8BTers' Guide To The Road
 

As some of you may or not know, I was recently on a four-week road trip. Seeing how stupid some people can be, I've decided that we should make a collective guide on how to drive correctly. And let's be serious here, okay? No, "Drive 80 MPH in a 45 MPH zone." Anyway...

Chapter I: "Keep Right Except When Passing"

If someone is going faster than you, they will probably want to get into the left lane to pass you. They do not want to race you. They want to pass you because you're going too slow. So do not speed up when someone is trying to pass you. Maintain your current speed so they can pass your slow ass, and so everyone behind that person can pass your slow ass.

If someone in front of you(hereafter known as "Car A") has just passed a vehicle, and you have passed the same vehicle but are maintaining the same distance from Car A, now in the right lane, then you are obviously not passing that person. Get back in the right lane.

If the distance between you an Car A is, in fact, growing, then you are not passing Car A.

If you are in the left lane and vehicles are passing you on the right, you are going too slow and belong in the right lane.

(I swear I'm not making this next one up. Apprently, I wasn't the only guy on the road with a camera.) If you are in the process of passing a vehicle(hereafter refered to as "Car B"), don't slow down to match speed so you can take a picture and/or record the occupants of the vehicle.

Especially if Car B is going 60 MPH and the vehicle behind you is going 75 MPH, which is what you were doing before you slowed down.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I won't be a hog. Anyone else got some advice for this chapter?

I got something.

Chapter 2, Get the hell off your cell phone.
There's nothing thats so important that can't wait till you're stopped to call someone on the telephone. Most people are good drivers, if they use a cell phone they get worse. If a bad driver is using a cell phone bad things happen. The lady who T-boned my car and nearly killed me last year was chatting happily away when she ran a red light going 40mph.

Come on, we're still on Chapter I. Cell phones will fall into the "Dos/Don'ts" which will be Chapter 3 or 4.

picky picky picky, I retract my chapter 2 then :P

How to use a turn signal, and proper uses thereof

Now, think about a steering while. See that stick on the left side of it? Do you know what it does?

Yes, it does have the windshielder wiper control on it, but what does the stick itself do?

The stick controls what is called a "turn signal". You've probably seen them on rare occasions on other cars. It's the light that turns on and off. Yes. That's what that is.

Now, what is the point of a turn signal? Quite simple, actually. A turn signal is designed to alert other drivers that you are about to turn or change lanes.

I know its quite a concept, but bear with me.

Now...when to use a turn signal. There are a variety of cases:

1)When you are about to turn. If you are turning right, put the stick up. You will see a little arrow or other sort of indicator on the dashboard light up. This means your turn signal is on. Now, when you turn, your turn signal should shut off automatically, if not, push the stick down to turn it off.

If turning left, repeat the steps above, but push the stick down to turn it on and pull it up to turn it off.

2) Changing lanes. When you are changing lanes, it is polite and turn the signal on.

Yes, I know you already looked to make sure you have a whole foot to miss the other car, but it helps the other drive not to panic when you pull your car right in front of them.
The steps are basically the same as the turning instructions. If you are shifting right, pull the stick up. If going left, push the stick down. Turn off the signal the same why you do when turning.


Yeah...I know this should go in Dos/Don'ts, but it really needs to be addressed....especially around here. :mad:

Michigan Speed Limits

You know those signs on the side of the road with the numbers on them that end in either 5 or 0? That's the speed limit.

In Michigan, the speed limit signs are lower limits, not upper ones. People might tell you otherwise, but they don't know what they're talking about.

When you're driving on the highway doing the legal speed limit of 70, and every single other car save a small few are passing you like you're chugging along at 40, maybe you should take the hint and speed up.

It's more important to keep pace with everyone else then to drive the speed limit in Michigan, you have a much better chance of not getting rear-ended.

Gawking

If there's a car on the side of the road with its hazard lights on, don't slow down unless you intend to pull over and help them.

Cop cars are extremely bad about this. If a cop is sitting on the side of the highway doing paperwork, you don't have to slam on the breaks and slow down to half the speed limit and try to see what he's doing. He's probably not even paying attention to the road if he's not moving.

The same goes for construction equipment in a work zone, you should slow down because it's a work zone, but it's not nessicary to cut your speed down to 25 to watch the construction workers standing there.

Chapter Four: Motorized Vehicles, or Riding the Death Machine.
(Its a funny quote i picked up somewhere)

And hes Serious about the Michigan driving. the only place in the world where you will find decent drivers.


Um.... dont hit other cars and watch for cops at overpasses.

you know in this theme park, on the outside of a fence in a ride called twister two, there is a speed limit sign. the sign is the only sign i know in the whole state that doesnt end in a 5 or a 0. lol in fact its 19. its the coolest sign ever. i plan on stealing it. its so cool. the only speed limit sign i know that doesnt end in a 5 or a 0.

Proper actions when passing an Accident Site
If there are no emergency vehicles around you may call it in.
However Do Not slow down to 5 miles per hour so you can positively ID everyone in all vehicles.
Do not go into the lane that the wreckage occupies
Do not swerve wildly at the last minute when the accidents been there for 20 minutes and emergency vehicles are already there, although you didn't notice them because you were too busy talking on that damn cell phone that should only be used in emergencies
Do not take a detour into an accident you heard about on the Radio.
Do not stop in the middle of the only open lane and use that damn cellphone to call everyone you know the exact details of the wreckage until the police show up

Side note to section 1, chapter 1

If you are going the speed limit (70 for this example), and someone begins to pass you, do NOT speed up, let them get caught by the highway patrol that could be lurking around the corner. Also, If people who have just passed you are gaining a lot of distance, that does not mean speed up to catch them. That's asking for a ticket. (I've actually been in the car when about 5 dipsticks going 70, then sped up to about 80, passed us, and kept going that fast.)