1) Signal your intention
The signal indicator is there for a reason - to signal your intention. Quite a handful (and it is a really BIG hand) of motorists do not use the signal indicators at all. And this BAD habit poses a danger to you and other motorists.
Signal when you want to change lane.
Signal when you are going to make turns.
Signal if you are going left/right on a lane where you can go left/right or straight.
Let others know your intention and there will be less accidents. (I'm not joking)
2) Turn on your headlights/headlamps
Turn on your headlights/headlamps when the environment is dark. This includes night time, carparks, dimly lit area, rainy days, tunnels. Let others see you and let yourself see the front.
I seriously do not understand why one would turn into a carpark and turn off the headlights/headlamps. Come on, turn on your headlights/headlamps and when you go up the ramp, others who are coming down the ramp can see you and stop for you.
DO NOT USE THE FOG LIGHTS as a replacement for your headlight/headlamps.
3) Wave when someone gives way
Wave to "say" thank you. And the society will be a more gracious one. Wave when someone gives way to you and the person will feel happier. And it doesn't kill you to wave, right?
4) Give way to vehicles, especially to ambulance, fire-fighting vehicle etc
Give way to vehicles whenever possible without endangering your life or others. Be gracious and others will pay it forward.
5) Drive close to the speed limit (Do not hog the road)
I do not encourage speeding and I do not encourage hogging. Drive close to the speed limit whenever possible. Speed limit in Singapore is 50km/h unless otherwise specified.
Do not drive at 70km/h (for cars) when you are on the expressway with speed limit of 90km/h, especially on lane 1 and 2. There is ERP because of slow speed. If everyone drives as close to the speed limit (or the speed limit of your vehicle for vans/lorries/bus etc) as possible without endangering other motorists, ERP could be a thing of the past (like real).
Do not speed at more than 10km/h above the speed limit (my own limit)! Do not endanger your own life and others' life with your irresponsible antics! Do not exceed the speed limit AT ALL TIMES on normal roads.
Do not hog lane 1 (extreme right lane).
Do not speed on normal roads (non expressways).
Limit your max speed to speed limit + 10km/h on expressways. (My personal max speed limit, not recommendation by Singapore Traffic Police. Follow at your own risk!)
6) Plan your journey and prepare in advance
Plan your route well and move to the correct lanes in advance. Shift to the left lane in advance if you are making a left turn and shift to the right lane in advance if you are making a right turn. Shift to the extreme left lane well in advance prior to your exit on the expressways.
Many delays are caused by last minute lane changing which will create a domino effect of braking, reducing the overall speed.
7) Be alert and prepare to stop on AMBER. DO NOT BEAT THE RED LIGHT!
Amber light is to let you know that you should slow down and stop. When you are approaching a traffic junction, you will see 3 arrows drawn on the floor.
If you are at the 1st arrow (furthest from stop line and can only see 2 arrows ahead of you) and the light is AMBER, you should stop accelerating and start braking to stop at the STOP LINE.
If you are at the 2nd arrow (can only see 1 arrow ahead of you) when the light turns AMBER, you should stop accelerating and start braking to stop at the STOP LINE IF it is safe for you to do so. You may also accelerate and cross the junction if there is a car following you closely or if there is heavy vehicle behind you (as heavy vehicle has longer braking distance).
If you are at the 3rd arrow (cannot see any more arrow ahead of you, closest to stop line) and the light is
AMBER, you should proceed to cross the junction. DO NOT E-BRAKE as you may cause a collision!
8) Check your tail/brake lights
Check your tail and brake lights periodically and ensure that at least 2 are working. Driving without working tail/brake lights is dangerous. Do not endanger your own life as well as others' lives.
You can ask your passenger to help check your tail/brake lights.
If not, do a self check by turning on your head lights and look at the wall behind when parked to check if your tail lights are working. Depress the brake pedal and check if the brake lights are working.
You can also check your tail/brake lights when you are stopped at traffic lights and there is a bus/lorry behind your. Just check your rear view mirror and look at the reflection off the bus/lorry.
9) Check your blind spots
Check your blind spots before you change lane. Do not be lazy and rely on your small blind spot mirror. Turn your head and check!
10) Use your hazard lights when you are stopping or when you intend to park
Nobody can read your mind except yourself. Hence, no one will know if you are stopping unless you turn on your hazard light to indicate your intention.
Do not use your hazard lights when there is heavy rain! Otherwise, other motorists do not not if you are stationary or moving. And no one will know if you are turning left or right! Just turn on your headlights/headlamps will do.
11) Turn to the correct lanes
If there is no road marking to guide you, the rule of thumb is:
Turn left, keep left
Turn right, keep right
If there is road marking to guide you, FOLLOW the road marking. DO NOT encroach other lanes!
12) Do not tail-gate
Tail-gating will not make you go faster. Instead you are risking banging into the car in front. Keep a safe distance from the car in front. 2 second rule is a good indicator to follow. Everyone wants to leave home and return home alive. Do not risk your life and others' too.
Tags: good habits, motorists, driving, car, signal, change lane, head light, tail light, brake light, hazard light, parking, blind spot, wave, give way, speed limit, traffic police, amber, red light
