Common Sense Tips: Driving 101

I have had my drivers licence since I was 17 years old, now at age 24 I think I have perfected my driving skills to the max. Seven years may not seem like a long time to you, but if you lived where I live and have had to battle with the traffic here in Lee County Florida you would understand fairly quickly why I consider myself to be a self-proclaimed expert on the subject of driving with common sense.

Common Courtesy

One reason why road rage is such a hot topic is because drivers have a lack of respect for other drivers on the road. If you know that the lane your are in will eventually merge yet you are impatient and want to "beat" the other driver beside you, don't expect to be greeted with a smile and a wave when you cut them off, knowing full well that the lane merges.

If you are on a busy road and you have no intentions on going the speed limit, and plan on driving well below it, kindly find the lane to the farthest right possible to allow everyone else by. This definitely goes for driving on highways and interstates. If you don't want to get creamed on your Sunday afternoon drive stay to the right, you'll be alright. Be courteous to your fellow drivers, and they may be nice to you.

Stop and Go Traffic

For many, rush hour is unavoidable, however if you are planning on driving on one road for an extended amount of time, do yourself a favor and stay in the center lane. More than likely the people in the right lane are going to eventually turn right. People in the left will turn left. By staying in the center lane you avoid stopping frequently to allow others to turn. The center lane is also the safest lane to be in. For example, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to change lanes quickly you have two options to choose from, either the lane to the left of you or the lane to the right of you.

Being Safe

Believe it or not there are other people on the road besides you. Think about the infant in the car ahead of you the next time you are tailgating a minivan. Tailgating is an easy way to get into an accident and it's completely avoidable just by staying a few car lengths distance from the vehicle ahead of you. I know gas is outrageously high, and you want to "draft" the car ahead of you to save on your next fill up, but think about the other lives you may affect by doing something as remedial as tailgating.

Make sure you have break lights, turn signals and headlights, after you are sure they work, use them accordingly. These features were put on the vehicle for a reason, and should be utilized when needed to keep everyone safe around you. There's nothing wrong with letting your fellow drivers know what you are planning on doing.

5 of My Ultimate Pet-Peeves of Driving

1.When you are in a double turn lane, you are expected to stay in the turn lane you are in until the duration of the turn is finished. You cannot decide to change lanes in the middle of the turn.

2.You do not need to break upon changing lanes. You can simply coast (using your turn signal of course) to the next lane. Doing this disrupts the flow of traffic and can be hazardous.

3.Much like changing lanes, you do not have to come to a complete stop to get into a turn lane. Turn lanes were invented to prevent traffic from slowing down , stopping to get into them defeats their purpose.

4.No one likes being cut off. I haven't met a driver yet who does. Cutting people off is a huge safety hazard for not only the driver doing the cutting but the person being cut off. Unfortunately these actions sometimes result in accidents. And sadly the person being cut off usually gets the ticket and the most vehicle damage.
5. Speeding through school zones. Fortunately police officers keep a watchful eye on these areas but there are still some drivers who choose to speed through these zones. Take in consideration some of the people related to you who may still attend school, would you want someone speeding past them as they are walking home from school.

When it comes to driving it's all about common sense. Common sense tells you to be courteous, aware and drive safely. It's up to you to listen to your own common sense when it comes to driving.