MOTORISTS ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS

Owning a car makes movement from place to place easy and relaxed. However, driving in some major cities in Nigeria has become very cumbersome and of late Port Harcourt and its environs are worse hit. Instead of driving being a pleasure, it has become the most hazardous and frustrating activity to execute.

These days, most motorists do not have proper knowledge of traffic rules, coupled with poor driving skills and disregard for the rights of others equally make a hell of experience. Our Eastern brothers from Aba who drive their commercial vehicles do not want to spare anybody in their reckless path and many have fallen victims of their uncouth behavior. Between Aba and Port Harcourt three different persons apart from the driver, drive a vehicle. You must have noticed it yourself! You know what I mean.

 Three commonest attitudes, which also contribute to traffic congestion, are complete lawlessness, selfishness and indecision on the part of motorists. They are all functions of poor up bringing and ignorance of proper social skills.

           
 Drivers exhibit everyday, different behavioral traits. Drivers are not just commuters, but you and I, or anybody who drivers a car, either on the highway or service road. These traits could be very suffocating and irritating, but just be calm so as to concentrate on your driving and on the road.

           
 The very rude ones go to the extent of hurling verbal abuses in a bid to deliver a lecture on driving from their seats as they are driving. A woman is just a toy in their hands. They throw phrases like, “go get driver”, “greedy woman, you no want make driver chop”, which kin nonsense man carry moto give me sef,” and so on. Be prepared!!

           
 Have you ever been unlucky for your car to have a breakdown inmid-traffic? Waoh!! Nobody will care to assist you except for few decent ones. The abusive ones behind will hoot their horns to a very high temple and rain all sorts of abuses. They forget that as they get agitated they forget that as they get agitated they increase your personal stress. Taxi and bus drivers, as have been observed, often block traffic so as to discharge or collect passengers because they are “Lords” of the road. Some even make U-turns anyhow, beat traffic lights, and drive on prohibited flyovers.

            
 Lane discipline has gone to the marines. Where can you find it in Aba Express Road? The best you can do is to always drive on the right hand lane and use the left to overtake if need be. Disciplined drivers avoid switching from lane to lane and do not shunt vehicles in front of them unnecessarily during a traffic jam. The contrary is the case for all those reckless ones, who often jump the queue at random. They do not know that they get more entangled in the traffic and the time they should have waited quietly to get along with others is approximate to get that used in maneuvering to be at a vantage position. These maneuvers unfortunately go with abuses from fellow drivers verbally, or by aggressive postures to claim right of way. Fellow drivers, why not save yourself this embarrassment? Also when changing lanes, give enough signals so as not to affect the sensibilities of others and show appreciation by waving your hands. They are in haste too.

           
 The horn is another device, which a lot of motorist use to make nuisance. In most cases, they are used aggressively, not warningly, as is the purpose. The horn is equally meant to indicate your presence to another road user.

            
 No matter how close you are to person you are visiting, do not blare your horn from a distance away or even right at the gate. Drive to the gate, alight from your vehicle, and either knock on the gate or press the doorbell if there is one. This portrays you as a well- groomed person.

            
 Not dimming your headlamps especially in the night is very rude behavior. The other driver or rider in the opposite direction is at the risk of not seeing at all and you can indirectly lead him to an accident.

              
 Never driver too closely to the car in front of you, so that in any case of a breakdown of the former, you can always pull out, especially in traffic. Try to show a little kindness to motorists who courteously signal you, particularly those who want to ease into the lane you are in because of a broken down car in front of them and those from adjoining road or car park. Even those who want to be ‘fast’ and claim right of way, allow them. This is because the responsible party is most times affected badly in case of an accident. Be a contradiction!! Slow down as a man of God who is answering a distress call of someone, instead of discourteously or fiercely accelerating.

             
 NEVER overtake except you can regain your position on the right hand side.

           
 Wrong parking obstructs the road and affects others. These include double parking, parking on a bend, entrances to premises parallel to office fences. If you can help the situation, do not drive too close to parked cars in case of the latter’s sudden opening of the door of his car to come down. Refrain from monopolizing space when parking especially in a parking lot. This goes to show how reasonable and organized you are .try to clear properly off the road when dropping your anchor.

           
 Motorist should avoid as much as possible accidental splashing of water, on pedestrian. They have equal right as you. Pedestrians too, should always be on the left side and face on coming vehicles. Lest I forget be fair to animals too.

            
 It is bad manners to little streets or roads when driving, turning round to talk to those in the back seat, lighting cigarettes, turning radio or inserting a cassettes, eating , bargaining through the window with a street trader, and lately, making/ receiving calls be exonerated from these defaults.

             
When you go driving with children, the safest place for them is the back seat .A rear – facing child safety seat in the back seat of the car is very good for infants.

 A year old with weight of at least 20 pound should be place in a forward facing seat.

           
 A booster seat, which is supported by the car’s lap and shoulder belts, should be used by a child weighing 40 pounds.

            
 At 80 pound or thereabout when the child is approaching 5ft, an adult safety strap is all right.

            
 Everything is governed by rules, which actually put us on the positive side of the law.

For you to be a gentleman or lady, try to often remember the advice of Mark Twain on Etiquette,” Always do right: you will please some people and astonish the rest.

Driving manner cannot be separated from safety as can be seen so far. However, here are some general tips to lead you:

(a)     Vehicle should always be in good condition.

(b)    Always use your seat belt and encourage others to.

(c)     Never smoke in another’s car. Do not think of it

(d)   Drive with focus.

(e)    Apart from Nigeria Road Safety Corps requirement, you should have a first Aid kit, flashlight, oil lamps, blanket and box of matches in your car.

(f)     Always lock your car door with a customized lock when parking the car anywhere. On return check the back seat for intruders before entering the car. Park in a well lighted place at night. Always use handbrakes and leave car in gears.

(g)   Be careful when closing car doors for children could be very erratic and be sure the doors are properly locked.

(h)   Never stop on the highway for a stranger whose vehicle has broken down, anytime. The best one can do is to stop at the next gas station to alert any possible mechanic and his allies so that he can be attended to. Never stop for a hitchhiker with the current situation reports being dished out everyday.

(i)     When stopped by a Police Officer, be polite, straight forward, and never be argumentative. He is more trained in his field than you and he has stopped you for reasons best known to him. Anyway be safety conscious because some policemen are something else.

(j)     If you scratch or hit a car in the owner’s absence do not just take off. Good manners expect you to leave your name and address or call number in a visible place like under the windshield wiper blade.

(k)   If you do not like the way a driver is driving, tell him to stop and let you out of the car.

Finally, the seat of honor is the front passenger seat and it is always polite to give that to older persons. Also in a business situation the highest ranking person gets that seat. This is why you seat.  However culture varies. In most African countries the seat of honor is the right side of the backseat. All the same, when traveling as a couple, always make your guest comfortable by giving him the front seat, most especially if he is a matured man, so as not to isolate him.