Road Rulz

Yes, we know, if you are looking at this website, you probably know how to drive. This page is not designed to teach you driving skills. Rather, we hope to pass along some of the common courtesies you pick up with experience

Riding the rear end of a truck This is just a plain old DUMB idea. They can't see you there, they have no rear view mirror like you do. If you want to pass, go ahead, but always try to stay at least 3 if not 6 car lengths, depending on your speed, from the back of a tractor trailer truck. The "two second rule" is a good judge of safe following distance. With brakes on all 18 wheels, they can stop faster than you might think, and they won't even feel it in the cab when you make their trailer your hood ornament.
When passing trucks: If you are going to pass a truck, do it quickly. That does not mean do it in a reckless manner, but make sure you get past them! Truck drivers have limited views of the road and have multiple blind spots. Furthermore, if a wind gust blows the truck around, or something else happens, the last place you want to be is right next to them. Get past them. It is also a good idea not to pass a truck when on a downhill, as trucks tend to gain speed and may just end up tailing you.
When trucks pass you: If a truck wants to pass you, let them, they have every right to! If you want to extend a courtesy to the truck driver, a quick on-and-off blink of the headlights will let the truck driver know they have COMPLETELY passed you and that it is safe for them to move back into your lane. This is a big help, as it can be difficult to judge distance based on side mirrors alone.
Maintain your speed Don't slow down on uphills and speed up on downhills, it really gets annoying for other drivers. Cruise control will help alleviate this problem, however, if you don't like this idea, make sure you use more gas on uphills and maybe touch your brakes on downhills. If your vehicle can't maintain speed on the uphills... well, you know those signs that say "slow traffic keep right"? Those mean you.
Weaving Don't go cutting across lanes. When in traffic it is best to keep to one lane instead of switching incessantly. Studies have actually been done and it turns out that you don't gain any time at all when switching from lane to lane.
Stay right!!! Yes, you've heard this one a million times, but really, if you are driving on a two lane road, and no one is around, and you ain't passing anyone... stay in the right lane. It really is safer!
When approaching an entrance ramp: It may be a good idea to be in the left lane (or lane other than the rightmost) when you approach an entrance ramp. This will allow cars entering the highway to do so without having to "squeeze" in.
Pulling off the road Don't do it on a curve, it is just a bad idea. Pull over on a straight length of road and walk back if you must, it is just safer.
Snow driving Check out our specific snow driving section for tips on special driving techniques and tips for winter travel.
Emergency Vehicles Everyone knows lights and sirens means to pull over. This really means "pull over to the right and stop." On the highway, you may not be required to stop (unless it's a cop and he wants you), but get over to the right and adjust your driving so that the emergency vehicle has a clear lane ahead and room to change lanes. On local roads, the second half of "pull over and stop" is particularly important. Try to find a nice wide spot, not on a curve. If there's no safe place to pull over, get over to the right as far as possible and keep going at a reasonable speed until you can stop. The same rule applies for oncoming E.V.s They may need to cross into your lane to get around someone on their side.
Traffic Jams When you encounter a sea of brake lights ahead, stay in your lane until you determine which lane, if any, is actually blocked. Just because your lane isn't moving the fastest, doesn't mean it's not the right one. Likewise, if you know ahead of time that a lane is closed, get out of that lane well ahead of the obstruction. The bulk of the delay in most traffic jams is caused by people changing lanes for no reason, or staying in an obviously blocked lane and then having to cut in at the last minute, making everyone else have to stop.