Driving Safely

DRIVING SAFELY

Driver education not only reduces your chance of getting in an accident, but also reduces the chances that you will cause one as well. Driver education is not a course, but a lifetime of experiences through courses, driving, being a passenger, and reading about driving conditions and accidents. It doesn’t matter how many years a person has been driving because every day brings a new experience and a new challenge.

There are an infinite number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of an accident/death and it is up to the driver to understand which ones work for them. A good start is understanding what all the road signs mean prior to learning how to drive. Next, learn to drive with a sound driver. Your buddy is probably not the best choice. Be patient! I can’t emphasize that more. When you are in a hurry to get to your destination, it is only changing the time of arrival by minutes. Is it really worth saving a couple of minutes while putting other drivers’ lives at risk? If you miss your turn, it is okay. Do not panic and try to make a last-ditch lane change to make the turn. There are plenty of opportunities to turn around further down the road.

Driving irresponsibly happens to everyone. Sometimes it is due to not focusing on driving and sometimes because the person is an angry or terrible driver. People make mistakes so don’t get wrapped around the wheel about it or you might actually end up wrapped around the wheel hoping paramedics can save you. It is always a good rule of thumb to assume the other drivers are trying to do the right thing. Not everyone is local to the area and understands how to move around in order to keep traffic moving.

Car accidents happen. Some can be avoided if the driver has a quick reaction time and some happen before the driver realizes it is too late. I have had a few near misses that could have ended up in disaster. I was lucky enough to avoid one because there was a field next to the road that I drove off in. If the oncoming car crossed into my lane earlier for further down the road, the outcome would have been drastically different. There are many ways to reduce the chances of getting in an accident like properly maintaining your vehicle, paying a little more for tires that have a better traction rating, getting enough rest before driving, and leaving your cell phone in your pocket so you only answer call via Bluetooth or not at all.

Last, but not least, watch out for motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians! We can help other drivers be safer by slowing down and giving them space to maneuver or just space between their bumper and yours. Motorcycle and bicycle riders need room to ride. They make turns as well and are harder to see on the road.