Safe driving tips
Driving "defensively" just doesn't seem to cut it
anymore. There are some measures you can take to ensure your
safety. There's a lot to avoid out there, but you can steer
clear of trouble by just relaxing and taking things easy.
This is meant mostly for freeway gridlock,
the most challenging and frustrating form of traffic. What you'll
find is that the majority of other drivers out there are "brakers"
- people who speed up to slowing traffic and have to hit their
brakes.
A good way to ease traffic, both for
yourself and other drivers, is to put a large gap in between
your car and the one in front of you. It's a pretty basic rule
of driving, but it's often forgotten among all of our high performance
vehicles, cell phones, SUVs and hectic lifestyle. However, it's
the one thing that can prevent an accident as effectively as
anything else. The recommended space might be one car length
per 10 miles-an-hour. It's better to have at least double that,
especially if you're traveling at 60 mph or faster. Just imagine
the car in front of you stopping instantly, as if it hit a brick
wall. Would you collide into it, or would you be able to stop
in time?
The biggest problem that arises from
leaving a good-sized gap is other drivers riding too close behind
you. Don't worry about them. Try to be courteous and get out
of the fast lane if you're not keeping up. If you are and you
simply have a long gap in front of you, let the other driver
stress out and try to get around. It's just another braker wanting
to hurry up and wait.
This brings up another point of good
driving. If ever there is a conflict developing with another
driver, let it go. Don't gesture back. Don't race or swerve
or suddenly hit your brakes. It's not worth risking lives over
a little road rage.
You'll find if you relax, leave a big
gap in front of your car and plan your maneuvers, you'll enjoy
the smooth ride. You can often find "cushion zones"
in the herds of cars flying down the freeway. If you keep your
speed right -- not too slow and not too fast -- you can ride
in these zones and have all three, four or six lanes to yourself.
This is especially true for long road trips on the interstate.
When traffic is stop and go, try to
get a large gap in front again and go slowly. By pacing yourself,
you can roll through the stop-an-go pattern by just going slow.
It can be much less aggravating. It also helps ease traffic
as the cars behind you are not seeing brake lights or hitting
their brakes as much. It's also easier on your car and the environment.
Just remember that there are real people
in the other cars, even though they might just seem like obstacles.
By relaxing and respecting the rules of the road and not rushing
yourself, the ride is much more enjoyable, no matter where you're
going.
