I did not imagine that I owed the drivers of Thailand a debt of gratitude. But I do. Thank you, drivers of Thailand for teaching me to accept near-death experiences on the road as a normal part of driving.
There I was westbound on Kentucky 60 on my way to the Rockport Bridge. Running at 90 to 95 kph (55 to 60 mph), I saw ahead of me, coming right at me, a white car trying to pass a tanker truck.
It didn't look right. The tanker was too fast and the white car too slow. The white car was in my lane and headed right at me.
But I felt no fear, none at all. I slowed down, and there was plenty of road shoulder for me to pull into. I used the shoulder, the white car used my lane to finally pass the tanker, and I calmly moved out of the shoulder and back into my lane.
My heart rate increased not at all. There was no cursing. No reaction of any sort. Witnessing that kind of dangerous passing is completely normal to me.
In the dangerous driver's defense, there was plenty of shoulder, easily enough for us to make three or four lanes out of the two painted lanes if necessary. In this case, we turned it into three lanes, and it wasn't hard to do. The alternative would have been a head-on collision had I insisted on remaining within the painted lines.
Painted lines and lane markings, traffic rules and regulations, what do they really matter in the end. The drivers of Thailand have taught me well. There is only one rule: Don't hit or be hit.
And a near-death experience or two or three or more on a drive? Keep calm and carry on my friends. Today is not your day to die.
