And that doesn’t mean using a cell phone! No, communicating with other drivers means “telegraphing” your intent. It’s important to let the drivers around you, and even the pedestrians around you, know what you plan to do. That way, you avoid confusion at best, and an accident, at worst. And you communicate by using your car’s tools: Headlights, indicator lights, hazard lights, brake lights and horn. And your car’s most important tool: You. Never underestimate the power of eye contact and body language. Say you want to merge into heavy traffic, you can either turn on your traffic indicator to force your way in, or you can try to catch the eye of the driver of the car that you want to get in front of and politely indicate that you’d like to merge. See which one gets you in first; it’s the courteous approach, not the bull in the china shop one.
Mirrors are also very important in communicating with other drivers – if you can’t see them in your mirror, either the rear view or side mirror, they can’t see you, either. Avoid sitting in another car’s blind spot – especially not a truck’s, with a huge blind spot – too many accidents happen because you aren’t seen.
And this may seem awfully simplistic, but don’t forget to turn on your indicator lights when you are turning or switching lanes, and equally important, turn them off again when you’ve accomplished what you set out to do.
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