Rude Drivers are Thoughtless and Dangerous

Road Rage, Tailgating & More Contribute to Unsafe Driving Conditions

Nov 20, 2009 Cynthia Jones-Shoeman

In a hectic, fast-paced life, these people often become so self-absorbed that they are inconsiderate of others. How can people be compassionate instead of rude?

Many would agree that cars are one of the best inventions of the twentieth century. Not only did automobiles make it easier and faster for people to travel, but they also provide independence. Traveling by boat, plane, or train leaves a person at the mercy of someone else, but a car affords a person to rely on himself.

Unfortunately, life today is also hectic and fast paced. People zip from one activity to the next, on freeways, through residential areas, and on busy streets, stopping at streetlights, yielding and merging, constantly checking the time on the dashboard clock. Understandably, it's sometimes easy to only worry about oneself, but really everyone should pay close attention on the road - not only to be considerate, but also to keep the streets safer.

Following is a short list of things drivers do that make the road dangerous and frustrating for other drivers.

Tailgating Another Car is Rude and Dangerous

Many drivers seem to operate under the notion that if they tailgate another driver, the other driver will speed up, switch lanes or pull over.

Tailgating does not make other drivers want to speed up. Instead, tailgating causes some drivers slow down. Tailgating makes other drivers nervous, and being apprehensive is more likely to cause an accident. People make more mistakes when they feel rattled. And if, for some reason, the driver in front has to come quickly to a stop, the tailgating vehicle could possibly collide with the vehicle in front.

Smart Motorist says that tailgating is "easily mistaken for road rage," one really good reason to avoid doing it. Instead of tailgating, the other driver should maintain a safe distance from the car in front and either pass when able or take an alternate route. Tailgating is rude road behavior, and no one appreciates it.

Leaving Bright Lights on When Approaching Oncoming Traffic

Leaving the brights on is rude and dangerous when another car is approaching head on. It's difficult to see when lights are shining in one's eyes, but even harder when the lights are extremely bright. Yes, other drivers understand that when it's dark, it's harder to see the road, but it's rude to leave bright lights on to shine in another driver's eyes. Bright lights should also be dimmed when a driver is approaching another car from behind.

If drivers thought about how hard it is when lights shine in their eyes, they might be more apt to be considerate and dim their lights when someone else will be affected. Rather than leaving bright lights on, it's best to turn them down. If a driver is having a hard time seeing without the bright lights on, she might consider talking with her eye doctor about different night time eye wear.

Talking on a Cell Phone in the Car is Dangerous

Study after study has shown that talking on a cell phone while driving is extremely unsafe. When people talk on the phone while at the wheel (or, worse yet, engage in texting), they stop paying attention to what they're doing: driving! While many states have passed laws that ban talking on the phone and driving, many people still do it. It causes drivers to do rude things (like pulling out in front of other drivers, cutting off other drivers in other lanes, running red lights, and the like), but - more than that - it makes the roads a hazard.

If a call is truly that important, a driver should pull over. Or she should tell a caller that she'll call back when she's at a place where she can. Many drivers have resorted to hands-free devices (which are legal in many states). While drivers might still be distracted with a hands-free phone, at least they can still have both hands on the wheel. Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry.

The Road is a Bad Place to be Rude - Use Driving Etiquette

While rude people are never fun to deal with, the highway is the worst place to deal with them. At the very least, rude drivers cause frustration and anxiety; at worst, they may indirectly cause road rage or even accidents. Is it really important to bully other drivers on the road at the cost of safety? Is chatting with a friend while driving worth injuring oneself in an accident? Of course not. Consideration of others and of oneself should always be a priority for drivers.

Related article:

Stop Being Rude! Things Unthinking People Do: Proper Phone Etiquette Takes Little Time and Effort

The copyright of the article Rude Drivers are Thoughtless and Dangerous in Car Care/Ownership is owned by Cynthia Jones-Shoeman. Permission to republish Rude Drivers are Thoughtless and Dangerous in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Driving Etiquette Keeps the Road Safe