Dangers of driving

It’s 3:00 A.M. and you get a knock on your door. A feeling of dread washes over your body when you see it’s the local police. This, of course, can’t be good news. They inform you that your family member has been in a bad crash and has been flown to the hospital as a result of life-threatening injuries. I have been the police officer on the other side of the door, delivering this news, and worse news to families as a result of traffic crashes. In 2022, an estimated 42,795 people died as a result of traffic crashes in the United States. That is a frighteningly large number. This is why driver education and awareness is so important. So, what can we do to help prevent ourselves and our loved ones from becoming one of these statistics? The first thing we can do is educate ourselves on the leading causes of traffic crashes.

Speed is one of the leading causes of crashes. Speed limits have been put in place because going over that speed is unsafe for that particular roadway. You wouldn’t go 60 mph around a curve, unless maybe you were in Nascar. The end results of that action would typically result in a crash. Speed limits are posted on signs for all roads. The indicated speeds have been put in place to keep drivers and their passengers safe. Some factors also to consider are the road surfaces. During different times of the year, weather conditions can change how we travel on roadways. For instance, when it rains, the roadways become slick and our stopping times and distances are greatly affected.

Another leading cause of crashes is driving under the influence. The legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit is .08. Did you know that people with a BAC level of .05 are twice as likely to get into a car crash than people who have not been drinking? This is because alcohol affects your cognitive function and reaction times. When you hear the term driving under the influence, alcohol is usually the first thing that people think of. Driving under the influence can also occur from the use of illegal narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, and even those prescription drugs prescribed to you by your doctor. Some medications can make you drowsy, and driving is not recommended while taking that medication. Making sure you are safe to drive is your responsibility. Being under the influence will delay your reaction time which can lead to crashes. If you have participated in activities where your normal faculties are impaired, call a friend or family member to help out. Uber is also a great option! An Uber trip is less expensive than court costs.

Last on my list is distracted driving. Sending that text may seem like it will just take an innocent 5 seconds, but how long does it take for someone to hit the brakes in front of you? Taking your eyes off the roadway for a text, to grab your cheeseburger from your to go bag, or to talk to your kids in the backseat might just take your day’s plans from a trip to Disney to a trip to the hospital. I have seen numerous crashes that resulted from people who took their eyes off the road, “just for a second.” Have you ever heard the term, “Keep your eye on the ball?” A player can’t hit the ball if he or she isn’t watching it. You can’t prevent getting hit by another car if you take your eyes off the road. In addition to being dangerous, texting while driving is now against the law in 48 states. Not all states have made this a primary offense for stopping a vehicle by law enforcement. Other states have made it a primary offense, and a vehicle can be stopped on this infraction alone. This is one way the government is helping to combat distracted driving.

To summarize, laws are in effect making speeding, driving under the influence, and distracted driving against the law. As we all know, just because something is illegal doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Educating ourselves and others on these laws, and then making the conscious decision not to break them will greatly decrease your chances of being in a crash. Defensive driving and being aware of your surroundings can also help you avoid being a victim of a crash. In the words of Sheriff Grady Judd, “If you see something, say something.” Calling in to report drivers breaking traffic laws or driving under the influence can help save lives.