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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Driving Etiquette 101

1. If someone is nice enough to let you go in front of them in a long line of traffic like say, when you're trying to turn left into the car rider line at school with cars backed all the way up the other side of the street who are actually turning right into the school and therefore, have the right of way have the common decency to throw your hand up and give a little "thank you" wave...or at least nod your head, smile or do something to show your appreciation.  Because if you don't?  It is considered extremely rude.  At least where I come from. 


2. Dim your bright lights at night when you come upon another car. It's hard to drive when you are being high beamed. Plus, it's the law!


3. Do NOT pull out in front of someone especially if you are going to drive at a snail's pace while talking on your phone and weaving all over the road.  


4. Turning lanes are there for a purpose.  And that purpose is so that you can get out of the way of moving traffic in order to make your turn.  Don't stop, put your turn signal on and then get in the turning lane.  Because that kind of defeats the purpose.


5. Do not tailgate especially if the person you are tailgating is already exceeding the speed limit.  It is not their fault that you did not allow yourself enough time to get where you're trying to go on time.  Besides, you never know when you are going to ride the bumper of the wrong person on the wrong day of the month, thus placing your life in imminent danger. 


6. When you are on the interstate and someone is about to enter from an on-ramp, move your arse over and let them on if at all possible.


7. When the stoplight you are sitting at turns green, move it! The gas pedal is still the one on the right. I really don't want to get stuck sitting through this light again because whatever you were doing up there was way more important than driving the vehicle you are sitting behind the wheel of.


8. Do not turn left in front of someone who is turning right on the other side of the green light.  Unless you see a green arrow lit up on that big yellow traffic light in the sky in front of you, you do NOT have the right of way! 


9. Everyone knows better than to text while driving, right?  Right?  I mean it's now illegal in most states I think.  I know it is here in North Carolina. Just don't do it. But what about applying mascara while you are driving down the highway? Or reading or watching a movie behind the wheel? Yes, I have actually seen this...more than once! If you do these things, don't tell me. I don't want to know.  I just want you to STOP doing it!


10. Pay attention to all the other vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, animals around you.  YOU are not the only one on the road in front of you and contrary to what you may believe, it does not belong solely to you.  We all pay taxes. This one especially goes out to the lawn guy who comes barreling through the winding road of my neighborhood at exceedingly high speeds while pulling his lawn equipment behind his big arse truck who has nearly killed me and mine twice in the past two weeks. I've got my eye on you.  And I don't mean that in a good way.  



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13 comments:

  1. That #3 is always one of my biggest pet peeves, but I am pretty sure I have lectured my 9 year old on all 10 of these after he caught me cussing someone out while taking him to school. He now knows better for that day that I actually let him drive a car (you know when he is 30).

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  2. Preach on!!!!! My biggest pet peeve, on the road AND off, just in life in general is people that don't say thank you when you let them over!!!!!! If I intentionally slow down to allow you over, SAY THANK YOU!!!! It's not that hard! Put your hand up, wave for 2.5 miliseconds and put it back down. Easy enough!!! ESPECIALLY when you've been trying to get over 15 minutes and I'm the only polite person to let you in! SAY THANK YOU!! (clearly I am VERY passionate about this subject! ;) Seriously, when I'm driving even if I haven't been "allowed" over but still managed to make my way in front of a car, I still say thank you! :)

    I hate when I see people DRIVING down the road with one of their feet up on the dashboard (Okay, I understand passengers do it, but NOT the drivers!) and yes, I've seen it, actually on two ocassions! HOW CAN YOU DRIVE WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE DASHBOARD!??!?

    THank you for sharing!!!! :)

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  3. AMEN!

    We drive a dark 3 mile 2 lane road to get to and from our house. I have started leaving my brights on if other cars leave theirs on! It kind of reminds me of the scene in Fried Green Tomatoes with Kathy Bates.

    I drive a big van. Me and hubby have backed into cars because we couldn't see them. That whole trucker saying..."If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you" Is such a true thing. I have gotten so much better about not tailgating.

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  4. I get so friggen angry when I let someone in and they don't give me a "Hey thanks" wave...seriously jerk.
    Also, I agree with the whole "if you see someone trying to get on, speed up to let them on"...it irritates me when people see me coming and they don't move or slow down to let me on.

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  5. I have a thing about turn signals.

    They are to let folks know what you are GOING to do, Not what you are doing so dont turn them on after you are starting to turn.

    If they had not added the window wiper function to the turn signal lever it would never get used.

    Also I am much more willing to let you in my lane if you use your signal. I know your hands are too full of cell phones and coffee to turn it on but I watch too much NASCAR and I know how to use a fender. So dont try to weasel in.

    And last but not least. I cant stand the folks that run the ending lanes to the last second just to move 4 or 5 cars ahead and then dont use a signal. See pet peeve above.

    WOW, I feel all better now.

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  6. #1... yes, yes and yes!! Seriously, people... let's show some kindness, huh?

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  7. #1 and #3 drive me nuts. Actually, for #3 if someone cuts me off like that I honk, 100% of the time. Honking is stress relief :)

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  8. It really does make me crazy how cavalierly people drive. The biggest concern out there is protecting ourselves from everyone else!

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  9. Great post!

    I seriously can't believe how rude some people are on the road. I ALWAYS wave when someone lets me in but I notice a lot of people take it for granted. Grr.

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  10. I feel the same way about all of things. I sat here and shook my head in agreement as I read each one.

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  11. Excellent driving tips! Especially #7 and #9... they are often related.

    Thanks for your recent comment on my blog :-)

    Have a nice day :-)

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  12. How about the opposite to #6 - if you are entering the freeway from a long on ramp how about getting up to match the speed of traffic already out there? Don't wait to merge before speeding up from 35 to whatever, causing everybody behind you to brake.

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