A small pickup truck and I played “dodge cars” on the highway this morning. 

It was not planned, and it was not fun. But it thankfully ended on a good note. 

As I drove from my home 10 miles outside town along the busy highway, I slowed a little from the 65-mph limit as I approached an intersection at the top of a rise. The junction is notorious for wrecks. Interestingly enough, it’s not because of visual restrictions. You can see clearly for at least half a mile in one direction and a mile in the other. I think it’s because people either misjudge how much time they have to enter or cross the highway safely, or they just don’t look. Worse, some may not care. 

Let me stop here to make a public service announcement. If you are entering a roadway — a highway, interstate highway, or any other roadway upon which you are not already traveling — you do NOT have the right-of-way. You may think that people traveling on that roadway should have the courtesy to move over and allow you entry, but they are under no legal obligation to do so. And maybe they cannot due to other traffic, etc. It is your responsibility to look carefully and drive safely. Now, where was I?

I saw the small gold-colored pickup slow at the intersection and move into the turn lane that would allow him to merge into the highway traffic. I glanced in my mirrors to see if I had room and time to move over into the left-hand lane. With multiple vehicles behind me in both lanes, it was apparent I did not. So I kept a wary eye on the truck, repeating under my breath something like, “He’s not going to do it. He’s not going to do it. He IS!”

I pumped my brakes, slowing as quickly as possible, as the truck merged into my lane. Praying the very large pickup about to overtake me on the left was aware of what was happening, I attempted to dodge the truck (how fitting it would have been if either of our vehicles had been a Dodge) on the left. He moved to the left. 

I went quickly back right as he apparently realized his error and did the same. I feinted left. So did he, correcting to the right lane. I moved to the left and around him, breathing many prayers of thanks for safety. I nodded to the man in the ginormous red pickup as he passed me, thanking him for not punting me into space when I had to dodge in front of him. 

In my rearview, I saw the small golden truck move into the left lane and make a u-turn into the westbound lanes. Dude didn’t even enter the highway in the right direction. That man’s day could have been a lot worse, though. So could mine.

As I continued to work, I thanked God again for His protection. I made sure I didn’t need to go home and change my pants, and I breathed deeply and slowly to reduce my heart rate. When I made it to work, I called my wife and thanked her for her daily prayers for my safety. 

I am grateful that I was taught to drive safely, and that my children paid attention and do their best to drive safely, as well. I remember once, as I wished one child “safe travels” and asked him to please be careful as he drove, he jokingly asked if I didn’t have confidence in his driving abilities. 

“I’m not worried about you,” I said. “It’s all those other idiots out there.”

“Other idiots?” he asked, implying I was calling him one, too.

I smiled and nodded. “Yep.”

I thank God for his protection today and every day. Because although I was the driver already on the highway today, I know I have been the guy who pulled out in front of someone, too. God have mercy on us all. And I thank Him that He does.

News editor Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.