Road Rage

I'd like to leave politics for a moment and share some of my driving pet peeves.

1. Slower traffic keep RIGHT. This means YOU. If you're not in the act of passing someone, then YOU are slower traffic and should move over to the right.

2. If you are in the act of passing someone, do it in such a way as to not impede the rest of us.

3. If you can't do two things at once (and most of YOU can't), hang up the phone and drive (or pull over and talk)!

4. DON'T pull out in front of someone if you're not going to move on QUICKLY! Otherwise, simply wait the 10-15 SECONDS for them to pass you, then you may pull out.

5. DON'T randomly switch lanes. If you must switch, make sure no one's coming up on you.

6. Most frontage/access roads require that YOU yield to OFF-ramp traffic. This is to help prevent backup on the highways and serious accidents. Remember, if the signage is unclear, the driver on the main thoroughfare has the RIGHT-OF-WAY!

7. If you find yourself in the wrong lane (perhaps a turn lane ONLY), just go ahead and make the PROPER turn, find a place to turn around (LEGALLY), and return to enter the appropriate lane. This prevents unduly blocking traffic and unnecessarily endangering lives (yours and your fellow-drivers). This usually takes all of 2 minutes. Isn't your life, the lives of those riding with you and the lives of other drivers around you worth 2 minutes of your time???

8. Exercise consideration while driving (e.g. waving someone into your lane; letting them cross-over when you're stopped at a light/stop sign (AKA don't block the intersection); if there's another lane available, don't pull into the righthand lane and block someone from turning right on red; etc.). These things normally only take an additional 30 seconds or so.

9. If someone does make room to LET you merge, cross, exit or whatever, be courteous enough to offer a quick wave of "Thank you." I mean, c'mon, how much does that cost you?

10. Finally (at least for now), don't make me call you: STUPID, MORON, IDIOT, IMBECILE, DOPE, DOLT, JERK, CREEP, DIP-WAD, etc. 'Cause you know I will.