am writing about this now because I am trying to figure out why that kind of behaviour disappeared during lockdown, and why it’s come back. I mean, if people truly enjoy being pushy and latching onto bumpers of the vehicles in front of them during busy times, wouldn’t you think they would still want to do that when there was less traffic?
When safety concerns forced us to slow down, I hoped peoples’ health and approach to life would improve and they would notice things worth holding onto. Things like lower stress levels, improved relationships with partners and children, and the realisation that we don’t need as many things as we’ve been told we do.
I thought that was happening, but now that restrictions are being lifted over here, most people seem to be rushing around just as much as before. And when I go out in my car, one of them often appears to be in my back seat. It’s like no one has learned anything.
But maybe that’s it. Maybe no one has learned anything… including me. Perhaps I should stop worrying about road warriors and other people who don’t behave as I think they should and focus on how I see the situation.
I know wild animals and open spaces are good for my peace of mind, but I also know aggressive drivers bug me in Botswana as well and, surprisingly, I’ve discovered I can feel calm anywhere, even on motorways of the developed world. So, maybe I should recognise that when I don’t, it’s not someone else’s fault.
That way I’ll be in a position to do something about it.