Road Wars

Having just concluded a little mega marathon of 2 Wars (Neighborhood & Road), I have found both of these series to be enlightening, informative - & frightening. I even had occasion to get misty-eyed over the proceedings, such as the kitten rescued from being flattened before his now-mommy could save.him. The non-hysterical narrator is quite capable but the narrative writing - not so much. In 1 especially eyerolling example of the spots of sloppiness contained therein (Lit Joyride, labeled S1 E15 12/21/22), the viewers are mistreated to the info that a lunatic on the road in Jersey is endangering lives on "Interstate I-95" when instead, as both 1 of them colorful road signs & the cam driver following the fool & reporting to 9-1-1, the otherwise bucolic stretch of motorway is actually I-ONE-95. Those scripts are in *desperate* need of (more?) editing, such was part of my job for 30 years that I know it when I hear/see it (an onscreen flash of "BALTIMORE, MA" ((corrected later when that clip was featured in a compilation episode) is emblematic of the stupid goofs that plague these productions), else I'd rate it higher. But informing the public of not only such potential dangers but showing why we need to have cameras covering the front/back/sides & that little old interior ("oh, behave!" in such cases). I wish for most - the dumb (cl)ucks that cause these problems do not count - the safest of journeys, the ability to help others when needed (me & my sister were presented with that terrifying scenario only last week), & "fare you well wherever you fare!"

It's an enlightening series. Just goes to show the sheltered and innocent just how choatic and disruptive the real world is. If you pay attention, 4 out of 5 scenes will originate in Florida, land of the Florida Man. Florida is seriously a whole different universe compared to the other peaceful 49 states. Its a mixing bowl of all the outcasts, rejects and self-righteous biggest as they live a game of survival.

The best way not to trigger anyone in Florida is to drive in the middle lane. The left lane is for passing and it'll quickly escalate into road rage if you're cruising in the left lane. It's just not worth it, so don't do it.

At least 1 full season should be mandatory viewing for all new drivers and every 4 years when you have to renew your driver license. Because at some point, we all get frustrated with our fellow drivers, and we have all made driving errors, like accidently switching lanes without looking, running a red light, etc. And lost our temper, albeit not to the same extent as some of these raggers, but I have hit laid on my horn, etc.

Watching one episode has reminded me to keep my cool, regardless of what the other driver does and not to engage with irate or irrational drivers and pedestrians. Because I really think people who rage to the point of these extreme, is because there is something in their personal lives that's stressing them and they take out their emotions on strangers.

Along with the action, the narration promotes safe driving and gives actual national statistics. You will gasp, make spontaneous verbal commentary, and shout out loud during the scenes. The video footage is from car cams, motorcycle cams, bicycle cams, cell phone video, and police cams. It's not just about road rage, accidents, and fights. It's also about simple driving errors, neglectful drivers, plain stupidity, medical crises, faulty cars, and more. The best part is the humanity, spontaneous kindness, and heroism of everyday people...and a spot of humor to break the intensity. Overall, this is why I drive like I am the only sane person on the road.

These people will take a 15 second clip and turn it into a 10 minute segment, playing and rewinding 3 seconds at a time over and over (always with a commercial break before anything of significance happens) then coming back and playing EVERYTHING you just saw before the commercial break, then finally showing the "big" payoff. And of course they add a generic hyper-percussive music bed and and overly dramatic narration breathlessly explaining how everybody involved was a split second from death. Sometimes they even ask the person who recorded the video to add their utterly useless commentary: "So I was on the way to the Piggly Wiggly to get some eggs for my grandma's 75th birthday cake because my roommate had the last two for breakfast when I saw a truck..." OMG SHUT UP.

Even as background noise, this is pretty bad.