What Traffic School should teach - lessons for all of us

In my previous article, I listed some of the absurd aspects of traffic school. In this one I will list some things Traffic School should teach. A perfect opportunity to rant. I encourage readers to add comments with their pet peeves below as well.

If you're a light drinker and don't use drugs, do you really need yet another education on their effects on driving? Can't you get a pass if you hardly partake? It doesn't help if you're trying to talk someone out of driving while they are under the influence because they cannot be negotiated with anyway. If they are sober, well maybe it could help.

Ignoring carpool lanes should be another. The driving public needs another advocate to get rid of these congestion and pollution causing abominations. Even the police must recognize their ridiculous existence. Giving tickets to the smart yet rebellious drivers are at the officers discretion. There are plenty of other safety and equipment violations to enforce. Like lifted trucks!

Slow drivers should close the gaps! Either speed up so that you're moving with the flow of traffic or move out the way. A recurring theme will always be slower traffic keep right.

Residential streets should have a 20mph speed limit like what I remember in Illinois. Keep in mind people will exceed the limit many times, but when streets are narrow and cars are parked on the side, obscuring sight lines, slow down.

The 55mph speed limit is silly in many cases on limited-access highways and slower traffic causes back-ups. How difficult is it to survey a highway to raise the speed limit? How often is it done and when is it announced?

Fines for littering should be increased to $500. Are you sick of seeing cigarette butts at every intersection? It's amazing how much garbage is on the side of the road. The road crews that clean it up can definitely give some insight here.

Use your turn signals. If you're planning on turning, be courteous to other drivers. It's a privilege that we are driving and it is by no means a right. Or a left.

The hands free law is there for a reason. I am stunned how many people still have phones attached to their faces. And how ironic I'm passing them because I'm fed up with their distracted driving. Actually, maybe it's a good sign - it's a signal for the police to pull them over and give them two tickets. One for driving poorly and another for talking on the phone. Funny how you notice someone not signaling or their lights are not on at dusk and what are they doing? Talking on the phone.

Dogs on the lap. Do you put your child on your lap when you drive? A harness attached with a seatbelt, please. Applying make-up in the car. Ladies, this almost as bad as eating in the car. Yes, guys eat in the car too and it rarely looks appropriate. Putting on make-up while driving never does. The fine should have an automatic adder. At least eating doesn't require a mirror.

Trucks, SUVs and Vans. It's rare they are doing 75mph in the left lane, so move over. Any lanes except for the far left. Semi drivers know better, so should we. The only time the Suburban was in the left lane was....you guessed it, passing slower traffic. Why is this? Courtesy - blocking sight lines for those that are obviously traveling faster than other traffic.

Check your brake lights! Every 30 to 60 days I pull on the side of another car and signal for them to roll down their window so that I can tell them their brake lights don't work. Talk about a critical problem!

Turn on your lights, please! If it's raining, getting dark, etc. People need to remember they are not just for illuminating your path, it is for people to see you and not pull out in front of you.

Report smoking vehicles. If you can see smoke, that car single car is polluting like hundreds of "clean" cars. Maybe more. Report smoking vehicles or get phone numbers from the Air Resources Board in California. Check your state for their hotlines.

Unsecured loads. There is nothing more annoying, and in some cases more dangerous, than someones' stuff falling or flying from a poorly secured load.

It feels good to rant. Do you have more to add? Please share them!
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