Driving - Tip #5 lanes are there for a reason

I've already touched on this one when I talked about walking on busy sidewalks. But I would like to bring it up again today.

Tip #5 - They have lanes for a reason

I have a VERY close friend of mine that is horrible at this, and I never said anything because I felt like it may be a very touchy subject, but right now, this friend will remain nameless and I hope that someone takes something away from this tip.

A lot of people like to ride in the left lane. For some reason, that I may never know, people don't understand that the left lane is to pass slower moving cars. It is not to just drive in because it's there. The left lane is for passing. So I shall repeat, if you are slower, stay to the right, if you always are passing, stay to the left. But when in doubt, stay in the right lane and use the left to pass when needed.

Please don't just drive in the left lane because it's convenient.

Thank you.

Next week - The Subway

Driving - Tip #4 The U Turn

Now, I have never admitted to being a good driver, and my husband will tell you that I'm horrible. And really I am, so when I tell you I just learned something the other day, please don't be surprised, because I did, I just learned something about U-Turns.

Tip #4 - The Right Of way

If you are making a U-Turn, and have a green light to go, and there are drivers making a right hand turn, THEY have the right of way.

I know crazy right? When I see a green light or arrow, I just assume that I have the right of way, well I don't.

On the other side of this, if you are behind someone in a left turn lane that can also be used as a U-Turn lane, please be aware that those making a U-Turn may stop abruptly because they are waiting for the other driver making the right hand turn to well, turn.

For the longest time, this irritated the hell out of me, and I would sit there and yell at the stopped driver saying "helloooooo, green light!!! real nice, way to drive moron."

Oh, here's something else, if there is a sign that says 'No U-turn' then don't U-Turn. Why? I'm not really sure, maybe someone out there can explain that part of it, but bottom line....don't do it.

Maybe there is something we can learn from this. Common sense is grouped. You may know more about common sense in certain areas of life, like the theatre for example, and be an idiot in others, like for me, driving.

There, another idiot moving in the right direction :)

Driving - Tip #3 The Phone

Geez, this is a tough one for me because I'm so guilty of it. That's right, I'm claiming to be one of the idiots I'm trying to help. Even though I spend 90% of my week in the car, that is NO excuse to text, check email, check facebook and make phone calls while driving.

Tip #3 - Put it down

Oprah recently started a campaign to keep phones out of the car. Kind of like the rule "no phones at the dinner table" we should also bring that to our cars. I have avoided signing on to her campaign because it is really difficult for me to put my phone down. I don't want to miss a sale, or even worse, have a client be pissed because their schedule didn't start when originally scheduled.

And when my pretty iPhone dings, blings and rings, I can't help but look. Someone needs me, and that feels good.

How many of you are guilty of this? So here is what I propose. Put it down. I am going to put it out there today, right now, holding myself liable. Because a text isn't worth it if I can't even read it because I'm dead. Or even worse, if you hit my car with me, my husband and my little Emily because of a phone. So here goes....I am going to sign Oprah's No Texting Campaign. Will you?

Driving - Tip #2 LOOK

Do you know how people change lanes here? They just do, there is notlooking to make sure a car isn't next to them or coming up on the right or left. They just change lanes. Why? Because they have no common sense.

Tip #2 - Look

Look where you are going. Pay attention to the people around you, the world does not revolve around you and just assume that you suck. So look.

Simple, quick and to the point.

Driving - Tip #1 Keep The Space

I must explain my reason for picking Driving this week. Since living down here in West Palm Beach, I have realized a few things about the area, but the one that stands out most in how horrible people drive down here. I can honestly say that they drive worse than people in NYC, and I would think that was tough to do. So here are my tips for driving, and hopefully make this area, and maybe some other areas a better place, One idiot at a time.

Tip #1 - Keep the Space

I realize now that not everyone knows this rule, and I am going to put a shout out to my dear friend, Dave Chamberlain, who told me this when I first started to learn how to drive (in his awesome TransAm) and it stuck with me.

Don't tailgate. Here's how you know you aren't tailgating, there should be room for at least 1 car between you and the car in front of you. Have you ever driven on the highway and come across those big circles on the road? Yeah, those are to stop tailgating. If you have room for one car to come between you and the car in front of you then you are good.

