‘The Only Sane Driver’

Before I got my driver’s license, my mom always used to say, ‘when you get in the car to go on the road, drive as if you are the only sane driver on the road’. This message was not to say that drivers are irresponsible or that drivers are insane but rather to remind me that I am responsible for my actions behind the wheel and that my on-road behaviors impact the lives of all others on the road.

Driver’s education provided me with the principles and guidelines for driving, teaching maneuvers to avoid collision and minimizing my chances of collisions. While driver’s education could not have introduced every possible scenario to me, its lessons provided me with the vital tools necessary to handle unanticipated situations. On one occasion, a driver raced through the red light while I was crossing an intersection with a green light. Because I was not speeding, I was able to maneuver my vehicle to a safe stop allowing the speeding vehicle the right to pass.

A number of good and responsible behaviors behind the wheel can help reduce vehicular-related deaths. Being familiar with the various signs and their meanings will help guide the actions of drivers. For example, being familiar with crosswalk signs will alert drivers to slow down when approaching a crosswalk. Driving responsibly, by driving a car that is fit to be driven on the road, safely securing the passengers and items in your vehicle, and limiting all distractions to the bare minimum will help to reduce the number of accidents and deaths from driving.

While I have not been in a car accident and I pray never to be in one, I have benefited from the experiences of others. One of such experiences was from a Howard County student involved in a tragic accident last Summer. The student who was traveling on a one lane road was blinded by the sun and crossed over the lane divider into oncoming traffic. From that sad and unfortunate situation, I learned to minimize my travel during periods of distorted visibility, wear sunglasses, and minimize distractions in the car.

Accidents are attributed to numerous causes, from self-inflicted to situations that are beyond one’s control. As such, there are several steps that can be taken to minimize accidents. Some such steps include:

1.    Drive with a clear mind; if something is bothering you, do not drive

2.    Wear a seat belt

3.    Reduce your on-road driving during dangerous weather and visibility conditions

4.    Check your car gauges; addressing notifications such as time to service car, low oil signal, low tire pressure, airbag alerts etc.

5.    Remove/minimize distractions from the car

6.    Stay off your phone while driving; no texting, no calling, no playing games, no playing music

When an individual makes the decision to get behind the wheel and operate a vehicle on the road, the individual should do so responsibly, by ensuring the integrity of the vehicle and acting responsibly, considering the safety of the lives of the passengers within his/her vehicle and towards the passengers of other vehicles on the road.