Stop Driving Like a Lunatic

By Prin Dumas

Whether you are a new driver with a shiny license or an experienced driver with a collection of parking tickets, you can benefit from a tip or two about being a responsible driver. 

Stop driving like a lunatic! 

That is the first and foremost point for today.  Everyone thinks they are a good driver, but then, we all have to make it out of the driveway!  Evidently, things change at that point!

I was on my way to work a few weeks ago, and I was running late.  The highway I take has a 55 mph speed limit.  I go onto the left lane to avoid the "slow" drivers who woke up on time for their lives and aren't running late anywhere.  I am pushing 70 miles per hour.  In front of my speeding vehicle, a nice mini-van is pushing 80 mph.  Suddenly, a car comes from behind and starts to tailgate me.  Evidently, I was not driving illegally enough for her.  I sympathize with my fellow late worker, and I start pushing 80, too.  I rationalize that the car in front of me "was going it."  She, however, maintains a dangerously close distance to my car.  I do not need to guarantee certain death upon collision should I get into an accident at that speed so, I do not go any faster.  Clearly, she's okay with dying and proceeds to give me a nasty look as she passes me (on the right) before cutting me off.  Then, she proceeds to brake randomly in an effort to upset me. 

I see.

A few minutes later, she veers her car two lanes over into a completely different direction than where I was going.  Needless to say, she could have avoided tailgating me at 80 miles an hour by simply-oh, I don't know, switching lanes into the area she was actually driving towards? 

If you are like this obnoxious driver, please, stop now, while you (and I) are alive.  What do you accomplish with this type of aggressive driving?  Do you have something against the handy left and right turn signals?  Did you miss the lesson on speed limits?  Do you just like honking for no apparent reason?  Do you really feel satisfied when you blind someone with your high beams at 10 p.m. on a curvy highway? 

I was nineteen years old when I got my license to drive, and I was nervous and concerned with my ability to be a safe driver.  You see, I am a bit of a free bird.  I like to think while I drive, sing with the radio, and sometimes even talk on my cell phone.  At least, that's what I used to do until I got into my first accident-with a parked car.  Then, I had my second accident-at a red light.  Let's not forget my near-death experiences, like not hearing my best friend tell me I needed to go right and not giving myself enough time to stop, crashing us into a (thank, God) dirt divider.  Did I mention the time I didn't give myself enough room to change lanes, and I almost hit another car?  The man drove faster and purposely pointed to the backseat-the one with his sleeping toddler strapped to a booster chair. 

I haven't always been a good driver, but I am one now.  It takes time.  However, there is a difference between "learning still" and intentionally causing life-threatening situations for no good reason.  If it's an emergency, you need to leave the driving to the ambulance.  In the meantime, read up on some friendly driving tips. 

1. Use your high beams to communicate to another driver that you are letting them go.  Click the lights two times, if someone is trying to get in front of you or make a turn.  You will improve the flow of traffic and prevent miscommunication between drivers.  Don't honk!
2. Don't honk unless you're in danger.  Please, stop honking one millisecond after the light turns green, too-it's annoying!  Cars are not spacecrafts.  They move at the speed of gas.  Relax!
3. If you are slowing down or stopping for any reason, use your hazard lights.  These lights make everyone behind you (and in front of you) aware that you are not driving normally.  If you have pulled over or got into an accident, all oncoming traffic will know that you have no intention of moving, and you will grant everyone enough time to drive around you, instead of clogging up the road, or worse, hitting you!
4. Use the signal!  If you are going to cut me off at the speed of light, at least, warn me for 2 seconds with a signal!  If you're going to exit off of a highway-signal.  It's there for a reason.
5. If you drive fast, consider the speed limit before expecting others to do the same.  Granted, someone driving under the speed limit can be frustrating, especially in a two lane road when you are in a rush, but the reality is that if the speed limit is 25 mph and they're going 25 and you want to go 40-you're wrong, not them.  Deal.  In a faster speed limit, you have to be mindful of brakes.  If you are driving 20 miles above the speed limit, you are one of few, and making yourself a high impact vehicle should an accident occur.  You are also giving yourself less space to stop when you encounter someone who is driving (gasp) legally.  Use the signals and move into another lane.  Pass them up properly.  You're the one who doesn't know how to manage your time and that's why you're late.   
6. Stop merging like a girl!  I know that is a terrible comment, but pay attention to the road when there is something happening!  There is a reason why accidents and closed lanes create slow traffic and delays-people don't know how to merge!  If you just stopped trying to get ahead of five cars, nudging people on their right side, and sneaking in when it is not your turn, you'd contribute to an even flow of alternating cars merging into place.  But no, you like getting stuck in traffic!
7. Understand the concept of a lane.  There's a line, and a bunch of cars all going in the same direction, and you are supposed to pick a lane and stay in it.  That's called driving.  Stop talking and swerving.  Stop zig-zagging in and out of cars, freaking everyone around you out.  If you drive slower, stay to the right.  If you drive faster, stay to the left.  Is this really so hard?
8. If you're driving a clunker, please, drive accordingly.  I am the queen of old cars, but I am also considerate of my fellow drivers.  If I'm going up a hill, a conquest my poor Honda simply can't handle anymore at high speeds, I make it a point to go into the right lane, pull over, or put on my hazards to ensure those behind me understand I can't go any faster while providing them the "ok" to pass me. 
9. If you're looking for parking, don't just stop the car in the middle of a street.  Let people pass.  Don't block traffic for five blocks, because you don't want someone else to get "your spot."  Put a signal on and provide room for movement. 
10. Think of the consequences.  Do you want to be the cause of an accident?  Aggressive driving kills people.  At best, it ruins a person's day, delays their plans, and costs them money.  Why create that?  Barring major crimes, like driving drunk, driving recklessly seems harmless to many drivers.  It is an awful habit!