I have often talked about the need for all of us to become better defensive drivers. The easiest way to do this is to avoid situations that could put us
in danger. Most of the time it's our fellow drivers that put us in danger.
To help you along in your commute, I've come up with this list of stereotypical drivers to avoid and why you should avoid them. And to make
them easier to remember I've named them after appropriate movies.
Vacation:Clark Griswald on steroids. You've seen this guy. He drives around in a 1970's era station wagon so crammed with stuff that he can no longer
see out his back window. He's basically a hoarder on wheels. In addition to limited visibility, you have to question this guys judgment skills.
Wayne's World: Rock on Wayne! Rock on Garth! His radio is turned up so loud the bass rattles the fillings in your teeth 30 yards away. He might be a
decent driver, but with that huge audio distraction, you know he can't be very focused on the task of safe driving.
The Tail Wags the Dog: Mr. Bumper Sticker Guy. He considers his vehicle a billboard for his life. Political stickers, sports stickers, joke
stickers ...i f there was a bumper sticker made, this guy has it slapped on his car somewhere. The danger with this guy is that if you do get into an
accident with him, one of his stickers might actually stick to your car, and nobody wants that.
Friday: His car is worth $750 but his rims are worth $5,000. His priorities are obviously out of whack and you can assume that he wouldn't be too upset
about getting in a wreck, so long as his rims survived.
Must Love Dogs: I love dogs. I love trucks. I just don't think the two should be mixed. I know if I was driving around with my dogs in the back of
the truck I'd me more focused on them then the cars around me. Dogs in the bed of your truck has to be a big distraction.
Twister: Driving in rain can be hazardous, but that doesn't mean you need to turn on your hazard lights. As soon as the first rain drop falls this guy
panics and turns on his hazards. A gentle reminder, DO NOT TURN YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS ON WHEN IT'S RAINING!
2 Fast 2 Furious 2 Dumb: We all know this guy. He revs his engine at a stop light, punches the gas when the light turns green leaving rubber on the road
and smoke in the air. He hits 60 mph in under five seconds only to slam on his brakes when the next light turns red. He wants attention. Don't give it
to him. Steer clear.
Cast of Cocoon: Does the driver look like they could have starred in the move "Cocoon"? If so, give them some extra space. Sure there are plenty of
elderly drivers that are perfectly competent behind the wheel, but just to be safe give them a wide berth.
The Breakfast Club: Six teens plus one car equals trouble. Teen drivers are scary enough on their own, but when you pack the car with their friends it
can be downright dangerous. Studies have proven that when a teen driver has another kid in the car the chance for an accident goes way up.
You've Got Mail: Bing. You've got an email. Bing. You've got a text message. Bing. You've got a tweet. Bing. You've got trouble. While illegal to text
and drive, many still do and the tell tale head bob should tell you to get out of their way.
Top Gun: It's 11 p.m.and this guy is wearing sunglasses while he is driving. Seeing clearly is actually very helpful when driving buddy. If he's wearing
shades that's a good sign that you should avoid him.
Clueless: Cellphone talking, frappuccino drinking, non-signal using, make-up
putting on mess behind the wheel. Luckily these folks are easy to spot and
avoid.
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