Why should you not tailgate? It's hard not to right? Especially when you are in a rush, or you get behind someone who doesn't know how to drive, or you aren't paying attention, or the person in front of you isn't even driving the frickin speed limit! (I bet if you stopped tailgating, they would speed up, although here in WPB, they just need to drive slow because well, they're old.)

What are the benefits?? If you are following a stupid driver (as noted above), there is a chance that they will just STOP abruptly, or swerve for a squirrel, or do something...stupid, and you know what? YOU won't have time to react and boom, rear end accident. And even though the person in front of you is a horrible driver and should take blame, they won't....it will be your fault, and you become the stupid driver.

SO. STOP. TAILGATING.

The Streets of NYC - Tip #5 Lets get down to basics

This is the bread and butter right here. This is where it aaaaalllll began, back in 2004 when I moved to NYC and had nothing but wonder in my eyes. Well, then reality hit, and I'll tell you, I couldn't believe how stupid people got when they started walking. I'm not talking about the ones that live there, because they have been there long enough to know, but it's the ones who just moved or are coming in for a visit. So no matter where you are from, PLEASE READ and TAKE NOTES!

Tip #5 - Walk like you drive

Let's say you are driving in your car and you have a friend with you in the front seat. OMG, you turn to the right and see the most beautiful view in the whole entire world and you MUST get a picture before you never see it again. What do you do? Do you...

A. Pull out your camera, continue to drive and take a picture

B. Stop in the middle of the road, wherever you happen to be when you see this amazing shot, pull out your camera and take a picture

C. Pull over, stop the car and pull out your camera and take a picture

God, I hope you all picked C. Unfortunately, when people exit their cars and start walking on the busiest sidewalk known to man kind, they treat it like they are in a massive field, with tons of room, and have all the time in the world to do whatever it is they want to do. So here it is,

WALK LIKE YOU DRIVE

If you see an amazing shot and MUST have it, then pull over, take out your camera and get that amazing shot.

If you have more than one passenger, don't create a barricade. Geez, walk behind each other, as a cluster. See this pic above? See the group making a line because heaven forbid one of them takes the lead? Stop.

Always walk to the right, nobody drives down the middle of the highway (on purpose) and certainly nobody drives into oncoming traffic (on purpose). So stay to the right.

If you are a bus, and move a bit slower and need more frequent stops, then stay to the most right hand lane.

If you are a sports car and want to get somewhere extremely fast without a lot of stops because you don't give two s*&ts about the view, then stay to the left.

Let's say you are in the middle, you are a sedan and you aren't in a rush, you may want to grab a picture but really you are out doing a 'scenic sunday drive,' by all means feel free to move back and forth between lanes. But just know, that at some point there will be a sports car coming up behind you. So, my advice, stay to the right until you need to pass.

Those of you from Europe, your steering wheel may be on the opposite side of the car from us, but you still drive on the same side of the road. So bring this with you would ya?

Please please please, pass this on to EVERYONE you know, because even though this drove me NUTS in NYC, I know there are busy sidewalks everywhere....this concept can be used there too! I know, crazy isn't it?! Could you imagine how easy it would be to walk on sidewalks if everyone took this into consideration??

Next Week: Driving

the Streets of NYC - Tip #4 Where Am I?

The worst feeling is when you step out of the subway system and have no idea where you are or which way is up. Yuck.

So here you go

Tip #4 - Learn N S E W

Wether its a new subway stop that you aren't familiar with or you just have no idea where you are, here's what you do. Head to the nearest corner, look right and then look left. If you look right and the next street sign over is a numbered street, that means you could either head North or South. So, when you look left, if the number is smaller, thats South, if the number is higher, that's North.

Chances are that if you look right and can't see the next street, then you can head East or West. This is the tricky one because you need to know what named street you are looking for, and then which way you need to head. The best way to do that is to ASK! New Yorkers are known to be the nicest people around, I know, can't believe it right? But let me tell you that NY'ers are very proud to live in the City that never sleeps. They will be happy to tell you where Broadway is or which way to walk to get to 1st Ave (don't get it confused with 1st St).

So open your mouth, put down your map (because you can't walk and read anyway and I'll talk more about that tomorrow), and talk to the proud New Yorker who was standing there waiting for you to ask how to get to your destination.

Happy walking!