Because I Care

As the festive seasons are just around the corner, everybody seems to look forward to the holidays. Some who did not celebrate, even more excited that us who celebrates it. Even take early holiday leaves. And as I was driving to work today, I realize we are not perfect drivers (yup, nobody perfects comes to mind). I do not expect perfectionist from drivers, but I just want to arrive to my destination (kampungku) safely and less babbling. Kurang pahala posa nanti ;). So since I cannot think logics and programs for my applications, here are the tips to ponder for us to arrive safely, Insya Allah.

1. Don’t forget to give a turn signal lights. Giving signal is a simple thing to do yet it is often ignored thinking others know where your direction is and where you want to turn. Remember the lights located at the 4 corners of your car? That’s the turn signal light. Do use it often. Signaling a turn is very important, ensuring you and your passengers’ safety as well as the vehicle behind you. It can help prevent accidents causing damage to your car, injuries and might be death too. It warn other vehicle drivers before you go in to their lane. Do avoid giving last minute turn signal when you want to turn to the junction. Others might be angry or mad. Do follow the correct lane before you make your turn. But do keep in mind, even you have give a turn signal light, it does not mean you just can go to the next lane. That’s where your rear view mirror comes useful. Look left or right before you turn to other lane. Like you did when you are crossing the road. I have a lot to babble about the turn signal situation. Let’s just keep it simple and hopefully short ;)




2. Honestly, I don’t mind speeding drivers. Sometimes I do drive like a mad F1 drivers. When I’m behind the wheel, I’m like a raging bull, but a tactical bull plus I follow the rules except for the speed limit ;). However, one rules that I always follow is keep your distance. You need not take an IQ test to know accident easily occurs especially when your vehicle too close with the front vehicle, easy said ‘cucuk kereta depan’. If at any spur of moments, the vehicle in front of you unexpectedly hits the brake pedal? BANG! Traffic jam la pulak. Other drivers will start babbling. You not just cause your time, but others as well. Plus testing their patient (and mental. Hehehe). In case this happens, be strong and smile to the onlookers. You might be forgiven for the massive jam. Hehehe




3. Please don’t be a road hog. Road hog is define as a driver who obstructs others. I know you never meant to be a road hog. Especially ‘accidentally’ you are driving so slow in the fast lane. Here’s some point to know you are slow in the fast lane:
   a. When most vehicles behind you highlights a.k.a beams you.
   
   
   b. The vehicle behind you starts to be so close with your vehicle. From you back rear view mirror as if the driver is seating at your back seat of your car. In other lay men’s term, ‘cucuk kereta’. It’s either you show your middle finger or move aside, I opt for the latter.
   
   
   c. When the car behind you, cut your car from the left lane.
   
   
   d. And when they do cut you, all of the passengers seem to look at you, staring like the devils eye (that just exaggerating ;)). It’s nice if you can smile back.
   
   
   e. A runner passes you by so easily. If this happens, this is not just slow. Very very slow. Excruciating slow. And if you still in the fast lane, only 2 things comes to my mind:
   
   
   i. Your steering might have spoil; therefore you cannot maneuver to the left.
   
   
   ii. You just plain selfish. (I prefer this ;))
   
   




4. Do check your brake lights. It’s important. That reminds me to change my car’s brake lights as well. Reason being, if you emergency brake, the car behind you will alert and definitely will not crash or bump your lovely car. Saving you the hassle to claim the other party’s insurance and to deal with mechanics. Not in the IQ test also ;) (the same IQ test in point 2)




5. It’s important to service your car. You don’t want to stop and stuck in the middle of the road and waiting for PLUS guys or any tow truck for that matter to rescue you. It might be costly by then. Prevention is better than cure. It’s a heart break to see other drivers pass you by and it even harder to take it if ‘Dendang Perantau’ is aired on the radio.




6. Please do not cut queues. Especially while paying the toll. Others have waited so long, and suddenly you feel like a VIP, just cut the queues. Patience is virtue. Sometimes, I do think people think that if they have give the turn signal (right or left) it is ok for them to cut queues. I have also notice, (my undoctorate finding) people tend to drive as if they are Smart Tag user, then almost at the toll-gate, they just gives signal (if!), and cut the queue. Very often it happens. I might not be pissed off since I’m a Smart Tag user, but what about other drivers. Especially the one way back there. Please be courteous with others, as others do to you. (Ok some might do the same as you did. Pay back time huh?)




