Driver's ed for everyone

It has recently come to my attention that although driver's education is taught in schools nation wide, it has become an impractical waste of time for educators. Driving that takes place on the road is much different than simple facts that we are forced to memorize; so in lieu of the current crisis in driving, I have taken it upon myself to set some ground rules for the experienced driver.

1. PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD!!!

Forget about Joni and Chachi on the bicycles; there's nothing good on the radio that's worth you losing your life. I don't care if the cloud looks like Jesus, it's not important. Forget about the worry "am I getting too fat?" and simply drive.

2. MAINTAIN AT MOST A 5 MILE AN HOUR INCREASE TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.

There's always some idiot who feels that the speed buffer is actually 20 miles over the speed limit and these people are dangerous but emotions always get involved in driving as well so to avoid the idiots and to not slow the flow of traffic, I recommend at least a 5 mile over policy.

3. MAKE YOUR TURN!!!

I know you've probably been this guy or been behind him but people who take their time to make a simple turn slow the flow of traffic to dangerous levels. When you've got a road where people are doing 60 or even 50 and then one person takes their time to make a turn, you never know when the idiot kid 3 cars back, will be changing his radio station and completely ignoring rule #1 and cause a 10 car pile up. Knowing that there IS such a thing as the flow of traffic, please be courteous and don't slow down to 25 mph and then take 20 minutes to make a turn, make your turn and be done with it. Quick reaction time is a key to not being dead.

4. USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL.

What's the deal America? Have you gone brain dead? Did you listen in Driver's ed. even a little? If you're keeping your hands at the 3 and 9 O'clock positions, it's about an inch away from your hand. It takes less effort and saves more lives than scratching your privates. If you're switching lanes or making a turn, just use your turn signal and save everyone the aggravation and possible death.

5. WHEN GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY, SPEED UP!

Contrary to popular belief, the speed limit on the highways in New Jersey is 65 MPH. When you slow down, you might think you're being a better merger but when you slow down to 40 MPH, you risk an accident with the idiots doing 90 and/or 70 MPH. Of course it is granted that you need to gauge your speed to get onto the highway but at about 3/4 up the on-ramp, you should be doing at least 65 MPH to merge properly and avoid death.

6. WHEN ON A HIGHWAY, USE THE MIDDLE LANE.

There are 3 lanes on I-95 and I-295. The one closest to the on-ramps is for merging. Not only is it extremely discourteous to the people trying to merge but it is also dangerous for you to be in the right lane while people are trying to get on the highway. The left lane is for passing, the center lane is for driving, and the right lane is for merging. Save your life and the life of those people trying to merge and use the center lane instead of cutting them off and risking everybody's life.

7. IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS, PASS.

If you're in the left lane trying to pass someone, sitting around in their blind spot is both dangerous and ignorant. Going the same speed as the car next to you is an offence that you can be stopped for so this rule is quite simple, if you're going to pass someone, pass and then continue to go as fast as you were going to allow the person you just passed some room. Cutting people off is stupid and unnecessary, so: IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS, PASS!

8. LET PEOPLE PASS IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO GO THAT FAST

I see it all the time where someone is doing 15 miles under the speed limit and then someone else tries to pass them and they speed up. This becomes especially dangerous on a 2 lane road like rt. 29 to Lambertville. If you are too afraid to go the speed limit or feel that 15 miles under is what people should be doing, good for you but this is America and everyone's free. If someone doesn't share your view, let them pass you and maybe even slow down to assist in their passing you, it's not the end of the world.

9. DON'T PASS DOING 100.

This rule doesn't only apply to people doing 100 but when someone looks in their mirror and sees nothing and then you come down the road doing double the speed limit, you're S.O.L. if they don't see you and you rear-end them or side swipe them. When passing somebody, make sure they at least know you're coming and you will save lives.

10. PAY ATTENTION!!!

I can't stress this enough and that's why I say it twice. People at stop lights seem to take the longest time to realize that the light is green. Don't be that guy! Pay attention and as soon as that light turns green, if you get going, you'll be ahead of all the other cars without having to speed up to 20 MPH over and risk everybody's life.

That's all I got for you. If nobody reads this, I'm sorry for you because these simple rules, can save lives and keep you out of the hands of some grubby policeman looking to write you a ticket!