If the road is narrow and winding, as most of our highways still are, the impatient drivers sit too close behind the car in front waiting for their chance to pounce.
If they are sensible they will wait for a passing lane, on most main roads these are never far away. But passing lane behaviour is not as good as it should be.
Too often the sign "passing lane" seems to wake up the sedate driver who then decides to increase speed, much to the annoyance of a following driver who has been waiting for the chance to get past.
A writer in the Herald this week suggested drivers should be allowed to exceed the 100km/h speed limit when passing. He argued it would be safer since overtaking would mean less time and distance on the wrong side of the road.
In passing lanes it would avoid the annoyance of a car taking the whole lane to pass another without exceeding the speed limit.
It is a fair point but does anyone ever need to be in that much of a hurry?
Not many of our highways are well designed for even 100 km/h, while our motorways and new expressways suit higher speeds, as do most cars nowadays. Drive according to the condition of the road.
There's no shame in a sedate journey home. If it is the last day of your holiday, savour it. Why be in a hurry to get home?
Take your time, enjoy the countryside if you are unlikely to see it again for a while. Help cars get past you if they wish.
Relax, be safe, come back alive.