7. Talking about lanes, during this festive season, the roads especially the highways will be packed with cars. We've all had the unpleasant experience of being stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours, impatiently waiting for the car in front of us to speed up so that we can reach to the destination as soon as possible. But please don’t create your own lane. From 2 lanes, you feel you need to arrive a bit faster than the rest of the world, you create your own lane. Just when you feel like a successful JKR worker, a police car or car breakdown at the new created lane, you go and cut other people’s queue. Back to point no. 6. Where this will lead? A babbling and angry driver. Ok, this technique might get you to arrive a bit faster than the rest of us or it might land you a summons ticket. Pick your pick ;)




8. The next point has nothing to do with your driving skills. But I do think it’s important. Please do not throw your rubbish on the road. Remind your passengers as well. It’s not just you who want to have their car clean. So don’t do your car spring-cleaning while on the road. Do it at your own space and place. If you throw your rubbish, the next car throws his/her rubbish, next other car did as well, soon the jam will not cause by accidents or slow drivers, because the need to clear the rubbish to make way for drivers. Pollution in mind now? We don’t have Captain Planet :(




9. Please do not drive when you are using your hand-phone. Unless you are hands-free. Why? :
   
   
   a. Besides endanger others, (among the examples), you might not aware the car in front might brakes, somebody is crossing the road or you need to turn (then not giving turn signal, just turn to the junction, the car behind will be totally pissed off, I know I will).
   
   
   b. You are driving too slow. As if you are driving in the safari. ‘Look at the lion under the tree! Look there’s an elephant!’ ;)




10. I’m kinda annoyed if a car cuts in front of me, fine, being a good driver just let the driver be. And if you are doing that, please don’t drive too slow. Potong lane beriya-riya tapi bawa slow. And where this will lead besides an angry driver behind? Point no. 3.




11. Please be aware of traffic lights turn to green if you are at the front of the row. Since festive seasons there will be a lot of cars on the road. So if you are not aware the lights changes, others have to wait for a long time for the next green light. And being a bumble bee, most of the time I’ll babbling. ‘You ignorant driver. What are you doing in the car?’




12. Please do not cross against the red light. Dangerous! Remember others too want to arrive early and safe. Did you watch ‘Gangster’, where the driver crosses against the light, other cars hit and bang the race car. The race car which were driven by Ako, rollover before it stopped. A tragedy. Usually after the rollover the vehicle may end up lying on the side or on the roof, often blocking the doors and complicating the escape for the passengers. You might be safed or you might not be. So don’t cross the red light if you wish to live longer, others too want to live longer. Through my undoctrate studies again, usually motorcyclists did this. They not just endanger themselves, as well as others. When they do get tickets from the traffic officer, they start to blame the laws. Hey, it’s your fault. You should stop.




13. The Don’ts at the junction:
    
    
    a. Hesitate. If you see the road is clear for you to get out from the junction (direct translation of ‘keluar simpang’) Please do not hesitate. Car behind you might thought you will move forward, exited the junction, so he might moves forward, but you still hesitate to move lay men’s term ‘tak keluar-keluar lagi’. Minor accident might occurs. You get out from the car, check out the damage at that time and place. Guess what? Jam starts to build up unless you negotiate at the side road. Just be strong and careful when you need to move to the main road or exit from a junction.
    
    
    b. Don’t forget to gives turn signal. Be courteous to other drivers. Check-out point no. 1.




14. Oh! Another lane reminder. Appreciate if you follow your lane. Don’t be too greedy to have 2 lanes by your own. It’s either right lane or left lane. Note: The dotted lines on the road are to separate between lanes. You should not drive on the dotted lines. Choose just one lane. It’s like choosing which nostril you want to pick, you don’t pick both at the same time. If you did so, what is your breathing technique? Do share.




15. Finally, Be patience. With patience, my friend, you'll live longer. If you are stuck in the traffic do sing. Sing your heart out. Time flies when you treat it as your personal karaoke session. And of course, Don’t Drink and Drives, the infamous quote ;). And if you are tired, and the journey is still a long way, do rest at the R&R. It’s all because I care ;)

Ok, those are among the points to ponder that I could remember. Do you have any 2 cents thoughts. Do share. Hopefully we’ll be arriving safely to our destination. Have a safe journey and enjoy your festive season. Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin.