I've been driving for years, and commuting since 1995. (I lived at home when I went to college, and I work near where I went to school.) I've had lots of time to observe other drivers and myself. I would be lying if I said I was the perfect driver that everyone should follow, but (of course) I don't think I'm as bad as most people out there. So what, pray tell, do I think I'm doing right, and others are doing wrong?

--I'm amazed at the amount of people who don't use turn signals. Do they assume we're all mind readers? Well, one thing I learned in Driver's Ed--seriously, my Driver's Ed teacher drilled this into my head--is that when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. I love the people who just stop in the middle of the road, no signal, and then wonder why other cars get mad at them. Or maybe they like the attention they get when other cars honk at them.

--On a related note, if you know you're turning at an intersection (and you even put on your turn signal), and there's even a turn lane, why do you take your time getting into the lane? The lane is there so that not only is it safer for you to turn, but so that the people going straight can continue to go straight without having to come to a near-stop. It's called courtesy--get out of the way.

--I have this thing with speed limits: I like to do them. I get rather upset when people get on roads where the speed limit is more than 35 MPH and they refuse to go the limit. Now, it's understandable if the weather's crappy or it's rush hour, but other than that go the limit. If there's a problem with your car or you don't like going fast, then maybe you should think about taking a different route. It's not just the fact that you're pissing off the drivers behind you, it's for your safety. You get just the wrong driver upset and they'll go all road rage on your ass.

--We have a law here in Illinois that states if the weather's bad enough for your windshield wipers to be on, it's bad enough for you to put on your headlights. That law has been on the books for longer than I've been driving, yet a good percentage of people have no clue about it. I mean, c'mon. If it's dark enough for the streetlights to come on, don't you think you should put on your lights? And parking lights don't cut it--hence the name "parking lights." If you're moving, you should have on your real headlights.

--With the advent of daytime running lights have come lazy drivers. They think that because their headlights pop on when the key's in the ignition, they never have to think about them. Well, guess what. Sometimes only those stupid parking lights come on. (Can you tell I hate parking lights? They're a waste of electricity.) So, guess what: When it gets dark outside or it's raining, you do have to manually turn on your headlights! Or, only the headlights turn on; the taillights are off. So nighttime driving is made all the more fun. I love coming up on the tails of cars and not being aware that they were there.

--Are people illiterate or, worse, blind? I'm beginning to wonder. I drive through an active school zone each day. It's pretty obvious, too...there's "School Zone" painted on the pavement, and these cool blinking yellow lights, and a sign that basically says to go 20 MPH when the lights go blink, blink, blink. I feel guilty when I go 25 MPH, but at least once a week I get passed by some yahoo who thinks their lunch date is more important than some mom and her kindergartner. Bet they'll stop speeding when they get pulled over for going twice the speed limit in a school zone...or, worse, when some kid goes flying over their windshield. And I'll be the first person on my cellphone calling 911...after I pull over.

--Cellphones! Cellphones. How can I not mention cellphones and their users? I despise cellphones just as a rule; I don't like phones to begin with, and I especially hate it when people use phones while they're driving. Now, granted, I work at a place where cells are a big part of our business. When my coworkers are on the road and we need to get a hold of them for something, cells are great for that. And I've had people who were lost who've called my house and gotten directions because they had their cells on them. So it's not that cells are totally bad. However. A bad driver is all the worse when they're talking on a cell. Bad drivers need all their attention on the road, and when that attention is taken away by anything, accidents occur. I've twice been a passenger in a car when bad drivers have made or taken phone calls. It's a harrowing experience, and I haven't driven with either person since. I don't like kissing the bumper of a semi, or meeting a guardrail, or sideswiping another car. Luckily, none of those things actually happened, but we came pretty damn close. I know my limitations when I drive. If only others would learn.