Whether you are driving to work, running errands, or on a road trip, you need to drive safely and courteously. Using common courtesies and driving manners will save lives and prevent road rage.
One of the most important rules is to use your turn signals. They alert other drivers that you are about to make a turn and they help ensure everyone on the road knows where you’re going.
Keep your eyes on the road.
When you are driving, it is important to keep your eyes on the road. This will help you to avoid accidents, keep you and your passengers safe and make sure that everyone is following the rules of the road.
Drivers should scan the road ahead and behind them. This will help them to see any unforeseen hazards, such as people walking or small children. It will also give them an idea of when they should start to slow down or change lanes.
This may be an easy thing to do, but it is something that a lot of drivers do not do. They are distracted by cell phones and other things that take their attention away from the road.
In fact, research has shown that the most common reason drivers are distracted is because they are texting or talking on their phones. These are the two most dangerous types of distractions that you can do while you are driving.
One study found that sending or reading a text message can take your eyes off the road for five seconds. This can be very dangerous and it is against the law in most states to do so.
While it is tempting to send a text or use your phone when you are driving, it is important to not do this. This will not only cause you to be distracted, but it will make you less aware of what is going on around you.
Another study found that young drivers who have recently received their licenses are more likely to concentrate their attention on the front of their vehicle when making a turn or going straight. This is because it is a new experience for them and they are trying to focus on what they are doing.
This can cause them to miss other cars on the road, as well as a variety of other situations that could be dangerous. This can lead to a crash, near crash or even death.
The best way to avoid this is to never take your eyes off the road while you are driving. This is especially important if you have any type of hearing loss, as it can be very difficult to drive safely without proper hearing aids.
Don’t throw trash out the window.
You’re driving down the highway or along a city street, and suddenly from the car in front of you comes a barrage of trash. Maybe it’s the driver balling up fast-food wrappers and paper bags and tossing them high into the air as his car flies past you. Or it could be the passenger opening his window and lofting a soft-drink can or glass bottle somewhere in the direction of the side of the road, barely missing your hood.
There was a time when this sort of piggish behavior – using the highways as garbage dumps, reflexively throwing trash from moving cars – was an unavoidable part of everyday life in the United States. Then, people started to pay attention to their habits.
Thankfully, we have moved away from the old way of littering. Today, we have adopt-a-highway programs and hefty fines for littering. However, there is still a problem.
When you throw trash out of your car, it is not only wrong, but also harmful to the environment. This is especially true when it comes to food scraps and decomposable materials.
The problem is that discarded foods attract animals to the roads and cause them to wander into traffic in search of food. This can lead to accidents that can cost lives.
As a result, it’s important to remember that you are not allowed to toss trash out of your vehicle while you are driving. Instead, you should secure the items inside of your vehicle and keep them contained in a bag or container until it is safe to take out.
If you are unsure of whether or not it is legal to dispose of organic material out of your vehicle, you should call the State Highway Patrol to find out. They will be able to help you with the answer and give you the proper documentation for your actions.
It might seem like an easy thing to do, but it is not. Not only does it make your car look dirty and smell bad, but you are also wasting gas by leaving debris behind. This will ultimately cost you more money in the long run.
Don’t ignore turn signals.
Turn signals are an essential tool for communicating with other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Without them, motorists may not know when they should slow down or change lanes to avoid a collision.
While many people don’t realize it, failure to use your turn signal can cause two million accidents a year in the US. That’s twice as many as distracted driving.
When you’re preparing to make a turn, you should flip your signal on about 100 feet before you reach the intersection. You should also turn it on before you begin to merge or exit the highway. It’s also important to keep your car in the center of the lane you’re entering or leaving.
Regardless of your reason for not using your turn signal, it’s an easy way to get a ticket. And a ticket can add to your insurance costs or even revoke your license.
Aside from being a violation of the law, it could also lead to personal injuries and a potential lawsuit if you’re involved in an accident. Plus, ignoring your signal can be dangerous for other drivers and their passengers.
According to a study by the Society of Automotive Engineers, turn signal neglect is responsible for about two million crashes each year. This is a number that seems to be getting higher every year, as drivers continue to ignore the importance of signaling.
Drivers who ignore turn signals are more likely to be cited for unsafe lane changes, yielding violations or unsafe turns. They are also more likely to be injured or disabled in a crash, according to Response Insurance.
While there are several excuses for not using your turn signal, it’s important to remember that the most common reasons for not doing so are impulsiveness, laziness and distraction. These are also the most common reasons for causing a crash, so it’s important to be courteous and use your signal when making a turn or changing lanes.
The worst part about this is that it’s a habit that can be hard to break, so even if you don’t think you’re guilty, you need to start using your signal more often. It will save you time and money on your insurance, but it’ll also keep you and other motorists safer.
Be kind to other drivers.
Being kind to other drivers will help you be more tolerant of their driving manners and reduce the likelihood of a collision.
It can be easy to be grumpy or indignant when other drivers are rude, but it’s important to remember that everyone on the road is just like you. Maybe he or she is dealing with bad news and needs to pull over and take a break, or maybe she is on her way to see a sick relative at the hospital.
Being a kind driver will also make your life easier and less stressful on the road. You’ll be able to relax and focus on the task at hand, which will make you safer.
To be a courteous driver, you need to be aware of others on the road and communicate with them. This includes using signals and waves to indicate your intentions, and it also means being respectful of their personal space.
You can show kindness by stopping for someone who wishes to enter a lane, or making an extra effort to let them merge from a side street. This simple act of kindness can make a big difference in your life and the lives of other people on the road, so it’s worth doing every now and then.
Another great example of kindness on the road is to use your turn signals when you are changing lanes. This is a small courtesy that many drivers ignore, but it’s a simple gesture that can save you time and stress, and it shows other drivers that you care about their safety.
When you’re in a hurry, you are more likely to be aggressive with other drivers on the road. You might honk your horn out of frustration or tailgate, and this can cause a lot of tension in the car.
Aggressive driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents, so it’s important to be patient and calm in the driver’s seat. It’s also a good idea to think of the other driver in compassion: Perhaps he or she is just trying to get to a meeting on time and is frustrated by the traffic situation.