by Casey-Leigh Hethers

Created on: September 30, 2008   Last Updated: July 14, 2010

Driving can be an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, hindered even more so by other road users. It doesn't take much to act with a little common sense and remember that not all road users will have the same level of experience or knowledge.

Tailgating is incredibly rude, unnecessary and also can be dangerous, something any offending driver needs to learn quickly. Unfortunately because the drivers who tailgate have already 'passed' their driving test, there is no way to change this view and they will continue doing this until it causes an accident, perhaps even then not learning the valuable lesson. It forces the driver in front into a paranoid state - do they risk speeding up, dare they slow down, why do they need to be that close? Furthermore causing other drivers to be paranoid doesn't help anyone. The nervous driver is likely to stall and hold up the traffic even more - the offending driver having the audacity to pip their horn in annoyance will not help anyone.

There's different styles of tailgating and it is never advised. Tailgating doesn't help when you're traveling in the direction of an uphill slope. If you're tailgating, don't get frustrated when someone happens to roll backwards into you - chances are, you were too close anyway. The concept of tailgating at speed shouldn't even need to be explained. If reaction times are affected by poor visibility (the vehicle in front), then accidents are likely to happen.

Speeding, while it should always be avoided, is made even worse when done at senseless times or places. Imagine this: there are roadworks ahead. Two cars close together, one in front of the other. Driver A steps on the accelerator. Speed goes up, open distance goes down before the brakes are finally slammed on. Five minutes later, the car originally behind (Driver B) has caught up and eased steadily to a stop. Point being? Even though both are stuck in roadworks, Driver A was foolish and decided to speed even when it would do no good. Driver B acknowledged they'd get nowhere fast and calmly approached the roadworks, safely, without unnecessary wear and tear to the vehicle.

Queue-jumping is always a sore point with drivers who are on a multi-lane road that drops down a lane. This is advertised for a while with signs beforehand but impatient drivers will speed to the end of the additional lane and then expect to be let straight into the continuing lane. It's up to those drivers that followed the laws of common sense to take pity on the impatient drivers and let them back into the ongoing lane of traffic.

In general vehicle use, it is wise to make good use of indicators. They are there for a reason. Left indicator or right indicator will notify following drivers what is intended by the car in front. However, failing to use indicators leave the roads a much riskier place to be. Hazard lights also can be applied when the situation calls for it.

In short, if all drivers were courteous and reasonable to other road-users (including pedestrians), driving would be a much more satisfying activity. Keep negative attitudes off the roads. When getting in the car, leave the impulsive and rash decisions behind in favour of calm and rational approaches.

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