Drive Safe!

It poured all weekend. The rain was relentless and driving was a nightmare. There was torrential rain, blinding road spray, localized flooding and the occasional biblical deluge. But I drove back and forth to both DC and Philadelphia this weekend without incident -- thank God. There is no doubt I owe great thanks not only to my Maker, but also to all my well wishers: "Drive safe!"

I must have heard it a hundred times this weekend from friends, my parents, co-workers and even my parole officer. "Drive safe!" they'd say. I even caught myself saying it to other departing drivers.

"I was just out there and the roads are pretty bad. So drive safe!" I'd caution.

Does such a warning really have an impact on other drivers? Does a concerned "drive safe" really impact my driving? As I'm weaving down I-95 at 80 mph on the shoulder does my co-worker Jerry's voice resonate in my head? "Jerry said to 'drive safe.' Maybe I should slow down now and take it easy. I wouldn't want to disappoint Jerry."

Why do we do this? Why do we say "drive safe"? If I got into an accident, would Jerry stand by the water cooler Monday morning shake his head and say, "I told him to drive safe. I really wish he'd have listened."

Well get this Jerry. No one cares more about my safe driving than me. No one could possibly care about the well-being of my body and my car than me. So zip it granny and worry about your own safe driving so you don't crash into me!

And to Mom and Dad: We made it home safe, so stop worrying already!