Driving Courtesy

It seems like courtesy on the roadways is not top of mind like it used to be.

I have been driving for a long time. I have been through driver’s education as a teenager to learn how to drive a car, then again as an adult when I got my CDL to drive tractor-trailers. I have driven in 45 states and although I do not operate commercial vehicles, I still enjoy a good road trip with my wife and dogs.

I remember being taught both by my parents and by the driver’s education instructors that courtesy on the road makes traffic flow better and safer, and I have noticed that courtesy has become less prevalent over time. These are a few of the things that I have observed recently: 

The right lanes are for slower traffic, and the left lanes are for faster traffic. Vehicles should stay as far right as possible and only move left when passing, and then move back to the right. This system keeps traffic flowing smoothly and safely. When a car is going slow in the left lane, it causes cars to pass on its right. This is dangerous because faster vehicles may not be expecting a slow vehicle in the fast lane and could collide or hit the brakes and surprise drivers behind them. Too many times when I see this I look over (as I pass on the right) and see the person distracted by looking at their phone in hand instead of focusing on courteous driving. 

This is dangerous because it can be blinding to oncoming traffic, even during the day. I have recently started to see this behavior across the country. I often see people driving very slowly (well below the speed limit) with high-beams on, and immediately think that person should exit the highway and take a break. I also see people who are driving faster than the speed limit with their brights on. It was always the norm to “flash to pass” by flicking brights on briefly as a reminder to the slower vehicle in front to move to the right and allow the faster vehicle to pass. Some vehicles have aftermarket headlights that are not designed for the vehicle, and they are far too bright white and the reflectors are not aimed correctly. I am a big believer in OEM safety equipment because I believe that the engineers who designed the vehicle are better at it than typical vehicle owner. 

I am classifying driving aggressively as tailgating, passing closely, and making abrupt movements. I see this frequently in larger cities, and less often in more rural areas, but it happens everywhere to some degree. I have seen drivers so frustrated and angry that they have almost caused an accident with their poor decisions. I have seen them tailgate, swerve quickly to pass, drive extremely close to the slower vehicle, and then swerve to cut them off when getting in front. It doesn’t make sense to me that people will save a couple seconds by passing, yet risk safety, time, and headache by creating an opportunity for an accident at highway speeds. 

Consequences of inconsiderate driving can be far reaching. If you take an empathetic position, consider that other people can be startled or frightened by your behavior, which may impact their daily lives; accidents that you cause may impact many other drivers as they are either involved or delayed. If you are selfish or unaware, consider then your own delays, insurance implications, and guilt which you will carry if your actions result in a crash.

In summary, remember to pay attention to your surroundings while driving and treat other drivers with respect. Slower traffic to the right, passing on the left, only using bright headlights when no other cars are around, and most of all stay focused on driving safely.