Defensive Driving 101 -- Politeness Is The Counterpoison To Bad Driving
In order to be nice to a fellow human being, one first has to be mindful of them... to acknowledge them... isn't that right? The dictionary uses the expression "consideration toward others" to define politeness.
Let's ruminate this for a moment, shall we? The more you go on towards being an experienced driver, the easier it is to discover that the common denominator to defensive driving is your awareness of what's developing outside your car.
Most all the issues, less one, that can turn one into a disrespectful driver go around actions within the vehicle. Cell phone calls, passengers, checking email, enjoying music... all this stuff is what distracts you from paying attention.
The other element here is your mind-set. Think over it, if you are pissed off about something, a car is not the best place to be and you should be self-conscious enough to adapt your mode of driving until you chill out, or not drive at all. Your touchstone should always be politeness.
If you are nice then a bunch of nice things are developing in that CPU in your brainpan. When you are courteous, you are paying attention to what's developing outside your vehicle. You are also paying attention to fellow drivers' demands, which is as good as it gets. There are dozens of opportunities on the average ride around town to be courteous to fellow drivers. They may not each time discover your politeness, but they normally do. In my lengthy experience those little good turns you give out to complete strangers normally get returned back to you by other complete strangers as if by white magic... kind of cool in fact. You out of the blue discover fellow drivers allowing you into tight places when before they behaved like dorks... white magic I tell you.
If you will just risk to be as polite as possible to fellow drivers for several days, I foretell you will be astounded. It in fact shifts your whole view on driving while at the same time distinctly identifying you as a true class act. Who amongst us doesn't want to be a class act?
What ends up developing, is that you soon find yourself chasing opportunities to give the fellow driver a break, which leaves you feeling great about your deeds. It also focuses you... pay attention here... focuses you outside of the bubble in your car. You are focusing on what's developing out there much more, when you risk to be nice to fellow drivers.
This little practice in human relations 101 can catapult you from an average driver to an expert in no time flat. So... you if you wish to be a good driver, it is that easy... just give the fellow driver a break. Even if they don't recognize it, you will be a better person and a better driver for doing it.
Joshua Nestor writes for defensive driving site Fun and Safe Driving. Site features encyclopedia, forums, videos, and driving directions .
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