So it's not just me.

So since Beth and I moved to Augusta, we've noticed that drivers here have been...shall we say, not what we've been accustomed to. Now, I realize that every city has its fair share of horrible drivers. For God's sake, my brother lives in south Florida (a.k.a. "where America goes to die" s/o Dr. Gossai), so I'm not exactly not exposed to bad driving. While it's definitely not to the epic proportion of craziness that is trying to "drive" in NYC, driving in Augusta has been somewhat of an experience.

Apparently, my bemoanings are not unfounded.

And by experience I mean bad experience. And by bad experience...I mean awful experience. I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant against Augusta drivers. Like I said earlier, everywhere in the world, bad drivers exist. But for a city as small as the ol' Digust, I feel the proportion of bad drivers is QUITE disproportionate to the general population. The thing is, it's not even normal things like texting or eating while driving, or not paying attention as a light turns green, or texting while driving. While all of these things are inherently dangerous, and definitely not things I condone...it happens. I've been guilty of at least one of these things, if not all. Most people have. But it's not even like that here.

A few days ago on my way home, I was stuck behind a car going literally 11 mph in a 35 zone that was driving down the middle of both lanes on Greene St. I'm not a big road-rager type of dude, but I think it's understandable that I was a bit heated after following this car for 20 minutes, when it should only have taken me 5 minutes to get home. When I finally get the chance to pass this car, I take full advantage of the opportunity. Obviously, I was curious as to what the heck this person could be thinking to pull such a maneuver in the middle of a fairly busy downtown street. I look over to the driver as I pass, and I realize it's 2 thirty-something ladies, and the driver is *not even looking at the road* and is apparently giving a drive-by downtown tour of homes if you will, to the passenger. Um...first of all, my block ain't exactly Pacific Palisades, so I have no idea what they were so intent on looking at. Maybe they've got some awesome gentrification project going on; that'd be swell. But um...how about at least putting up the facade of TRYING to watch where you're going.

And while that may be an isolated incident, I've noticed at least...oh 789 times while driving around Augusta that people have a fundamental problem maintaining their lane. It's gotten so bad, I'm literally afraid to ride beside ANY car for fear that they're going to spontaneously come over that line for no reason at all, and I'M gonna be the one in the ER at University.

I'd be interested to see what the DMV test looks like here. I mean, no offense to any native Augustans, I'm sure y'all aren't all bad. I even thought maybe all these people aren't from here and are pulling the whole, "I have no idea where I am, let's drive 20 mph and look for landmarks" thing. Alas...nope...Richmond and Columbia county plates. So, good drivers of Augusta, don't let your rep hold you down.