Being a Safe Driver

Does anyone make a conscious effort to drive safely anymore?

I drive to and from work every day. I'm a commuter in New Jersey, and I wonder if drivers on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 80, 23, 17, 1 and 9 ever stop to wonder about their reckless and/or aggressive driving habits.

It would be safer to realize that you wouldn't be in a rush if you had, for example, woken up early. It is certainly not justification to cut someone off for not moving fast enough by your standards.

The Golden Rule, which strives for a person to treat others in the same manner with which he/she would want to be treated, disappears when people get in their cars.

First Offense:
Is it really okay to not let someone merge into a lane? I think people get competitive on the road. They seem to believe that if they allow another person's vehicle to go in front of their own, they have experienced some pseudo-Darwinian moment, and they rebel for fear of becoming extinct! Foot on the gas pedal, and next thing you know, the poor merging hopeful misses their exit. The gene pool has been saved again!

Second Offense:
Do we receive a form of pleasure from when we tail-gate another driver? There are slow drivers, and we all know that it is not legal to pass on the right side. A slow driver can grate nerves, but what is "slow?" If someone is driving at the speed limit, it is not appropriate or safe to rev up to them, merely a few inches away from their rear bumper, in an effort to intimidate them into driving faster. The law is to drive at the speed limit and under it, not over it. Just because there is no police car in sight does not mean that driving over the speed limit becomes the acceptable norm.

Third Offense:
Telepathic communication would be a great thing indeed, especially for those who refuse to use signal lights. However, most people do not "sense" where you are going to go. The smallest deviation in your driving should come with ample announcement. It makes everyone aware and safe.

There are other horrible driving habits, but it is important to maintain a clear head and focus. If you are sleepy and physically tired, it is best to rest up before getting behind the wheel.

If you have too many things to talk about on the phone, don't start driving. Make your cellphone a source of social pleasure not a transit danger!

Driving safely involves consideration for the humanity around you.

Why?

There are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, grandfathers, teachers, counselors, doctors, and many loved ones on the roads each day. Accidents do not always kill a person, but they often injure someone special. Being a safe driver means being mindful of the consequences of your actions. It is also about respecting yourself enough to not ruin your own life with an avoidable tragic accident.