Driver courtesy - the lost artform

The one thing they don't teach well (if at all) in driving school is the one thing drivers need to be educated about the most - common courtesy to those around you.

For example, if someone is driving behind you and you intend to make a turn, it would be really helpful if you could signal your intentions well enough in advance. This has two great benefits. One: the driver(s) behind you can anticipate that you will be slowing down to turn soon and will be ready for that. Two: the driver(s) behind you can safely change lanes to get around you if the possibility exists. Otherwise, we get stuck behind you while we wait for you to make your turn and this is annoying. Nay, it's maddening.

When you arrive at an intersection with a 4-way stop, you're supposed to yield to the person on the right if you both arrived at the same time. This is a rule that seems to be forgotten as soon as people get their license. If I arrive at the intersection first, guess who gets to proceed first? ME!! News flash - if I had the right-of-way and didn't proceed because there's a pedestrian crossing the road in front of me, that doesn't give you carte-blanche to go first.

If someone is observing the legal speed limit, but you feel it necessary to exceed said speed limit, you might want to:
1. Try to jeopardize the safety of other drivers in the process.
2. Get right up onto the ass end of the vehicle in front of you in order to intimidate them into going faster.
3. Pass on the right if necessary.
4. Forget using signal indicators at all. At this speed, they're mostly irrelevant anyway.
5. Not bother slowing down when you enter an area of traffic congestion. This is where your slalom skills can be exercised.
6. Ignore construction zone speed signs. You know what you're doing. 9 times out of 10 there's nobody working in these zones anyway.
7. When lanes merge, be sure to race ahead to the front of the pack and force your way in ahead of the courteous people.
8. Stay on that cell phone, keep eating that sandwich, or continue applying your mascara. You don't need your full attention on the task of driving no matter what speed you're doing.

I'm joking of course. But you'd never know it.