2010 is here and its time to make resolutions (even if you may not be able to keep all of them - like Oscar Wilde said "Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account"!). Nevertheless, its that time of the year when you plan to make some significant changes in your life. Since driving (or being driven) forms an important part of your life, here are some pointers to improve your driving experience (and of other fellow users of the road) :
Res #1. I will not honk (in traffic, as I realise that the air waves generated by the car horn do not have the kinetic energy to propel the traffic ahead of me!)
Res #2. I will not try and teach the other motorist a lesson (even if he cuts into my lane or whatever - I will leave the matter to Darwin's Law of Natural Selection. Ref my post http://bit.ly/6TKHeK)
Res #3. I will allow an Ambulance the right of way (and not follow it immediately afterwards) by keeping to the left and slowing down. It is surprising how little road users know about giving way to emergency vehicles. I have had to explain this to cab drivers almost every time.
Res #4. I will leave the right side of the road for motorists in a hurry (when I feel like coasting along at a low speed). It is funny how the right most lane, which is meant for overtaking is the slowest lane and you usually are forced to overtake from the left side!
Res #5. I will not get upset with other errant motorists (as that will only affect me and not the other person) Ref to my blog post http://bit.ly/7Od4j1
Wishing you all a Happy Driving Experience all year round in 2010!
Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, September 12, 2009
How to drive in the city without losing your sanity!
It is not uncommon to have a conversation about the traffic in the city and more so the outrage over the frustrating driving experience. By the time, you are through with the week, the combination of bad roads, errant taxi drivers, long traffic jams, jay walking pedestrians, morchas and processions, prove to be a lethal cocktail which knocks you out for the weekend. Is there a way to combat all this and yet keep your cool? Can you drive in the city without driving yourself insane? Probably....
I wish I could say that the God of driving revealed to me the five magical solutions in a resonant, well-modulated voice! No, its not that dramatic. These are five ways that have worked for me. Here are the first two (in no specific order) :
1. Have faith in Darwin : Have you ever noticed how incensed we get when some other driver cuts our lane? We just want to overtake the driver and 'teach him/her a lesson'. Do we now? Are we really interested in teaching that errant driver? why take all that trouble and improve his driving? (especially if he has cut your lane!). Nah! Just let them be. I believe in Darwin's Law of Natural Selection..... people unfit to drive, will wind up losing their right to drive one way or another. So just smile and wish him good luck. Don't interfere with that process and try to upgrade their skills.
2. Select your Music : If you love music, your problem is half-solved. If you don't have an ear for music - develop one! Music has the power to influence one's mood - so selecting the right music is also important. The best option is to burn a CD or make an appropriate playlist on your iPod/MP3 player. FM stations tend to have a lot of chatter and less music.... some attempts at humour are actually counter-productive (observe the shenanigans of Ghanta Singh). Keep two playlists - one for easy listening (for tight traffic conditions) and other for when your mood is upbeat and you are on a clear road maintaining a good speed. I have a list of recommended songs for both lists for listeners preferring Indian and Western music. (Surprise find : AIR FM 107.1 has less chatter and more music - its just that the selection can be rather erratic)
Next 3 Tips follow soon......
I wish I could say that the God of driving revealed to me the five magical solutions in a resonant, well-modulated voice! No, its not that dramatic. These are five ways that have worked for me. Here are the first two (in no specific order) :
1. Have faith in Darwin : Have you ever noticed how incensed we get when some other driver cuts our lane? We just want to overtake the driver and 'teach him/her a lesson'. Do we now? Are we really interested in teaching that errant driver? why take all that trouble and improve his driving? (especially if he has cut your lane!). Nah! Just let them be. I believe in Darwin's Law of Natural Selection..... people unfit to drive, will wind up losing their right to drive one way or another. So just smile and wish him good luck. Don't interfere with that process and try to upgrade their skills.
2. Select your Music : If you love music, your problem is half-solved. If you don't have an ear for music - develop one! Music has the power to influence one's mood - so selecting the right music is also important. The best option is to burn a CD or make an appropriate playlist on your iPod/MP3 player. FM stations tend to have a lot of chatter and less music.... some attempts at humour are actually counter-productive (observe the shenanigans of Ghanta Singh). Keep two playlists - one for easy listening (for tight traffic conditions) and other for when your mood is upbeat and you are on a clear road maintaining a good speed. I have a list of recommended songs for both lists for listeners preferring Indian and Western music. (Surprise find : AIR FM 107.1 has less chatter and more music - its just that the selection can be rather erratic)
Next 3 Tips follow soon......
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