Road Rules

Another basic entry that I need to just get out of the way.

There are some basic rules of the road that are unwritten but need to be learned by everyone. And Im going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume that they haven't picked up on them and nobody was around to teach them properly.

Rule #1 KEEP RIGHT unless passing. The left lane is to be used as a passing lane. It is also considered the "fast lane", but one should consider the fact that there is ALWAYS someone that wants to go faster. I believe if someone wants to go 90 mph in a 65 zone, let em go. I call them my "decoys".

Rule #2 Keep right unless passing. Ok, so Ive repeated myself. I cannot say how badly this annoys me to be stuck behind someone going only the speed limit and trapping me there. If you cant pass the person on the right with enough speed to be equal to those already traveling in the left lane-then stay put.

Rule #3 Do not tailgate the person in front of you EVEN IF they are in the left lane IF they are not the cause of the jam up. Tailgating me will not make me go any faster because I cannot go any faster due to the idiot in front of me and will just piss me off and make me brake check you. (Road rage part of this blog)

Rule #4 Keep in mind that there are those of us that use the highways as our office building. I dont come to your place of business and jump in front of you at the copier machine or steal your shovels and jackhammers-let me do my job. Let big trucks do theirs as well. Most big rigs will keep left and only pass when they have to. Let them pass. If at night, blink your lights at them to let them know they can get over. They will generally flash theirs back at you in thanks.

Rule #5 The speed limit. Yes, its supposed to be the "limit". A police officer friend of my philosophy professor relayed to us that drivers can get away with 10 mph over the limit on the highway. I use that as my guidepost. And I HAVE passed troopers on the side of the road while going that fast and not been pulled. May have been dumb luck, but the last time I got a ticket was for doing 14 over the speed limit when I wasnt paying attention. If you look around, most people keep it at 10 over as well. If you are going LESS than the speed limit..... well, Id prefer you to not be on the interstate at all.

Rule #6 Turn signals are not optional equipment. Use them.

Rule #7 Dont pass on the right. I will likely floor it to ensure you cant pass me on the right if you had an opportunity to pass on the left. Also, be aware of the car parallel to you that is two lanes over. If you both head to the middle lane at the same time its not a pretty outcome.

Rule #8 Expect karma to be instantaneous as well as the possibility that anything you do can haunt you for miles down the road. Good karma, bad karma- its up to you, really.

Im sure there are tons of things Im forgetting, but I think Ive probably hit enough nerves with this list. Now that Ive said them, I can move on to happier things... like crazy people. :)