Back to basics…
I can’t help it. I admit I have a problem. I watch drivers and can’t fully understand why some people drive the way they do. There’s no logic in what they do and if they haven’t gotten into a collision yet, they’re probably close to it. I’m pretty sure they didn’t drive that way when they went for their driver’s test. I think some drivers need to go back to the basics.
I watch drivers make left turns in residential areas that cut the corner so much that the driver’s side of their vehicle is at the far left side of the road. What happened to driving on the right side of the road? Do they realize that they could be directly in the path of an oncoming vehicle? They are so far on the wrong side of the road that when they approach me, I have to stop much sooner than the stop line so as not to hit them. If these drivers waited until the front of their vehicle reached the edge of the road they were turning at, and then started to steer, they would find themselves entering the proper side of the road.
These are the same drivers that generally grab the steering wheel around 6:00, which is the bottom of the wheel. I call it the crotch grip. They usually only have a couple of fingers wrapped around the wheel too, so control isn’t one of their main priorities. What happened to holding the wheel at 10 and 2? Having their hands on the outside of the wheel will give the driver a better opportunity to steer in an emergency, let alone proper steering to make simple turns.
Speaking of steering, I like the warm weather as much as the next driver, but having your arm on the door and leaving your thumb and index finger wrapped around the steering wheel doesn’t give you the control you need. That doesn’t just mean for turns, but also for emergencies that you’ll have to avoid. Hands wrapped around the wheel please!
I saw a driver on my street the other day turn their vehicle around. They were pretty good with their ability to do a 3-point turn, without the use of a driveway. When was the last time you used the confines of the road to turn around? Was it a 3 point turn, or a 5 point turn? I once saw a courier driver do an 11 point turn. I think he was stressed because he was in front of a Young Drivers of Canada classroom.
The next time you drive, take a look and see if you need a refresher on the basics. Don’t feel bad if you do. We lose our focus on what we’re doing as the years pass by. If so, you may want to get some pointers from a professional. At least you don’t have to do a road test…yet!