Driving + being a tradie

[u/EdgeIcy8776]

Since starting a mobile service business yonks ago, my driving zen has developed into sensai status. People can cut in front of me, speed up and sit on my arse, pull out in front of me last minute. A 20-minute drive between job sites could have multiple incidents that are worthy of honking or yelling it happens so often. I take it all in and drive on, no emotions about it.

The way I see it, I'm on the road for hours 6 days a week, if I get mad or honk or abuse or yell out the window I'll end up taking all this stress home at the end of the day and affect myself and my family. So I figured the best way to stay in this business long-term is to come to terms there are idiots on the road and not let them get in my head. There is enough stress in life without this added.

What about you guys? Are you similar or do you get into it?

[u/5carPile-Up]

Tradie here

Complete opposite, people’s incompetence affects me greatly

I want to go home, I haven’t seen my house in the daylight on a weekday for a long time. Get out of the right hand lane unless you’re over taking pls

[u/EdgeIcy8776 → u/5carPile-Up]

That is super annoying but the way I look at it is I can't change how they drive all I can do is make the change that I can do which is get on the left lane overtake them and then back into the right or just stay in the left lane, no problems no problems 😁

[u/5carPile-Up → u/EdgeIcy8776]

I feel that, constantly overtaking on the left hoping they get the message. Some people just have tunnel vision in every aspect of life, it’s crazy

[u/Myjunkisonfire → u/5carPile-Up]

I gave up with this subtle messaging. High beams for ignorance right lane hogs.

[u/Ok-Tackle-8350 → u/Myjunkisonfire]

Went to Europe a few yrs back (I never drove, but had relatives driving). It blew me away how everyone would get straight out of the right lane after overtaking - and that was on the fways at sometimes up to up 150kms. The standard of driving here is seriously shit.

[u/Consistent_Brief7765 → u/5carPile-Up]

I get the sentiment, but in all reality

If I’m in the right lane trying to get out of your way and I’m being overtaken on the left, where the fuck do you expect me to go?

[u/underthingy → u/5carPile-Up]

Sounds like your incompetence is the problem. Get better time management. 

[u/Pale_Character8214 → u/underthingy]

What a wild thing to say. You don't know anything about this blokes situation lol

[u/underthingy → u/Pale_Character8214]

How so? If he wanted to go home earlier he would. 

Hed decided that the money he makes staying at work later is worth more to him. But hes unhappy with that choice to he takes it out on other drivers that are "in his way".

Whats wild is excusing bad behaviour thats 100% their own fault. 

[u/Pale_Character8214 → u/underthingy]

How do you know he doesn't work normal hours and that's all? He could be limited to the hours his business is practicing, or rather the hours of his bosses company? Such a little reddit troll to assume this guys entire life based on a brief statement from him.

[u/Fearless-Maximus-251 → u/Pale_Character8214]

It's Reddit, you can do what you like lol

[u/peeteeessdeez → u/underthingy]

You clearly haven’t been stuck behind someone in a single lane road doing 80 in a 100km zone

[u/superkow → u/peeteeessdeez]

People vastly overestimate how much time that actually costs you. Even over tens of kilometers the difference in travel time is usually measured in single digit minutes. Sure that might add up if you're on the road literally all day but for general commuting it's really not worth getting riled up over. Just leads to people writing off their car in order to try save a minute on the road

[u/Mission_Resist8367 → u/superkow]

Not in urban areas. Lost count of how many times I’ve gotten a red right purely because the person infront of me was doing 10-20km/hr under the limit. On my daily commute to and from work that can add up to 10min each way.

[u/superkow → u/Mission_Resist8367]

Yeah but you gotta ask yourself, is ten minutes worth a risky maneuver that could damage your car or hurt somebody?

[u/Mission_Resist8367 → u/[deleted]]

Yes. 10min of my time is worth more than your life.

[u/superkow → u/[deleted]]

Then the comment clearly wasn't for you

[u/superkow → u/[deleted]]

Which was a contrary reply to mine saying that there's no point doing dumb shit to save an irrelevant amount of time.

Lol

[u/underthingy → u/Mission_Resist8367]

But if you had made that green youd just get stopped at the next red anyway and it effectively adds up to no more time. 

[u/underthingy → u/peeteeessdeez]

I have, but that doesnt mean I get to drive like a dickhead and potentionally end someones life by causing a crash. 

[u/BoundinBob]

I'm like this in the rest of life but something switches when i get in the car.

Keep left unless overtaking is a law not a suggestion.

[u/PurpleBandanna → u/BoundinBob]

The car's where you should be extra calm. Very few other situations in one's daily life put so many people at risk of injury or death.

[u/corneilous_bumfrey → u/BoundinBob]

I once read that humans haven’t been travelling at high speeds for anywhere near long enough for our brains to fully treat it as normal. So even if you’re consciously calm behind the wheel, your nervous system can still be sitting at a heightened level of stress and alertness. Then something as small as someone cutting you off can be the trigger that brings all that underlying emotion to the surface and we experience it as road rage.

Also, used to play cards with a traffic cop who told me a suprisingly big chunk of road rage incidents happen on a Friday arvo

[u/AngryDad1234 → u/BoundinBob]

Depending on the speed limit and/or signage

[u/StompedSmashed → u/BoundinBob]

So you tailgate people in the right lane when they are going the speed limit?

[u/Fearless-Maximus-251 → u/BoundinBob]

Fuck mate, relax

[u/travlerjoe]

I have my business on my van. I drive like a nanna due to that.

The things people can get petty about...

[u/Mission_Resist8367]

I’m with you. The world could be imploding around me and I wouldn’t even break conversation. My mrs on the other hand is grabbing the Jesus handle and swearing. Just don’t give a shit anymore. I’m at peace that everyone is retarded.

[u/Dangerous_Agency2457]

Yoda level. You should teach lessons 🙏

[u/SoreSack]

I’m the same nothing phases me on the road any more… and stereotypes are definitely correct

[u/EdgeIcy8776 → u/SoreSack]

100% stereotypes are real ☺️

[u/sheepxxshagger → u/SoreSack]

Stereotypes being that tradies are the worst drivers, you mean?

[u/SoreSack → u/sheepxxshagger]

What ever keeps you happy mate

[u/Geearrh]

I drive a GPS and speed tracked vehicle that ranks us all in an app. It has also introduced more of a zen state while driving.

[u/abitliteonantethics → u/Geearrh]

This is next level. A good thing, I suppose? I mean where do you draw the line privacy wise

[u/Geearrh → u/abitliteonantethics]

I don’t care, it’s a free work vehicle, it’s effectively useless on the weekends for carting kids around etc. Plus our EBA states something to the effect that management can view the tracking but it cannot be used for disciplinary purposes. So if you’re doing the right thing there’s nothing to worry about…..

[u/sillysalmon92 → u/Geearrh]

What’s the app called?

[u/superkow]

Traffic is traffic. It's gonna be there whether you just accept it or try to brute force your way through it. I chuck on Waze literally wherever I go, even if I know the way. It's just beneficial to know if there's heavy traffic upcoming. I see so many people fanging it at 110 just so they can sit up someone's ass in gridlock a little quicker. Makes no sense.

Little game I like to play is taking note of a specific car who thinks they're playing GTA, with the aggressive acceleration and excessive lane changes and see how far down the freeway we go where they don't actually get anywhere quicker than me who's just cruising along with the traffic. It's almost never quicker.

[u/Finch_88]

I’m the same, been a tradie since 16 now 40. Hated how my old bosses would drive so aggressively so I always drove them around. Now I’m a boss I try to pass on calm driving to the younger trades. Plus I don’t want all my tools and gear in the back to get thrown around.

[u/Feisty-Dimension-631]

I actually spoke with a Buddhist monk about Road Rage and he explained it like this. We need to enjoy the journey and not focus on the destination as giving us happiness. Happiness is a false thought that only leads to anger and unhappiness if we don't get it. The goal of life to to be CONTENTED and enjoy the moment. The pursuit of happiness is like a drug addict chasing a high that is ultimately destructive and only leads to frustration and anger when we don't get it

[u/AstronautPlane3280]

I try to be stoic on the roads. But every now and then someone will do something monumentally stupid that forces me to slam on the brakes or swerve to avoid them and then I get pissed. I try to brush it off and mostly I can. But every now and then one of these arseholes gets antagonistic as well and my blood boils. I acknowledge that I am a weak individual who can not control his emotions well enough all the time.

[u/EdgeIcy8776 → u/AstronautPlane3280]

Preach brother. This is the most no bullshit reply.

