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Unless You're Wearing A Badge My Driving Is My Own Business
The only real question to ask yourself is this. If my road taxes pay for my driving how come they are bothering me so much? Also, I paid my dues by learning to drive after pouring over the rules of the road book the driver's license examiner forced on me. Then I had to endure the confusing instructions said in an unkind tone when I finally got behind the wheel.
I have my license now so who needs it? Surely it isn't me. My friends tell me I am a good driver. A little fast and reckless maybe but I get where I'm going and usually ahead of the other person. Taking a long trip? Invite me along to get you there in a hurry.
Speeding on public highways isn't legal but today it is more complex than it used to be. There are general speed restrictions and specific speed limits. Nobody can drive so slow that they hold up the normal flow of traffic. Other factors cause more crashes than speeding but death comes to visit at least eight times more often in crashes at high speed. Going a mile a minute or higher gets you there but tosses into the mix some bad probability.
Put the point of a compass used to draw circles on the center of a large city. Draw a small circle and then a series of larger circles. Color the innermost circle red. Color the outgoing circles progressively less bright colors. You should see in your mind the red circle crowded with very aggressive drivers filled with road rage. Perhaps it is the competitive way they must live to earn a living and survive. In any case, no new driver should go near this area.
Curves present special problems while driving. Skids and road conditions making traction poor means you must ramp up the caution. Posted speed limits intended for safe driving on curves in good weather don't apply. At times you may find it necessary to crawl along on ice and snow at speeds you could walk.
Braking your vehicle is something you will develop a feel for. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) put a computer system there to help. Thousands of times per second the computer applies the brakes and then releases them. Law enforcement officials crashed many vehicles when ABS was first introduced. No more pumping the brake on modern cars.
Trendy folks texting and talking on the cell phone while driving not only ignores the others in their vehicles but puts what is going on out the windshield out of mind. Perhaps being preoccupied to the extent that you don't remember passing a familiar intersection is bad. But, this recent distraction is far worse. Attempts to address this hazard are coming in the form of new laws. But, resistance to it is heavy. Best advice -don't do it.
Some years ago a concerned father bought his new driver daughter the heaviest car he could find. Safety was the goal. Unfortunately, a truck hit her and her friends broadside. The mass of the truck trumped the heavy sedan. Never lose your fear of the other guy while driving and keep the odds on your side by playing it smart. Drive defensively.
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