The open road is a very safe place, but sometimes it can be the stuff that nightmares are made of. While the asphalt wouldn't crack open to reveal the licking flames of Hell itself, many drivers on the road can threaten your life. They run past speed limits, don't use turn signals, or honk their horns like their lives depended on it. Trucks may sometimes run too close to the rear of your car, and motorcycles sometimes swerve like crazy just to avoid traffic. It isn't madness; it's just bad drivers who think they own the roads.

Driving is fun and enjoyable, but it can also be a very frustrating experience. At any given time, any road in the world would have at least one obnoxious, impolite driver who is a potential threat to everyone's safety. Driving can be stressful for many people, and the problem is just complicated by people who make driving unpleasant and dangerous.

Almost every accident and mishap on the road is caused by drivers who misbehave. If you ever encounter a bad driver on your way to work or if you're out driving for a trip, here are some ways to bring back the safe road of your dreams.

Kinds of Bad Drivers

Believe it or not, there are many kinds of bad drivers, although you wouldn't worry so much about classifying drivers when they're ticking you off on the road:

• Speed demons are people who could care less about speed limits. They may always be on a rush to get to their destinations, or they just want to show off their powerful and fast cars. Speeding is dangerous not only to slower cars on the road, but also to the driver that is doing the speeding.
• Swerve specialists drive nimble vehicles like sports cars and motorcycles. They keep on overtaking slower cars, changing lanes, or weaving in and out of traffic. Swerving is particularly dangerous, especially when driving on bad road conditions.
• Road hogs drive extremely slowly, whether they drive big and heavy vehicles or ordinary cars. They think that they're entitled to more space and room on the road than anybody. They act like they're road royalty, and like they're better than everyone else on the road.
• Horn-tooters and siren-wailers just can't stop honking their horns, revving up their engines at stop lights, and turning on the custom sirens installed with their vehicle. They are very distracting, and can cause some drivers to panic while driving.
• Smoke belchers are environmental fiends. They pollute the environment with the noxious gray fumes that burn a hole in the ozone layer, and contribute to global warming. Smoke belchers are also dangerous because the exhaust acts as a smoke screen that reduces and compromises visibility.
• Drunk drivers are perhaps the most dangerous threats on any road. They are a lethal combination of speed, swerving, and erratic driving behavior. Some drunk drivers may also be under the influence of illegal drugs and controlled substances.

Now that you know that there's more than one kind of drunk driver wreaking havoc on the road, here are some ways to deal with them.

Stay Away

The important thing to remember when you're on the road with a bad driver is to stay far and away from him or her. The further you are from a bad driver, the safer you will be. Getting too close to a car driven by a person who is obviously not fit to drive can get you into serious trouble. You never know when he or she will bump into you and cause damage to your car, and you never know when you'll be in the middle of a multiple-car pile-up.

If you spot a bad driver from a good distance away, move to the slow lane, or to any lane where you're safe from the driver. It's often better to be well behind the bad driver instead of being out in front, because the rear of the vehicle is a convenient and safe blind spot. If you're out front, you're prone to getting into a serious and perhaps even fatal accident.

Don't Play Hero

You may have the urge to step on the accelerator, make your way to the driver-side of the offending car, and then tell the driver off. You may even have watched movies where ordinary citizens outmaneuver speeding drivers and save the day. As much as you want to try to be the hero of the day, you may really end up doing more harm than good. There are many disadvantages to playing hero:

• You'll damage your car. Going after an errant driver means that you're willing to risk your car in the process. Don't expect shallow dents and light scratches. If you go after a dangerous driver, the worst you can expect is that your car will be rendered a total loss.
• You don't have enough skills. Pursuit driving is not something you learn from the cop chase levels of video games. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to learn how to go after bad drivers. Some of these skills are learned from a lifetime of experience and active duty with the police.
• You'll seriously hurt yourself. Just as you can't expect just dents and scratches for your car, don't expect that you'll only get a few bumps and bruises when you go after a dangerous driver. You could end up in the emergency room, or worse.

As much as possible, do not try to overtake the driver, or to go beside his or her car to tell him or her off. Always stay well away from the driver. Don't engage the driver in a racing contest or anything that can cause damage.

Call the Authorities

The best thing you can do is to pull over to the emergency bay or to a safe point at the curb, and call the authorities. You can use your mobile phone, your in-car phone, or the emergency phone booth placed on the side of the emergency bay. Do not make the phone call while driving. Dial 911 immediately and provide the following details to the operator:

• Your name
• Your location (name of the street, interstate, or highway)
• The offense you're reporting (for example: speeding, reckless driving, the driver is blowing his or her horn too loudly)
• Make, model, and color of the car
• License plate number
• Other identifying marks (for example, the driver may be driving with a broken rear windshield, or one of the headlamps is busted).

Let the Police Do Their Job

Sometimes it's tempting to be a sidekick to a fleet of pursuit vehicles to go after the bad guy, but the battle between good and evil can wait for another day. As soon as you see police officers respond to your 911 call, the best thing to do is back off and let the officers do their work. For one, you may be interfering with police protocols which may get you arrested. Additionally, you may be more of a liability to the procedure than an asset. You've already done your part when you called 911. If it's a particularly serious situation, pull over to a safe spot and stay there until the chase is over.

Always Be Alert

Sometimes bad drivers come up from nowhere. One minute you're cruising at a safe pace, and the next a jerk speeds by you, just a hair's width away from sending both of you to the emergency room. It's very important to focus on your driving, and to always be aware of your surroundings:

• Check your side mirrors and rear view mirrors for any signs of a bad or a dangerous driver.
• When driving on a highway or a freeway, you should always listen for rumbling or squealing noises from other cars. You never know when a faster car will bolt through your road right-of-way.
• Always keep your mirrors, windshields, sensors, and other safety and warning devices working properly and in good condition.

There's no better way to get rid of a bad driver than if you behave like a well-mannered, level-headed driver on the road. If you set a good example on the road, even the worst drivers will think twice before messing around with you.

Hell can mean a lot of things, but for drivers, it definitely has to be the sight of being on the same highway as a terrible, horrible driver. With alertness, good driving, and the right approach, you can make even the best example of a highway to hell into a freeway to heaven.

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