A Life Rear View Mirror

As I was driving home today on the highway I witnessed a driver a few cars in front of me cross over two lanes without signaling or any regard for the other cars behind him in those lanes.  It looked to me as if he never even lifted his eyes to the rearview mirror, which as far as I know is standard equipment for every car on earth.  Lucky for all the cars behind this idiot, the ones he cut off reacted appropriately and avoided causing a big accident.  Not that the original offender knew or possibly would have known had their been a crash.

The rear view mirror is a tool I wish I had in all parts of my life.  Not just to ensure I am being a polite and safe, but for every situation where I go blindly off the way I want to go without much awareness for those who are following behind me.

It would be great to have a tool to check to see if the route we want to take is clear before we go that way.  Then to be able to look behind us and see that all is well and we did no harm would be a bonus.  I also would love to be able to look behind me to see what is barreling towards me that I might want to avoid.  A life rear view mirror would be so helpful.

I have been known to say something inappropriate and hurtful without realizing it and leave collateral damage in my wake.  A rear view mirror won’t prevent me from making those gaffs, but if I were able to look back and see what I had done right as it was happening I might be able to at least apologize for it.

At the least a life rear view mirror would keep me from going blissfully forward like the guy on the highway today with no idea the wrongs I have committed.  We tend to learn best from our mistakes as long as we knew we had made a mistake.  I am not advocating constantly looking behind but a more informed going forward.

To the guy who could not be bothered to look in his mirror, or even signal his intentions, I hope you learn your lesson before you hurt someone else.  Chances are the way you drive you won’t hurt yourself just others around you.