Over the many years I have spent behind the wheel I have picked up my own view on "rules of the road" and I'm going to explain a few of them here.
1. When merging on a highway, the car with the most dents has the right of way - I learned this one early on. If your car is nicer looking than the car that crazy guy who is trying to merge is driving just let them in. Do you really want them to scratch your car up? It's obvious that they don't care about their car.
2. People who try to merge onto an exit ramp by speeding ahead of the long exit ramp traffic line and trying to sneak in at the top deserve no right of way - You know these people. Here you are, being a good driver, stuck in a long line to get off the highway and you see this guy fly up the left lane and then try to sneak into the exit lane at the opening of the ramp. They are betting that someone will let them in or that they can sneak in when some of the cars move up. These folks deserve no right of way and should be left to wait, and wait, and wait.
3. People who do not signal - Much like number one above you have to let these people in. It is obvious that they are oblivious and a danger to all within 50 feet of them.
4. The car with the out of state plates needs a big buffer - This rule is based on the idea that the further away from their home state someone is the less likely they have a clue as to where they are going. Because of this you need to leave them a nice buffer zone. This is especialy true in those bad areas where traffic planners got the bright idea to mix left and right lane exits together.
There is nothing worse than seeing an out-of-state driver caught in the left lane, that is now becoming an exit only lane, because they thought it was the high-speed lane. It's even worse when it's the left two lanes that are exit only!
5. When taking a road trip always ensure your co-pilot knows how to read a map - The shotgun seat is a very important seat in every vehicle. It is a seat that must be earned! The person who rides shotgun for me better know how to do the following things:
- Shotgun skills
- Read a map
- Read road signs
- Warn me of cops
- Warn me of crazy drivers
- Know when not to talk
- Be able to quickly acquire any item I request
- Be able/willing to pump gas
- Understand that the visor in front of them is for the driver's benefit, not theirs
- Know where we are going
There are a few more items I could add to the list but I think you get the picture.
image Creative Commons from flickr user Thiru Murugan