This summer, when I was driving, I saved up a hoard of pet peeves I have when in my vehicle. Some people should not have a license. Period.
My friends and family make fun of me saying I’m the most cautious driver they know. But there’s a reason the only accidents I’ve been in are ones where either I was not driving or I have been rear-ended by some idiot.
There’s also a reason this article can’t be a road rage one. It would be filled with hashtags and symbols to disguise the language of a well-seasoned sailor.
1. Turn Signals
It’s not there for fun! It’s not a little switch that you can ignore. If you don’t let me know which way you’re turning, I will literally sit there forever trying to gauge if it’s okay for me to go. Too many accidents happen when you don’t put on your turn signal. It is a communication method! I really can't read your mind.
2. Brights
Speaking of communication methods, remember your brights. There are actually some rules and methods in place to communicate with other drivers. Such as, if someone behind you is flashing their brights, it means there might be something wrong with your vehicle. If someone is flashing their brights as you as you’re coming, it means you might have accidentally left yours on. But really, at midnight it’s super annoying when you can’t be bothered to turn them off for an oncoming vehicle. It really hurts my eyes!
3. Cutting Me Off
Don’t pull out in front of someone if you know you can’t get up to speed before they catch up to you. Seriously, out of all the driving I know of, this might just irk me the most. When you cut someone off, you can’t expect them to be able to slam on their brakes in time for you to go on your merry way. Same with on the freeway and cutting someone off in a lane. Use your mirrors. You will get in an accident eventually, I promise.
4. Distracted Driving
Are you SERIOUS? Do you need to do your flipping makeup in the car? It is not that important! Do you have to send that text? Don’t mess with your smartphone trying to change the music! Literally, this is what your passenger is for! They are your navigator! If you don’t have one, pull over! If I am ever your passenger and you try that crap, I will demand to be in control of the wheel. There’s enough PSAs out there telling you not to drive distracted. But you’d be exasperated when I tell you the time I saw a girl at night FaceTiming her boyfriend while behind the wheel near Chicago.
5. Passing Lanes
THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING.
Do not get in the fast lane unless you are comfortable with going much faster than the person in the right lane. The right lane is for trucks and trailers and busses and slow moving vehicles. The left lane is for getting over when a car needs to merge (which, if you do see a car that has to merge, GET THE HELL OVER.) The left lane is also more commonly known as the fast lane. Don’t match the speed of the car in the right lane. Don’t be slower. Go fast. If you’re not comfortable with that or are on the phone distracted, stay in the right lane!
6. Tailgaiting
No, I'm not talking about a cookout in the parking lot next to a football stadium. I'm talking about that thing where you're riding some car's bumper going really fast. The thing about tailgaiting is that if you're not paying attention for even a moment, you will hit the person in front of you. So leave some space. Drive slow. Especially in the winter. Don't even get me started on winter driving.
There’s probably a lot of other things I could say and a lot of other road rage incidents I could speak of, but then I could go on for pages. Just, please, use your common sense. Don’t drive recklessly when you have passengers in the vehicles. And remember how you got your license.
