Was I wrong to break up with my boyfriend over his driving?
This happened a couple of weeks ago, but I am questioning my decision after talking with others about it. I dated "Greg" for about 5 months. We got along really well. We have similar interests and Greg is very funny. The one recurring issue with him was his driving.
To give the full story, I did not get my driver's license until I turned 22. I had a lot of anxiety around driving after I was in a pretty bad accident as a child. I have my license now and driving isn't an issue for me unless I am in large cities, which can still trigger my anxiety. I haven't been in a wreck since I began driving, and I've never been pulled over.
Greg loves driving and is the type who can never be a passenger in someone else's car. He has to drive himself. Which would be fine except he kind of drives like a maniac. He is the type to speed, follow way too close, slam on brakes, make very quick lane shifts and turns. He will also yell and flip off people who he feels have wronged him on the road. Being a passenger in his car made me feel nervous. When we first started dating I guess he reeled it in a bit, but as the months went on he fell back into full speed racer mode.
I talked to him about this a few times. He was quick to point out that he always uses his turn signal and has never been in an accident that he caused. I pointed out that just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't in the future. He said I would be uncomfortable in anyone's car because of the accident I was in, but that isn't true. I've ridden in other people's cars plenty before and never had an issue.
The last straw was when I was in his car and he was yet again following another car way too close. There was only one lane and a stop sign up ahead, so it made no sense to be so close to their vehicle. The couple in the car in front of us pulled over on the side of the road. Greg flipped them off and said "What the fuck is their problem?!"
I told him it was because he was driving like an asshole and clearly freaked them out! He told me that he wasn't an asshole, he's just efficient, and the only reason I had a problem was because I am a bad driver myself.
He dropped me off at my apartment later and I had this moment of realizing he would never change how he drives. I would constantly be worried about finding out he finally got in a wreck. I could never take a nap on a road trip without wondering when I was going to get woken up by being flung into my seat belt because he decided it was "efficient" to slam on the brakes. I called him later that night and broke it off. Greg has been sad and apologetic since the break up, but to his credit he hasn't tried to push me on anything.
My best friend understood my reasoning and supports me. My family has reacted differently. My brother says that all guys drive that way, and I'm never going to get married if I break up with people for stupid reasons. My dad didn't agree with my brother, but he didn't disagree either. He said that maybe what my brother said was something to consider.
So, was I wrong to break up with Greg? Do all guys really drive like lunatics?