Driving resolutions for 2014

Since it’s that time of year for resolutions, I thought of some driving-related ones to make 2014 a better, safer, more efficient and ultimately more convenient year for motoring.

 

1.)    I will drive much more conscientiously. Driving much more conscientiously means abiding  by all traffic rules and regulations, slowing down along intersections and pedestrian crossings, yielding to the right of way (in the interest of safety), observing lane discipline, avoiding cutting in line on traffic queues (such as in parking areas and on intersections) and giving way to pedestrians (Yes, that includes jaywalkers). The speed limit is crucial here; make sure you are running only between   the minimum and the maximum speed  to help ensure traffic flows freely and efficiently.

 

2.)    I will plan my daily route before I leave my house. So many people leave their homes without thinking of where they need to go before ending up at school or work. Need to gas up? Picking up some groceries? Trying to avoid a traffic-ridden area? Pick up your map books or activate the map function in your GPS/Satnav system, and plan your route including the stops you need to take before setting off. You’ll save  on fuel, be less stressed and accomplish more with minimal effort.

Carefully planning your driving routine or schedule is the best thing    for efficient driving. You’ll  be less likely to commit a sudden error. Instances like when in the middle of your driving,  you realize that you should have stopped at the gas station to fill up, pick up some groceries or drop off the laundry at the washers.

 

3.)   I will have my car thoroughly checked and serviced. Many vehicular breakdowns can be traced to poor vehicle condition caused by lack of maintenance and servicing. Oftentimes, these  could have been avoided had the owner/driver been thoughtful enough to have the car checked. Save yourself the hassle and book your car for servicing. And remember, this isn’t  just an annual thing. At the bare minimum, have your car checked every six months or 10,000 kilometers.

Think of it this way: If your car is in  good running order, it will be less likely to break down and cause  traffic, which can be an inconvenience  for you and others—and for you to have a hefty towing bill or  a traffic ticket and fail  on your  duties, responsibilities and obligations.

 

4.)    I will park my car much more conscientiously. The past holiday season shows the worst in drivers’ parking. Especially near malls where people tend to park their cars in every nook and cranny, even when they block the flow of traffic. When people are in a rush, they park their cars poorly, straddling two slots, siding up too close to one side—making it difficult for the driver of the car beside them to enter/exit—or parking more than eight inches (which is already very generous) away from the curb in a parallel parking slot.

 

If you say you don’t care about the other motorists, then think about it this way: Parking your vehicle properly in a designated parking slot, with good clearance at left and right, front to back, and not  too far away from the curb ensures that your vehicle will be less prone to accidents—from simple door bumps and dings to more serious ones because  your parked vehicle is blocking the traffic. This also means that you don’t park the  Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati or whatever  exotic, high-end sports/luxury car you’re driving in “NO PARKING” zones or, worse,  in emergency bays, pedestrian crossing zones, handicap parking, etc.

 

5.)    I will drive much more efficiently.  Even if you own the most fuel-efficient vehicle, if your driving skills and style are bad, then all the efficiency in the world won’t help you. Driving efficiently means accelerating at 50 percent of your vehicle’s full power (according to recent efficiency tests conducted by Ford, Volvo and a slew of other car companies) up to the desired cruising speed, which should be the maximum speed limit of the road you’re at, and maintaining that speed as long as you’re on that road.

Accelerating slowly means you’re keeping other moving vehicles from attaining their cruising speeds, which increases everyone else’s fuel consumption. Driving efficiently also means no sudden movements like swerving left or right, which can cause accidents, or hard braking and acceleration, which increases wear and tear   and fuel consumption on your vehicle. Efficiency is a balance of power and economy; you’ll spend less on fuel and get to your destination sooner, not to mention having one more car off our already traffic-ridden roads.

 

6.)    I will drive more calmly. Road rage has been on an increase the last few years. You can blame the traffic, stupid drivers, poorly timed roadwork and the heat. But nothing can be solved by violence. If you’re in a foul mood, stay off the road. Leave early to avoid being in a rush, which can agitate you further and cause you to act more aggressively. Leave your firearms at home, too, unless you have a very serious security threat; we don’t need to add further danger to our roads. And lastly, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or heavy medication, which can impair your senses and judgment. The best drivers are the ones that move  and think fluidly, finding the best pace regardless of road or traffic conditions.

 

If only everyone in this country would keep these driving resolutions in mind, traffic will be easier and less stressful, and our roads will be safer. Here’s to a safe, stress-free and happy motoring for 2014!