I learned to drive in Austria where the first law of the Strassenverkehrsordnung ("Rules of the Road") is:
Quote:
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Jeder Straßenbenützer darf vertrauen, daß andere Personen die für die Benützung der Straße maßgeblichen Rechtsvorschriften befolgen, außer er müßte annehmen, daß es sich um Kinder, Sehbehinderte mit weißem Stock oder gelber Armbinde, offensichtlich Körperbehinderte oder Gebrechliche oder um Personen handelt, aus deren augenfälligem Gehaben geschlossen werden muß, daß sie unfähig sind, die Gefahren des Straßenverkehrs einzusehen oder sich dieser Einsicht gemäß zu verhalten.
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OK, OK, in English:
Every person using the roads may trust that other people using the road will follow the rules of the road. Except: Children, blind people with a white walking stick, obviously disabled or frail people, or people that through their behavior seem to not be able to follow the rules.
I was taught to have to trust other people's driving - which here in the US is quite impossible. To make this reality fit in with my learned (Austrian) law, I simple assume that anybody that does not follow the laws of traffic, they must be one of the above exceptions. Even when they seem healthy, it sometimes seems as if an inconsiderate truck/SUV/minivan/Acura CL 3.2 driver is either: a child or, blind, or obviously disabled/frail, or all of the above. (Note the absence of the adjective to frailty - could be physical or psychological.
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Makes the drives through Seattle and Portland so much more understandable... (and saves my sanity).
(Quick note: The most valuable lesson I learned while learning to drive was this: If everybody makes no mistakes when driving (no speeding, proper signaling, etc.) then accidents are impossible! Think about it.)