As a home inspector I do a lot of driving each day. In fact, I probably spend more time driving than doing anything else. During my time on the road, I pass many drivers who drive many different kinds of vehicles. More often than not, I share the road with truck and commercial drivers, who are undoubtedly delivering products, or offering their services to many people up and down the country. I know how hard it is for these people to complete their tasks, and I have a lot of admiration for them. Actually, my friend who runs his own trucking company has recently been required to introduce DOT compliance systems into the overall running of his business, as this can help to ensure that they are meeting and following the correct rules and regulations when it comes to driving on the road.
They do a great job. However, there are times when I question how both commercial and ordinary drivers have passed their test. This is because I think I’ve seen it all (until something new occurs) …
… So how is your driving?
We came up with a few items to help you answer this question.
- The left lane on a highway (Turnpike, I95, Sawgrass Expressway, etc.) is for PASSING ONLY. After passing the vehicle in front of you, don’t just stay there, move back to the right. If you are in the left lane and cars in the center and right lanes are passing you, YOU SHOULDN’T BE THERE.
- When there is an accident on a highway on the opposite side, not affecting your side, and you slow down to a crawl to check it out YOU ARE CREATING the long delays we’ve all experienced.
- Moving over a lane for stopped emergency vehicles on a highway does not only refer to fire and law enforcement vehicles but also tow trucks, road rangers, etc.
- LIGHTS ON when driving in the rain is not in order for you to see but for YOU TO BE SEEN. Any truck that must use the side mirrors only, will not be able see you with your lights off
- EMERGENCY FLASHERS OFF when raining, everyone else already knows it is raining.
- With 2 right turn lanes and a sign saying RIGHT TURN ON RED RIGHT LANE ONLY or RIGHT TURN ON RED THIS LANE ONLY means just that. You do not have to wait for a green light to turn right from that lane.
- Left turn on red, NEVER.
- If you are anywhere in an intersection when the light turns red you RAN A RED LIGHT.
- The wide white line at an intersection is the stop line for vehicles, this is where the first car should be at a red light. There is no reason to stop 1, 2, or more car lengths behind it. The 2 narrow white lines are the crosswalk.
- When in line at a red light you should stop a few feet behind the car in front of you, no reason to be 2, 3, 4 car lengths away. Also, if you are approaching a red light and need to use your phone, do you simply stop wherever you happen to be, do your business, then gradually edge up? What makes more sense is to first stop behind the car in front of you and then do your business. Now no one is affected.
- A flashing red light is the same as a stop sign. A solid red light is not, contrary to what we have seen.
- No Parking Fire Lane (almost never observed).
So how did you do? …
