Road rules that should rule the road!

Ten highway road rules that should rule the road!

1) Left Lane — For those of you who are unaware, the left lane is for passing, not cruising. If you insist upon driving in the left lane, whatever you do, DO NOT go the same speed as the person in the right lane. Why someone would do this is beyond me, but I see it time and again. Be aware…if someone is coming up behind you, please move over and let him or her pass.

2) Merging — If you are merging on to a freeway or interstate, be sure to get your speed up on the ramp before you enter the driving lane. It’s your job to speed up or slow down in order to safely merge. On the same token, if you see someone entering the freeway and you’re in the right lane (where you should be), be courteous and move to the left lane so the oncoming vehicle can safely enter the freeway system. Capice?

3) Passing — When you pass, don’t pull right in front of them…give yourself and the other driver a bit of space. And, don’t pass someone and then slow down so that they end up on your ass because they have their cruise control set.

4) Passing Lane — This happens 85% of the time…you come up on a hill with a passing lane and there has been a guy holding up 20 cars behind him…as soon as the passing lane starts, the driver who has been traveling 50mph is now going 65mph and doesn’t let but 1 or 2 cars pass before the lane ends. What’s up with that???

5) Texting — We all know that texting (being distracted) while driving is dangerous, illegal in many states. If you insist on texting or looking at your phone, do it on a straight road with little traffic so you don’t kill yourself…or worse, someone else. Better yet, just pull over.

6) Littering — It frustrates me so much when people litter, the most common offenders are cigarette smokers tossing their butts out the window. Hey, if that smoke is good enough for your lungs, then the butt can stay in your ashtray.

7) Rest Stops — This one isn’t quite driving related, and it’s also geared toward men. So many men are apparently afraid to use a urinal in a public restroom. I have no idea what causes this apprehension, unless perhaps they were ridiculed as a kid for having a wee wee pee pee. The situation is this… these insecure men go into the toilet stall and don’t lift the seat…they then proceed to piss all over it. You wouldn’t do this in your home, so why do it in a public restroom and frustrate those who have go number two.

8 Cruise Control — I learned this one the hard way…never use your cruise control if there is a threat of ice. A couple years ago I was driving through Montana on a cold winter day. I was traveling uphill when my friend said, “that looks like black ice.” Just as I was processing what she said, the overdrive kicked-in and spun us out of control. Thankfully we were going uphill with little traffic on the road…and, at the last minute before impact into the concrete barricade, the truck straightened out and we were able to pull over safely. Surprisingly the truck sustained no body damage and only had a couple minor scratches. Two of the tires and wheels had to be replaced, but that was a small price to pay for a bonehead move.

9) High Beams — Not only is it bothersome, but it can also be dangerous when you neglect to switch your high beams/brights off as on-coming traffic enters your line-of-sight. When driving at night, as soon as you see lights in the distance or around a corner, be sure to dim before your beam blinds the on-coming driver.

10) Radar Warning — All too often the speed limits posted are too slow for optimal driving (light traffic, good weather, straight roads, etc), and as long as you’re driving a safe and prudent speed, I see no problem going over the posted speed limit. There is an unwritten warning system that drivers have adopted…if you pass a cop with radar, help the drivers in the other direction by flashing your lights 3x to warn them of possible trouble ahead. The price of speeding tickets today will put a serious dent in anyone’s wallet.

Bottom line…while out on the road, just be aware of your surroundings as well as being courteous to your fellow driver/road tripper. Follow these simple rules and we’ll all be happier on the road.

Those are my ten road rules to rule the road; do you have one that really irks you that I failed to mention? Or, which one of the ten bothers you the most? Please leave a comment below and share with my readers and me.