How to drive through Intersections

You just step on it, right?

Green for go and red for stop......is it more than that?

There are rules for intersections with stop signs; who goes first etc.  This is not that. By using some knowledge and restraint, you can make intersections safer for other drivers and pedestrians, as well as keeping you out of trouble.

Awareness is important as intersections are some of the most dangerous parts of any road.  First, because traffic is crossing and two objects - whether a person or another car, cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

As you approach the intersection, even if the light is green, you cannot assume that the intersection will be clear by the time you get to it.  Normally, the speed limit for the road is the same for the intersection, but my suggestion is to consider the surroundings.  If it is flat and you can easily see through the intersection and the side roads, driving at the SPEED LIMIT is usually safe.  However, if there are buildings and trees which could hinder your sight, the proper action is to look in your rear mirror and if it is safe to slow down.

One of the things I was taught in Driver's Ed was to consider the condition of my light when approaching an intersection.  If the light had been green for a while, I should consider it a "stale" green and expect it to change.  If I had been traveling OVER the speed limit, I should anticipate it changing and slow down.  

The Yellow light time is set up to allow cars to reasonably stop if going the speed limit.  If you are going over the speed limit and the light turns yellow, if you are in the area called the decision zone, you will not have time to stop.  If lucky, you will get through the intersection while still yellow.  If not you may end up running the red light.  Now imagine there is a impatient driver waiting for the light to turn green.  He takes the green to be like a dragstrip light and takes off without looking and now you have the ingredients for a crash.

One trick on some intersections is to watch the pedestrian crossing light.  Before the light turns yellow, the light will turn from white to red and either flash or count down.  This piece of information will help you prepare for the changing of the light.  However, remember that the two actions you should take are to slow down or hold your speed.  The one things you do not want to do is to speed up going through and intersection.  Here is why.

Pilots say when flying, you can never have too much altitude or too much fuel (the latter unless you are crashing).  The idea is that altitude gives you time and fuel gives you the ability.  In driving, the corollary is less speed and space.  Less speed gives you more time to react and space, more options to maneuver.  By slowing down, even slightly, you give yourself more time to react to a pedestrian darting out in traffic or a car blowing through a red light.  

So the first thing to be safer when driving through intersections is to watch your speed and be aware of the surrounding traffic.  

To be continued...

Zen and driving anger

 From Wikipedia

Zen emphasizes rigorous self-restraint, meditation-practice and insight. 

No I am not going to turn this into a far-east religious experience. But the above description does tell us something about driving attitude.

Imagine you are driving down the highway and someone cuts into your lane.  Many people would be mad, speed up and confront the driver in some way.  So let's apply Zen

Self -Restraint.  Resist the urge to do anything. Your emotion tells you to do something - but should it be your first reaction?  You would not buy a car without considering alternatives.  This is not a situation that requires a decisive action like someone coming at you the wrong way on the highway.  So your first thought should be "What is the best way to react in this situation".  

Meditation-Practice.  No don't start saying om or close your eyes.  But get out of an emotion state and into a contemplative state.  This will diffuse any surprise and anger.

Insight.  Why did the person cut you off?  Is this a one time thing?  Does the person even know you?  Think about the situation and were you ever in the otehr persons position?

In practice, a person cuts you off.  First control your car.  Are you now too close to them - if so slow down.  Is the person continuing to drive in a dangerous manner - don't get caught in their mistakes.  Once you have established control over your situation,

Relax.  The car's movement might have caught you distracted.  Your adrenaline will be high.  Take the time to take a deep breath and calm down.

Now think about what happened.  Were you in the driver's blind spot?  Were they trying to make an exit they almost missed.  Did they have to make a sudden move to avoid something? Did the other driver offer a "I'm Sorry" sign?  Are they slicing through traffic in order to get somewhere fast or just driving erratically?  Most likely, if it wasn't you it would be (and many times will be) another car.  You just happened to occupy that time and space.  You will probably never see that person again.  

But all this leaves you powerless to change anything - yes.  It is not you responsibility to police the roads or correct every driver.  But is there something you can do?  First, if you do have a dash cam, be sure to lock in the recording, especially if the person sideswiped you or any other car of caused an accident.  Then decide if it is worth calling the police.  They will ask the make of car, what road you are on, which street or exit you are near and the license plate of the other car if you can read it.  Most of the time, the best they can do, if they are around, is to follow that car to see if they do anything else.  So usually nothing.  Don't feel you have to chase the car to get them the information.

There might be one exception. A driver who seems to be under the influence, drifting out of lane or off the road should be reported.  They are a disaster waiting to happen.  They will usually not be speeding.  But reporting this gets you involved and requires a calm, observant person.  

Can Zen make you that person?