How to drive safely and smart...

Today there are many questions around what is the proper driving etiquette in many different situations. For example, is there a right way to enter and exit a freeway? What is the best way to survive rush hour? What is the two second driving rule? How do you handle a situation at a stop sign when two drivers arrive at the same time? The following paragraphs are meant to give you a few tips for dealing with these situations.


Many people think that those entering the freeway have the right of way. Truth be told they do not. Entering the freeway is a merge. You do this when there is an opening that is clear for you to enter. Using your turn signal to let other drivers know your are merging, look over your shoulder to make sure it is clear. It is common for the other drivers to move to the other lane to allow you space to merge but it is not required of them.

Driving during rush hour causes extreme stress for people. Stop and go traffic, bumper to bumper driving and slow progress can create hazards. Additionally people who try to rush through make for even more hazards. Always be prepared to be cut off, pushed over and always expect there to be problems. When you are prepared for the various situations you will react better if they should happen. Stay focused on the traffic around you. If you are at a standstill you might be tempted to play with your cell phone, look over mail or fidget with the radio. However this can distract you and you might not notice right away when traffic starts moving again. This will lead to other drivers becoming impatient which can - and often does - lead to accidents.

The two second driving rule is simple to understand, a bit difficult to perform and even more difficult for those people who tend to be impatient when driving. This is the distance that provides you enough time to react to a problem in front of you. When another car brakes suddenly in front of you, you will want to be sure you have enough room to stop before hitting them. Two seconds gives you that room. However it can be difficult to gauge your distance. Once you get the hang of it though you will be able to quickly decide if you need more space. You can gauge the distance by selecting an object in front of the car in front of you. As the vehicle passes that object, count how long it take you to pass that object. This is the time distance between the two vehicles.

What is the proper etiquette when two cars reach a stop sign at the same time? Here there is some disagreement about who should go first. Generally speaking the rules vary from state to state. But first and foremost never assume the other driver is actually going to yield to you. In Michigan for example the rule is that the person on the left should go first. However you will find many times that both drivers will wave the other driver through. So then what? Smile, nod your head and watch for the other vehicle to start moving. If they stay put, you should be safe to go ahead. If they move even slightly, you might want to wave them through again just to avoid an accident.

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