I generally try to avoid the interstate, even though I live a mere half mile from it. Turn left out of my driveway, travel that half mile and jump right on!) I'm a backroads kind of person. But there are times I find the interstate is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. Today point A was home and point B was Scarborough so I hit 95 and headed South. I made it to West Gardiner before anyone did anything truly remarkable - the driver of a petroleum tanker (one of those BIG ones!) passed me then cut back in front of me so quickly I had to brake heard to avoid being swept off onto the berm. A few choice words his way and he was down the road without a thought for me. When I left Scarborough this afternoon, I was about to get on the Turnpike and approaching the toll barrier a Telsa (with Mass. plates) cut in front of me (again too close for comfort) and ran through the EZPass lane ahead of me. As I got to the barrier I could see the message his passage elicited - something to the effect that he needed to contact the Customer Service center. I'm guessing he didn't have a transponder and will never pay a toll.
And I saw a news story this past week that because of the shortage of truck drivers the people in charge are thinking of allowing 18 and 19 year olds to get commercial licenses to drive the big rigs. I have strong feelings about that idea. I'm not at all sure that most 18 or 19 year olds are mature enough to handle that driving assignment. I've never driven anything larger than a full size van but I'm confident that driving a big rig takes more skill than I possess and likely more decision-making ability than most 18 or 19 year olds possess.
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