On drivers

The road is a jungle.

Few know the rules, even less follow them. Why?
Why, I ask?
Are you trying to be cool? A rebel?
Or maybe your life isn't worth a thing to you?

Well, mine is. To me at least. And I'm sure most of the drivers would agree. Then why can't you turn on your bloody indicator? Why can't you turn on your lights and be visible? In the past 2 weeks I've seen about 15 drivers driving with their lights off... At night. Or people driving with their lights off in heavy fog...

It's not just the regular drivers that do this. Taxi drivers? Yeah, they may be experienced, but nobody gets enough experience to have premonitions on what the other drivers will do.
What about the police?
Two weeks ago, one was tailgating me while I was overtaking a truck. No sirens, no lights. Just casually speeding (I was going at the speed limit).
On Monday (4 days ago?) I saw another police car, cutting a turn, while a truck was driving from ahead.

I drive to college every day of the week, and then to work every day of the weekend. I'm an everyday road user, and everyday I am scared for my life.

I do my part to drive safely, keep my car maintained, but I can't do that for other drivers, too. So all I can do is just assume the worst will happen and pray it won't.

People, PLEASE, drive safely.


Here are a few pointers, even if 10 people read those, and 2 will try to apply them, the roads will be this much safer.

• Lights on. Especially on country roads. It's so much easier to see a car coming from ahead if their lights are on. It gives the other car a chance to see you earlier, and perhaps not cut the turn.
• FOG lights on. Is it foggy? Or raining heavily?  If so, turn 'em fog lights on. The ABSOLUTE MINIMUM is your regular lights. If I'm going 120kmph (75mph) on the motorway, and the person in front is going 90kmph(55mph), with their lights off, I won't see them. I won't see them in time.
• Slow down. At least on the turns. No, I am not a fan of those going 50kmph when the speed limit is 80, on a straight, broad road. But if the turn is sharp, just.. Slow down.
• Icy roads? (If there is frost on your windscreen, there will be ice on the roads). SLOW. DOWN.  It takes only one too sharp brake or turn to skid and crash. I've seen my share of accidents on the road, You may have too. You don't want to end up in that situation, do you?
• Icy roads - part 2:  If the temperature isn't much below 0dgr C, spill some salt on the road in front of your house. Also on footpaths. Why? Salt decreases the freezing temperature of water, therefore existing ice will melt. If it's less than -3dgr C, I would recommend sand. It gives the tyres, the shoes, and any other surface touching the ground, an extra grip. 
• INDICATE. If you change lanes - indicate. If you're turning off a roundabout - indicate. If you're overtaking, INDICATE. It makes life so much easier -- and safer -- for other drivers.
• Keep your hands on the bloody wheel. You have more control over your vehicle.

There are more, and if I think of them - I'll make a new list or add onto this one.

Be safe!