So, I was heading down Highway 29 toward Middletown on my way to Santa Rosa on New Year”s Eve when some impatient driver gave me a good scare as they began darting into my lane to pass a slower driver.
Of course it angered me. This person nearly clipped my car because they couldn”t wait to pass a slower driver. And yet, there was a line of at least five cars behind this slower driver.
All that led me to believe was this: we are not using common sense when we are driving.
I will admit I”m not a driving expert and that I”ve had a few speeding tickets in my time. But I enjoy driving quite thoroughly.
With that in mind, here is some advice for making yours, and everyone else”s, driving experience a far better one from this avid driving enthusiast.
First and foremost, as long as conditions allow for it, go the speed limit. Too often aggravation while driving is caused while being stuck behind someone going too slow. There are plenty of two-lane roads in Lake County, which make for ample opportunities for this kind of aggravation to happen.
If you are not comfortable with going the speed limit and/or notice that you have many cars behind you, do everyone a favor and pull off to the side and allow faster drivers to pass. It is better for all involved. You will be less stressed by having many drivers on your tail and the drivers will stop cursing your existence.
Follow at a safe distance with other drivers on the road. You shouldn”t be able to read bumper stickers legibly.
If you are going to pass someone, do it on the left-hand side of the road. I”ve seen numerous drivers get fed up and go off the road onto the shoulder to pass slower drivers. Have a little patience and pass when it is safe.
If it is nighttime and you are driving with your high beams on, you should probably keep one hand near the switch as a reminder. I can”t tell you how many times I”ve been nearly blinded and had to flash my high beams at other drivers so they remember to turn them off. The law states you must switch your high beam headlights off if cars are within 500 feet of you. And don”t be stupid or rude by turning them back on before the opposite car has passed.
Really avoid hesitating when driving. Hesitation can cause accidents. I often see drivers hesitate when at a stop sign, causing the order of traffic to become disrupted. Pay attention to what is going on and be assertive.
If and when you see flashing lights and hear the sirens of emergency vehicles, safely pull off the road. They are responding to an emergency and have the right of way. If you do not move, you are not only delaying them from getting to their call as quickly as possible but also are causing unsafe conditions by forcing them to decide whether to pass you or slam on the brakes.
When driving on city streets or a freeway, pay attention to how others drive so you can notice patterns. For the most part, you can predict what drivers are going to do if you study driver habits long enough. This will allow you to stay safe by assessing and reacting to a situation before anything happens.
Lastly, enjoy your driving experience. Listen to the radio or some music, take in the scenery when possible and be courteous to other drivers. You never know when road rage may strike.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
