- Busy Bee We're all for multi-tasking, but between eating, phoning, makeup-ing, mapping, and whatever else we see you doing at the wheel, we're telling you, "Pull over already!" It simply isn't safe to distract yourself with anything while you're driving. You annoy other drivers with unexplained slowing down and swerving, and you're the one who hasn't noticed that the light turned green. More importantly, you endanger others.
- False Alarm Don't get us started on car alarms. First of all, the bloody things don't work. The person who owns the car that's blaring at two in the morning never hears it -- inevitably, they're fast asleep somewhere out of earshot. Then there are the car alarms that go off every thirty seconds -- when another car whizzes by or when a cat brushes against the tire. If you have one, the best thing to do is turn it off to save the world a lot of noise and undue stress. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
- Short Cuts The worst offenders cut others off recklessly, causing near-accidents all around them. The most shocking ones speed past long lines of waiting cars, and then shove in at the last possible moment. Like the rest of us, you need to wait your turn to get off that exit!
- Hot Spots Parking lots give insight into the uglier side of human nature. Stealing a parking spot that someone else clearly had dibs on is off limits -- period. Note that backing up and blocking traffic so you can get to a spot you've already passed is in bad form. And going the wrong way down a parking aisle to beat another driver to a spot is worse. Breathe, turn on the radio, and sooner or later the parking gods will smile down on you.
- Effective Communication There's a lever in your car. It's right there attached to the steering wheel so you can't miss it. When you push it up or down a little arrow comes on. That arrow lets other drivers know you're going to make a left or right turn, so that they can continue driving. Reacquaint yourself with the lever. Learn to love the lever. It's there for a reason.
- Horn Section Anyone who resides in a city knows horns are part of the soundtrack of everyday life. People honk for anything, everything, and nothing at all. The honk that grates our nerves the most is when someone is picking up a friend from home and honks for fifteen minutes rather than getting out and ringing the doorbell. One or two quick beeps from the car is enough -- or call from your mobile phone once you're parked to let a friend know you've arrived. Just avoid those excruciating, never ending beeps, especially on Sunday mornings or late at night.
- Road Hog There are lines painted on the road for a reason. Stay in your lane. Don't drift. Don't take a few minutes to decide which lane you actually want to be in. And those drivers who take up an entire wide right lane to make a right turn when they could just scoot over and make way for passing traffic, quit hogging!
- Lane Logic Freeways bring up a whole new set of etiquette issues, but one of the most common is the slow poke who's clogging up cars in the "fast lane." We're not suggesting anyone speed or even feel the need to go fast. But the far left lane is for speedier drivers or those who want to pass slower cars. Keep that in mind, and everything flows more smoothly during commutes.
- Trash Act It doesn't matter if it's cigarette butts, coffee, or a big fat loogie, there should never be anything flying out of your car window. Keep your garbage to yourself.
- Red Flyer This one seems obvious. It is, after all, the law to stop at a red light. But it amazes us how many people try to cheat fate by flying through them. We've even seen people honk to let other drivers know they're running the red! Don't do run reds -- ever.
- Tail Blazer If you can see the eyelashes on the Cabbage Patch doll sitting in the rear window of the car in front of you, you're way too close. (While we're on the topic, why is there a Cabbage Patch doll or any doll there, for that matter?). Tailgating is dangerous, especially when you're cruising at higher speeds. Even when you're inching slowly through rush-hour traffic, it's aggravating to have someone breathing down your neck.
For more tips on living a stylish and savvy life, go to Foxy & Co and check out our latest book, Curves Rule and Flat Is Fabulous: Sexy, Stylish Looks for Every Figure .
