Exhibiting the 'SELF' when you drive

PART 1

The cars we drive say a lot about us but there is much more learning by observing the person behind the steering wheel. I had my car breakdown so hired an app based taxi to work. This ride resulted in quite a learning of a driver’s intentional, unintentional characteristics and actions while operating a motor vehicle; a clear reflection of one’s self.

Sitting in a taxi I mentioned the OTP, an elderly man on the driving seat punched the digits on his mobile and we got started. A recorded message welcomed me and informed the positioning of the emergency button, availability of Wi-Fi, newspaper/magazine, a sealed 250ml drinking water bottle, sanitizer etc. This made me realize the presence of multiple accessories for passenger comfort and the well maintained interiors.

Typical of me to learn more about this person quickly turned on the cab company app and was not surprised at the high ratings of the driver by other travelers and the large number of trips he had done. I initiated a conversation by congratulating him for his courtesy’s and his ratings. He thanked me and said sir you seem to be a lesser traveler on taxis. Yes I generally drive my own vehicle to work. Wait a minute how did you guess. He said like the passenger has the option to rate us we drivers have an option to rate passengers and there are not many points about you.

40 years behind the steering wheel he was confident trailing a vehicle watching the behavior and attitude exhibited by a driver he could tell much about him. Just then he drew my attention to a lady driver on our left, see her hands positions; 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock she is a perfectionist, the young man to our right 9 o'clock and 3 o’clock he is anxious relatively a new driver. He went on describing other hand postures of the confident, the thrill seekers and that of a relaxed driver.

Google maps/traffic alerts first appeared on smart phones around year 2007. Earlier while driving his Kali Pele taxi he managed well without Google for passengers who had reasons of urgency. He frequented restaurants for food in different areas, when in urgency he would connect with waiters in that area to check traffic movement outside their restaurant. If heavy traffic reported he took an alternate route.

Love, respect and high understanding of his profession, I was enjoying every moment of my drive. He was convincing stating a man’s character is most evident by how he treats the pedestrians and cyclist. While they have a right in crossing roads but the man on wheels abuses their rights just because they seldom retaliate. By now I had noticed the several times he would slow down and even stop for pedestrians to cross, He would stop and give way to cars that negotiated their approach appropriately.

Alert to his surrounding he would suddenly draw my attention, look at the right lane two cars ahead, that driver is in a hurry, agitated. His frequent brake lights going on and off and many unsuccessful attempts to change lane, he is likely to cause problem. Rightly so that driver in some time scratched a vehicle to his left while overtaking. He explained, often drivers under stress & anxiety unable to accept denial by another driver move in impulse resulting in a hit.

During our journey he showed me 5 categories of drivers; Passive Aggressor – The Competitor - The Jhatpat - The Narcissist - The Vigilante.

To be continued