GIVE WAY

Have you ever been driving from a junction to meet the main road and having to wait for a good few minutes before finally joining the other cars in line on the main road? (And that is also, if you dare to swerve your car out immediately to avoid the long waiting time for the road to be empty)

I guess most of us who have been driving on the road for some time now have gone through that same situation somewhat or another.
It is frustrating sometimes although we do understand that we came from the junction and that we do have to give way to those who were driving straight and as the highway code specifies, drivers have to always give way to those on the right.

I do that all the time, but reverse the situation, if you were the one driving on the main road and you spot a car coming out of the small junction/road, would you give way to them?

I DO, I always flicker or flash to show them that they can come out now and I don't mind them driving ahead of me.
Of course, that depends on whether the cars behind me are speeding or I could risk getting my own car hit from the back as well and getting labeled reckless driver.

My point is, it is never a bad thing to give way to cars; sometimes I even give way to drivers on the left lane who are trying to go to the right lane.
Sometimes they may have reasons;
1. They made a mistake by going left when they are supposed to be going right
2. They are tourists and not familiar with the road (by this I mean not only international tourists, even local Malaysians from other states, they are also tourists)
3. There was a last minute change in their initial decision and they changed their destination and the driver was informed tad a bit too late.

There are many reasons, but it will not harm to just give way to people and if you find it hard and really competitive to not be able to give way, just ask yourself, "What are you really competing for if you can't even find space in your mind/heart to give way to others?"
"Will it make you late to an event, and be severely punished if you were late to the event?"

Some people drive like they are on a racing track; as if they were participating in a car race or something; fast and furious and just so "Snappy".
"Snappy" means they tailgate the car in front of them so closely and move immediately the car moves, leaving no space for others or even breathing space for the cars. Some are just this close to 'kissing' the bumper of the car in front of them.
Heaven forbid that if you were to make a turn into their lane, they would maneuver their car with all their rage and might to make sure you do not get in; even to the point of seriously 'almost' hitting your car's headlights or the side of the car.
If you were the same raging driver trying to get into the lane yourself and forced your way in, be prepared for some serious and loud honking and flashing and vulgar profanities hurled at you behind your back.
Sometimes, these could lead to road bullies incidents as well whereby the two parties end up fighting and killing each other over the fact that he overtook him and ended knocking his car.

I mean, think about all this, is it not just plain ridiculous that we have to resort to solving a simple problem like that this way?
Did that really require violence?

Even if there was not a fight, there will be unseen or trapped anger raging inside the two drivers and if some of them were mean enough, they could take down the number plate and plot for revenge in the future.
It is eerie how driving can sound like some battlefield sometimes.

Think of it, what if the car which was just trying to get into others' lane was rushing for an emergency and he had to swerve in and out to get to this destination in the shortest possible time.
It might sound uncanny but it could be true too, right?

That brings me to another issue; ambulances, fire brigade and police cars, in short, any vehicle with a siren and serving the public and government are always in emergencies.
There are no question about that.

While it comforts me that our society is still educated and cultured enough to give way to ambulances with loud sirens, it also bothers me that that seems to be the only vehicle they give way to.
Please be mindful that besides ambulances and fire engines, police cars are also to be treated with respect, regardless of the general perspective there is on policemen.

These police cars could be rushing to nab a thief or a dangerous wanted and armed criminal; or they could also be rushing to the aid of a trapped young child who called 999 because his/her house had been broken into and waiting for help before the robbers discovered him/her.

You may think this is active imagination on my part, but can you be totally sure that is not the case?

There were a few times where I found some people blocking the way of an ambulance and a fire engine at a traffic light.
The ambulance was right behind this first car and the traffic lights have just turned red and even with much honking and flashing, the car was afraid to budge and just moved an inch at a time.

C'mon, for the love of God, just breach that traffic light rule for once, and let the ambulance through!
The other cars at the other junctions would definitely stop when they spot the ambulance!
Do they understand every second; or even microsecond counts when it comes to emergencies?

It is funny how people would rush against the traffic lights when it turns amber to red but yet would obediently abide the law when there's an emergency van behind them?

Oh, and while you are giving way to the ambulance, sometimes if you spot a car that seems to be rushing along behind the ambulance, do give way as these could be their family members and loved ones who wanted to rush to the hospital at the same time in case if it is that last time.
Of course, undeniably, there would also possibly be other drivers who just take advantage of the emergency situation and just form another line to beat the traffic, but then again, who could tell?
If we had given way, we could have done a good turn.

I think all these require just plain common sense, which I sometimes feel may have died in this world.

Imagine if you had a loved one lying inside the ambulance and the time is crucial to ensure that he/she gets to the hospital in time for immediate medical aid and you are stuck in a traffic jam.
Imagine if your loved one is inside the ambulance and you are following his car and while the ambulance got through, other cars would not give way to you and you could not get to the hospital in time to see them for the last time.
Imagine if you are trapped inside a building on fire, and you are waiting and praying (not to mention suffocating) for the arrival of the fire truck, and you are almost dying from the smoke

That's why, the easiest thing to do is to just give way, whatever it takes, and be mindful of others who are driving on the road.

If you give way to one another, you will find that the roads will be a better place to drive on and everyone would be happy like in Utopia.
Now, to those troublemaker drivers and queue jumpers, just remember, that what goes around comes around, it is all in the circle of life.

I hope we can truly carry this thought in our mind when we drive on the road and we will definitely be happier and safer on the roads than before =)