I’ve been on the road a bit more than usual lately and have noticed a few things that aren’t good about road travel. It would be nice if more people arrive back home safely this summer…
#1 Drivers – GET OFF THE PHONE. This is one thing that is more dangerous on narrow country roads than on beltways, beltlines and interstates. You’re over the yellow lines in a second and are potentially to be the cause of a head-on collision that may take your life. What is more important to focus on than your driving?
#2 Speeding speeders – If I’m passing someone in the slow lane who is doing 57 in a 55 and I’m doing 62 to pass them, Mr. Driving 70 who suddenly races up behind me can just wait. If you want to drive that fast (and many drive more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit,) you have to realize that the left hand fast line is NOT yours alone. Others may be using it to pass slower vehicles – but that doesn’t mean we’re driving at YOUR speed.
#3 Signal indicators – Drivers, these are not just ornaments to make the car look better, they are meant to be used. My guesstimate is that well over 50% of drivers do NOT use turn or lane change light notification when driving. Don’t make the rest of us have to guess what you are doing. Signals on cars are to increase safety – USE THEM.
#4 Slow speeders – These are the opposite of those who well exceed the speed limit in the fast lane. These are the totally oblivious drivers who drag along at or below the speed limit in the fast lane – causing a blockage, and forcing drivers to pass them on the right to get around. This also forces a blend of slower and faster drivers and a cluster of vehicles that greatly increases the chance of an accident.
#5 Timid drivers – If you don’t know the area where you are driving, get off the road until you find out! Tourism season is upon us and many will be driving in and around areas with which they are not familiar. If you don’t have a GPS system, get a map. Yes, you can still find a good old map in most Walgreen’s. Stop somewhere and do your research before you get on the road – even if you have a “navigator” riding with you. Sudden braking because you are in the wrong lane or expecting others to stop for you to change lanes 20 feet before an exit – increase YOUR chance of causing and taking part in an accident.
#6 Give big trucks a break (pun intended) – Come on people, show a bit of compassion for those who drive large trucks and who get our food and other essentials across this country. The majority of truck drivers are responsible and courteous to vehicle drivers. If they pull out to pass a slow vehicle, realize it will take them a bit to get around but that they will get back in the right lane as soon as possible. Don’t jam them, don’t tailgate, and don’t get in their blind spots. Don’t come up to a yellow light at an intersection and suddenly pull in front of them. I saw this happen yesterday which, in about 2 seconds, lost the truck driver the extra 30′ or so he thought he had in which to stop the truck. I’m certainly not doing THIS in a Mini Cooper!
Let’s try to make it a safe travel summer for as many people as possible in 2013.
