So you have been driving for a while now, you are following the rules of the road, you have driven at night and now you are going onto the highway to start your 'road trip'.
You are all set, the tank is filled up, the music is playing and then.... you come to a dead stop. Stuck in traffic with cars everywhere in front and behind you. What to do, what to do?
The most important thing is to stay calm and alert. There will be a lot of irritated people on the road, that will take chances, cut in front of you, change lanes without putting on their indicators and hooting. Do not be one of them. Remember that one of the first things you learned when you started to drive was to not only look at what you are doing, but also be vigilant of the people around you and their intensions.
Now is the time to apply that.
Before you use the highway
Listen to the radio or use your GPS to determine if any accidents were reported and what they say about the road and how busy it will be.
The highway is usually the faster route, because there are no robots, but once there is an accident or it is 'peak time' it will be more wise to choose a back road. It will get you there faster without the frustration of sitting in a 'traffic jam'.
If you have to be somewhere, take in consideration that more people use the highway in the mornings and afternoons to and from work, so if you need to travel that time, you will want to leave earlier to get ahead of all the other people.
What can I do to stay safe?
Be alert.... and look around you. Now is not the time to be distracted by music, cellphones or other people. You need to watch out for people that is driving all over the place, moving from one lane to another in the hope to get to the front faster.
It does not mean that if you are in a traffic jam, you do not need to obey the rules any more. Do not drive straight in a lane that is only for turning, use your indicators and use your mirrors as much as possible.
If you see a safe way where you can get off the highway and out of the traffic jam, use it.
It will not kill you to be a 'well mannered driver'. If you see someone is trying to change lanes because they are in the wrong one, give them a chance to go in front of you. You are already stuck, letting someone go in front of you will not make you later.
If you are driving at night and the road is busy, make sure that your light are on and do not put it on 'bright' if vehicles come from the front, you will shine the light in their eyes and they will not be able to see the road clearly.
No matter where you drive or how busy the road is, the number one rule is to be on the look out. It does not mean that if the road is quiet, you can relax and be distracted. A car or an animal can come out of nowhere.
If you have been stuck in a traffic jam and felt discouraged, have a look at this video of traffic jams that went on a long time and you will feel relieved that you were not there...
You can also read the other posts for some tips on driving here.