I am a fast driver. I know this so I try to slow down and respect other drivers on the road, even the slow ones. Living in the mountains requires me to drive a winding, two lane highway to get anywhere. And I understand this may sound lacking in understanding on my part, but hands down, the most bothersome thing when I drive up and down the mountain road, are the slow drivers. Or more accurately, the slow drivers’ refusal to take the turnout, one of the little side areas along the road designed just for them.
Now, maybe they are unfamiliar with driving on curvy roads, or afraid to pull over, or are just naturally slow drivers, whatever the reason, they are slow. This particular mountain road is quite twisty, and no one can pass safely for a very long stretch. To address this issue, all along the road, are turnouts for the slow drivers to use to avoid creating a long string of vehicles trapped behind them. To help them realize they should take the turnouts are periodic strategically placed signs that say, “slower drivers use turnouts”. And to be additionally helpful, a quarter mile before each turnout occurs, there is another sign that says, “turn out in ¼ mile”. The directive is very clearly delineated and very easy to follow.
But there are always those drivers who will not take the turnout.
In addition to the signs, there may be many cars following slowly behind them or a vehicle in front that led by example and used a turnout. But they do not take heed. They doggedly continue driving slowly up the mountain like the Grand Master of a parade with a multitude of cars and trucks following like floats. They seem to have zero awareness, or perhaps do not care, of the block they have become for so many other drivers. They do not take the turnout.
I always wonder who are they? How are they comfortable to drive so slowly with so many drivers trailing in their wake? Are they completely unaware of all those people behind them? Do they never look in the rearview mirror and see them? Do they see them and just not care? Do they think they know what is best for all those behind them? Do they not see the signs prompting slower drivers to take the turnouts? Do they see the signs and disregard them? Do they think the signs don’t apply to them? Can they not read? I want to understand the mentality behind this entitled approach to driving. Why not take the turnout?
And I also wonder if they behave like this in their car, do they behave like this in their life? Keeping people behind with their attitude, their negativity, their unawareness, their lack of faith, their belief they know better, or the need to feel secure in their own choices by blocking the choices of others? Are they blocking all kinds of people in their journey when what they need to do is get out of the way? Isn’t it important to see the signs, take the turnouts and stop blocking others on their journey?
What about the people who feel heavy pressure from the traffic behind them and want to take the turnout but are afraid to turn off the road? Wouldn’t they find relief if they mustered up courage, took the turnout and let all that pressure go by? When they resumed their journey, there would be no one on their back, pushing them to go faster than they wish. They could travel peacefully at their own speed. Yet, they do not take the turnout.
Sometimes taking the turnout hurts. The feeling of not keeping up or not being welcomed or accepted or important. Even with the understanding it is the most gracious act you can do for the person who needs to move ahead, it can still hurt. But isn’t getting out of the way and letting someone go on as they wish, at their own speed, a show of love and acceptance? It is not being left behind; it is being supportive.
How can we become aware of when it’s time to take the turnout?
Taking the turnout is not a bad thing. It is not giving up. It is not falling behind. It is allowing other people to go at their speed without blocking them. It is allowing yourself to go the speed you need to go at without being pressured by those behind you. There’s no beginning or end to life’s road so allowing someone to go by doesn’t put them ahead of you, it just puts them in a different spot on the road. There is no finish line. There is no trophy.
However, it is liberation. It is consideration. Why not allow each driver to navigate their course at a speed that makes them comfortable with no one holding them back or pushing them forward? Why not allow everyone, including yourself, to journey as they wish on life’s curvy, winding, narrow, mountain road?
Why not take the turnout?