Driving Etiquette for Pinoy Drivers: Stay alert today to be alive tomorrow!

For you to be truly safe while traversing the roads, you have to know how you have to share the road with other drivers. These general driving etiquette rules will make the streets a more comfortable place to be in and travel.

Sane and educated driving will always guarantee a safe experience while on the wheel. It is important to learn of commonly observed etiquettes on the road so that you can observe proper road safety. A driver’s negligence can cost them their life, a passenger’s, or a bystander’s.

1. Keep a safe distance from the car ahead.
Tailgating is both disrespectful and dangerous for all the people on the road. To check if you are in a safe following distance from the car ahead, implement the 3-second check. To do this, take note of when the vehicle in front of you passes by an object and begin to count. If it takes you 3 seconds or more to reach that same object, you are not tailgating.

2. Observe proper usage of the left lane.
It is common knowledge that the left lane or the fast lane is used for passing by other vehicles. If you dally or cruise on that lane, vehicles are forced to pass on the right lane. This makes for a dangerous road situation, leaving all vehicles vulnerable to accidents. Driving etiquette says that you should only use the left lane when you’re overtaking a slow moving vehicle ahead of you.

3. Use your high beams carefully.
High beams are helpful in increasing visibility, thus avoiding potential risks on the road. However, using them when there are other motorists in sight is dangerous as it can cause temporary road blindness to them. The blinding white lights of your high beam leaves them vulnerable and unaware of actual road conditions, opening an avenue for accidents. Oncoming drivers will get blinded first hand, and cars ahead of you can get glared through their rear-view and side-view mirrors.

4. Utilize your turn signals all the time.
Use your turn signals to inform other drivers of your intentions to turn or change lanes. Without signaling, drivers behind you won’t be able to anticipate and act appropriately in response – causing an accident or collision.

5. Do not be a distracted driver.
Put safety first above all else while you’re behind the wheel. If there’s an urgent matter you have to attend to, park at the sidewalk and deal with it. Never get distracted while operating your car. Examples of what causes distracted driving are the following:
– Calling on the phone
– Texting
– Eating
– Reaching for items
– Putting on makeup
– Reaching for music devices

6. Be the responsible driver and keep your passengers out of danger.
When you become a driver for a crowd, you automatically are in charge of their safety. This responsibility falls on you and must ensure your passengers remain safe on your operations. Some examples of what you can do to minimize risk are the following:
– Passengers must wear safety belts.
– Do not go over the speed limit.
– No sharp turns.
– Keeping distractions away.
– Being a defensive driver.

7. Give the pedestrians their space.
The road is not yours and people do not deserve to receive your rage of impatience. Pedestrians deserve the time, space, and consideration to cross the road or walk in it safely. Impatience might lead you to inch forward despite the people ahead of you, but this could lead to road accidents. Let the people pass by since they won’t take much time anyway.

8. Monitor your speed.
Ride with the pace of the flow of traffic around you. Cruising along slow cars can be dangerous as it impedes traffic and can cause a traffic jam. Going too fast might leave you little room to react to road uncertainties. Drive with the pace of the other drivers.