It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road. ~Author Unknown
Someday, you are going to get behind the wheel of a car and drive off into the sunset. Oh, how I dread that moment. Adults all know how distracted and inexperienced a teenage driver is. Some adults never grow out of it. My prayer for you is that you will put embarrassment aside and proactively save your own and others lives. Being a safe driver starts with you and ends with others. Not only do you have to do your share of smart driving, you have to learn to assume that other drivers won't.
At this point, you probably already know that I poke fun of your Dad all the time for driving like an old man. He goes out of his way to not put himself in a dangerous situation. My joke is that he'd rather waste my gas driving around a parking lot to the "easy" exit than just pulling out the main exit. I joke that he follows other cars with about a 1/2 mile in between. He drives slow as molasses. All joking aside, I know we're safe in the car with him at the wheel, even if it takes us a little longer to get somewhere.
Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer. ~Author Unknown
Don't follow too closely! Since I've been driving, I have been rear-ended three times. My biggest driving pet peeve and fear are tailgaters. One thing I will never understand is why anyone thinks its a good idea to ride in my tailwinds. It's so dangerous, I just wish people with that much desire to hurt other people would stay home. There are two things I want you to remember about tailgating.
1. Don't do it. You never know when the person in front of you will have to stop quickly. Or if you look away for a second, just a little tiny second, you could end up on top of them. If your frusterated by a slow driver, be thankful that they are holding you back.....it might just be an angel helping you avoid an accident.
2. Let them go. If someone is tailgating you, just pull over and let them go. It's best for everyone. My best guess is that someone who would knowingly drive dangerously and choose to put themselves and me at risk, must be mentally unstable or angry. You don't want someone like that right behind you. They are likely to hurt you.
Follow the Speed Limit! You didn't set the speed limit, but it's our responsibility to follow the guidelines set for us. I'm sure that the people who did set the speed limit did it using common sense and statistics. Sometimes, I feel like I'm going slow for the road, but that isn't my decision to make. Sometimes, people wiz by me. Oh well, I say...I'm sure they didn't post a speed limit as a suggestion.
However, there is a time when speeding is not only OK, but safer. If you are driving on a highway and the speed limit is 65, but the traffic is whizzing along at 68, it is safer to stay with the flow of traffic. Don't use it as an excuse to speed, but use your judgement and keep other drivers in mind. On the highway, one person messing with the flow of traffic can have horrible consequences.
Use your turn signals! A good driver plans his next move. For example, if you are driving down the road, following safely, but the person in front of you quickly slows down, it can throw you off. If you are driving and know that your turn is coming, be prepared to signal. It gives the person behind you warning to slow down. I know it seems basic and obvious to use signals, but many people don't. It's terribly unsafe to not let others know what is going on.
Pay Attention and drive! There is nothing more important than paying attention to your driving and other drivers while behind the wheel. Put the phone away, change your music at a stop light, and no eating. If you drop something while driving, kick it out of the way of the pedals and get it later. Worry about makeup and hair at home before you leave. Don't pick your nose (it may cause a distraction to other drivers....LOL!) When you are at the age when you want friends in the car with you, keep the noise to a minimum.
Stay calm! Road rage is very real. Not long ago, I got caught up in the fast lane on the highway. I had my blinker on to move right, but the opportunity to switch lanes was not there. I picked up my pace as I had a very angry man behind me in a very large old pickup truck. With three kids in the car, I watched in my rear view mirror as he flung his arms up and his angry face was screaming up a storm. The woman in the passenger seat sat quietly. As I said a quick prayer, I felt for this woman who was probably not only scared to death, but embarrassed. I finally switched lanes and as the man passed me he swerved at my van filled with my babies and forced me into the breakdown lane with dust flying behind me. I was scared out of my mind. That happened almost a year ago, and I still have a hard time getting into the fast lane on the highway. Luckily, we were all safe, but somewhere down the road, that man is going to hurt someone.
If you feel frustrated on the road, do something about it. Breathe deep, pull over, listen to calm music, but don't jeopardize yourself or others. We all have moments where we wish we were the only one on the road, but we're not. People all have the right to a safe trip, so if you get an angry burst on the road, please acknowledge it and respond properly.
When involved in a road rage incident, take a deep breath and ask yourself if the actions are worth your life.~ Grant Boles
Don't drink and drive! It's never a good idea to drive with a brain that isn't fully functional. How easy would it be to break all the other rules I've talked about when your head is in a flutter? There is never, ever, ever a time when it's OK to drive after drinking. There is a quote by an unknown person that states that there are dumber things than driving drunk, but the list is very short. Call me, call a friend, call a taxi! Please don't drink and drive. It could ruin your life and possibly the life of other people.
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