Things they don’t teach at the driving school any more
Well I take that back: they probably still teach these things at the driving school. But most graduates of those schools fail to give a very good account of their institutes. And then there are those who, like this author, never went to the driving school in the first place. They probably learnt the bare basics from some friend and are for the most part self-taught in the art of driving. If you happen to be somebody who knows how to operate the brake, the clutch, and the gear lever; but suspect in your weak moments (or have been told by somebody) that you are anything from a slight irritant for other drivers to an outright public safety hazard, this article is for you. It’s precisely for you, and with a firm belief that anybody can drive well that the author has compiled these simple instructions:
Assume a relaxed posture while driving. If driving is a matter of taut muscles and frayed nerves then you are doing it wrong. It’s a car, not Apollo I.
Don’t switch-off your engine at traffic lights. Your concern for the environment and the national economy is commendable, but switching off engines at traffic lights is generally not a good idea. The newer automatic-transmission cars do so automatically but if you are not driving such a car, manually switching-on engines by multiple cars can cause a lot of precious seconds to be lost after the light has turned green. And if your car is old or your battery is in a bad shape there is a possibility of it not starting at all, causing much perturbation and swearing on the part of drivers behind you. Desist.
Mind your lane. Your speed dictates which lane you should be in at any given moment. There’s the slow lane (leftmost), fast lane (middle), and overtaking lane (right). It is generally a good idea to stick to your lane as long as your speed is constant. Nature has provided you with just the right sensors for the purpose of keeping your lane. They are called eyes. Anticipate your own next moves: For example, if you have to turn left or take a U-turn somewhere down the road, gradually shift to the left or the right lane accordingly. Use indicators while doing so. It’s a definite no-no trying to take a U-turn from the left-most lane, for example, creating havoc in the flow of traffic.
Use the rear-view mirrors. While the rear-view mirrors can be (often are) used to set one’s hair and moustaches, that is not the primary reason they are provided. You may be the most forward-looking and progressive man on the planet – and that is truly commendable – but it’s crucial to look into the rear-view mirrors (all three of them) from time to time, especially before changing lanes.
Know and respect the right of way. After abrupt lane-changing, not knowing the right of way is perhaps the biggest cause of accidents. It’s your job to let the traffic on the bigger road to pass before entering it from a smaller one. On a roundabout, the right of way belongs to the vehicles coming from your right.
Don’t use the car-ride as a means of massaging/salvaging your ego. You may start your ride with a bruised ego, or you may get it during the course of your ride, but don’t try to win battles or show the world who is boss while driving. Giving way to somebody who is desperate to overtake you won’t make you any less of a man – probably the opposite. Getting riled up can easily lead to loss of life and property – yours as well as others’.
Give up driving when you start having difficulty recalling the names of loved ones. None of us is getting any younger. When you start having memory issues such as difficulty confusing your grandchildren’s names or worse – forgetting your wife’s name – that is a sign for you to give up driving voluntarily even though the law may still allow you to drive.
Never mistake the site of an accident for a circus or fair. We all need our entertainment, but there’s a time and place for everything. The only legitimate reason for stopping at an accident site is to help people. Otherwise it’s counterproductive, for then you are hindering the rescue and recovery efforts by causing a traffic jam.
In case of breakdown, don’t pull up smack in the middle of the road. It’s not necessary to pull up, in case of a tire puncture or engine heat-up, on the where-is basis. If possible, and it is usually possible, move your car a few meters so that it is out of the way, and then tend to its repair on the roadside. Failing to do so can cause a lot of grief to others; and can be dangerous for you as well.
Be smarter than your smart-phone. Using a smart phone while driving can (often does) prove to be deadly, for you as well as others. The FB status update and that mind-blowing tweet can wait for a few minutes.
*The author is currently working on his three-volume treatise on driving instructions for ladies.
