I'm always looking for new ways the social contract is breaking down. It's easy to get caught up in internet drama but every now and then I like to touch grass and see what the normies are doing. One thing I've noticed is how aggressively people drive now.
This past weekend I had my whole family in the car and a Dodge hatchback of all things shoots past us at over 100 miles per hour. This was in the middle of town, not a highway. We pull up next to the dude at the next red light (because that always seems to happen) and he guns it again, going into the opposing lane of traffic to pass everyone and shoot down the road again.
I feel like I see this kind of thing more and more now. People going 60+ in residential areas and blasting through school zones. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you think it's indicative of anything or am I just an autist?
I will be honest, I follow traffic laws at my discretion. I roll stop signs if no one is there, and I don't ever drive the posted limit. I am not reckless, though, and I've been driving for more than 35 years, and have driven the same car for more than 20, so I know my limits, and the limits of my car.
That being said, what everyone is experiencing I think is a combination of paying attention more, and a slight increase in stupid. There are a lot of morons on the road, and they have always been there, but they stand out more when you notice them.
Last month I drove from WA down to SoCal and back, and I certainly noticed my share of left lane hogs and the vehicular blind, but no more than what I usually notice.