# Helpful driving tips **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554 "2010-07-13T17:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/1 "2010-07-13T17:13:07Z")
-If you are in the left (passing) lane and people are passing you on the right, you’re in the wrong damn lane! -Just because it’s raining or dark doesn’t mean you have to go 15 MPH under the speed limit. -Entering a tunnel or bridge doesn’t mean you have to brake. The lane isn’t changing width, if you were able to keep your car between the lines before, you still can now. -It’s not the end of the world if you miss your exit. You don’t need to get into the emergency lane and back up! -Hang up and and drive. That way you won’t be stopping short at stop signs, tailgating, and swerving all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/2 "2010-07-13T17:17:54Z")
Use signals when turning. You are not the only car in the universe, and other drivers are not mind readers; they need to know what you’re doing. Clear the snow off ALL of your windows, not just one square foot in the windshield. If there’s a turning lane in the middle of a highway, it’s there for a reason. Use it. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/3 "2010-07-13T17:20:19Z")
Driving is a cooperative effort. A little consideration will help us all get there sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/4 "2010-07-13T17:25:28Z")
If you’re in a left turn lane, please do not attempt a right turn. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/5 "2010-07-13T17:27:43Z")
Look over your shoulder before you change lanes. Even you driving enthusiasts who claim to have adjusted your mirrors so as to have no blind spot? You’ve got a blind spot. If you don’t believe me, keep changing lanes without looking; one of these days you’ll take out the motorcyclist who was at the far edge of the lane next to you - just out of your mirror’s field of view. And stop tailgating me; you’re endangering us both. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/6 "2010-07-13T17:28:01Z")
Pay attention please. Never cut off a truck, they can’t slow down as fast as we can. And please: never text and drive. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/7 "2010-07-13T17:30:10Z")
I’ll finetune that, **panache** - use turn signals BEFORE turning. A blink or two as you come into my lane really doesn’t mean anything, as I have already noticed your car coming towards me. Parking lots are not roads. There is so much going on in them, we should all be driving extremely slowly and carefully, instead of driving faster and more carelessly. If you’re using a parking lot to cut through from one road to another one, that still doesn’t make the parking lot a road. Get professional driving instruction when you start driving. Your dad has terrible habits and incomplete knowledge, and you’ll probably be even worse than he is if he is your only source of driving instruction. Driving a car is the single most dangerous thing we do every single day, and it needs to be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/8 "2010-07-13T17:37:28Z")
Try to stay off your iPod/MP3 player too, a second or two looking at song titles can be deadly. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/9 "2010-07-13T17:40:07Z")
If your windshield wiper is on, your headlights should be on. If you’re not planning on turning or changing lanes over the next mile and a half, you can probably turn that left turn signal off. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/10 "2010-07-13T18:19:52Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > -Just because it’s raining or dark doesn’t mean you have to go 15 MPH under the speed limit. Sometimes (Biblical downpour) such lower speeds are warranted. > [@](#): > > -Entering a tunnel or bridge doesn’t mean you have to brake. The lane isn’t changing width, if you were able to keep your car between the lines before, you still can now. Except that sometimes the lanes do change width in a tunnel, or even worse it goes from 2 to 1 (typically in the mountains). Always take a quick peek the other way when making a turn (peek left when turning right, and vice-versa). An ambulance, drunk driver, old lady walking her dog, or kid on a bike might be in said blind spot. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/11 "2010-07-13T18:28:37Z")
If your exiting a busy parking lot at the end of an event, follow the “You go, I go” rule. If you can see that the other guy is going to have a hard time entering traffic, be a sport and wave him in. Don’t pass right before you exit. If an accident or construction is going to make you move over a lane, do so as soon as practical. And let someone in who needs to come in to your lane. If there’s a turn lane, enter it before you slow to a crawl. Turn your damn stereo down! You need to hear sirens. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/12 "2010-07-13T18:32:37Z")
If you want to turn left at unprotected left turn traffic signal, go ahead and pull out into the intersection to wait for an opportunity to turn. If the light turns yellow on you, don’t panic, don’t try to back up. The oncoming traffic will stop and you will be able to turn. The cars on your left and right are not going to jump out and hit you. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/13 "2010-07-14T07:34:11Z")
A special one for Oslo drivers (mostly the ones over 70 and wearing hats): If you’re driving along a limited-access highway and you see a car coming down the entrance ramp - for the love of all that is holy, don’t pull up beside that car and match its speed exactly. You will not get points in Driver Heaven for preventing someone else from merging into traffic. If you can’t do anything else, just keep doing whatever you were doing and let the other driver adjust to you. And since it’s summer vacation time: if you are pulling a camping trailer, make sure your total load (trailer + passengers in car + total luggage) does not exceed the capacity of your car. It doesn’t help that the trailer is 300 kg under the limit if you’re carrying five people plus a half-ton of clothes, bikes, beer, canned goods, and implements of destruction. Also, welcome to Norway, some roads should be marked on your map as not recommended for towing camping trailers. We Are Not Kidding. This Means **YOU.** ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/14 "2010-07-14T07:42:17Z")
Attention cyclists! You have to obey the Highway Code too. That means that you stop at Give Way signs and at roundabouts. ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/15 "2010-07-14T14:42:05Z")
stop driving so fucking slow. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/16 "2010-07-14T15:09:57Z")
Quit honking your horn behind me. Making a left out of my apartment complex is a bitch in the am. It is even more fun when you’re staring right into the Phoenix sun and trying to turn out into 6 lanes of traffic. I’m not gonna get into a wreck just because you’re running late for work. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/17 "2010-07-14T15:17:07Z")
GO when the light turns green (after checking to be sure the intersection is clear.) Don’t keep talking, don’t mess with the radio, don’t pick your nose, don’t look out the window. Just go. Don’t drive down the interstate high on pot and watching a video on your iPhone. A 17-year-old boy did this recently in my area, flipped his SUV several times. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/18 "2010-07-14T15:19:12Z")
I was always taught that if you can’t comfortably accelerate in a turn or curve, you’ likely driving too fast. In other words if you’re fighting inertia maybe you better slow down. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/19 "2010-07-14T15:35:11Z")
That sign that reads “Left turn yield on green” means that you **DON’T** have to wait for the fucking light. Just go! ---
**Author:** ![Looey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Looey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Looey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554/20 "2010-07-14T15:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > If your exiting a busy parking lot at the end of an event, follow the “You go, I go” rule. Quite right. However if I am just making a left turn onto a busy street, have faith in me. I can do it without your help. Just because you stop to try to be a nice guy and let me in doesn’t mean everyone else will. You’re confusing them, and they will react unexpectedly. You’re not helping. You’re endangering. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpful-driving-tips/546554.md?page=2)