With each day that I drive throughout town, or beyond, I see more and more people (drivers) that do not understand what it is to drive appropriately. Since I am someone who demands that people think three dimensionally and at least three steps ahead, I cannot reconcile the deliberately bad driving that people engage in as happenstance or let it go, it did not hurt you. I also demand that people step out of their myopic, self-centered, and arrogant world for at least an hour, or so, a day to make sure that others get to where they want to go safely.

Of course, everyone thinks they are the best driver in the world and everyone else is a jerk who does not know what they are doing. However, I vowed a long time ago, well before I started driving, that I will think of everything I am doing correctly and incorrectly in a vehicle irrespective of the law. That means, not only do I respect the space of other people, even if it inconveniences me, I also make certain that I do not put myself in a compromising position to begin with.

With that being said, I cannot say the same for many others on the road. They have this idea to take up as much space as possible without hitting someone, in spite of knowing the complete lack of regard for basic safety and common courtesy. It's done intentionally. There is no other way to explain it. It is not an accident. It is deliberately not thinking and it is an intentional lack of respect for others that one would demand for themselves. I will guarantee that a person who is a reckless driver that cuts people off and tailgates others will hate it if someone else did it to them.

Since a large number of people have a hard time with thinking things through to conclusion, I will provide a very simple and easy to understand set of guidelines.

The first thing is to never tailgate someone, not even for a second. Second, never cut anybody off for any reason. Third, give the right of way to people who are already in a primary lane if you are merging. Don't try to race them or jump in front of them at the last second. Fourth, use your turn signals well before your turn. Don't start turning or changing lanes by flashing your signal for all of a second. Fifth, get in the proper lane to begin with. It is not that difficult to figure out. Sixth, do not lane hop, unless there is specific obstruction that requires you to do so. Seventh, drive fast when it is appropriate and drive slow when it is appropriate. Also drive to the conditions of the road. Eighth, if you are on a limited road, say a single one way lane, drive the speed limit. Don't expect others to understand that you just want to drive slow. Either that, or pull over and let people pass. Ninth, practice some control by giving others a courtesy. And tenth, if there are no center lane turn areas, do not just sit in a primary lane and wait to turn. Get moving. There are others behind you who have the right of way and you have no right to make them wait because you do not want to be inconvenienced. Common courtesy says you get out of people's way as quickly as possible, no matter what you are doing.

I could name several other examples, but I want to keep this short enough. None of the aforementioned guidelines are difficult to do or are difficult to remember. All it takes is practice and telling yourself to repsect others, not just because it is the safe thing to do, but because it's the right thing.

It's a matter of choices people. There are no such things as accidents or coincidences. There is a choice of action and the consequence of reaction. Now just do it.

Alan W.