DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour   

The other day I received an e-mail from a reader I’ll call “Rose Marie” (because that happens to be her name). She told me about her pet peeve — drivers who practically come to a complete stop before they make a turn.

My first thought was I’m being pressured from somebody who has more vile thoughts than I have but upon further reading I realized I can be the mouthpiece for this nice lady to the world through my weekly rant column.

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour 

The other day I was passing a vehicle on the freeway and I happened to look at the driver as I went by. At first I thought I was looking at another poor soul who had been beaten severely with an ugly stick. This woman looked a cross between the Sea Hag and Alice the Goon.

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour  

As clever as I think I am I’m occasionally humbled by one of my readers. A particularly good subject was sent to me earlier this week by a member of the “Fighting Illini” (no, not a member of a University of Illinois sports team; rather, a citizen of Illinois who hates paying tolls as much as I did when I lived there). 

Driver’s Side Diatribe
By Al Vinikour   

Nothing brings me down faster than seeing a wreath or some other kind of memorial alongside the road that generally indicates somebody was killed at that spot.

Occasionally I wonder how that was possible because the vehicle would have had to have been about as agile as an articulated bus to have wound up in that position from the road itself. But regardless of the positioning, the bottom line is…life ended there for somebody at one time.

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour  

There are many ways to disguise legalized theft, running the gamut from “restocking fee” to “plus shipping and handling.” The most blatant one, however, is a charge that car buyers seem to take in stride – “Destination & Delivery Charges.”

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour     

I’m always hearing how “simple” life was in the “good old days.” I wonder if it really was or it just seems that way because most people are not big on change. Take car colors. When we were young, virile and carefree there were choices…and the descriptions made sense. There was always a red, black, white, blue and green.

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour   

One of the joys of a lifetime is taking home a brand new car (or even a used one which is new to you). You take the family for a spin, wash it repeatedly and often for the first few weeks…and then like an old mule you put it to use toiling through the seasons.

DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour      al@motorwayamerica.com

Through the decades new auto technologies were initially extra-cost options — and then not always available on anything other than the top (and most expensive) trim levels. Case in point — seat belts. 

Driver’s Side Diatribe
By Al Vinikour  

I’m always delighted to hear from readers who let me know that I’m not the only one whose life is so filled with hatred it can’t be dealt with during a 24-hour day. I received one the other day from someone who commented that one of his biggest pet peeves is people who leave huge gaps between their vehicle and the one in front of them.