I had yet another terrifying drive yesterday. I was in the right lane on the Taconic heading south. Cruise control, as usual, was locked at about 62mph. In my rear view I saw a car coming up pretty fast. I would soon learn it was a white Infiniti. I kept track in the mirror as the car approached at a decent clip. The guy driving had to be doing 80. As it passed into my blind spot, I shifted my head slightly so I could get a peripheral look at the maverick behind the wheel.

As the front bumper of the car came into view, I realized with some horror that it was, quite literally, only inches from my driver side fender.  I swerved into the right hand shoulder and glared over at the car. It was a full two feet over the center line and still drifting my way. And the driver? He was sleeping.

Let me say that again: HE WAS F#$%ING SLEEPING.

Yup, genius in the white Infiniti fell asleep as he passed me doing 80 plus and drifted into my lane nearly crushing me.

Now, I have to admit, I have driven tired way too many times. I have, on more than one occasion, nodded off and started drifting only to jerk awake with a bit of a cold sweat. At least twice I did this to find I had made a complete lane switch. The thing is, when  I know I’m tired and sense I may be in trouble, I don’t gun it 25 miles over the speed limit and start passing people.

The Infinidick did seem to wake up, because a car length or so ahead of me he suddenly veered left, retaking his lane. I stayed back and watched him drift a couple more times before he exited. Thankfully there were no other cars in his path. What scares me most is that I don’t think he even saw me. Eeeek. Somebody get some No Doze for the Infinidick!

This got me thinking about that old Family Ties episode when Alex got into diet pills and didn’t sleep for a couple days. Kids today won’t get it with their Orovo and Pilates and such, but I remember a time when diet pills were essentially over the counter speed, available in both pill and geltab form, and they were just swell for a pick me up before Jazzercise class.

What a great time in our history.