How to Drive in Rush Hour Traffic

It can be very stressful and frustrating to drive in rush hour traffic. It is important to make the proper mental and physical approach in order to remain safe. If we all work together with the primary goal of keeping traffic flowing, we can all drive in rush hour traffic safely and more efficiently. If you think it is annoying to drive in rush hour traffic, it is much worse to get in an accident in rush hour traffic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Accept that no matter what you do, you will not arrive at your destination quickly. If you have to drive in rush hour traffic, it is going to take a while to get where you are going. By constantly swerving from lane to lane you are only putting more stress on yourself as well as the drivers around you.

2. Be alert. It is important to know what is going on ahead, behind and on both sides of you. Knowing if there is a vehicle beside you or not can save you from an accident.

3. Look at least two vehicles ahead. Looking ahead will help you know when traffic is coming to a stop. If you just watch the vehicle in front of you, you can only react in time to a sudden stop if they do. By watching the vehicle ahead of them you will know to slow down before it is too late. If you think it is frustrating when you drive in rush hour traffic, it is much more frustrating to get in an accident.

4. Stop yourself from tailgating. This goes back to the first step of accepting the fact that you will have to be patient. When we are in a hurry to get through the jam we tend to ride the bumper of the vehicle in front of us. Heaven forbid that another vehicle pulls in front of ours. It does not make a difference. One more vehicle in front of you may slow you down, but if so it will be seconds or less, not minutes.

5. Merge and let merge. Nothing halts the flow of traffic faster than two boneheads that will not merge smartly. One guy has to get in front of the other before he will get over, but the other guy will do anything in his power to make sure that does not happen. When two lanes must merge it is time to work together and alternate. Problems happen when too many vehicles try merging at once or someone will not let a merger in. It is up to all of us to ensure the proper flow of traffic.

6. Use your blinker only when you have a spot to move into. You will see vehicles driving down the road with their blinker on, just waiting for someone to let them in. Many drivers just ignore the blinker and keep cruising on by. If you absolutely have to get over, turn your blinker on as the vehicle you need to get behind passes by to warn the vehicle behind them, but do not just drive down the road with your blinker on. You are then putting yourself at the mercy of the other drivers most of which have not seen this article and will not let you in.

7. Know your vehicle's capabilities. If you breaks are a little soft, do not put yourself in a situation where you must slam them on to keep from hitting something. Stay even further behind the vehicle in front of you. If your vehicle does not accelerate quickly, do not pull in front of another vehicle going much more quickly in the next lane.

[jimdris]

on 12/3/2007 Many people drive as if they are engaged in a competitive video game. The safe, courteous driver is the only winner!