I have come to the realization, after almost being hit several times by careless drivers, that some people here are not taking being behind the wheel of a vehicle seriously. I know this does not apply to everyone, and I know there are good drivers here, but for those who aren’t you probably DON"T know who you are. SO, for that reason I have come up with a list of the most common examples of horrible driving that can be seen here, and suggestions on how to correct certain habits and actually drive defensively….
In no particular order:
-Especially in the rain, on the freeway, or really any other time either- please don’t be talking on your cell phone while changing lanes, cutting people off, and expecting everyone to let you over. It is not your God-given right to be allowed to change lanes. You do not have the right of way. In fact, a defensive driver knows that s/he never has the right of way. There is a difference between being courteous on the road and expecting others to be courteous. The thing is you can’t expect anything from anyone on the road. No one has to let you over, so if you can’t properly merge or change lanes then just stay in the lane you’re in. The proper thing to do would be to actually look for a clear spot, wait for it, and take it without impeding the traffic behind/in front of you. Yes you might actually have to downshift!
-Stop constantly looking at the pretty lights/gauges in your car, i.e. the speedometer, radio, airconditioner, etc., and just drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for the road conditions. For example if you are going 45mph in a 45 zone that’s fine, but don’t hit your brakes and slow down to a crawl while coasting downhill. You can just coast down that hill and no one is going to give you a ticket if your speed varies a little. Or if you have to hit your brakes, do it just enough to drive safely and maintain your average speed. Ever notice that line of cars that piles up behind you? This is probably why it happens. You are going to be a much safer driver if you just keep your eyes on the road and stop obsessing over your speed. You’ll actually save gas this way, too. Additionally, it’s usually a state law that “slower traffic keep right”, so adjust your speed accordingly.
-Always be aware of your surroundings. Check your mirrors (side/rear-view) every several seconds. Gauge your distance from other vehicles/objects and drive accordingly. An example of why you should always be aware- there could be an emergency vehicle that needs to get past you and if you are not aware of your surroundings you might end up changing lanes right in front of them and they could smack right into you. And yes, any accident in that case would be your fault for impeding traffic and/or making an improper lane change/turn, etc.
-Remember that the roads do not just belong to you. You should realize that there are other people who want to stay safe while at the same time get where they are going efficiently. If you cannot contribute to this simple philosophy, you should not be driving. Take what you are doing seriously. You are driving a 1-2-3 ton (or more) piece of metal on wheels that can kill if not handled safely. Too many people drive like they are not paying ANY attention to the road, and this can be frightening for other drivers.
-It may snow this year, as it usually does a couple times each winter. My father taught me a good philosophy on snow/ice driving and it has proved to keep me safe: When roads are snowy/icy, regardless of posted speed limit, keep it under 35mph on curvy roads (slower if required) and under 50mph on straight roads (again, slower if required). Never exceed the speed limit when the roads are snowy/icy. Also if you can see the hair on the top of Lincoln’s head on a penny when you stick it between the treads on your tires, then your car really can’t safely handle the snow.
-Try to avoid any confrontations on the road by expecting the unexpected. Don’t over-react to any situation, simply avoid causing or getting involved in anything by being a defensive driver.
-Drive with a purpose, take what you are doing seriously, and actively try to be a better driver and you may even find that you enjoy driving more while having to spend less time on the road.
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People have come so close to hitting other people, other cars, etc., way too often. The main correlative cause that I have observed is that there are so many people who do not pay attention to what they are doing. If people would take a little initiative and drive in such a manner that is responsible, not only would our roads be safer they’d be more efficient.
My “essay”, as it were, is not written with the intention of offending anyone. If it does offend you, then perhaps you should re-examine your driving habits. And again, I am sure a lot of people here are very good drivers, but those who aren’t have scared me enough times now.
Thank you for reading this!
