myke eric scott olson: Rants

How To Drive

Yield Does not mean STOP. If you are approaching an intersection or on-ramp where you have a Yield sign, you should first look both ways to see if anyone is coming (but don't stop). If you can proceed through the intersection or make a lane change without hitting the other car, then don't stop. If you would hit the other car, then and only then should you stop.

STOP Make a complete stop at or slightly before the solid white line on the pavement. If approaching an intersection where opposing traffic also has a stop sign and you have all approached the intersection at the same time, cars will proceed in a CLOCKWISE (like the same way the hands of a clock move) manner. Be sure to use your turn signals.

Blinking Yellow If you are approaching a traffic light which is blinking yellow, it should be treated as a CAUTION sign. Slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution, but DO NOT stop.

Blinking Red If you are approaching a traffic light which is blinking red, it should be treated as a STOP sign. Come to a complete stop, be sure that the opposing traffic is stopping (i.e. they don't have a blinking yellow) and then proceed.

Turn Signals Turn signals were put on cars for a reason. Use them. Whenever you are changing lanes, turning left or right at an intersection, even if nobody is around, you should use your turn signals. They were designed to let cars know that you are changing lanes or turning, especially when you can't see them. So, if you don't think that anyone is in your blind spot, there could be and it will be the turn signals that save both of your lives. And don't put your turn signals on after you've completed the lane change, either. And don't leave it on for 5 minutes after you've made the change. It should be initiated 3-5 seconds before the lane change or turn and turned off half-way through the lane change or when you have completely finished turning.

High Beams Be careful not to leave your high beams on. If someone approaching you flashes their lights at you, first of all, check to make sure your headlights are on and also that your high beams are not engaged.

Flash to pass This can be used in two different ways. First of all, if you are trying to change lanes into a lane where another car is and you are not sure if you have enough room, the car behind you may flash his/her lights to tell you that "it's ok to come over." It is polite to turn your lights completely off for just a second (so your tail lights blink) to say "thank you." Secondly, if a car directly behind you is flashing their lights, it generally means that they want you to pull over. This often happens when people are driving slowly in the left lane of a highway. It is really dangerous for the car behind you to pass you on your right, so it is best to kindly move over to the right. On highways with two lanes, they should be considered "Keep right, except to pass" which means after you've passed all the cars you want to, and there is room, move over. On highways with more than two lanes, they should be considered "Slower traffic keep right" meaning if you are driving slow or if someone else thinks that you are driving too slow, you should pull over to the right to avoid an accident.

Cell phones Talking on the phone does not exempt you from paying attention or obeying the law while driving. Shut up and drive.

Blinking brake lights Tail lights should not blink. They are extremely distracting to other drivers and annoying. Think about all the times during the day that you apply your brakes. Probably less than 1% of them would be considered a sudden, emergency stop. This is the only situation where they might be useful, but if you need to stop that suddenly, the car behind you is going to notice the back-end of your car rise up and if they didn't notice that, then they aren't going to notice a blinking light in the middle either.

Light colors Head lights should be white or even those blue ones that some expensive cars have. Turn signals should be yellow (or red if it's combined with the brake light like on older cars). Brake or tail lights should be red. Back-up lights should be white. License plate lights should be white. I don't know what it is with people today that think that changing their turn signals to a pinkish color is cool...it's unsafe and it should be illegal (if it isn't).

Yield	Does not mean STOP. If you are approaching an intersection or on-ramp where you have a Yield sign, you should first look both ways to see if anyone is coming (but don't stop). If you can proceed through the intersection or make a lane change without hitting the other car, then don't stop. If you would hit the other car, then and only then should you stop.
STOP	Make a complete stop at or slightly before the solid white line on the pavement. If approaching an intersection where opposing traffic also has a stop sign and you have all approached the intersection at the same time, cars will proceed in a CLOCKWISE (like the same way the hands of a clock move) manner. Be sure to use your turn signals.
Blinking Yellow	If you are approaching a traffic light which is blinking yellow, it should be treated as a CAUTION sign. Slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution, but DO NOT stop.
Blinking Red	If you are approaching a traffic light which is blinking red, it should be treated as a STOP sign. Come to a complete stop, be sure that the opposing traffic is stopping (i.e. they don't have a blinking yellow) and then proceed.
Turn Signals	Turn signals were put on cars for a reason. Use them. Whenever you are changing lanes, turning left or right at an intersection, even if nobody is around, you should use your turn signals. They were designed to let cars know that you are changing lanes or turning, especially when you can't see them. So, if you don't think that anyone is in your blind spot, there could be and it will be the turn signals that save both of your lives. And don't put your turn signals on after you've completed the lane change, either. And don't leave it on for 5 minutes after you've made the change. It should be initiated 3-5 seconds before the lane change or turn and turned off half-way through the lane change or when you have completely finished turning.
High Beams	Be careful not to leave your high beams on. If someone approaching you flashes their lights at you, first of all, check to make sure your headlights are on and also that your high beams are not engaged.
Flash to pass	This can be used in two different ways. First of all, if you are trying to change lanes into a lane where another car is and you are not sure if you have enough room, the car behind you may flash his/her lights to tell you that "it's ok to come over." It is polite to turn your lights completely off for just a second (so your tail lights blink) to say "thank you." Secondly, if a car directly behind you is flashing their lights, it generally means that they want you to pull over. This often happens when people are driving slowly in the left lane of a highway. It is really dangerous for the car behind you to pass you on your right, so it is best to kindly move over to the right. On highways with two lanes, they should be considered "Keep right, except to pass" which means after you've passed all the cars you want to, and there is room, move over. On highways with more than two lanes, they should be considered "Slower traffic keep right" meaning if you are driving slow or if someone else thinks that you are driving too slow, you should pull over to the right to avoid an accident.
Cell phones	Talking on the phone does not exempt you from paying attention or obeying the law while driving. Shut up and drive.
Blinking brake lights	Tail lights should not blink. They are extremely distracting to other drivers and annoying. Think about all the times during the day that you apply your brakes. Probably less than 1% of them would be considered a sudden, emergency stop. This is the only situation where they might be useful, but if you need to stop that suddenly, the car behind you is going to notice the back-end of your car rise up and if they didn't notice that, then they aren't going to notice a blinking light in the middle either.
Light colors	Head lights should be white or even those blue ones that some expensive cars have. Turn signals should be yellow (or red if it's combined with the brake light like on older cars). Brake or tail lights should be red. Back-up lights should be white. License plate lights should be white. I don't know what it is with people today that think that changing their turn signals to a pinkish color is cool...it's unsafe and it should be illegal (if it isn't).