There are a few simple ways to show good driving manners. These can help make your driving experience easier and safer for everyone on the road.
Don’t honk
Honking is a common habit, but it can be dangerous. It can make you and other drivers nervous, which could result in a car crash.
Drivers should only honk their horn when it is necessary to avoid a collision. This can include tapping your horn when a pedestrian is crossing or getting close to a car.
In addition, it is best not to honk when there is no danger. This will make you sound irritated and can cause road rage.
It is also not a good idea to honk if you are in a traffic jam. It only makes everyone else in the queue more anxious and on edge.
If you are in a traffic jam and another car is trying to merge, don’t honk your horn to speed things up. Instead, give the merging vehicle a friendly short honk and wave in them.
If you feel like your horn is becoming too much, it may be time to consider changing your driving manners. These easy tips will help you keep your horn in check and improve the quality of your driving experience.
Don’t tailgate
Tailgating is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors on the road. It can cause serious accidents, including rear-end collisions.
A car that is following another too closely will not have enough time to slow down if the driver in front of them hits their brakes suddenly. This can lead to severe injuries or even death.
This is why it is so important to avoid tailgating at all costs. It is best to leave at least a two-second buffer between your vehicle and the car in front of you.
However, this can vary depending on road conditions and visibility. Most states have made tailgating a traffic violation, which means you can be ticketed for it.
Tailgating is especially dangerous when you’re in a hurry or when the weather is bad. It is also risky when you’re changing lanes, as you don’t have enough room to do so safely.
Don’t slam on your brakes
Slamming on your brakes can cause a lot of damage to your car. This includes wearing down the tread on your tires and damaging your anti-lock braking system (ABS).
You should only slam on your brakes in an emergency situation and not repeatedly. If you do, your tires could lock up and begin to skid, causing an accident.
Also, slamming on your brakes can prevent your tires from rotating properly, which causes them to wear down prematurely and increase your risk of blowouts. It can also stop your anti-lock braking system from functioning, which can reduce your safety on the road.
Another reason to not slam on your brakes is that it can trigger a traffic jam. When a single driver slams on their brakes suddenly, it can often trigger an accordion-like wave of braking behind them, causing drivers to pile up and slow down.
This is a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. The only way to avoid it is by maintaining proper following distances and not slamming on your brakes too hard.
Don’t block lanes
Keeping up with traffic is one of the most important aspects of driving, but it also means following the rules of the road. By violating lane discipline, drivers can cause a bottleneck that can delay their commute time.
The best way to avoid this is to drive slowly, not change lanes, and look ahead before changing lanes. This will prevent you from causing other drivers to hit or miss-select you and their vehicles.
It is also important to check behind you before changing lanes, slowing down, or descending a long or steep hill. This will help you avoid blocking other lanes or hitting a pedestrian, cyclist, or disabled vehicle.
Drivers who don’t follow this rule can endanger everyone else on the road, including themselves.
The most common reason for drivers to block lanes is because they are trying to pass another car. This is often an inconsiderate action that can lead to accidents and other road rage incidents.
Don’t hog the right lane
Driving the right lane can be a good idea in certain situations, but it isn’t always necessary. Many people hog the right lane for no reason, and it can cause problems for other drivers.
The best way to avoid this situation is by staying in the left lane. This is legal in most states and it’s also good for the environment.
According to MIT, every state has some type of driving law that requires drivers to stay in the left lane if they’re going slower than other vehicles around them. It’s based on the Uniform Vehicle Code, which has become a standard set of laws for determining traffic regulations in the United States.
When a driver in the left lane is attempting to pass, it’s important for them to communicate their intent by activating their turn indicator. They should also move to the left, accelerate quickly enough to get past the car in front of them, and then return to their right-hand lane when they’re finished. This is called the three-second rule.
Don’t pass on the wrong side of the road
Passing on the wrong side of the road can lead to serious accidents. This is especially true on highways, where drivers may not always know which lane to drive in.
The best rule is to stay on the left if traffic is going slow or stopped at a stoplight, and stay in the right lane when it’s safe to do so. If it’s not safe to move over, stay in the middle of the lane and make your turn when you’re ready.
One common mistake drivers make is passing on the wrong side of the road when making a right turn. This can be especially dangerous on roads that don’t have separated bike lanes or a dotted line leading into an intersection.
Another driver mistake is driving too fast in the left lane. This can lead to a driver behind you honking their horn and tailgating you, which can be dangerous.
Don’t cut in at an intersection
Intersections can be dangerous places to drive, because they combine various types of traffic and different speeds. They’re also a place where unexpected changes can occur, such as a pedestrian stepping out into the street or a bicyclist swerving in your lane.
These unpredictable changes can make an intersection an even more hazardous place to drive than it already is. For this reason, it’s best to avoid cutting in at an intersection.
Often, this can mean leaving yourself plenty of space to pull out in case someone cuts in behind you quickly. This extra space can give you time to react, which may save your life in the event of a crash.
Another important rule is to complete a full stop at a stop sign. This allows you to scan the intersection and look for oncoming traffic from both directions.
Drivers often try to beat green lights at an intersection, which is dangerous for everyone involved. This can cause a lot of accidents, so it’s best to take your foot off the accelerator and cover your brakes when you’re approaching an intersection that’s about to turn green.