Driving Etiquette

[Volos]

I went through all the Clover Taxonomy posts, as well as a few others, and visited some other websites. I used a lot of what I found to generate a list of dos and don'ts for driving etiquette, which is essentially not being a clover. Here is the rough list, please feel free to add, detract, or modify as you see fit.

• ü Know yourself and what you are capable of, don’t try to drive in conditions you cannot handle
  
• ü If you can’t text or eat and drive safely at the same time, then don’t do it. If you can do it and are going to then remember that driving is your number one priority, drop the cheeseburger or cell phone in your lap if necessary.
  
• ü Don’t slow down to check out a traffic stop or accident
  
• ü The left lane is a passing lane, not a cruising lane
  
• ü Pass quickly, spending as little time as necessary in the passing lane
  
• ü Maintain safe following distance - that is about three seconds, not one and not thirty
  
• ü Dim your headlights for oncoming traffic, if your brights are on they cannot see and you might very well cause an accident
  
• ü Let merging traffic merge, move over if you can
  
• ü Merge ramps exist to get up to the speed of traffic before entering the traffic stream. Put your foot into it and don’t make other drivers hit the skids to let you in
  
• ü Use your turn signals
  
• ü Pass bicycles
  
• ü If you are moving slower than the flow of traffic, get out of the way. Traveling at the posted speed limit, or lower, is perfectly acceptable, but no excuse to impede other drivers.
  
• ü Think ahead, try to act instead of react, but be prepared to react immediately. In short, pay attention. (This probably belongs in defensive driving)
  
• ü Allow others to pass you
  
• ü When stopped at a traffic signal or sign, move on as quickly as safely possible.
  
• ü When in line at a traffic impeding event it really isn’t necessary to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you. That wasted space adds up and means someone further back is going to miss the light. Of course, you shouldn’t be rubbing bumpers with the guy in front of you either.
  
• ü If you make a mistake, like missing your turn, it isn’t the end of the world. Don’t back up on the road or pull a sudden U-turn or your likely to get hit, take the next turn and find a way back.
  
• ü Try not to block the view of others, if you’re going straight or turning left and waiting for traffic, leave room so that someone turning right can get in and see past you. They are going to be able to go at the same time as or before you, let them.
  
• ü Don’t make others listen to your music. I don’t care what you listen to or how great it is, it’s just a dick move.
  
• ü Pay attention to signs with times attached to them, most school zones are not 15MPH limits outside of school hours.
  
• ü If there is a cop, speed trap, or other danger behind you, warn other drivers by flashing your headlights and next time they may do the same for you
  
• ü Don’t help one driver at the expense of another. If someone is trying to pull out at an intersection but can’t find the space, don’t stop all the traffic behind you to let them out when it isn’t their turn.
  
• ü Sometimes, traffic laws cause more harm than good. Don’t put yourself or anyone else in danger needlessly to follow the letter of the law. Go ahead and pass that tractor going 12MPH in a 70MPH zone in a double yellow.
  
• A yield sign is not a stop sign

[Ken]

Originally Posted by Volos

• ü Know yourself and what you are capable of, don’t try to drive in conditions you cannot handle

One of the basic tenets of good driving - know your limitations. Improve them at every opportunity.

• ü If you can’t text or eat and drive safely at the same time, then don’t do it. If you can do it and are going to then remember that driving is your number one priority, drop the cheeseburger or cell phone in your lap if necessary.

Sorry, Volos, here I disagree - after years of triple figure driving I am totally convinced that nothing should ever distract one's attention away from the task in hand which is driving! I don't even like passsengers talking if driving quickly.

• ü Don’t slow down to check out a traffic stop or accident
  
• ü The left lane is a passing lane, not a cruising lane
  
• ü Pass quickly, spending as little time as necessary in the passing lane
  
• ü Maintain safe following distance - that is about three seconds, not one and not thirty

Dependant upon road conditions. Over here in the UK we recommend a minimum of two seconds gap in the dry and a minimum of four seconds gap in the wet. Assess road conditions and increase gap if necessary.

• ü Dim your headlights for oncoming traffic, if your brights are on they cannot see and you might very well cause an accident
  
• ü Let merging traffic merge, move over if you can
  
• ü Merge ramps exist to get up to the speed of traffic before entering the traffic stream. Put your foot into it and don’t make other drivers hit the skids to let you in
  
• ü Use your turn signals
  
• ü Pass bicycles (Ken's comment - give about six feet clearance they are totally unpredictable.)
  
• ü If you are moving slower than the flow of traffic, get out of the way. Traveling at the posted speed limit, or lower, is perfectly acceptable, but no excuse to impede other drivers.
  
• ü Think ahead, try to act instead of react, but be prepared to react immediately. In short, pay attention. (This probably belongs in defensive driving)
  
• ü Allow others to pass you
  
• ü When stopped at a traffic signal or sign, move on as quickly as safely possible.
  
• ü When in line at a traffic impeding event it really isn’t necessary to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you. That wasted space adds up and means someone further back is going to miss the light. Of course, you shouldn’t be rubbing bumpers with the guy in front of you either.
  
• ü If you make a mistake, like missing your turn, it isn’t the end of the world. Don’t back up on the road or pull a sudden U-turn or your likely to get hit, take the next turn and find a way back.
  
• ü Try not to block the view of others, if you’re going straight or turning left and waiting for traffic, leave room so that someone turning right can get in and see past you. They are going to be able to go at the same time as or before you, let them.
  
• ü Don’t make others listen to your music. I don’t care what you listen to or how great it is, it’s just a dick move.

Good stuff, especially about the 'music' one of my pet hates. Why do some idiots like to turn their cars into sub-woofers?

• ü Pay attention to signs with times attached to them, most school zones are not 15MPH limits outside of school hours.
  
• ü If there is a cop, speed trap, or other danger behind you, warn other drivers by flashing your headlights and next time they may do the same for you

Don't know 'bout your side of the pond - over here it is illegal to warn other drivers of speed traps etc. If you do, make sure there are no bogies up ahead waiting to pull you over, remember it's all about collecting revenue.

• ü Don’t help one driver at the expense of another. If someone is trying to pull out at an intersection but can’t find the space, don’t stop all the traffic behind you to let them out when it isn’t their turn.
  
• ü Sometimes, traffic laws cause more harm than good. Don’t put yourself or anyone else in danger needlessly to follow the letter of the law. Go ahead and pass that tractor going 12MPH in a 70MPH zone in a double yellow.
  
• A yield sign is not a stop sign

Lots of good stuff there. Sorry it's taken so long to put in any comments - it's been a bit busy here.

Ken.