If self-driving cars become
commonplace there will be at least one unintended consequence: it will
eliminate a good way to assess the true character of a co-worker,
colleague or customer.

Just as anonymity on the Web allows petty cowards to express their
hidden ugliness, the anonymity of being behind the
wheel brings out the worst in some people.

With that in mind, here are some observations (not rules cast in stone)
on how driving habits reveal character and personality:

- 
    Rolling Stops. People who don't come to a full stop at a stop sign can't be trusted to
handle details. They literally and figuratively cut corners, both on the street
and in the workplace.

- 
    Tailgating. People who tailgate (i.e. leave less than one car length) are
unimaginative. They assume that nothing can go wrong and are caught by surprise
when the unexpected happens.

- 
    Road Hogging. A road hog insists on going either below or at the speed limit rather
than pulling over and letting a line of cars pass them.  This is classic
passive-aggression; road hogs will bog down any and all initiatives at work.

- 
    Finger Salutes. People who feel it necessary to express profanity at other drivers
(especially while driving away) are usually frustrated and a bit cowardly. At
work, they can be counted on to backbite and gossip.

- 
    Over-honking. These are people who honk longer than necessary, like a full
second (rather than a polite tap) at a driver who hasn't noticed the light has
changed. Over-honkers tend to be both overly-critical and overly-sensitive to
being criticized.

- 
    Texting. Driving while texting is more dangerous than driving while drunk.
Anybody who texts or emails while driving is a dangerous fool and cannot be
trusted with any responsibility whatsoever, at work or anywhere else.

- 
    Speeding. Habitual speeders don’t really care about other people and they don't
think the rules apply to them.  At work, they are the jerks that make
everyone else miserable.

If nothing else the above should encourage lively debate and if
circumstances permit the opportunity to point out the need for some changes in
habits.

Till next time, remember - We all send out messages, some good some not
so good.

Eugene Herbert