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Common Sense, Common Courtesy, and The Golden RuleApr 12 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Driving a car today is both exactly the same and drastically different than it was 30 years ago. From what I've heard the questions on the rules on the drivers test are basically the same as they were back then but the way people put these rules into practice is very different. If you are a passenger in a car watch how others are driving out there and I think you'll agree it is very different than it used to be. Common Sense Most driving rules are based on common sense. For example "It takes longer to stop when driving 55 mph than it does at 25 mph". This makes sense to me, but there are those out there that try stopping in the same distance and wonder why they end up in an accident at the intersection. I guess they figure that if they had better brakes there wouldn't have been a problem. Question 1. What is the meaning of a yellow traffic light? Most people think it means go like the devil to get through the intersection. It actually means "Clear the Intersection" or "Caution" and you can also get a ticket for going through a yellow light if you can stop safely. Question 2. What does it mean when you are entering a Highway from an on ramp and you turn on your left signal light? A. I'd like to merge into traffic. B. Please let me merge into traffic C. I'm merging in so get out of my way. I really think that there are many people out there that think 'C' is the correct answer. Question 3. When you come to a 4 way stop and other cars get there at the same time, who has the right-of-way? Now think about this carefully and try and apply logic. The technical book answer is the car to the right not 'Me First, I'm late'. Common Courtesy Then answer to all three of my questions, if answered with a consideration to Common Courtesy, would prevent many accidents from happening. If you say that the OTHER GUY always has the right-of-way then you would never have a dumb accident or get mad as often. Whether it is at a traffic light, 4 way stop, or merging into traffic. If you wait for the other guy to go first you would never have to try and explain to a police officer why the accident was the other guy's fault. (My guess is that there would be a lot less road rage than there is today also). Golden Rule Remember when your mother taught you the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" It still applies today. Somehow this basic rule to live by has been changed by society to "Do unto others and run". When driving a car we must try and figure out what the other person is going to do. Common Sense and Common Courtesy mean a lot and go a long way to make driving safe and enjoyable. Finally Don't get mad at other drivers. They can't help the fact that they are probably driving without a license or insurance. Maybe they never had the opportunity to read a drivers manual. I was driving behind a car the other day, on the way to work, and the driver went through every red stop sign (4) without ever slowing down. When he got to the red stop light he stopped, waited for the light to turn green, then moved off. I started to get mad then realized he probably never had the stop sign question on the drivers test or he took the test and was lucky to guess correctly. How can we expect someone to understand STOP, if they take the test in a language other than English. Please drive safely, stay alert, and never drive while under the influence of alcohol. Someone's life depends on how you drive, do it responsibly. If you can't drive safely call a Taxicab you don't belong on the road. Remember Common Sense, Common Courtesy, and the Golden Rule!  |
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