Courtesy Is The Antidote To Dangerous Driving

New member Joined: Aug 11, 2007 Posts: 2

In order to be courteous to a fellow human being, we first have to be aware of them… to acknowledge them… isn’t that true? The dictionary uses the locution “consideration toward others” to depict politeness.

Let’s excogitate this for a moment, shall we? The more you march on towards being a master driver, the easier it is to discover that the common property of defensive driving is your knowing of what’s happening outside your truck.

Most all the issues, minus one, that can transform one into a negligent driver revolve around events within the vehicle. Cell phone calls, talking to passengers, and writing text messages, enjoying music… all this stuff is what distracts you from concentrating on road situation.

The other constituent here is your mind-set. Think about it, if you are displeased about something, a car is not the best spot to be and you should be self-aware enough to adjust your manner of driving till you chill out, or not drive at all. Your measure should always be politeness.

If you are courteous then a bunch of good things are happening in that processor in your brainpan. When you are courteous, you are focusing on what’s outside. You are also paying attention to fellow drivers' demands, which is as decent as it gets. There are dozens of occasions on the routine journey around town to be nice to fellow drivers. They may not invariably discover your courtesy, but they usually do. In my long experience those limited benignities you donate to complete strangers usually get returned to you by other complete strangers as if by magic… kind of cool actually. You suddenly find drivers letting you into tight spaces when earlier they behaved like dorks… magic I tell you.

If you will just risk to be as respectful as possible to fellow drivers for five days, I call you will be pleasantly surprised. It actually switches your whole view on driving while at the same time clearly identifying you as a real crackerjack. Who among us doesn’t desire to be a crackerjack?

What winds up happening, is that you before long find yourself chasing chances to give the other guy a break, which makes you feeling good about yourself. It also focuses you… pay attention here… focuses you beyond the bubble in your car. You are concentrating on what’s happening out there much more, when you risk to be courteous to fellow drivers.

This limited practice in human relations 101 can change you from a mediocre driver to an excellent one in no time flat. So… you if you seek to be a better driver, it is easy… just cut the other guy some slack. Even if they don’t recognize it, you will be a better person and a safer driver for doing it.

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:52 am

Yeah, Joshua,

I agree absolutely! Thing that strikes me most in your observation is that being polite *automatically* makes you being aware of your surroundings - and this alone immediately increases your safety tenfold...

Driver Joined: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 124

This is good. I know the core advice: to stay aware of your surroundings, to be courteous to others and not be self-centered works where ever and what ever a person is doing, driving or working among co-workers on a job or in an office setting.

Driver Joined: Dec 25, 2009 Posts: 100

Thats correct. Staying aware of the surroundings certainly helps you to analyze in what the situation you are in. It helps you to stay focussed also.

Member Joined: Jan 23, 2010 Posts: 33

There was a time when I was not always polite but after living in California for so long and then moving back to Arizona I realized that courtesy was the best way to prevent road rage. As I grew older I learned to just remain calm and move with the flow, if only others would do that. Smile

Driver Joined: Dec 30, 2009 Posts: 124

Julianna wrote:

There was a time when I was not always polite but after living in California for so long and then moving back to Arizona I realized that courtesy was the best way to prevent road rage. As I grew older I learned to just remain calm and move with the flow, if only others would do that. Smile

Age and experience are the best teachers.

Member Joined: Feb 03, 2010 Posts: 18

Adapting to the surrounding always helps you in every situation you get into. Car driving is not the exceptional. When you drive rash then you get noticed and criticised

Active member Joined: May 23, 2010 Posts: 54

I agree with you guys. I consider myself to be a rehabilitated road rage driver and eventually realized it was only hurting myself. Now when someone cuts me off or does something inconsiderate, I tell myself they didn't mean to, it was a mistake, and it wasn't personal. Even though I know sometimes people are deliberate jerks, it's better to give them the benefit of the doubt and get to where I'm going without being angry about things I can't control.

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2010 Posts: 485

Chief, you said it perfectly. Yes, not to take it personally, and knowing there is no control over how others behave (or misbehave rather) is the key!

I have do admit though, I do fix them with a 'stare' - you know one of those if looks could kill kind - and then move on! Wink

Active member Joined: May 23, 2010 Posts: 54

myownworld wrote:

Chief, you said it perfectly. Yes, not to take it personally, and knowing there is no control over how others behave (or misbehave rather) is the key!

I have do admit though, I do fix them with a 'stare' - you know one of those if looks could kill kind - and then move on! Wink

Haha, that's great...for some reason, when I try that they usually just flip me the bird! I think I need to work on my intimidation skills Twisted Evil

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2010 Posts: 485

Well, being a woman always helps...! But you still have to master the art of that 'cool' look first. Fine line between looking ridiculous and plain vicious! Do practice infront of the mirror....am sure it'll help! Wink

Active member Joined: May 23, 2010 Posts: 54

I could try that...or How about if I drive one of these?

[img]http://browningmgs.com/Images_1919A4/Brownings/1895&Car.jpg[/img]

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:48 pm

chiefjohn wrote:

I could try that...or How about if I drive one of these?

[img]http://browningmgs.com/Images_1919A4/Brownings/1895&Car.jpg[/img]

Chiefjohn, I am sorry, but for some reason my site does not properly process this image URL. Another reason may be the original site disabled embedding of the images.

The only way to see the image is to actually follow the url http://browningmgs.com/Images_1919A4/Brownings/1895&Car.jpg

And welcome to my site btw! Smile

I was not around the last several days, but I see MOW welcomed you quite warmly Smile

Active member Joined: May 23, 2010 Posts: 54

Nice to meet you Misha! And thanks for the tip...I will just put the URL from now on.

Your web site is quite excellent, I am enjoying it a lot! Smile