Road Politics: Does Your Car Indicate Status?

Are we peer pressured into investing 5 figures just to be acknowledged? Why car emblems garner more respect than human life.

You gain a driving licence. Excited to get your first car, only to observe the Highway Code is only observed by a fraction of fellow drivers. Since we all drive a piece of metal, I’ll label them the ‘metal elites’. Those include drivers of more luxurious cars, super cars, certain SUV’s inc the ones impossible to insure, yep, them.

And the metal paupers. Included in these is basically everyone who doesn’t have a supercar, super suv or premium car, so the vast majority!I’m surprised we’re even allowed on the roads, with our ragamuffin cars… how dare we drive?! No seriously though, you’re treated like second hand citizens. The mentality, superiority, judgement and entitlement is audacious. And no, I don’t have worlds on my phone, but downloading as we speak hehe. Anyway, back to my rant.

Let’s not even start with ‘give way’. I didn’t realise it was selective to whom approaches the give way sign. Does my light not dazzle you the way you like? Is my body shape not your usual type? – my cars body shape, to clarify. And your eyes automatically referring to my emblem to equate status, wealth and that I’ve earned your long desired respect. The fact this thorough whilst surprisingly instant analysis takes approximately 0.5 seconds shows how equivocally masterful you have taken to this theory. As this mind boggling process takes priority before the Highway Code and most of all curtesy, says more about how you define human beings.

I’ve been passenger and driver in both ‘metal elites’ and ‘metal paupers’, the difference is wild. I can wear the same outfit, presentation – identical. The result is like night and day. Whilst this can be amusing on the off day, in dangerous scenarios when you’re going 70+mph on the motorway or in urban rush-hour and there’s a sudden hazard, you realise how much respect can not only save the day, but your life. Indicating to only be ignored by a road-hog who thinks you’ll only slow them down or burden their driving experience is farcical.
You realise how important it is to be recognised and noticed as being disregarded and consciously ignored might not only put you at risk, but fellow drivers around you.

You’re raised and accustomed to go through life not caring what others think and that nothing should stand in your way. But road politics almost takes you back to the school playground; inability to conform and ‘blend in’ effectively puts you in the firing line to be picked on.

They say never judge a book by its cover, but how many actually practice that in everyday life? Actions speak louder than words; if you were getting to know someone and noticed their road demeanour and behaviour whilst in the drivers seat for example say snide remarks, sexist flippancy, drive people off the road and not think anything of it, possibly even ignore the rules of the road; breaking traffic lights in a rush or speed. They seemed lovely in their words, what’s changed – actions?

If we all treated everyone the same, road politics wouldn’t exist. If a shinier, newer or larger car changed your perception and actions towards another, that mentally isn’t usually exclusive to the highway alone. You drive over a pothole, I drive over a pothole – right? Wait, actually a pothole might be a nicer, smoother, unworldly experience in a Bentley; I’ll update you with a review!

P.S if you think you can endanger life on the highway because you feel as though you’ve paid for the privilege or jail-free card by exceeding limits, everyone just thinks you’re a dangerous, half baked imbecile. I’ll add selfish onto that list of descriptors too for extra seasoning.
Didn’t realise the F1 had dropouts.

I’ve driven fiats, Audi’s, Volvos, Chryslers and everything in between. You realise your behaviour doesn’t change dependent on the name, it’s subject to who you are. The interior is permanent, indifferent to what you see around me.

After all, if cars are devalued from the moment they’re sold and driven away, who am I paying the initial inflated amount for? Consumerism. And to catch your eye on my way home, don’t forget the all important validation of my investment from others. Ego: rightfully inflated, now that’s something you can’t put a price on, or can you?

I love a good supercar, suv or run around, but playtime’s over once you practice that superficial ideology in other walks of life. That’s when you need to get out more, in a trusty fiat 500. It’ll make you realise what’s really important.

Indulging in 4 wheels to stay relevant and feel more superior when in reality, you may be making ends meet to pay the mortgage, monthly rent, or utility bills is backwards, no matter how much you floor it. You’re essentially revving whilst staying in neutral.

What do you think? Do you drive? What have you noticed as passenger? Road politics – do they even exist? What does your car say about you? Comment below!