Driving along Highway 111, Washington, Gene Autry, or basically any Coachella Valley road would be a much more pleasant experience if only other drivers would do these eight very reasonable things.

1) Stop at 4-Way Stops

There are actual rules for how four-way stops work, and none of them involve casually rolling through while staring straight ahead like the intersection doesn’t exist.

Yes, this applies on El Paseo. No, the street name does not make you exempt.

2) Park Between the Lines

The painted lines are not a suggestion. They are there to help everyone else continue living their lives without needing to crawl through the passenger door.

3) Use Turn Signals

Your car came equipped with these little blinking lights that tell the rest of us what you’re about to do.

They work during the day. They also work at night. Allegedly.

Based on local driving habits, you’d think they were part of some expensive luxury package no one ordered.

4) Leave Some Things Behind

One rope is not sufficient to secure a couch, loveseat, dining table, six chairs, three bikes, a lawnmower, multiple mattresses, a washer, a dryer, and a trampoline.

Especially not at freeway speeds. Especially not on I-10.

5) Put the Phone Down

There is a near-zero chance that text message involves an imminent national emergency.

It can wait until you’re not piloting a two-ton vehicle through an intersection.

6) Move to the Right

Some drivers are not in a hurry. We understand that.

The Coachella Valley is, after all, God’s waiting room.

But if you’re doing 25 mph in a 55 zone, the far right lane is your friend. Everyone else would like to keep their blood pressure where it belongs.

7) Leave the Dog at Home

Your dog does not want to sit in a parked car while you shop, eat brunch, or “just run in for a minute.”

It gets dangerously hot in there very fast, and no amount of cracked windows makes that okay.

8) Admit Mistakes

Everyone messes up sometimes. Even you. Yes, you.

A simple wave that says “my bad” goes a long way. It beats the far more common response of aggressive staring, indignant speeding off, or pretending nothing happened.

We all get where we’re going a little calmer that way.

Good luck out there. You’re going to need it.