Ranger Rick: Common sense on the road not so common

I’m sure you see many things while driving that make you think about what the other driver is thinking or doing. I try to keep my eyes not only on the road, but a glance at the side of the road for approaching animals, usually deer or raccoons. The little critters have a hard enough time living, trying to find food, and keeping warm during the winter months. We should do all we can to keep them and ourselves safe on the road.

What is it with cars running down the road with only parking lights on when it is twilight, dusk, early dawn or still dark outside? They are called “parking lights” for a reason. Anytime a vehicle is moving and it is getting dark or is dark, headlamps should be on.

I see a Toyota most days in the morning while driving to work on a side street, evidently while dropping a child off at school because they turn into a school driveway. When I see this person driving, whether spring, summer, fall, or winter, they never, ever have their headlights on, only their parking lights. Yup, in winter at 7 a.m. it’s pretty dark out. Parking lights only. Maybe their headlights don’t work. Duh! If so, replace them. You might find out what you are running over if you illuminate the road.

Were you ever behind a driver weaving from one side to the other over and over and over? Did you call 911? If no, why not? Not only are you possibly saving someone else’s life when they get hit by this fool, you also might save the driver’s life. He or she may be in jail sleeping it off and be angry someone called in their poor choice in driving under the influence, but they are alive. Don’t coddle these fools, report them.

Have you (or I) ever been in that position? — speaking for myself — yup, sure was. But I’m older, wiser, and have compassion for someone who tells me they lost a loved one to a drunk or drugged driver. If I drink to excess (which thankfully has been a long, long time ago), I give my keys up and have someone sober drive. I’ve seen the results of drinking/drugs and driving, and I don’t want to throw my life or someone else’s life away. No, I’m not better than anyone, I just want to live and not be responsible for harming anyone. You know or heard of someone being killed by an impaired driver, make sure you aren’t the problem.

You are stopping for a red light, about six cars behind the lead auto, and the car in front of you is at least two car lengths from the car ahead. What driving instruction did they receive that said they had to have two car lengths interval at a stop? Is that what they teach now in driver’s training? And if that is the case and everyone did that, how long would rush hour last – another hour?

How about the driver who is merging onto the freeway and the person in the right lane slams (and I mean “slams” to an almost halt) on their brakes and lets the person merge into the right lane. I saw that happen recently. The back end of that slowing car was “accordioned” with a semi-truck having nowhere to go as they slid on the snow covered roadway. When I get within ½ mile of a known overpass that usually has merging traffic, I get over early in the left hand lane if clear, so those coming onto the expressway can merge without fretting about traffic. There are times it is not possible, I just go a steady speed in the right lane and they usually have room in front or behind me to merge onto the roadway.

Please, when you’re on the road, use common sense. In winter, take your time and drive a steady speed – not too fast, and especially not too slow. If you’re too scared of driving in winter, please, if at all possible, let someone else drive. If you can’t keep up with traffic you’re going too slow and if you’re passing everybody you’re going too fast. Just remember you can’t stop quickly on wet or snowy conditions so leave some space between cars, common sense, but it isn’t so common any more.

And please don’t look at your phone at a stop sign or red light. If you are a phone nut, the light changes or traffic clears and is your turn you’ll be sitting there, making a fool of yourself. If you can’t survive a short drive to school or work without playing with your phone, you have a problem. And no, you’re not that important you have to answer every call and e-mail note right after received. If you have to make a call or send an e-mail, pull over in a parking lot, side road, or rest stop. Don’t be a road hog. Everybody pays fuel taxes, so your share is just as important as the other guy’s – no more, no less.

Be safe while driving, pay attention to the road (not your phone), and don’t hurt anybody because of your poor, inattentive driving. And remember to buckle up – it’s the law!