When driving in traffic in a big city on a freeway there are some tips that may help to make the trip more smooth and less stressful.

1.  If you know a lane is ending, don’t wait until the last minute to move over.  That causes you to slow down, in addition to the car you are trying to get in front of and all the cars behind you and behind them.

2.  If you are changing lanes, put on your turn signal a couple seconds before you try to change.  This gives the other driver time to react and pull back a little to let you in safely. 

3.  Those who are in the lane the person wants to get into, and they’ve respectfully turned on their turn signal, please let them in.  You don’t know what their situation is, and you may be keeping a man from helping his wife have a baby, or maybe they have an injured dog in their car.  It’s just so rude to try to keep pole position on the freeway.  It’s not a race.

4.  Folks changing lanes, if someone has the courtesy to let you in, the least you can do is wave to thank them for their effort.  It really takes little time and no real distraction to put your right hand up in the air and wave it once.

5.  Parents:  Kids should be restrained in proper seats with proper strapping to keep them safe.  To allow small children to walk around in the back of an SUV or van is irresponsible and distracting to all on the road. 

6.  Cell Phones.  If you can’t pull off the side of the road to talk on the phone, don’t answer it.  You don’t seem to be able to multi-task, as I see so many cell phone drivers zip through traffic without their signals or they slow down so they are less apt to run into something.  This is not to say it does not happen, after all, we hear about cell-phone related accidents all the time in cities.

7.  Tailgating is dangerous.  If someone is going slower than you, find a way around them.  You will find that many drivers will intentionally slow down, or tap their brakes to let you know that you are uncomfortably close to them.  This is not an indication that you should get closer, it’s an indication that you should probably back off.

8.  Horns are for emergencies!  They are not to say hi to your friend in the next car, or to get the attention of a pretty woman.  They are there if someone is about to change lanes without looking to see that you are right there.

9.  Don’t cut off big trucks.  It take three times as long for a big truck to stop as a car or truck.  If you feel that you are in such a big hurry, just relax.  It’s pretty much always better to get to your destination in one piece.  If you’re pending lateness, maybe you should have planned your time better.

10.  If you can’t handle it, sell it and get something you can handle!  SUVs are not as popular as they used to be, but so many SUV drivers cannot control their vehicles.  There are so many crashes and injuries and deaths involving SUV drivers.  Especially, as I mentioned before, if they are also on the cell phone.  Those who cannot get the truck into a parking space, between the yellow lines should not consider driving on populated streets.  They obviously don’t know where their tires are.

11.  If you are not entering or exiting the freeway, stay out of the far right lane.  This will enable you to maintain a regular speed without having to hit your brakes to let someone in who is merging onto the freeway, or someone who has found they are coming up to their exit.  It just makes sense that if someone is getting in your way you should try to aleviate that.  Stay out of the far right lane.

12.  If you are not the fastest person driving on the road, stay out of the far left lane.  That is the fast lane, and if you are in it and going 50mph, you will slow other people down.  Do you really live to inconvenience the rest of the world?  I hope not. 

We are all supposed to be civilized human beings with thought processes, and the “humanity” to do unto others.  If these and other simple steps are followed, then there will be fewer traffic jams by people weaving in, merging in, or cutting off others in construction or reduced lanes of traffic.  If everyone just tried to accomodate our fellow man, the world, and driving, would be much more pleasant.

thank you for your time.