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Driving Courtesy
Drivers of any vehicle on the road including bicyclist and pedestrians, must use common sense when driving or walking when traffic is around. Sometimes it's not breaking the law, but putting others in danger because of what you do or how you do it.
People must use the rules of the road, which are there to protect everyone, without those rules there would be total chaos out there. Common sense leads to common courtesy. You need to respect others and you need to be cautious and observant of what others are doing or going to do. You cannot control everything while you are driving, control what you can and beware of what's going on around you.
Road signs, traffic signals, lane lines and crosswalks all serve an important part of our daily trips on the road. Your proper driving can help prevent accidents and injuries to you and others. I can go on and on about all the blunders and stupid things I see daily, but it probably will not do any good here, you probably see the same things. Do your part in keeping the laws and expressing common sense and courtesy and it may become infectious to others.
Your proper driving may make you "John Doe a little late, instead of the late John Doe." Lack of common sense and courtesy leads to accidents, injuries and death, that could have been prevented in 99 out of a 100 cases.
Texting and dialing your cell phone while driving is not using common sense, talking on a cell phone, to me, is like talking to someone else in the car. Don't let cell phone talk or talking to others in the car distract you from your primary duty as the driver.
Statistics show the chances of being involved in an accident are greatly increased when you or others choose to disregard the rules of the road. Again this includes bicyclist and pedestrians.
Fuel Tips
You can save fuel while driving if you drive consistently.
The faster you drive it forces your auto to overcome greater wind resistance.
Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Drive steadily. Use your cruise control when ever possible.
Never exceed legal speed limit. Speed limits are set for your traveling safety, which also provides better fuel efficiency. Traveling at 55 mph gives you better mileage when compared to speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph.
Stick shift driven cars allow you to change to a higher gear sooner, thereby helping you save fuel if you accelerate slowly. But, if you cause the engine to "bog down", it will use more fuel to get back up to the proper speed for the gear you are in.
Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows reduces your fuel mileage.
Get that "Check Engine" light checked promptly. When this dashboard warning light comes on, it often means that the vehicle’s oxygen sensor has failed -- and that could reduce the engine’s fuel efficiency by as much as 40%.
Air Filter Replace your air filter regularly. A clogged air filter can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 10%. Filters typically last about 12 months or 12,000 miles, but inspect yours every three months. If you see significant amounts of grime on the filter, replace it. Check your air filter every one to two months if you do a lot of driving on dirt roads. Replacing an air filter is a simple job -- the vehicle’s owner’s manual explains how.
Tire Pressure Check your tire pressure at least once every three to four months. Keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure could improve your fuel efficiency by 10% or more. It also could extend the life of your tires and reduce the odds of a dangerous blowout. Proper tire pressure will help avoid sidewall flexing, avoid unneccessary heat build up, thus reducing potential tire damage and failure. Proper tire pressure will provide better traction and vehicle handling (even more important in bad weather or windy conditions). The proper tire pressure should be listed in the owner’s manual, inside the driver’s door of the vehicle or inside the glove compartment on a sticker. It should also be listed on the trie.
Cruise Control Use cruise control when driving on open roads. Cruise control keeps the vehicle’s speed much steadier than you could on your own. Even slight surges in speed result in noticeably lower fuel efficiency. Look ahead when approaching hills. Accelerate before you reach the hill, not while you're on it.
Keep un-needed items out of your car, execessive weight causes you vehicle to use extra fuel.
Pay Attention
Your primary function while driving is alertness, paying attention is your most important driving task as it helps create the time you need to recognize road hazards, other drivers and
predestinations situtations. Most accidents happen within 25 miles of your home. Since we mostly drive in our own neighborhoods, that makes it more likely to have accidents in that area. When driving in your neighborhood, you are more likely to be less alert as it is a familiar area. Remember kids playing in your neighborhood also feel safe playing in their yards and sometimes in the streets. You should always be alert where ever you drive.
It's amazing how many people lose concentration while they are driving. You must try to pay extra attention to what's going on around you at all times. By anticipating what people are going to do can help you avoid accidents. Driving demands your full attention.
Teen Drivers
What puts teen drivers at the most risk for injuries and fatalities? Driving at night, having passengers, having a learner's permit before age 16 and getting a drivers license before the age of 18. Peer pressure sometimes leads to risk not normally taken, when teens are alone in the vehicle. When a teenager is driving, the risk of accidents and injury or fatilities doubles when two other passengers are in the vehicle, and triples when three or more passengers are present.
Parents, you don't have to let the law dictate when your child gets their drivers license.
Parents, don't let others choose how and when you child should drive. You need to "lay down the rules and regulations to your child's driving privileges."
16 year old drivers have the highest crash rates, including fatal ones, of all age groups, and most of those crashes happen soon after they get their drivers license. Teenagers do not all reach the appropriate level of maturity to handle driving a vehicle at the same age. Teenagers can be easily distracted with cell phones and all the handheld gadgets on the market today. They may easily become provoked or angry at other drivers for many senseless reasons.
Parents please understand, you have the ability and the right to say, No, if your child is not ready to drive.
Give your teen the proper training and the proper driving experience they need. Make sure they are mature enough to drive responsible and to make responsible safe decision quickly when driving.
Most parents have rules and guidelines for their children from a young age until they turn 18 or while they live under their roof. Those guidelines should also include their driving privileges.
Driving is a privilege not a given right when you come of age.
A parent should not allow their child to drive until they show sufficient responsibility.
Road Rage - No One Wins
Aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding and tailgating, can often lead to road rage. According to the National Safety Council, motorists rate this as a top threat to highway safety.
Here, we provide practical tips on how to avoid road rage—as well as some startling stats, common reasons that cause road rage and wisdom from experts—to ensure your safety while driving.
7 ways to avoid road rage:
- Move over if someone is tailgating you
- Use an “I’m sorry” gesture (e.g. wave) to attempt to defuse the situation
- Plan ahead; allow time for delays during your journey
- Consider whether you’ve done something to annoy the other driver and adjust your driving accordingly
- Listen to music you enjoy
- Use your horn sparingly
- Avoid eye contact with angry drivers and give them plenty of room
“If we can put ourselves in the shoes of other drivers, we are more capable of understanding their behavior and staying calm. If we can’t appreciate their situation, then we are more likely to get offended, angry and even rageful if their driving bothers us.” — Dr. Robert Nemerovski, psychologist specializing in anger and anxiety.
Common reasons drivers experience road rage:
- Fighting over a parking space
- Cut off
- Not allowed to pass
- Given the finger
- Annoyed at someone honking too much
- Stuck behind a slow driver
- Tailgated
“There’s a lot of talk about driving under the influence, and oftentimes people are referring to drugs or alcohol. But people are driving under the influence every day—and that influence is rage.” — Shannon Munford, anger management expert.
Reasons to avoid aggressive driving*:
- Aggressive driving plays a role in 66% of traffic fatalities
- 50% of people who encounter aggressive driving behavior respond in kind
- A firearm is involved in 37% of aggressive driving incidents
- Out of 10,000 road-rage incidents committed over a seven-year span, there were 218 deaths and 12,610 injuries recorded
“Some good people have bad days and end up in situations they normally never would, simply due to powerful emotions like anger, frustration and stress taking over.” — Richard Senshido, self-defense expert on de-escalating situations with road ragers.
Save money on your car insurance premium by taking a defensive driving course in your state — it’s a great way to review the rules of the road and become a better driver, and learn how to steer clear of aggressive behaviors caused by other drivers.
Information provided by Geico