One Vehicle in the Intersection When Waiting to Turn

The Police Department in Fort Myers, FL had a high-revenue day when officers waited near busy intersections to ticket drivers who blocked traffic. Come to driver safety training and I will reinforce many driving tips before you get a ticket.

The rule is that one stopped vehicle can continue after the light turns yellow IF that vehicle was already in the intersection. The second vehicle and all of his buddies are breaking the law.

The rule is in place to avoid vehicles cross-blocking the intersection. Then all traffic sits. If your arrival is that important, LEAVE EARLIER!!!

This is Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me.

Traffic Light Failure Becomes a Four-Way Stop

Power outages happen frequently in SW Florida and elsewhere nationwide. What does a driver do when power is out and the traffic light does not work? Treat the intersection as a four-way stop sign.

Who goes first? There is a standard order for vehicles to proceed safely through the intersection. One must first come to a full and complete stop. Then use this order as compiled from the Florida Driver Safety Manual and the AARP Driver Safety Program:

First- the first car to the intersection is the first to go.

Second- if two cars get to the intersection at the same time, drivers must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on their right (right has the right-of-way)

Third- if two cars get to the intersection at the same time from opposite directions, vehicles turning should yield the right-of-way to vehicles going straight. Vehicles going straight have the right-of-way.

Be cautious of protected routes where one direction may have a yield sign or a flashing red or yellow signal. These signals take precedence over these rules.

Remember that one must not take the right-of-way, the other driver must GIVE the right-of-way.

Keep the roads and highways safer. Take a driving course to sharpen your skills and update your knowledge. Take a friend and make your roads safer for everyone.

This is Rob G asking you to Drive Like Me.

The First Role Model- GMC SUV from Florida

I observe drivers who do very well and some who commit unsafe acts. I recently observed a safe driver who anticipated a backup behind a slow-moving vehicle and took action to help. The driver of the GMC SUV increased his following distance and allowed a driver to merge in at highway speeds. The same driver could have sped up and cut off the other driver but chose to act in a safe and responsible manner.
These advances techniques come either from years of experience or from excellent driver training. Either way, congratulations to this Role Model as the first ever on this website.

Safe travels!
Rob G.

Ask your friends to read the driving tips at www.DriveLikeMe.com

Tailgating versus Moving Roadblocks

Driving has been a pure pleasure since the seasonal people went home. No offense, but the year-round residents are much better drivers! Maybe we are more familiar with the roads or maybe the roads are just less crowded. Seasonal people seem to make the roads more hazardous. Independence Day had some stiff competition for Skidmark-of-the-Week.

Situation: Two cars on I-75 were driving side-by-side and going under the speed limit, blocking cars from passing. Traffic backed up and cars in the pack started jockeying for position. The stress was making their brains melt.

A white GMC SUV rode the bumper of a car that was FOUR CARS BACK from the front. Instead of backing off, that driver rode the bumper of the next car and soon there were four vehicles driving nose-to-tail. One mistake would have taken out a pack of cars. What a bunch of "Skidmarks" they were!

Solution: First, do not ride side-by-side. One of the two cars needs to change speeds and stop that "moving roadblock."

Second, do not pack cars in like NASCAR drivers. If someone is tailgating you, back-off the car in front of you to increase the buffer in front. You will have more time to brake slowly and avoid a rear-end collision. Backing off may allow the tailgater to pass you, but better to have that vehicle up ahead versus colliding with your car from behind. Once he/she is ahead of you, YOU control the following distance.

Remind all tailgaters and side-by-side drivers to read this post and to follow my driving tips at http://www.DriveLikeMe.com

This is Rob G. asking all of you to Drive Like Me.

Skidmark #4 - Scared of the Suicide Lane

I was driving with my boss and some idiot driver stopped his car in the left lane of a 55 mph highway. Mr. Florida Buick driver, you are the Skidmark of the Week!

Move into the center turn lane BEFORE you stop. Preferably before you slow down, if it is safe to do so. Of course, be aware that oncoming cars may also enter the center lane, which is why they call it the "suicide lane.". Be cautious, but NEVER stop your car in the fast lane before you enter the suicide lane. If you don't like the suicide lane, go down to the next traffic light and turn around. You will reach your destination safely and avoid the title of Skidmark of the Week.


Everyone can use a refresher. Ask anyone driving a Buick to follow me at www.drivelikeme.com

This is Rob G, asking YOU to Drive Like Me.

Skidmark #3, the whip-around passer

Okay, you have a hot sports car. So do I. That doesn't mean I want to race. I will not race. Period.

So you taunt me with your Porsche, Florida tags. I don't take the bait. So you speed away and weave between cars. You made it safely but probably scared some older driver. You are such a skidmark!

THINK! Try to have some human decency and driving courtesy. Take your time and change lanes only when you can see the car behind you in your rear-view mirror. That means it is safe to change lanes when you can see all of the car's front bumper in your rear-view mirror.

Everyone can use a refresher. Ask your crazy uncle with the sports car to follow me at http://www.drivelikeme.com/

This is Rob G, asking YOU to Drive Like Me.

Skidmark #1- Lane changes near traffic lights

Hey New York driver in the Lincoln. Do not change lanes at or near the intersection. You had cars behind you and could not see into my lane, which was empty from your view. You pulled right out in front of me. Jerk!

Those solid white lines are there to indicate it is not safe to change lanes, except to AVOID a road hazard. You changed lanes to cause the hazard. It is especially bad when you are not the last car in the line, and thereby do not have good vision into other lanes. A better solution is to go through the intersection and turn around when it is safe to do so. You will avoid a crash and possibly keep your license longer.

Tell your goofy cousin to follow me at www.DriveLikeMe.com

I'm Rob G. asking you to Drive Like Me!