- When making a left turn onto a double lane road, ensure you turn into the farthest left lane possible. This is especially important when it is a double turning lane, although if you are on the right side, you must turn into the 2nd from the left lane! Also helpful to those trying to merge into that right lane.
- That said, when a car's intention is to make a right turn, merging into a double lane, if there is no one in that left lane, pull over so that the car can merge! It's all about courtesy people. You be a jerk, you will get treated like one.
- Leave a 3 second space between you and the vehicle in front of you when driving in a town/city and 5 on highways or higher speed sections. How do you do this? Take note of a marker such as a yellow line on the road or a road sign that the vehicle in front of you passes, then count - 1 - mississippi - 2 - mississippi - 3 - mississippi... until you pass it. If you pass that marker before the specific time then slow down!
- On double lane highways, the right lane is often reserved for those who choose to drive at or below speed limit, where as the left lane is for those [like me] who choose to pass those pokeys. Therefore, do not drive in the left lane if you are going slower than the vehicles around you please.
- Taking turns. We learn this in pre-school, again in elementary. Tim Horton's expects you to use these skills in their drive thru in order to not make the coffee craving customers any grouchier before that first daily java. Two lanes. Merge appropriately. If dude1 gets there before dude2, dude1 gets to move ahead first. dudette3&4 pull in behind dude2, then dude 5 goes on the side at the beginning of that line. So who goes first now? This means 2,3 and 4 go, NOT 5 because he is first in line on his side. If he had a heart he would let 2, 3 and 4 go since they were their first. And if, I say IF 3 or 4 woke up on the right side of the bed they may let dude 5 in to be nice. Just sayin... Here's a rough doodle to help you with a visual. [click to enlarge]
- One more for today - texting, smoking, drinking and driving. Oh and doing makeup behind the wheel. [Yes! I have seen it happen!!] All things you really shouldn't do driving a vehicle, especially with kids in there. The texting thing just came into law here in Manitoba, so a lot of people are still getting used to it. Understandable. But if you swerve while doing it - for pete's sake pullover man! Talking on a cell phone is prohibited too, although doing so with a hands free device makes it okay :)
Happy driving all!
I hate driving, I especially hate driving in here. I have lived in both Ontario and BC, and Manitoba has the WORST drivers I have ever seen, which makes me want to purchase a bicycle with a basket big enough for Sydney, and travel that way for the rest of our time here. Okay well that's not even a possibility because we have winter for half the year. Oh dear, such is life!
ReplyDeleteOh Mel, I would fear for your lives if you were on a bicycle! I sometimes think that is worse, esp with the law saying you need to use the ROAD to bike. Drivers often don't care about cyclists either. Actually if they aren't wearing a helmet then I don't either, that's just dumb! All kidding aside... some people need to make smarter choices!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure BCers stay off the road when they see snow don't they ;)