Rules, Reminders, and Recommendations for Michigan Drivers

After almost getting slammed in to this morning while driving to work, and after noticing other things about drivers this week, I have made a list of Rules, Reminders, and Recommendations for Michigan Drivers. Read it and learn. Or get angry. Or don't care at all. The choice is yours.

1. You know how, at least in Michigan, when there's going to be a lane closure or a traffic shift on a multi-lane road, they put up that huge flashing sign with the arrow that means, "You're going to have to get over eventually so why don't you work on that now?" Well, a lot of people think that the traffic barrels that come right before the sign are the signal to switch lanes, not just seeing the sign from like a mile away. That's not cool. Do not wait until you have to switch lanes. Because by doing so, you make people angry.

2. If you're going to be a jerk and change lanes at the last second, at least take the half a second to look out your window and make sure that a car - specifically my car - is not right next to you. Because if you don't, you will make people angry and the one person that you hit really angry.

3. Just because you drive a semi truck does not mean that you can make up your own rules. It also does not mean that you can yell at people when you - yes, you - cause trouble by making up your own rules.

4. There is no need for me to turn my brights off when I'm driving home from school at 11 pm on I-69 and you are coming at me from the other side of 69. Do not flash your brights at me. If yours aren't hurting my eyes, mine are not hurting your eyes. So save yourself the trouble and don't flash your brights at me 25 times because I am not going to turn them off. If a cop wants to write me a ticket, fine. I don't care. Stop annoying me.

5. The opposite is true on back roads. Just because there are no street lamps does not mean that you can leave your brights on while you drive right past me. And not just right past me - so frickin close to me that I can actually see who you are.

6. Speed limits are in place for a reason. Although, when the speed limit is 55 or higher, I consistently do 5 over. But, that doesn't mean that on an expressway (696), you should think Mario Kart DS and drive with the sole intention of passing every single person who gets in your way. It is not okay to do 10, 15, and even 20 over.

7. There is no need to slowing inch forward at a red light. Seriously, it's not a race. (Again with the Mario Kart!) Inching forward seconds before the light turns green is not going to give you an awesome advantage over the person next to you. Stop doing it, because it makes me angry. And it fakes people out.

8. When you are lost, go slow consistently. Don't get going really fast and then slow down at a cross street only to find that it's not the one you want and then get going fast again.

9. Don't rev your engine at me. Ever. I. Don't. Care. And for that matter, don't turn your system up when you are stopped next to me, for two reasons. One, my boyfriend's is louder and two, I like my boyfriend better than you.

10. If you see a stop sign, please stop. I am sick of almost hitting stupid 16 year old drivers who think that a stop sign means "slow down." A stop sign means stop. Come to a complete stop before you pass the sign and take the time to look and make sure there isn't any traffic approaching. Also, please don't assume that the car driving down the road toward you also has to stop and thus pull into the intersection when I'm almost there. There is such a thing as a two way stop. In fact sometimes, there's only one stop sign. Who would have thought?!?!