The Crittenden Automotive Library

Aggressive Driver - 5208 LP

Aggressive Driver - 5208 LP

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
May 28, 2009

I've been trying to remember to take my "nice" pills and accept that some drivers are just rude, reckless, stupid, inconsiderate, dangerous and a few other adjectives, but you get the picture; right? (To get a better look at the picture, click on it; then click on the Back button on your browser to come right back here.)

This morning I was driving into Crystal Lake from Woodstock, meandering along right on the 50MPH speed limit on U.S. 14. Sure, I think the speed limit is a little low. It could be 55MPH. Or I could just speed up and go 55. Or 60 or 65 or 70, like some drivers. Or I could pull over onto the shoulder and let a tailgater go by.

But I pay my road taxes just like he does, and I don't set the speed limit. And I've read the Illinois Vehicle Code where it says that a driver will not travel at a speed in excess of that which is posted. And it is well posted as 50MPH from near Turning Point to the 40MPH zone east of MCC.

So this guy in a red pick-up with a large distinctive Mopar decal on the tailgate (Illinois license 5208 LP) tailgated me in the no-passing zone until we got east of North Ridgefield Road. Then he floored it to go around. And not just "around". Actually, he almost didn't go "around". He cut it quite close to the side of my car, as if to let me that he owned half the road and he intended to take his half out of the middle! And that he was mad that I was delaying him in getting to his all-important j-o-b.

He was barely past me when he cut back in and blasted on down the road. And then? Guess what! He caught a red light at South Ridgefield Road. And then he caught another red light at IL 176, and another one at either Woodstock Street or Crystal Lake Avenue.

What did his impatience and reckless driving get him? He made it to three red lights before I did. Bravo! And he probably felt really great about all the time he saved!

One of these days the cops are going to give a little time to U.S. 14 and figure out how to nail the tailgaters and speeders. I have an idea for them. Get out there in something that doesn't look like a patrol car. Plod along at the speed limit in an old beater, and just radio ahead to have the violators stopped. Or get an old van or a pick-up and park on the shoulder.

Funny how the speeders and reckless drivers can spot a police car blocks and blocks away, but they would miss an old dirty van parked on the shoulder of U.S. 14. They'd do their dirty deeds right in front of the cop, and all he'd have to do to use up a little radio time.

And while I'm on the subject of U.S. 14, how about some enforcement against the idiots who drive on the shoulder around cars stopped behind a car waiting to turn left - like at Lily Pond Road or at North Ridgefield Road? Or grabbing some of the illegal left turns eastbound at South Ridgefield Road at the light?

How about some real tickets, instead of wasting all the manpower on seatbelt tickets?