Yesterday, as I dug my little black Nissan out of the mounds of snow, I was reminded of what an important milestone Feb. 19 is. I just celebrated the sixth year anniversary of receiving my learner’s permit to drive. Over these past few years, my love affair with the automobile has grown without bound, as have the insurance rates of those who drive around me.
Those who have been in the car with me in the driver’s seat have their own words to describe what happens; most of the adjectives aren’t pretty. (Thanks go out to Brady, though, for bucking the trend.) All agree, though, that my driving is an experience.
As I prepare to depart on another road trip, the fifth trip to Philly in the past two years, I wanted to let out a few of my frustrations with other drivers’ habits and how each of you can improve your behind the wheel skills.
Let’s get the big nuisance out of the way off the bat: speed. Roads have speed limits, which technically are not intended for exceeding. Yeah right. Honestly, studies have shown that the average speed driven on a highway is 72 mph and not the 65 mph that most states regulate. That 72 figure is fairly uniform, regardless of whether the limit is 55 mph or 80 mph.
Driving the speed limit, especially on the freeway, is often a hazard in itself – particularly if you’re anywhere but the right lane. The best speed to travel is that of the majority of your fellow motorists, and if you’re significantly slower, you’re just begging for an accident to happen.
For interstate highways and other high-speed roads, it goes like this. Anything under 75 mph is fine, and you’ll almost never get nailed by the police. The 75-80 mph range adds a little more likelihood of a ticket, but is still pretty harmless. Once you cross the 85 mph territory, your risk for a citation is increased, but if you want to take that risk and are a capable driver, be my guest.
Turn signals should not be a major issue. People remarking about less-than-stellar motorists often claim a lack of a signal for a lane change as a huge issue, particular to our friends from the Garden State. Use the lever on the left side of your steering column; it’s not that difficult. I, for one, always signal a lane change to make sure the driver I’m going to cut off knows well ahead of time of my intentions.
Weaving is fun and should be considered a high level sport. (I’m talking to you in Connecticut.) There is absolutely no reason you should sit behind a driver who is traveling at a slower speed than yourself if a lane is open next to you. Now, the gaps needed for some to navigate thorough traffic vary in size, but if you practice at your maneuverability, you’ll be able to decrease that. Some ice running through your veins doesn’t hurt either.
Wear your seatbelts. They save lives, especially your own, and don’t hinder your ability to enjoy the experience of the road.
Learn to deal with your distractions. I’ll be the first to admit I’m at my best when driving alone and focused solely on the task at hand. I’m in the zone. My cell phone has become less and less of a distraction, and music is an aid. The largest problem for drivers, though, myself included, continues to be conversation with others in the car. Of course one wants to have a good time with their friends, but if you’re driving, make sure a good amount of your attention is to your car and not to the sexual innuendos your pals are cracking in the seat behind you.
Above all else, the best way to transform yourself from a pain in the ass on the road into the envy of all other motorists is to grow some metaphorical balls and stop being a scared little coward. Driving is not for the tame of heart or for those who drive timid, confused and lackadaisically. It is an aggressive activity requiring a proactive attitude. The driver who waits for the reactions of others is the one who will end up in that twisted pile of rubble, or, at the very least, eating a cloud of dust.
There are those who say people change when they sit down in a driver’s seat. They are a 100 percent correct. Everyday, mild mannered citizens convert into the masters of speed, skill and power. With over 250 miles to go to Philadelphia tomorrow, I can’t wait for my transformation.
Regan McKendry is a Collegian Columnist.
