Mazda3 Cab Confessions

So even though I co-own the Mazda3 and even though my name appears first on the lease, I really haven’t driven the car since we got it over the last long weekend in DC (as opposed to the “next long weekend” which people on Google and Yahoo keep on searching for – just bookmark OPM’s Federal Holidays website and you should be golden, my friends). I’ve driven it twice: once on a “round the block” kind of tour and once this morning, when I bought *The* IP’s birthday cake. An embarrassingly low number of times, I know. The reasons why I haven’t really driven are several:

1. I am somewhat skittish about driving in the DC area. First of all, drivers around here are nuts. If I’m a pedestrian and have the right of way, please don’t honk at me or say “don’t cross” to me. And if I’m driving, lay off the horn – stop trying to make me do what you want me to do, which could lead to an accident for both of us. And buses? I realize you’re big, but please stop intruding into my lane. The lanes and parking spaces here are narrow, everyone seems to have some side-impact detailing on their doors, and not one moment can go by without someone expressing their over-the-top road rage.
2. About four years ago, I was in an accident while driving a rental car in Richmond, Virginia. Not only do I now hate Virginia now for their weird-ass laws and their crazy turn setups, but it only increased my skittishness about driving in DC. DC, in my opinion, is way too close to Richmond and should therefore not have the grace of my presence on the road.
3. I haven’t driven on a consistent basis since I moved to DC. I am not rusty, per se, but am a bit unfamiliar with the roads around here. I can drive in Michigan, my mom’s new Mazda3 no less, without batting an eye. Get me near our new icy blue metallic Mazda3 and I get a bit nervous. What if I wreck it, damnit?

While the idea of driving around here does make me nervous, and the accident I mentioned above notwithstanding, I am actually a pretty good driver. I’m safe, I don’t do insane maneuvers, and I try to keep with the flow of traffic instead of slowing it down or racing past it. As a Michigan gal, I enjoy driving on some very basic level – it’s relaxing, fun and my Big Three instincts kick in immediately when I’m behind the wheel. But then you factor in DC metro drivers – all of you, Virginia, Maryland and DC – and I get wary. There’s just so much craziness I see a pedestrian to ignore it when I’m in the car, behind the wheel.

But I do need to drive for, again, several reasons:

1. I want to start driving to weekend races. In my quest to become a strong runner again, I need to race in order to get my edge back. I am strongly considering joining the Montgomery Road Runners and attending as many of their events as possible. I know I have it in me – driving- and running-wise.  I can’t just depend on races that provide early Metro access on the weekend.  They are too few and far between to be of any use to me.
2. *The* IP will probably not humor me, take a day off from work with me, and drive with my mom, sister and me up to bridal salons later this year as a I search for the perfect Pronovias gown.  I don’t think *The* IP or I would tolerate each other very well.
3. Errands of all types – groceries, dropping *The* IP off at the airport, emergency wedding purchases, etc. – will come up and I need to be at ease with that.
4. Driving long distances will come up again; I did not help *The* IP at all with the driving to upstate New York in early August, but would like to help him when we’re on our way to Michigan for the wedding (though it’s not certain, we may drive to Ann Arbor instead of flying). He could use the rest, I could use the time behind the wheel, and we could help each out for that long haul.
5. I hate sitting idly by and being the passenger all the time. It’s so 1950s – I want to get out of that mode as soon as possible.

So it’s up to me to suck it up, get the experience, do it safely and cruise the roads again with confidence.

Watch out, DC. This daughter of Ford and Michigan is headed to a street near you.