Over the 30 years and four films we’ve watched Clark Griswold load his family into the Ford Family Truckster (or its rental car equivalent) and hit the road, we’ve learned that a second go at Driver’s Ed wouldn’t be the worst idea that Sparky ever had (far from it).
But just as millions of Americans have adopted some of Clark’s favorite catchphrases (“This is CRAZY, this is CRAZY, this is CRAZY!”), so too have they let his terrible driving habits seep into their subconscious via cinematic osmosis. Here are 10 Poor Driving Habits Americans Learned From the Griswold Family (Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon not included).
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The most effective way of communicating with a fellow driver is via your middle finger.
Okay, so Clark didn't invent this gesture. But at least he has the decency to divert his wife and kids' attention away from the offending digit before happily flashing it on the road.
If a car has four tires, it's road-worthy.
Just because a car has a perfectly balanced set of wheels in place doesn't mean that she's road-worthy. Sometimes you've just got to admit defeat.
Misguided safety is still safety.
Safety always comes first on Team Griswold. Case in point: After finding himself a player in an unintended game of chicken, Clark smartly decides to pull around a pick-up truck of cretins in order to leave them "safely behind us." Those guys are about to eat some rubber!
Station wagons aren't good for packing.
A roof rack is a beautiful thing to waste, especially when you're driving all the way to Wally World. But there's a thin line between "rooftop storage" and "driving hazard."
But in a pinch, the roof can be a great way to transport a corpse.
One can't be expected to transport a corpse to its final resting place (or strapped to a lawn chair on a porch in the middle of nowhere) sitting in the backseat. Which is when the extra cash spent on that sweet roof rack seems like the smartest investment you've ever made.
When in doubt as to whether your car can fit, drive!
This applies to height, width, depth, and parking spaces. Don't think, just drive!
When driving in a foreign country, American traffic rules apply.
As do American rules of conduct in any non-vehicular scenario. Don't they know we've got this thing down pat? And yes, we totally meant to see Big Ben and Parliament 604 times.
The car is a perfectly good place for a nap.
Yes, even when you're behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. It's just as comfortable as a hotel room and you can't beat the price.
A hot chick in a convertible negates all rules of the road.
Including the one that states you should always be looking at the road ahead of you. And especially if the female in question is a supermodel driving a bright red Ferrari.
Arriving in style is not an option—it's a necessity.
Making great time is all well and good. And getting to your destination in one piece is certainly optimal. But announcing your presence with a show-stopping kind of entrance is the only way to make an arrival. Even if there's no one but a few cacti to witness the occasion.
