Bay Area traffic tests the nerves and good sense of countless drivers. On a local freeway the other day Jonathan Slusher found his buttons pushed and his better judgment severely challenged.
I should have stayed on the freeway. Traffic was backed up everywhere. It must have been an accident. Everyone was stuck in this mess together. No one was going anywhere for a while.
But suddenly in the rearview a silver jacked-up pickup appeared and tore down the shoulder lane. It sped past hundreds of stopped cars. The trucked nosed itself in front of the car in front of me.
That’s not fair! But I’m not living in New Jersey anymore, I reminded myself. This is Northern California. People are supposed to take the high road here. No one beeps or yells profanities at aggressive drivers on the road.
It doesn’t ever do any good to let them get you all bent out of shape.