The only way we will ever regain our sanity sa a nation will be to regain our sanity as drivers of automobiles and other internal combustion type engine-driven vehicles. There are a few areas in which i would offer suggestions that would work if only people would try them once. The first one is mandatory to the rest. You must follow this rule or you will have a hard time with most drivers on the road today. The rule is simply:
I am not the most important person on this road, which, incidentally, I do not own exclusively.
When driving, it is important to remember that using the streets is a shared experience, and for the roads to be functional as built, they must be treated with the respect the engineers deserve. These are not speedways, like at Indy, Taalladega, Daytona, and other NASCAR and IRL locations. Now admittedly, those tracks often have several cars speeding along at 180 to 200 mph, and at those speeds, it is a rare occasion when one is killed on those race tracks. That is simply because, Those guys and girls KNOW what they are doing, and so do the rest. This is not true in town. You still have people on the road who never clued in to how to shoulder check for nearby cars, how to signal, change lanes safely, and how to slow down (YES, SLOW DOWN) at the yellow lights which are about to turn red. Also on the subject, guys, when the light then does turn green-GO! And do it today, please. We actually do need to get there fairly soon.
Getting onto the highway, (Interstate type): Speed up fairly quickly, not too aggressive, but timidity is for the side-road people. Stay there if you can't handle the highway, please. You only jam things up if you're up here with us, the alert drivers. Then, when your lack of planned knowledge shows up as you cut three lanes simultaneously to exit, you nearly cause another crash. Meanwhile, I can be patient. When I come to the next on-ramp in front of me, I make room, so that people can get on. Even if I am ready to exit at the next one, I can let them in and still slide off this road myself, safely and clearly.
Have you ever noticed when people suddenly cut in front of you, that when your temper dies down, and all your sharp comments have been aired, that those people are still right there? They are only ahead of you by one or two cars after the next half mile. I'm always sitting there in my car, chanting "You're so far ahead of me now, I can't see....." you fill in that blank with whatever comes to mind. "...I can't see your license plates anymore." The point is, don't stress over those weavers, unless they cause a real pileup. If they do that, and you are still conscious, you will get your opportunity to make that driver look stupid by describing his actions to the police officer who shows up. "You know, officer, I'd have sworn a twenty-foot long vehicle just would never fit into an eight-foot space...and I was right, sir! Who did that? Oh, it was him, over there in the red jacket."
Following another simple rule will take you through miles of safe driving every day. This rule says:
I am not in a hurry because I left 10 minutes earlier than normal.
So you have plenty of time, do you? I do too, but it's not to get out on the road and clog up the works for everyone else. No, I can relax as I go because I have plenty of time to allow people to cut in front of me, and because I'm not hypersensitive to my watch, I can actually allow people to do this in a safer manner. I do it intentionally. This way, a major catastrophe is averted by my giving more space than one normally has to perform those dangerous maneuvers. So go early, enjoy the show, and return safely to your family every evening again.
The last rule I'll mention is this one:
I like to drive, but I'm not a stunt man and I don't play one on TV.
Let's face the facts, my fellow citizens. You KNOW that there will be some of those dangerous people driving around sometimes. Watch for them, and accommodate their mistakes, so that they will not cut you off by crashing into you. Also, remember these important tips:
Green light just changed? Just make sure some racer isn't running it with you entering. Slow down on yellow, stop on red.
Respect everyone's right to life, because it's bad to die in a car crash.
There actually are a few vehicles entitled to rush by, and they are easy to spot. They have red lights on top, and possibly blue lights also, loud sirens, loud horns, and they are coming very fast. Let them by, and someone else may have their life saved today. Would you like the same courtesy shown to you?
But do remember, when the light turns green, LET'S GO. Just don't get run over by a red light runner.