New! Driver Stereotype

Yesterday, I took a rick home (don't ask). Passing through the Bandra stretch of Linking Road, I spotted a Honda City EXi with three occupants. Average age: 22, I think. Two were on the cellphones and the driver, appeared to be mouthing into his hands-free kit. Hopefully, they weren't on a conference call to each other. More to the point, this much data was enough for me to lean forward and tell the auto chap to not overtake the car, to drop back and not go anywhere near that car.

Later, I wondered why that was? We all create and maintain a database of stereotypes (you know, tailgater, lane-swapper, lady, slowpoke etc). This was a completely new one. I call it Rich Dad's Worthless Little Son (RDWLS). I know it sounds like I'm gunning all out for all affluent young kids, but there are some really nice kids out there too. This for the rest of that bunch.
RDWLSs drive fast and careless. They swap lanes when it's convenient to them, they give no hoots about crossing paths with much larger vehicles. Their speed and recklessness means safe and faster motorcycle riders can't really escape them in traffic altogether, and they wayward driving is a huge, huge hazard to anyone within twenty feet.

Here's how to spot 'em. Look at the space between the roof lining and the top of the suspected RDWLS' head. If you see an untidy bush where a neat haircut should be, you have probable cause. They invariably seem to gel their hair to look like mine when I get out of bed. It's a good reliable indication. Fancy cellphones, chatting with the mates, hip-hop music audible a half-kilometre away and a bass thump that compresses the rear springs visibly are other signs you could spot. There is no known cure except for pulling over and letting some time and distance slip in between yourself and them.

Sometimes, RDWLS' will come in packs of two cars or more. This can turn into a race in the blink of a indicator. So watch out.