This might sound crazy, but you should always be courteous on the road no matter what. Besides risking bad karma, other drivers can be spiteful to you in many ways. Be wary of bad mannered drivers.
Random stops in the middle of the road could cause accidents. There are many drivers who decide to stop in the middle of the road when it isn’t necessary. Taxis are mostly at fault for this situation when they want to pick up a passenger. What many people do to “get back” at these drivers is drive slowly in front of them thus delaying their trip. Some drivers will go to the extreme of suddenly stopping to scare the driver who did it to them.
If you are in desperate need to stop in the middle of the road you need to look out for the surroundings. If there are no oncoming vehicles close to you, put your hazards on and pull over as far as you can.
Don’t weave in and out of the different lanes. Not only are you making the highway a dangerous place but you are also frustrating other drivers. Some people will take it as a personal attack and chase after you to scare you a bit.
Do you need to get to a place urgently? That is understood but you need to make sure that you don’t tailgate other drivers. Tailgating causes unnecessary frustration and discomfort to a driver who is minding their own business and following the rules. Other drivers could suddenly brake to teach a lesson no matter the consequences. Keep the correct following distance between cars.
Alternatively, if you are going slower than the speed limit and a car is behind you driving at the recommended speed limit, it would be courteous to move over and let them pass. They are probably in the fast lane to pass all the slower cars to get to a meeting or destination on time.
Don’t go if you weren’t there first! This is basic courtesy and a road rule. Often it is one that will anger other drivers if you don’t adhere to it. In driving school you were always taught that when you get to a stop street you have to stop and allow the person who got there first to go. If they signal you to go, it means that they might be stuck in a situation where they can’t move.
The road can be a dangerous place and it is necessary for all drivers to pay close attention to their own driving and the driving of others. Also make sure that your car roadworthy and that all parts of the car are up to standard such as the wheels and tyres. If the tyres are worn you may want to visit a tyre supplier to take care of it. Vigilance is all it takes to make your road trip safe and comfortable.