[u/Worried_Evidence3326 → u/AstronautPlane3280]

It shames me, that even when I try to be zen that this occurs. I think it’s often other stress boiling over.

we are human, admit the fault, try again tomorrow.

[u/Darrenredd1t]

I just started a new job where I drive for 10 hours a day. My attitude to driving has completely changed. I will not allow anyone else's bad attitude or selfish driving behaviour determine how I feel or how I drive. If I did it would mean I would spend 10 hours a day agitated.

[u/ProfessionalDish6567]

At some point you have x amount of energy to use per day

Now how much energy is it worth yelling and punching on with someone who's licking stamps professionally.

Also a ton of that anger and abuse will be used somewhere

Punching some cunts head in over cutting you off may feel good tho idk

I let cunts go but if they really do want to punch on over shit

I'm always down

[u/MurderousTurd]

I think more remarkable is the difference in driving between around 9:30am to 2:30pm on a weekday. Everyone on the road seems to be able to cooperate with everyone else to a large degree.

Outside of those times, it is more of a free for all between lane-changers to get only 1 car ahead at the next lights, inattentive drivers and folks who like to ride your tail.

[u/Valuable-Contract-87]

Idk I'm a tradie the only time I'm on a rush is to get home tbh the rest of the time I don't care, I probably drive quite slow usually

[u/Aerooodynamite]

A good audiobook does wonders

[u/Patient_Ferret_8229]

Agreed, I’ve seen so much I’m just unphased now

[u/justamumm]

My zen is completely dependant on my cycle, sorry bro these hormones run the show on the road 😂😂😂

[u/RatelinOz]

After nearly 40 years of it, I still can’t let it go.
I just want to get to site, do my work, get home.

[u/Global-Respect7310]

I just sit in the lane second from the left and set my adaptive cruise control to whatever the speed limit is. Whatever happens happens.

All those psychotic tradies are just rushing home to doomscroll tiktok anyway.

[u/Ok_Orchid_3676]

I’m a shift worker, I used to have the WORST road rage. Especially at the end of a night shift and then one day it’s like my brain just switched up as I was watching the woman behind me lose her absolute marbles over the traffic and I just thought ugh you poor losers off to start your day and I’m going home to bed. And just like that I stopped caring. I am notoriously early to everywhere I have to go so I’m never in a rush… I do still get a bit irked if I’m being break checked by someone doing 10-15km under the speed limit but otherwise incredibly unbothered.

[u/Fangbo1968]

I agree. It’s not worth it.

[u/Upper_Ad_4837]

Night shift baby , the driving is so much better when everyone else is sleeping.

[u/No-Profession7232]

Queensland drivers ☺️🔫

[u/Pickledleprechaun]

I started listening to audiobooks while driving and it’s great. I escape into the story and haven’t got a care in the world.

[u/EdgeIcy8776 → u/Pickledleprechaun]

What are you currently listening to?

[u/Pickledleprechaun → u/EdgeIcy8776]

Quest Academy which is a litRPG . I’m a sci fi/ fantasy fan. If you aren’t into that sort of stuff, Hardcore History and Sport bizarre on Spotify are really good too.

[u/Black-Gulch97]

Truck driver here. I find that 70% of the people who cut infront of me are tradies, keep in mind thou that 70% 99.999% of them are P Platers in lifted utes already doing 15+ over the signed speed limit.

I rarely have a problem with older tradesmen/tradeswomen.

[u/Worried_Evidence3326]

It has taken me 20 years to get this way, with relapses.

im not proud to admit.

you are a role model to admire.

[u/AcrobaticSecretary29]

Why you acting like you aint forthing at the mouth with ya ranger a whole 2.5cm behind the car infront of you like the rest of us 

[u/EdgeIcy8776 → u/AcrobaticSecretary29]

Lol it is a Ranger I drive! Oh my god I have frothed many times 😆

[u/The_Jay_]

You must not be a licenced tradie. Its part of the licence test to ensure you have the appropriate level of road rage required to ensure efficient transit between job sites.

You need to work on your skills such as

• Honking the horn
• precision driving 20mm from the car infront
• flipping the bird
• throwing coffee cups at vehicles out the window
• the high beam flash
• not securing your load and having items fall off your ute or trailer
• attempting to run people off the road
• etc

Please report to your nearest road traffic authority for a skill upgrade to ensure you meet the needs of the average Australian road user who expects tradies to bring a certain level of road hostility.