And now, the continuation of this month’s post! Here are the top 5 things we wish more motorists DID:
5) Share.
It made sense in Kindergarten, and it makes sense now. Pedestrians don’t have to stay on sidewalks and cyclists don’t have to stay in bike lanes at all times, so chances are you will cross paths with them while in a travel lane. If you see a pedestrian crossing, slow down or stop to let them get out of the street safely. If you’re making a right turn or parallel parking, check your mirrors to make sure you’re not about to hit a cyclist. Be kind, look behind. And ahead…that doesn’t rhyme. ;)
4) Plan Your Trips in Advance.
Take the time to pick a mode that makes the most sense for your trip (e.g., maybe walk two blocks to the restaurant). Next, have a general sense of where you are going so you are not at the mercy of the GPS. And if you do get lost or miss a turn, PLEASE keep going straight. It is so much safer to turn at the next block than to try and make a left from the right lane. Lastly, leave early enough to make it to your destination without speeding.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/
3) Embrace the Zipper Merge.
Believe it or not, people who try to get over right before a lane closure are not jerks. They are using all the space available and keeping the line of stopped cars (the “queue”) as short as possible. If each person in the open lane lets one person from the closed lane get in front of them near the closure, then traffic will be able to keep moving more smoothly through the work zone. So just leave a gap or find a gap and stop honking at each other. If you are the one trying to merge, please…
2) Use Your Turn Signals.
This is common courtesy that really isn’t that common anymore. Let other road users know what you plan to do; the element of surprise is not a good thing here. When turning, changing lanes, or entering/exiting a highway, it is a great idea to turn on your indicator a few seconds before the maneuver and turn it off immediately afterward.
1) Just Drive!
According to my defensive driving instructor, distracted driving is “anything that takes your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel.” Whether you’re calling people, texting, tweeting, grooming, adjusting the radio or unwrapping food, you are increasing your risk of making a fatal mistake while driving. If you find yourself bored without these distractions, you can engage in exciting activities such as monitoring your speed, scanning the road on all four sides of your vehicle and listening for sirens. You will also be able to notice more easily if something feels or sounds wrong with your vehicle, so win-win.
Have anything to add? Send me a message or comment below!
Next Month: PASSENGER RAIL