I drive over a bridge on my way to work, a bridge that is currently under construction. The result of the construction is a reduction from two lanes to one. Over the course of the construction, folks have learned to to stay in the right lane on the road approaching the bridge to avoid having to merge in.
For the two miles leading up to the bridge, I observe the other cars and I know which ones will ignore the now generally accepted behavior of remaining in the right lane and zip up the empty left lane only to force their way in ahead of the line of cars: drivers of expensive cars(BMW, Saab, Audi) and gigantic cars (Escalades, SUVs, Jeeps). Yes, these are not always mutually exclusive. We civilized drivers sit back, sigh and add on the extra time to our commute. Occasionally there is a rebel who refuses to let the large or expensive car in. I applaud these folks, however it never lasts long. By definition, we in the right hand lane are the polite, the ones who realize the world doesn't revolve around us.
I've often thought that the kind of car you drive is a reflection on your personality. Trusty Civic: practical. Mercedes: trying to prove something to others (especially if you're leasing). What does driving an expensive or large car say about the driver and do their actions live up to that reflection? Here is the impression I have of drivers of large and/or expensive cars: they think they own the road. Everyone else is just in their way. They probably think we in the right lane are naive and silly, waiting our turn. They are too important to wait (or care about how much gas they are burning, but that is a subject for another post). Well I'm not impressed.
I could be wrong about all this and they could just have several kids and driving with them in the car has pushed them over the edge.
Full disclosure: I am a Mini Cooper driver
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